TZAV by Dr Mark Gersten

Lezacher  Lezar Shepsal ben Binyamin

WE ARE TOLD THAT A CONTINUAL LIGHT MUST REMAIN ON THE ALTER. RASHI TEACHES A GEZARA SHAVA FROM YOMA 45B COMPARING THE ETERNAL LIGHT OF THE MENORAH WITH THE CONTINUAL FIRE ON THE ALTER.

BOTH VERSES USE THE WORD “TAMID” (CONTINUAL). BEFORE READING RASHI ONE MIGHT DRAW THE FOLLOWING COMPARISON: JUST AS THE MENORAH’S LIGHT (OF TORAH) MUST ALWAYS BE ILLUMINATED SO TOO THE ALTER FLAME REPRESENTING SERVICE TO HASHEM MUST NEVER BE EXTINGUISHED.

RASHI HOWEVER SAYS SOMETHING ELSE. HE TELLS US THAT THE FIRE FROM THE ALTER WHICH WAS ABLAZE CONTINUALLY WAS USED TO KINDLE THE LIGHTS OF THE MENORAH.THIS INSIGHT CAN HELP US BETTER UNDERSTAND A STATEMENT BY RAV MOSHE FEINSTEIN IN THE SEDRAH BAHALOTECHA.THERE RASHI SAID THAT TO LIGHT THE CANDLES OF THE MENORAH REPRESENTING TORAH, ONE MUST KEEP ON LIGHTING AND LIGHTING UNTIL THE FIRE TAKES AND DOESN’T GO OUT. THERE RASHI SAYS THE WORD BAHALOTECHA MEANS THE COHEN GOES UP THE STEPS TO LIGHT THE MENORAH.

RAV MOSHE SAID THAT THE FLAME OF TORAH IS NOT LIKE A LITTLE LIGHT OF A CANDLE. THE WORD BAHALOTECHA.HE SAYS RATHER MEANS TO RAISE UP - AS IN RAISING UP A FLAME. RAV MOSHE CONTINUES WITH THE IDEA THAT A FATHER IS NEVER JEALOUS OF A SON WHOSE TORAH KNOWLEDGE RISES ABOVE HIS OWN. HE MAY LIGHT AND LIGHT UNTIL THE FIRE CATCHES LIKE RASHI INTIMATES, BUT IDEALLY WHEN HE LIGHTS THE LIGHT OF TORAH IN HIS SON HE WANTS IT TO RISE UP EVEN ABOVE HIS OWN LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE.

HOW DOES RAV MOSHE KNOW THAT BAHALOTECHA MEANS THE FIRE SHOULD RISE UP NOT THAT THE COHEN SHOULD STEP UP? PERHAPS HE GLEENS IT FROM THIS WEEKS SEDRAH WHERE WE HAVE JUST LEARNED THAT THE FIRE TO LIGHTTHE MENORAH COMES FROM THE FLAME ON THE ALTER.THAT FLAME IS A BLAZE WHEN SACRIFICES ARE OFFERED, NOT A LITTLE LIGHT. HE MAY HAVE FELT THE FIRE SHOULD REVERT TO ITS ORIGINAL FORM JUST AS IT WAS A BLAZE ON THE ALTER, SO IT SHOULD CREATE A FLAME ON THE MENORAH STRIVING ALWAYS TO GROW AND RISE UPWARD TOWARDS HEAVEN.

The Torah tells us we must take

Olive oil pressed just to make

A pure flame without compromise

Not merely lit but jumps to rise

The flame’s light is the Torah Law

Which Moses gave us one before

The love of Torah’s best begun

When passed from Mother to her son

With joy of Torah in his heart

With Father study then can start

Should his son’s Torah soars above

His own , the father with  true love

Has not a drop of jealousy

Just pride and joy as it should be