Hashem’s Light

By Rabbi Moshe Krieger, Yeshivas Bircas HaTorah (www.bircas.org)

After the previous parsha details instructions of building the Mishkan, Parshas Tetzaveh begins with the command to make pure olive oil used for lighting the Menorah. The parshah then continues with instructions for making garments for the kohanim.

The Kli Yakar asks, what is the purpose of describing the mitzvah to make oil here? At this stage, there was no Mishkan yet. The construction would take some time, and the lighting of the Menorah could only take place after the construction and inauguration of the Mishkan! In fact, the same verse reappears in its logical place in Parshas Emor, when the kohanim began their service in the Mishkan and lit the Menorah, making this verse seem unnecessary.

The Kli Yakar answers that we can learn a profound insight into the purpose of the Mishkan. The goal of the Mishkan was to bring Hashem’s presence to the Jewish people, as the passuk says, “Make for me a Sanctuary, and I will dwell among them.” However, one may mistakenly think that the Kodesh HaKodashim (Holy of Holies) in the Mishkan was the only place where one could truly feel Hashem’s presence. Only the kohein gadol would be privileged to experience such a revelation, far from the eyes of the common people. For everyone else, Hashem’s presence would remain abstract and inaccessible.

The Menorah and its laws refute this view. Situated outside of the Kodesh HaKodashim, in the Sanctuary, the Menorah could be seen by all. The westernmost flame of the Menorah never went out. This was an open miracle, a physical manifestation of Hashem’s presence. Every Jew, young or old, could see for himself that Hashem was close to His people, ready to perform miracles for them.

This is why the mitzvah of the oil appears between mitzvos concerning the Mishkan and those concerning the garments of the kohanim. It conveys a critical message about the Mishkan: that it connects every single Jew to Hashem.

The Menorah also symbolizes the way to connect to Hashem even when there is no Mishkan. The Midrash (Shemos Rabbah 36:3) states that the Menorah symbolizes Torah, as it says, “A candle is a mitzvah and the Torah is light.” (Mishlei 6:23) When we study Torah, we connect to Hashem. However, this connection requires work. Just as olives must be crushed in order to give forth oil, Torah study requires toil and sacrifice in order to serve as a connection to Hashem. Many of the ways of acquiring Torah (mentioned in Avos 6:6) involve exertion: minimizing sleep, pleasure, small talk, laughter, business. . . . These are all necessary sacrifices if we are to acquire Torah, aside from the obvious need to exert ourselves in learning. The Menorah symbolizes that the arduous process that Torah requires leads to the light of Hashem.

The Nefesh HaChaim (4:21) cites the Gemara (Sotah 49a) that every talmid chacham that engages in Torah under pressing conditions will be satiated by the radiance of the Divine Presence. The light referred to is the hidden light that Hashem stored away at the beginning of creation, to be used as an exclusive reward for the righteous. The Nefesh HaChaim reveals that the Gemara is also talking about this world. If we learn Torah when it is difficult, we will receive this incredible reward!

Shlomo HaMelech elaborates on the greatness of this light: “The wisdom of a person illuminates his countenance and the power of his face is changed.” (Koheles 8:1) Rashi comments that the light of Torah can literally manifest itself on one’s face. Moshe Rabbeinu’s light of Torah was so strong that people were afraid to approach him! To avoid intimidating his students, he put on a mask when he taught them.

The Steipler Gaon writes (in the introduction to Chayei Olam) that in every generation, every country has a few people who are capable of attaining this light. They are a testimony that one who really works on himself and delves into the Torah’s wisdom can evolve into an angelic being with an intimate connection to Hashem. When one sees such a person, he can’t help but be inspired by the Torah’s effect on a person.

My rebbe, Rav Reuven Gershonovitz, was a man who acquired this light. His dedication to learning and teaching Torah knew no bounds. To ensure that he could invest all his time into Torah, he spent the entire week with the yeshivah, away from his family. Not wanting to impose on the yeshivah, he lived in a dilapidated hovel nearby. His family would come and spend Shabbos with him, somehow fitting in this ramshackle structure. He only went to his real home for Yom Tov. Through such dedication and sacrifice, he ascended to incredible spiritual heights.

When he was much older, he reached the level of Divine inspiration. Great Rabbanim would come from great distances to receive his advice and blessing. When asked a question, he would look up towards the heavens and close his eyes, and you knew that he was connecting to Hashem. I remember that I felt Hashem’s presence just by looking at him. His example calls out to all of us, declaring that we too can reach greatness.

May we be zocheh to the light of Hashem!

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