Our reading this week begins with a command to Aaron regarding the lighting of the Menorah. The Torah does not say that Aaron should “ignite” the candles, similar to the blessing when lighting candles on Shabbos or Chanukah, but that he should “make them go up.” To truly ignite a light is to ensure that each flame is capable of continuing to burn on its own.
“Ki Ner Mitzvah v’Torah Ohr, the mitzvah is a lamp and Torah is the light” (Proverbs 6:23). We share the obligation to turn on the lights in every soul. Every holy spark, every Jewish soul can become a flame, and all we must do is help to ignite it. This is true in all ways, but in Torah most of all. Not only to ignite the light, but to hold the candle steady until the flame burns on its own.
How we do that is different for every person, but it can be as simple as passing along an interesting Torah thought that you downloaded from Torah.org or elsewhere. Every other Jewish soul must be ignited, inspired, until each one is a dedicated flame carried into our Jewish future.
Good Shabbos!
Rabbi Yaakov Menken
Director, Project Genesis – Torah.org
