Canada Is No Longer Safe for Jews
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Light is necessary for the survival of life. Without light, the Earth would be completely cold and dark, and vegetation could not exist.
Light can be produced from a source, but also can be reflected by another object. The moon’s light is a reflection of the sun’s light. There is also a different form of light: spiritual light. The Jewish People are compared to the moon. Just as the moon is illuminated by the sun, so too, the Jewish People are illuminated by God’s infinite light and reflect it outward. The Torah given to us by God at Har Sinai is the perfect reflection of its Giver.
Light is a symbol for that which allows us to see, to know, and to understand. When there is light, we need not stumble along the obstacle course called life. The Torah’s light provides us with insight and wisdom. It enables us to clarify concepts, integrate ideas, and clearly see reality. As corrective lenses are for the eyes, the Torah is for the soul; it maximizes the soul’s inner vision.
The Mishkan’s Menorah, candelabra, symbolizes multidimensional con- cepts, among them being the light of the Torah. Because the Torah’s light is sacred, everything used to create the Menorah’s flame is significant. From its placement in the Mishkan to the way it was kindled, every detail is precise. We were instructed to place the Menorah “outside the partition that is near the testimonial tablets.”93 Why outside the partition? The light of Torah should influence us not only when inside the sanctuary involved in study and prayer but “outside the partition” as well. The Torah’s light extends outward to guide our actions while at home, at work, and in our daily interactions.
And you should command the children of Israel that they shall take for you pressed pure olive oil for illumination, to kindle the lamp until it burns continually.
Only pure olive oil can be used for lighting the Menorah. A deeper meaning reveals that we must safeguard the Torah’s light so that it is not influenced negatively by ideas that would compromise its purity. Once kindled, its flame must burn brightly. The Torah’s teachings must be fully absorbed so that they will ignite an inner flame that will glow outward. Likewise, parents and educators must patiently and persistently strive to teach children Torah in a way that is both motivating and relevant.
The olives are to be pressed so that pure oil will emerge for lighting the Menorah. We can learn a great lesson from a small olive. Only when it’s pressed can the olive produce pure oil to fuel the infinite light of holiness. When pressed, its value is not diminished but is elevated and increased. We can emulate the olive. It’s specifically when we are pressed that the greatest strength which can light the darkness can emerge. Pain can be transformed to a greater purpose.
When King Solomon built the Beis Hamikdash (the Holy Temple) in Jerusalem, the architecture was influenced by the Menorah. Scripture states that “he made narrowing windows for the Beis Hamikdash.” Windows were typically constructed to be wider toward the inside of a building so that the light from the outside would be diffused throughout the room. The Talmud cites a Beraisa that explains that in the Beis Hamikdash, the windows were wide on the exterior and narrow in the interior. This symbolized that the Beis Hamikdash didn’t need light—as it was illuminated by God’s Presence—and that Presence was so strong that it could even light up the world outside the Beis Hamikdash.
The Menorah also symbolizes the nation of Israel and its mission to be “a light unto the nations.” The prophet Yeshayah (Isaiah) envisioned that God would restore the Jewish People to their ancestral homeland. This return will cause all of the nations to open their eyes to the Divine light of the one God of Israel. “A light unto the nations” is a designation of the Jewish People’s collective role: to be spiritual and moral mentors to the entire world.
Torah is the source of Judaism. Through the Torah and its teachings, we serve as a “light unto the nations.” The Torah’s guiding light provides an ethical and moral compass with which to navigate the most complicated and challenging life issues. Its instruction and guidance speak to each individual, as well as to the Jewish People as a whole. These meanings mesh together seamlessly and share an integrated meaning. As King Solomon described, “A mitzvah is a candle, and Torah, light.” Indeed, Torah is the source of spiritual illumination in the world. Embedded in its name is the Hebrew word for illumination and light: orah.
Always within our grasp, the Torah’s light can help guide us toward our destination with greater positivity and faith. May we strive to actualize the Torah’s wisdom, more and more, throughout our lives.
