20 Sivan 5783 – 9 June 2023
“When you kindle the lamps, the seven lamps shall cast their light toward the face of the Menorah”
The Hebrew word for “kindle” here is not the normal word for lighting (hadlakah), but an unusual term that means to raise up (ma’alah). Based upon this, the commentary of Rashi cites a teaching of the sages that there was a step in front of the Menorah on which the Priest would stand to prepare the lamps.
Since the Menorah was only about 5.5 feet tall, it could be lit by an average sized person without needing to climb up on a step. So what was the purpose of the step?
We might offer a symbolic reason for having the steps in front of the Menorah. Lighting the Menorah can symbolize our spiritual aspirations. When it comes to our spiritual striving – we must reach high. We shouldn’t be content with just getting the job done – we should have ambitious goals for ourselves and our reach must exceed our grasp.
By Rabbi Michael Skobac
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