Announcements

Parshat Beha’alotekhah begins with the kindling of the Menorah. The Torah teaches:

דַּ בֵּר֙ אֶֽל־אַהֲר֔ןֹ וְאָמַרְ תָּ֖ אֵלָ֑יו בְּהַעֲלֹֽתְךָ֙ אֶת־הַ נֵּר֔תֹ אֶל־מוּל֙ פְּנֵ֣י הַ מְּ נוֹרָ֔ה יָאִ֖ירוּ שִׁ בְעַ֥ת הַ נֵּרֽוֹת
Speak to Aaron, and tell him, 'When you light the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the
lampstand.'

Rashi notes that the Hebrew word for “when you light” is בְּהַעֲלֹֽתְךָ֙ . Rashi explains: “Because the flame rises
upwards ( עולה ), an expression denoting "ascending" is used for kindling the lights, implying that one must
kindle them until the light ascends by itself (Shabbat 21a).“ Ascends by itself. This is the goal of every
community, teacher, and parent. Illumination is a powerful Jewish metaphor. It symbolizes Torah and
education. It represents both independence and interconnectivity. We light your flame and watch you
make your radiant illumination ascend of itself.

Shabbat Shalom, Rav Benjie