Parshas Bihaalosicha 5764

Rabbi Avraham Brandwein of Yerushalayim (in translation)
With the help of Heaven!

“When you light the lamps, toward the face of the Menorah shall the seven lamps shine… And this is the making of the Menorah, beaten out gold, to its base, to its flower, it is beaten out.”

The Menorah symbolizes the general unity of all of the Nation of Israel. “Its base” represents the simple masses, who fulfill the Mitzvos with simple faith and innocence, and are also the aspect of those who (financially) support Torah. “Its flower” represents people who do good deeds and Chessed towards their fellowman, and who are actively involved in the needs of the public, to help others. “Its cups (Gavia)” represent the Torah Scholars, who are the aspect of vessels for the Light of Chochmah, just as a Gavia is a vessel for wine. All of these had to be beaten out of one (piece of gold), and only under this condition was the Menorah able to shine. The Menorah would stand in the South (of the Holy section of the Temple), as Chazal say, “If one wishes to become wise, they should turn (their intentions) to the south. Olive oil also represents Chochmah.

On the Menorah there were seven lamps, three on the right side, three on the left side, and one in the middle. All of the lamp flames would face towards the middle lamp flame, which would face towards the west. The six lamp flames represent the six Middos: Chessed, Gevurah, Tiferes, Netzach, Hod and Yesod. The middle lamp flame corresponds to Malchus. We find that all of them face towards Malchus, which is the vessel that receives these lights and illuminates the entire world. It also corresponds to the middle line (of the Sefiros), as is known, which unites all of the sides, to illuminate in a refined measure.

We learn from here that only if there is (a general) unity of all of Israel, in all of its levels (of) simple people and Torah scholars, who are involved in work and involved in Mitzvos, and also (a unity) within (each) particular (person), in a personal manner, if the Middos are refined and united, without separation, only then can the light of Chochmah shine. The meaning of the “light of Chochmah” is the revelation of the Divine providence of the Creator, in the aspect of (our perceiving Hashem as) The Good One, Who does good (Tov Umayteev). And the one who lights the lamps is Aharon the Cohen, who loved peace and pursued peace. He is called in the Zohar “the Escort of the Queen.” This means that he knew (how) to unite the Nation of Israel and (how) to bring them near to Hakadosh Baruch Hu.