June 10, 2023; 21 Sivan, 5783
Parsha
This week’s Parsha begins with the words to be relayed to Aharon, “When you lift up the lamps adjacent to the face of the Menorah, the seven lamps will alight.” (BaMidbar 8:2)
This Passuk (verse) is somewhat enigmatic. It appears to be saying that when Aharon lifts up the lamps to light them, the lamps will light. This would seem to be obvious, so what is the verse really telling us?
The Midrash Rabbah (BaMidbar 15:9) explains this Passuk with a quote from Tehillim (43:3), “Send Your light and Your truth, that they may lead me...” However, this too is perplexing. How does this quote explain the Passuk in this week’s Parsha?...