דָּבָר אַחֵר, בְּהַעֲלוֹתְךָ. זֶה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב: גַּם חֹשֶׁךְ לֹא יַחְשִׁיךְ מִמְּךָ וְלַיְלָה כַּיּוֹם יָאִיר כַּחֲשֵׁכָה כָּאוֹרָה (תהלים קלט, יב). וְלָנוּ אַתָּה אוֹמֵר לְהַדְלִיק. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: בְּהַעֲלוֹתְךָ אֶת הַנֵּרוֹת. מָשָׁל לְמָה הַדָּבָר דּוֹמֶה. לַמֶּלֶךְ שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ אוֹהֵב. אָמַר לוֹ הַמֶּלֶךְ, תֵּדַע שֶׁאֶצְלְךָ אֲנִי סוֹעֵד הַיּוֹם, לֵךָ הַתְקִין לִי. הָלַךְ אוֹהֲבוֹ וְהִתְקִין מִטָּה שֶׁל הֶדְיוֹט, שֻׁלְחָן שֶׁל הֶדְיוֹט. כֵּיוָן שֶׁבָּא הַמֶּלֶךְ, בָּאוּ עִמּוֹ שַׁמָּשִׁין סָבְבוּ מְנוֹרוֹת שֶׁל זָהָב לְפָנָיו מִכָּאן וּמִכָּאן. כֵּיוָן שֶׁרָאָה אוֹהֲבוֹ אֶת כָּל הַכָּבוֹד הַזֶּה, נִתְבַּיֵּשׁ וְהִטְמִין אֶת כָּל מַה שֶּׁהִתְקִין לוֹ, שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ הַכֹּל מִן הַהֶדְיוֹטוֹת. אָמַר לוֹ הַמֶּלֶךְ, מַהוּ, לֹא אָמַרְתִּי לְךָ שֶׁאֶצְלְךָ אֲנִי סוֹעֵד הַיּוֹם, לָמָּה לֹא הִתְקַנְתָּ לִי כְּלוּם. אָמַר לוֹ אוֹהֲבוֹ, אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ, כְּשֶׁרָאִיתִי אֶת כָּל הַכָּבוֹד הַזֶּה, נִתְבַּיַּשְׁתִּי וְהִטְמַנְתִּי כָּל מַה שֶּׁהִתְקַנְתִּי לְךָ, שֶׁהָיוּ כְּלֵי הֶדְיוֹטוֹת. אָמַר לוֹ הַמֶּלֶךְ, חַיֶּיךָ, שֶׁאֲנִי פּוֹסֵל אֶת כָּל כְּלִי שֶׁהֵבֵאתִי עִמִּי, וּבִשְׁבִיל אַהֲבָתְךָ, אֵינִי מִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ אֶלָּא בְּשֶׁלְּךָ. וְכָךְ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כֻּלּוֹ אוֹרָהּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וּנְהוֹרָא עִמֵּהּ שְׁרֵא (דניאל ב, כב). וְהוּא אוֹמֵר לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, הַתְקִינוּ מְנוֹרָה וְנֵרוֹת. מַה כְּתִיב שָׁם, וְעָשׂוּ לִי מִקְדָּשׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹכָם (שמות כה, ח), וְעָשִׂיתָ מְנוֹרַת זָהָב טָהוֹר (שם כה, לא). כֵּיוָן שֶׁעָשׂוּ, מִיָּד בָּאָה הַשְּׁכִינָה. מַה כְּתִיב שָׁם, וְלֹא יָכֹל מֹשֶׁה לָבוֹא אֶל אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד (שמות מ, לה). מִיָּד קָרָא לְמֹשֶׁה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיִּקְרָא אֶל מֹשֶׁה (ויקרא א, א). וּכְתִיב: וּבְבֹא מֹשֶׁה אֶל אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד לְדַבֵּר אִתּוֹ (במדבר ז, פט). וּמַה דִּבֵּר אֵלָיו. בְּהַעֲלוֹתְךָ אֶת הַנֵּרוֹת. אָמְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, שְׁלַח אֹרְךָ וַאֲמִתְּךָ הֵמָּה יַנְחוּנִי (תהלים מג, ג). גָּדוֹל אוֹרוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, הַחַמָּה וְהַלְּבָנָה מְאִירִין הָעוֹלָם. וּמֵהֵיכָן הֵן מְאִירִין. מִן זִקּוּקֵי אוֹר שֶׁל מַעְלָן הֵן חוֹטְפִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: לְאוֹר חִצֶּיךָ יְהַלֵּכוּ לְנֹגַהּ בְּרַק חֲנִיתֶךָ (חבקוק ג, יא). גָּדוֹל הוּא הָאוֹר שֶׁל מַעְלָן, שֶׁלֹּא נִתַּן מִמֶּנּוּ לְכָל הַבְּרִיּוֹת אֶלָּא אֶחָד מִמֵּאָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: יָדַע מָה בַחֲשׁוֹכָא, וּנְהוֹרָא וְגוֹ' (דניאל ב, כב). לְפִיכָךְ עָשִׂיתִי חַמָּה וּלְבָנָה שֶׁיָּאִירוּ לְפָנֶיךָ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיִּתֵּן אוֹתָם אֱלֹהִים בִּרְקִיעַ הַשָּׁמַיִם לְהָאִיר עַל הָאָרֶץ (בראשית א, יז). אֶל מוּל פְּנֵי הַמְּנוֹרָה יָאִירוּ. אָמַר דָּוִד, בְּאוֹר פְּנֵי מֶלֶךְ חַיִּים (משלי טז, טו). אָמַר רַבִּי יַעֲקֹב בַּר יוֹסִי, נִמְנְעָה הַשִּׂמְחָה מִן הָרְשָׁעִים וְנִתְּנָה לַצַּדִּיקִים לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁהֻצְרַךְ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לֵישֵׁב עִם בָּשָׂר וָדָם בַּנֵּר, עַד שֶׁאָמַר לָהֶם: אֶל מוּל פְּנֵי הַמְּנוֹרָה. רַבִּי לֵוִי בְּרַבִּי אוֹמֵר, מְנוֹרָה טְהוֹרָה יָרְדָה מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם, שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמֹשֶׁה, וְעָשִׂיתָ מְנוֹרַת זָהָב טָהוֹר (שמות כה, לא). אָמַר לֵיהּ: כֵּיצַד נַעֲשֶׂה אוֹתָהּ. אָמַר לוֹ: מִקְשָׁה תֵּעָשֶׂה (שם). אַף עַל פִּי כֵן נִתְקַשָּׁה בָּהּ, וְיָרַד מֹשֶׁה וְשָׁכַח מַעֲשֶׂיהָ. עָלָה וְאָמַר, רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, שָׁכַחְתִּי מַעֲשֶׂיהָ. הֶרְאָה לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמֹשֶׁה, וְעוֹד נִתְקַשָּׁה בָּהּ. אָמַר לֵיהּ: וּרְאֵה וַעֲשֵׂה (שם פסוק מ), עַד שֶׁנָּטַל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַטְבֵּעַ שֶׁל אֵשׁ וְהֶרְאָה לוֹ עֲשִׂיָּתָהּ. אַף עַל פִּי כֵן נִתְקַשָּׁה עַל מֹשֶׁה. אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לֵךְ אֵצֶל בְּצַלְאֵל וְהוּא יַעֲשֶׂה אוֹתָהּ. יָרַד מֹשֶׁה וְאָמַר לִבְצַלְאֵל, וּמִיָּד עֲשָׂאָהּ. הִתְחִיל מֹשֶׁה תָּמֵהַּ וְאוֹמֵר: אֲנִי כַּמָּה פְּעָמִים הֶרְאָה לִי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְנִתְקַשֵּׁיתִי לַעֲשׂוֹתָהּ, וְאַתָּה שֶׁלֹּא רָאִיתָ אוֹתָהּ עָשִׂיתָ מִדַּעְתְּךָ. בְּצַלְאֵל, בְּצֵל אֵל הָיִיתָ עוֹמֵד כְּשֶׁהֶרְאָה לִי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עֲשִׂיָּתָהּ וְאָמַר וְעָשִׂיתָ. וּלְפִיכָךְ, כְּשֶׁחָרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, נִגְנְזָה הַמְּנוֹרָה. וְזוֹ אֶחָד מִן חֲמִשָּׁה דְּבָרִים שֶׁנִּגְנְזוּ, הָאֲרוֹן, וְהַמְּנוֹרָה, וְהָאֵשׁ, וְרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ, וְהַכְּרוּבִים. וּכְשֶׁיֵּעוֹר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּרַחֲמָיו וְיִבְנֶה בֵּיתוֹ וְהֵיכָלוֹ, הוּא מַחֲזִירָן לִמְקוֹמָן וּמְשַׂמְּחָן אֶת יְרוּשָׁלַיִם. מִנַּיִן, שֶׁכֵּן כָּתוּב, יְשֻׂשׂוּם מִדְבָּר וְצִיָּה וְתָגֵל עֲרָבָה וְתִפְרַח כַּחֲבַצֶּלֶת, פָּרֹחַ תִּפְרַח וְתָגֵל (ישעיה לה, א-ב). Another interpretation (of Numb. 8:2), “When you set up [the lamps]”: This text is related (to Ps. 139:12), “Even darkness is not dark to You; for night shines as the day, and darkness becomes like the light.” Yet You are saying to us (in Numb. 8:2), “When you set up the lamps!”1Numb. R. 15:8. To what is the matter comparable? To a king who had a friend. The king said to him, “You should know that I am dining with you; so make ready for me.” His friend went [and] prepared a commoner's2Gk.: idiotes. couch [and] a commoner's3Gk.: idiotes. table. When the king arrived, attendants came with him. They set around menorahs of gold before him on either side. When his friend saw all the splendor, he felt ashamed and concealed everything that he had prepared, because everything was [of the type used by] commoners. The king said to him, “What is this? Did I not tell you that I was dining with you? Why did you prepare nothing for me?” His friend said to him, “My lord king, when I saw all this splendor that came with you, I felt ashamed and concealed everything that I had prepared for you, as it consisted of commoner's utensils.” The king said to him, “By your life, I am rejecting all my utensils which I have brought with me, and out of love for you I only wish to use yours.” So it was with the Holy One, blessed be He. He is all light, as stated (in Dan. 2:22), “and the light dwells within Him.” When he says to Israel, “Prepare a menorah and lamps for Me,” what is written there (in Exod. 25:8, 31)? “And let them make Me a sanctuary and I shall dwell within them; And you shall make a menorah of pure gold.” When they had done so, immediately the Divine Presence arrived. What is written there (in Exod. 40:35)? “Now Moses could not enter the tent of meeting… [because the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle].” Immediately He called to Moses, as stated (in Lev. 1:1), “Then [the Lord] called unto Moses.” And it is written (in Numb. 7:89), “When Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with Him.” But what did He say unto him (in Numb. 8:2)? “When you set up the lamps.” Israel said (in Ps. 43:3), “Send out Your light and Your truth; they will lead me”. Great is the light of the Holy One, blessed be He!4Numb. R. 15:9. The sun and the moon give light to the world, but from where do they derive their light? They snatch some sparks of celestial light. It is so stated (in Hab. 3:11), “[Sun and moon remain on high;] they go for the light of Your arrows, for the brightness of Your shining spear.” Great is the celestial light, of which only one part in a hundred has been given to mortals. It is so stated (in Dan. 2:22), “He knows what5MH read as M’H which means “a hundred.” is in the darkness, and the light [dwells with Him].” Therefore [the Holy One, blessed be He, says,] “I made sun and moon so that they would give you light, as stated (in Gen. 1:17), “God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” (Numb. 8:2:) “[Let the seven lamps] give their light in front of the menorah.” (David) [Solomon] said (in Prov. 16:15), “In the light of the king's face there is life.”6Numb. R. 15:9. R. Jacob bar Jose said, “Joy was withheld from the wicked and given to the righteous, to Israel, because the Holy One, blessed be He, was obliged to dwell among flesh and blood in the light. Thus he said to them (in Numb. 8:2), ‘[Let the seven lamps] give their light in front of the menorah.’” R. Levi said, “A pure menorah descended from the heavens.7Numb. R. 15:9. Because the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses (in Exod. 25:31), ‘And you shall make a menorah of pure gold.’ He said to Him, ‘How shall we make [it]?’ He said to him (ibid. cont.), ‘Of hammered work shall the menorah be made.’ Nevertheless Moses had difficulty; for when he descended, he had forgotten its construction.8See Above, Lev. 3:33; Tanh., Lev. 3:8; Mekhilta deRabbi Ishmael, Piska 2; PRK 15; PR 15:21; 20:4; Exod. R. 15:28. He went up and said, ‘Master of the world, I have forgotten [it].’ He said to him (in Exod. 25:40), ‘Observe and make [it].’ Thus He took a pattern of fire and showed him its construction,9See Men. 29a Bar.; Sifre Numb. 8:4 (61); Numb. R. 15:4, 10. but it was still difficult for Moses. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, ‘Go to Bezalel and he will make it.’ [So] Moses went down to talk to Bezalel, [and] he made it immediately. Moses began to wonder and say, ‘In my case, how many times did the Holy One, blessed be He, show it to me; yet I had difficulty in making it. Now without seeing it, you have made it from your own knowledge. Bezalel (btsl'l), were you perhaps standing in (b) the shadow (tsl) of God ('l) when the Holy One, blessed be He, showed it to me and said (in Exod. 25:31), “And you shall make”?’ Therefore when the Temple was destroyed, the menorah was stored away.” Now this was one of the five things that were stored away: the ark, the menorah, the fire, the holy spirit, and the cherubim.10Therefore, these five things were lacking from the Second Temple. See Syr. Baruch 6:4–10; TYoma2:15; TSot. 13:1; yTa‘an. 2:1 (65a); yHor. 3:3(2) (47c); Yoma 21b; Hor. 12a; ARN, A, 41. When the Holy One, blessed be He, returns in his mercy to build His house and His Temple, He will restore them to their place and cause Jerusalem to rejoice. Thus it is stated (in Is. 35:1-2), “The desert and the arid land shall be glad, and the wilderness shall rejoice and blossom like a crocus. It shall blossom abundantly and be glad.”11These five expressions of gladness in these verses correspond to the five things that will be restored in the new temple.