- Aharon is commanded to light the menorah, and the tribe of Levi is introduced into the service in the Mishkan.
- A “Second Passover” (Pesach Sheni) is started by a group of Jews who were unable to bring the Passover offering in its right time because they were ritually impure.
- G‑d instructs Moshe how Israel must journey and encamp in the desert, and the people journey in formation from Mount Sinai, where they had been camped for nearly a year. (Cloud by day, fire by night)
- Bnei Yisrael are not satisfied with their the manna, and demand that Moshe supply them with meat.
- Moshe appoints 70 elders, to assist him in governing the people.
- Miriam speaks negatively of Moses, and is punished with leprosy; Moshe prays for her healing, and the entire community waits seven days for her recovery.
(2) Speak to Aaron and say to him, “When you mount the lamps, let the seven lamps give light at the front of the lampstand.”
(ב) בהעלתך. עַל שֵׁם שֶׁהַלַּהַב עוֹלֶה, כָּתוּב בְּהַדְלָקָתָן לְשׁוֹן עֲלִיָּה, שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לְהַדְלִיק עַד שֶׁתְּהֵא שַׁלְהֶבֶת עוֹלָה מֵאֵלֶיהָ (שבת כ"א),
(2) בהעלתך lit., WHEN THOU MAKEST [THE LIGHTS] RISE — Because the flame rises upwards (עולה), an expression denoting “ascending” is used of kindling them (the lights), implying that one must kindle them until the light ascends of itself (Shabbat 21a).
(ג) בהעלותך את הנרות אל מול פני המנורה יאירו שבעת הנרות. לשון בהעלותך על שם השלהבת שהיא עולה מאליה. והחכמים ז"ל עושין אותו מלשון עלוי, שכך אמרו במדרש בהעלותך אמר הקב"ה לא שאני צריך לאורה שלכם אלא שתאירו לפני כדרך שהארתי לכם במדבר בעמוד האש, כדי לעלות אתכם בפני האומות שיהיו אומרים היאך ישראל מאירים לפני הקב"ה לפי שהוא מאיר לכל, והלא מתוך החשך הוצאתי אורה ואיני צריך לאורה שלכם
מנורה. (3) בהעלותך את הנרות אל מול פני המנורה יאירו שבעת הנרות, “when you kindle the lamps, toward the face of the Menorah shall the seven lamps cast light.” The Torah’s choice of the word בהעלותך, [as opposed to כאשר תדליק. Ed.] is a reference to the flame, שלהבת, which rises of its own accord (Shabbat 21). The sages consider the words as a form of עלוי, “spiritual ascent,” quoting Bamidbar Rabbah 15,5, G’d said: “it is not that I need your light but I want that you light up in My presence just as I lit up the path for you in the desert when I sent My pillar of fire ahead of you.” It will enhance your stature in the eyes of the Gentile nations when they observe that although it is G’d who provides light and illumination for the entire world, the Israelites provide light at His disposal.
we leave behind us all distractions, all craziness and stress, and enter a realm of spiritual calmness.
This week's parsha is BeHaalotecha, where Aharon is commanded to light the menorah in the mishkan. Rashi comments on the word Behaalotecha and eplains that the flame rises upwards (עולה), which implies that one must kindle the lighits until the light ascends of itself (Shabbat 21a).
Rabbeinu Bahye also explains that The Torah’s choice of the word בהעלותך, [as opposed to כאשר תדליק. Ed.] is a reference to the flame which rises of its own accord (Shabbat 21). The sages consider the words as a form of עלוי, “spiritual ascent,” quoting Bamidbar Rabbah 15,5.
As we light the shabbat candles this week, we can apply this concept into not only the experience of shabbat itself but ito our everyday lives.
this concept relates to shabbat