(כ) וְאַתָּה תְּצַוֶּה אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְיִקְחוּ אֵלֶיךָ שֶׁמֶן זַיִת זָךְ כָּתִית לַמָּאוֹר לְהַעֲלֹת נֵר תָּמִיד. (כא) בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד מִחוּץ לַפָּרֹכֶת אֲשֶׁר עַל הָעֵדֻת יַעֲרֹךְ אֹתוֹ אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו מֵעֶרֶב עַד בֹּקֶר לִפְנֵי יְהוָה חֻקַּת עוֹלָם לְדֹרֹתָם מֵאֵת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל.
(20) You shall further instruct the children of Israel, to bring you pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to burn continually. (21) In the tent of meeting, without the veil which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall set it in order, to burn from evening to morning before Adonai; it shall be a statute for ever throughout their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.
The Ner Tamid is the only commanded practice associated with the ancient tabernacle that we still use.
What is the purpose of the Ner Tamid? Why do we still use it today?
In T'tzaveh we learn a few things about what a Ner Tamid, the eternal light, represents.
(Text excerpted from Rabbi Marina Yergin's Sermon, February 22, 2013.)
1) A Ner Tamid is a symbol that is to be placed over the ark to bring us closer to Torah and what is in it. It points us to the values found in Judaism. It brings many generations towards Torah, their knowledge of Judaism, and the values they use daily. Families have seen the values that the Ner Tamid points us towards and have raised their own children in its guiding light. A Ner Tamid has stood before so many people, heard so many peoples’ prayers, and, as the Torah tells us, draws us with its light towards its’ teachings and values, allowing us to structure our lives and families in its glow.
What kinds of family events has the Ner Tamid at Temple Beth-El seen? What role has Torah played in your family's life?
2) The Ner Tamid reminds us of life and light. It allows us to celebrate the joys and share the sorrows that have surrounded this community. It has illuminated the emotions and connection between people. The Ner Tamid could boast its pride at being able to guide us towards this revered, sacred item in our midst, but it doesn't. No matter what, a Ner Tamid represents life as it represents eternity, the eternity that we have given to it in our sadness and joy over the years.
What does Torah mean for your lives? How does your family highlight Torah as the Ner Tamid does at Temple Beth-El?
3) The Ner Tamid is to be lit “from evening to morning”. Sure, now we have electricity so we don’t have to do that by hand, but this Ner Tamid has to be renewed continuously. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be a Ner Tamid, it would become a Ner L’famim, a sometimes light, not an eternal light. It can only be sustained by one of us renewing its bulbs, or in those times, actually lighting it with a flame.
What are some of your family's traditions? How do you make those sustainable and part of your family's life? How do you make sure Torah and Judaism will have a role in your family's life?
As you leave today (or any day), poke your head in the sanctuary or chapel and look around at the pews, the siddurim, the stained glass windows, the ark, but let your last gaze focus on the light above the ark, our Ner Tamid. Let it remind you of all that it teaches us and what we have personally taken away from it. At some point, try to peek in the sanctuary or chapel when the lights are all out and see how that Ner Tamid still guides our eyes towards our Torah. Any other time you might be in the synagogue, make sure to let that Ner Tamid light your way towards our values, our lives, and the connections of our community.