(ה) וְהָאֵ֨שׁ עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֤חַ תּֽוּקַד־בּוֹ֙ לֹ֣א תִכְבֶּ֔ה וּבִעֵ֨ר עָלֶ֧יהָ הַכֹּהֵ֛ן עֵצִ֖ים בַּבֹּ֣קֶר בַּבֹּ֑קֶר וְעָרַ֤ךְ עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ הָֽעֹלָ֔ה וְהִקְטִ֥יר עָלֶ֖יהָ חֶלְבֵ֥י הַשְּׁלָמִֽים׃ (ו) אֵ֗שׁ תָּמִ֛יד תּוּקַ֥ד עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ לֹ֥א תִכְבֶּֽה׃ {ס}
(5) The fire on the altar shall be kept burning, not to go out: every morning the priest shall feed wood to it, lay out the burnt offering on it, and turn into smoke the fat parts of the offerings of well-being. (6) A perpetual fire shall be kept burning on the altar, not to go out.
https://www.rabbishefagold.com/fire-on-altar-aish-tamid/
Inside our hearts is a flame that must be kept burning. That fire is our passion for Life, our yearning for God, our curiosity about the mysteries, our sparkle of humor, our enthusiasm for the Work.
We keep that fire burning by engaging in spiritual practice, by surrounding ourselves with beauty, by giving and receiving love and support, and by fully connecting with what (and whom) we love.
It is crucial to bring attention to that flame on the altar of the heart – to feed that fire and to guard it with loving vigilance.
The Baal Shem Tov taught that there must always be a point of enthusiasm in our hearts. This is the meaning of the phrase “A perpetual fire shall be kept burning.” The altar symbolizes the heart, and the fire is our enthusiasm.
When Scripture here says “perpetual” it does not mean only in terms of time [i.e., that our enthusiasm must always exist], but suggests that the enthusiasm must be because of the promise of perpetuity [in other words, we are enthusiastic because of the promise that our inner fires will never go out]. When we commit to sustaining our engagement with all our heart and soul, then that inner fire will “not go out.”
קָם סָבָא חַד מִבָּתַר טוּלָא (כותלא), וְאָמַר רַבִּי רַבִּי בּוֹצִינָא קַדִּישָׁא, קוּם אַדְלֵיק שְׁרַגָּא דְאִיהִי מִצְוָה, שְׁכִינְתָּא קַדִּישָׁא, דַּעֲלָהּ אִתְּמַר (ויקרא ו ו) אֵשׁ תָּמִיד תּוּקַד עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ לֹא תִכְבֶּה, וַעֲלָהּ אִתְּמַר (שמות כז כ) לְהַעֲלֹת נֵר תָּמִיד, נֵר יהו''ה אִתְקְרִיאַת וַדַּאי, אוֹר דְּנָהִיר בֵּיהּ נִשְׁמַת אָדָם, קוּם אַדְלֵיק בָּהּ.
One older person stood up from behind a wall, and said: Rebbe my teacher, The Holy Light, come and light candles, for that is a Mitzvah (commandment), on that it is said: An everlasting fire shall be kept burning on the altar, it should not be extinguished. And, on that it is also said: To light the eternal flame. This is surely the light of the divine, the light that shines within the soul of every person. Come, light it with her.
A fire shall continuously burn on the altar; it shall not go out. (Lev. 6:6)
What is this fire we are asked to tend, always?
It is fire that comes from the flames of the burning bush,
Fire that spoke to each of us by name
And asked:
Where are you on your path?
What is your life about?
It is fire that comes from the flames of Sinai
Fire that said to us—All is One.
Live in ways that honor the Oneness.
Live in ways that honor All.
The fire on the altar is a fire of transformation causing all it touches to become holy. (Lev. 6:20)
This fire is ours to tend.
Let us be kind and gentle with ourselves and others.
Let us practice gratitude
And find reason and opportunity to say thank you again and again.
Let us be true to where we are in the moment
And with care, release the impulse to control what will be.
Each of us on our own paths,
All of us together on this journey.
Let us make holy our words and actions.
May the fires we tend light the way.