The Menoras of Golus and Geulah
Behaalosecha - Chanuka
Like the beginning of the Parsha, the Haftorah also describes a golden Menorah. But the Menorah shown to the Navi Zechariah in his vision, was very different to the Menorah that stood in the Mishkan and later in the Beis Hamikdash.
Zechariah describes how the Menorah that he was shown had a bowl on its top. Coming out of the bowl were 7 pipes that fed into the 7 candles of the Menorah. Extending above the Menorah, on either side of the bowl stood an olive tree.
The continuation of the Nevuah (which we do not read in the Hafotrah), describes the vision in greater detail. Zechariah mentions two clusters of olives and two golden presses that were pouring golden (oil) from themselves. which would crush the olives.
This Menorah was completely self-sufficient. The olives would grow and when they were ripe they would fall into the presses. The oil would flow into the bowl where it would collect and from there, it would flow through the 7 pipes to fill the 7 candles of the Menorah. All of this happened by itself without any human involvement.
The Menorah in the Beis Hamikdash needed human effort at each step. The olives needed to be manually harvested and pressed to produce the oil. There was no bowl and no pipes to automatically feed the candles. Every day the Kohen would have to refill the Menorah with fresh oil.
The Tzemach Tzedek explains that the difference between the 2 Menorahs reflects the difference between the experience of Geulah and during the time of Exile.
The Menorah of Zechariah was a Messianic prophesy. The G-dly revelations that we will experience in the time of the Geulah are so lofty that they are beyond our capacity to elicit. Like the oil in Zechariah’s vision, these revelations will flow by themselves from Above, independent of our efforts. In Kabbalah this is called an Isarusa D’leila, an awakening that comes from Above that is beyond and therefore independent of our Avodah.
The Menorah of the Beis Hamikdash represents the pre-Geulah reality. This reality is a world of action where our efforts are imperative. During Golus, our work of refining physicality is constantly required to illuminate the world with the light of Hashem. This is referred to as an Isarusa D’lesata, an awakening elicited from below.
The Menorah of the Beis Hamikdash reminds us that while we are still in Golus, now is the time for personal action. What we do makes all the difference. Indeed, this will be something that we miss in the times of Moshiach; the satisfaction that comes through working hard for one’s own accomplishments.
Through our efforts in lighting the Menorah of Golus, we will merit to experience the Menorah of Zechariah, when Hashem will fill the world with the light of the Geulah.
~ Based on Or Hatorah Vayechi p1120
Zechariah describes how the Menorah that he was shown had a bowl on its top. Coming out of the bowl were 7 pipes that fed into the 7 candles of the Menorah. Extending above the Menorah, on either side of the bowl stood an olive tree.
The continuation of the Nevuah (which we do not read in the Hafotrah), describes the vision in greater detail. Zechariah mentions two clusters of olives and two golden presses that were pouring golden (oil) from themselves. which would crush the olives.
This Menorah was completely self-sufficient. The olives would grow and when they were ripe they would fall into the presses. The oil would flow into the bowl where it would collect and from there, it would flow through the 7 pipes to fill the 7 candles of the Menorah. All of this happened by itself without any human involvement.
The Menorah in the Beis Hamikdash needed human effort at each step. The olives needed to be manually harvested and pressed to produce the oil. There was no bowl and no pipes to automatically feed the candles. Every day the Kohen would have to refill the Menorah with fresh oil.
The Tzemach Tzedek explains that the difference between the 2 Menorahs reflects the difference between the experience of Geulah and during the time of Exile.
The Menorah of Zechariah was a Messianic prophesy. The G-dly revelations that we will experience in the time of the Geulah are so lofty that they are beyond our capacity to elicit. Like the oil in Zechariah’s vision, these revelations will flow by themselves from Above, independent of our efforts. In Kabbalah this is called an Isarusa D’leila, an awakening that comes from Above that is beyond and therefore independent of our Avodah.
The Menorah of the Beis Hamikdash represents the pre-Geulah reality. This reality is a world of action where our efforts are imperative. During Golus, our work of refining physicality is constantly required to illuminate the world with the light of Hashem. This is referred to as an Isarusa D’lesata, an awakening elicited from below.
The Menorah of the Beis Hamikdash reminds us that while we are still in Golus, now is the time for personal action. What we do makes all the difference. Indeed, this will be something that we miss in the times of Moshiach; the satisfaction that comes through working hard for one’s own accomplishments.
Through our efforts in lighting the Menorah of Golus, we will merit to experience the Menorah of Zechariah, when Hashem will fill the world with the light of the Geulah.
~ Based on Or Hatorah Vayechi p1120