The Messianic Menorah
The Haftorah of Chanukah
The Haftorah of Chanukah is the vision of the Menorah that was shown to the Navi Zechariah. Since Chanukah celebrates the miracle that happened with the Menorah in the Beis Hamikdash, our sages selected a passage from the Neviim which refers to a Menorah
The Tanach gives a vivid description of Zechariah’s vision. Whilst he also saw a 7-branched Menorah made of pure gold, the Menorah that he was shown was very different to the Menorah that stood in the Beis Hamikdash.
In his vision, the Menorah had a bowl on its top. Coming out of the bowl were 7 pipes that fed into the 7 candles of the Menorah. On either side of the bowl stood an olive tree and an olive press.
Cluster of olives would fall from the trees into two golden presses which would crush the olives. The pure oil would flow into the bowl where it would collect. From there, it would flow through the 7 pipes to fill the 7 candles of the Menorah. All of this happened by itself, completely automated, without needing any human involvement .
Lighting the Menorah in the Beis Hamikdash required human effort at each step. The olives needed to be harvested and pressed to produce the oil. There was no bowl and no pipes to automatically feed the candles. Oil had to be bought and kept in supply. Every day the Kohen would refill the Menorah lamps with fresh oil.
Zechariah asks the angel who had been speaking to him what this vision means. The angel responds “this is the word of Hashem to Zerubabel… not through armies and not through might but with My spirit says Hashem.”
The Targum explains that Zerubabel refers to Moshiach and the vision is a Messianic prophecy. Moshiach’s rule will not be through war and might but rather with the spirit of Hashem that will rest upon him and emanate to the rest of the world.
The difference between the 2 Menorahs reflects the difference between the experience of Geulah and during the time of Exile.
The light of the Menorah represents the light of Hashem that shines within the world.
The G-dly revelations that we will experience in the time of the Geulah are so lofty that they are completely beyond our capacity to draw down through our own actions and spiritual service. Rather, 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.
The Menorah of the Beis Hamikdash represents the pre-Geulah reality. This reality is a world of action where our efforts are imperative to the process. During Golus, our work of refining physicality and fulfilment of the Mitzvos is constantly required to illuminate the world with the light of Hashem. Since this light is not as lofty as the light of the Geulah, it can be drawn down through an Isarusa D’lesata, an awakening from below.
This is the meaning of Zechriah’s vision. The light of Moshiach will be so great that it will not shine through our might and our effort, “but rather with My spirit says Hashem.”
Our effort during the time of Golus prepare the world, bringing it to the highest level of perfection that we can achieve. May we merit to experience the Menorah of Zechariah, when Hashem will fill the world with the light of the Geulah.
~ Based on Or Hatorah of the Tzemach Tzedek
The Tanach gives a vivid description of Zechariah’s vision. Whilst he also saw a 7-branched Menorah made of pure gold, the Menorah that he was shown was very different to the Menorah that stood in the Beis Hamikdash.
In his vision, the Menorah had a bowl on its top. Coming out of the bowl were 7 pipes that fed into the 7 candles of the Menorah. On either side of the bowl stood an olive tree and an olive press.
Cluster of olives would fall from the trees into two golden presses which would crush the olives. The pure oil would flow into the bowl where it would collect. From there, it would flow through the 7 pipes to fill the 7 candles of the Menorah. All of this happened by itself, completely automated, without needing any human involvement .
Lighting the Menorah in the Beis Hamikdash required human effort at each step. The olives needed to be harvested and pressed to produce the oil. There was no bowl and no pipes to automatically feed the candles. Oil had to be bought and kept in supply. Every day the Kohen would refill the Menorah lamps with fresh oil.
Zechariah asks the angel who had been speaking to him what this vision means. The angel responds “this is the word of Hashem to Zerubabel… not through armies and not through might but with My spirit says Hashem.”
The Targum explains that Zerubabel refers to Moshiach and the vision is a Messianic prophecy. Moshiach’s rule will not be through war and might but rather with the spirit of Hashem that will rest upon him and emanate to the rest of the world.
The difference between the 2 Menorahs reflects the difference between the experience of Geulah and during the time of Exile.
The light of the Menorah represents the light of Hashem that shines within the world.
The G-dly revelations that we will experience in the time of the Geulah are so lofty that they are completely beyond our capacity to draw down through our own actions and spiritual service. Rather, 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.
The Menorah of the Beis Hamikdash represents the pre-Geulah reality. This reality is a world of action where our efforts are imperative to the process. During Golus, our work of refining physicality and fulfilment of the Mitzvos is constantly required to illuminate the world with the light of Hashem. Since this light is not as lofty as the light of the Geulah, it can be drawn down through an Isarusa D’lesata, an awakening from below.
This is the meaning of Zechriah’s vision. The light of Moshiach will be so great that it will not shine through our might and our effort, “but rather with My spirit says Hashem.”
Our effort during the time of Golus prepare the world, bringing it to the highest level of perfection that we can achieve. May we merit to experience the Menorah of Zechariah, when Hashem will fill the world with the light of the Geulah.
~ Based on Or Hatorah of the Tzemach Tzedek