Modern Masters: Lifting Up the World With Light | Rabbi Sam Shor June 12th

Good afternoon. Welcome. So this afternoon we're actually going to take a look at a famous famous question that's asked on the opening pik of our sedra this week. Our sedra this week is parasha balotraka parasha balotraka of course dovetales on the previous sedra of parasha naso. Pasha Naso deals with the consecration of the Mishkan and most specifically the Misb and the Mishkan and each of the nim each of the princes of each of theatim of the 12 tribes offering carbonote with the exception of Shvi and our sra begins with the instruction that Moshe gives to his brother Aaron who is the who's the head so to speak of Shiva Levy. says, "Hashem speaks to Moshe and tells him that you shall speak to and say to him, when you are when you elevate the candles, we're talking about what that means. When you lift up the candles towards the face of the manora, we're going to talk about what that means in a minute. You shall light up the seven the seven candles. So rashi, if we just take a look right on our sheet, rash, I'm going to read it in the actual rashi just because it's a little smoother to read. But you have the English translation right there together with you with the Hebrew. Rashi says balotan. And what does it mean? And you as you lift up the candles or as you will be lifted up with the candles. What is the connection? Why is Hashem place this story of the instruction regarding immediately following the para which describes the various princes um offering their their And what happened? He says that says Rashi explains Rashi that when Aron Cohen saw all the other nim all the other princes bringing sacrifices and he was left out. He he became a little bit saddened. He suffered from what today we would call FOMO. Fear of missing out. He wasn't included in he wasn't included. That's not him or his or the entire lady. Therefore, Hashem says to him, "Okay, I swear by your life. Don't worry. What is what I'm what I'm assigning for you is greater than what they did because you're going to light kindle and make and make sure that we have and and sustain and maintain the candles on the monora. That's the first rash. Then rash continues. Why does it mean that he's lit? The first interpretation of Bahra is what you Aon will be lifted up through. You're you're feeling a little down. You're feeling a little bit left out. You're going to be lifted up because what I'm giving to you is greater than what the Nim had. The other nim just had a a caravan. You get something specific and special for you. By the way, if you look at those in last week's Sedra Nasso, it's almost every verse seems like a copy and paste, right? We changed the names of who the who's offering who's the ni that's offering who's who's offering that carbon but the rest of the the the details of the carbon itself it all is like a copy and paste it's all the same so Hashem says Aaron don't be down what I have saved for you is even greater it's different it's unique than what everybody else had okay so he's saying Aron who was downtrodden is lifted up you're going to be lifted up through the n the the candles that have a sign for you to kindle. That's the first interpretation of Rashi. But Rashi offers two other interpretations. You will lift up or you will be lifted up. He says that just as a flame is lit. How's a flame lit? The when you when you kindle the candle, the flame begins to what? to go up to ascend. And so they wrote, it's not just enough to just put the put the match against against the uh the the wick, but rather you have to wait till you see that there's actually a flame that the the wick actually does kindle and become an actual candle with the flame appearing above the oil. Okay, that's that's the second interpretation of the word. And the third interpretation Shaen. And the third interpretation is what? That there was a little step that there was a step that the would ascend would would elevate themselves in order to what to make it easier to light the minor. So there are three interpretations about what this word and they wrote that you shall you shall ascend as you kindle the candles. Okay, that it's either you Aron shall be lifted up emotionally because what you're being given is better and different than what everybody else had or you Aon should ascend that step physically elevate yourself in order to light the candles or that the flame will be elevated above the oil of each of the wicks. Okay, so that's that's the three interpretations. Now the next part of the pel that the candle should face this fa should be lit towards the face of the manura. What does that mean? Says we know what a manora looks like. Grand man has three three stems on each side and then there's a center base right and on that center basis there's the middle candle the middle nare. So what that the other lights surround the middle n the middle candle right there's the middle candle that's on the stem in the center the central stem and then you have the three candles on either side and their light shines towards the middle candle that's how Rashi explains our pas okay so we're going to take a a look at these comments from Rashi this idea of elevating a what that meant of elevating the flame and what it meant as well as the fact that the flames surround the the face of the manora. What is significant of that expression? We're going to begin if you turn your sheets to page two. We're going to begin with the words of the nivote shalom thei. We're going to begin six lines down on the on the right column here. Okay? Where it says in the middle of the line where it says the words towards the end of the sixth line. Okay? As we learn from the midrashim, all the other all the other princes of each of the they offered sacrifices and Aaron did not bring a sacrifice. He was left out of of the of the the dedication of the Mishkan. He says, "Oh, poor me." Okay, Hashem has decided that for other reason I'm not deserving and my entire and my entire tribe is not deserving to participate to be included. Hashem says to Moshe, I'll teach you. Moshe, Hashem says Moshe says don't speak to and tell him don't worry, okay? what you're going to get, what you're going to be designated to do is going to be greater than what they what they got to do. And what is that? And that's why the Torah tells us go speak Hashem tells Moshe, "Go speak to tell him you will be lifted up with the candles." Okay. Well, in terms of bringing carbonos, which is what the the the princes were able to do, that's relevant when as long as we have what he says, but when it comes to the candles, the candles will burn for all eternity and surround the face of the manora. So, what's the obvious question to be asked? The medish says that when Hashem is trying to cheer up Aron, he says, "Don't worry. What I have designated for you is greater than what the Nessian did, right? But but but the medish continues the carbon are only going to be relevant when we have a base of mdash. But the candles and the and lighting the candles towards the face of the minora, that's going to be eternally relevant." So what's the obvious question? We don't have a base of mdash. So we don't have what go on. So how do we understand his medish you follow the question? So look listen. So the addresses this question over this message saying I don't understand if there's no BD means what there's no mana and also the candles are irrelevant just like just like the the the sacrifices are irrelevant. So how are we to understand this min? So now the son is going to begin to explain this is the the third paragraph here on the bottom. He brings another midrash from the shimony. The seven candles correspond to the seven days of creation alabat. And since the seven days, the seven candles correspond to the seven days of creation, we could say that the manura symbolizes what? The seven days of the week, including Shabbat. And therefore, the panora, the face of the monora, the center, the center candle of manora is consider is a reference and represents Shabas. Now the Rebi is going to explain this. That's the holy, the day of Shabasesh is the central central day that all the other days of the week surround and are directed towards that you have on the left and on the right and in the middle you have the essence of it all. Okay. She says the central stem of the manora represents shabas and therefore on either side of that central stem you have three candles representing th Wednesday Thursday Friday and then three candles on the other side representing Sunday Monday Tuesday. So now the Reb is going to explain all this and that's how we can understand our verse that you shall be lit lifted up by the candles as they are lit towards the face of the minor and they shall burn those seven candles. Shabas brings light to all the days of the week. And that's how we can understand our verse that the towards the face of the manora the seven day the seven candles shall burn all the other days of the week. All seven days get their enlightenment from Shabas. Shabas is where we experience the light of God in the most vivid powerful way. All the rest of the week the Jew gets its it's his life force from what we experience. Okay. And in corresponding to how plugged in the Jew is on Shabas Kodesh to that light force coming into the world, that life force coming into the world that makes a difference in terms of how he experiences spiritually the rest of the week. So is sha is is shabas just a day where we turn off the TV and go to sleep or is shabas a day where we feel close to and if shabas the more that shabas a day where we feel enlightened and feel close to hashem inspired and sp that spiritual energy the more we can experience that on shabas the more that's going to carry over to the rest of our week as well says When the Bikdash existed, when we had a B mikdash, that minor was always constantly lit and therefore represented that the light of Hashem was ever present at every moment amongst the Jewish people. But what about now? We don't have the B mikdash and the is not lit. When do we experience the light of God? through Shabas and from Shabas that light spread can spread and go forth to all the rest of the days of the week. The minora says the son of is a symbol of light the light of Hashem coming into this world today in the absence of the B mikdash. How can a Jew experience that through Shabas kesh? The way we plug into Shabas, the way we appreciate Shabas, the spiritual energy that we feel on Shabas and the the amount and the capacity for us to do that on Shabas has a direct corlary and correlation to how spiritually plugged in and attuned will be during the rest of the week. That's how the Slumber Rebby interprets our verse. Okay, that's the first of our modern masters for today. The second modern master we're going to learn from is the Salazar of Kajnitz. He's a personality we've learned from many many times in this course. We're going to start on the ninth line down. It's like the second line after the after the split in the text. Okay, in the middle with the words okay. And then asks how could it be? So he says what the f opening paragraph is quoting the medish that rashi quotes that that iron was down trotting and hashem says to him says to him you know don't worry what I have set for you is better than what they had and it's going to be eternal because you're going to light the candles and and what they have is just offering carbonos which is bal once we is null and void once we don't have a bas so he says the mafarim jump all over that med you should say how could it be that without him bas mikdash there's no manora which means what does it mean that what he is what what he's being given is greater and is eternal and and will last forever once there's no bas mikdash they were also destroyed he says specifically go see what the raan says there I'll just tell you the raan said the raan says that this is an illusion to when hashem promises aon that you and your descendants what you're going to get is greater than what Carbonus are going to be brought by the other nim. It's a reference to Kaneka that the the Kashwanim or the descendants of Aon the Kanim, okay, they're going to be the ones who restore the light of the minor and bring them the the the whole the whole Y of Khan to Am Israel which becomes an eternal thing even in the absence of the Bikdash we light at least those eight days we light for those eight days the manora a manora and he says that's the Raman explains that's what what Hashem is saying to our that that even if there's no B mikdash, what you're bringing is still going to remain with the Jewish people through the that's how the Raman answers the question. But now back to now back to and he says this is this we're going to the third paragraph here and we know the a mitzvah is called a candle and the Torah is called light. And from this have taught us okay and and they use this to explain this verse in okay it's a mashall for it's a it's a it's a parable of a of a person who's walking in the depths of night in the darkest pitch blackness. that. But if he didn't have a candle or a flashlight or the light with him, it would be very very dangerous for him to be walking. And without that light, what? He would be vulnerable to what? To possibly falling in a pit or tripping or or being attacked by by criminals or by wild animals, etc. And therefore, we learn that the Jewish people and the light and the Torah are called one entity. and through the merit of Torah and its proverbial light. That's what's going to protect and ensure that what? That the Jewish people will never fall prey to the proverbial wild animals and and and pits that are open before them. Even in the darkest of times, the Jewish people will survive and endure because we have the light of Torah to protect us. The coals, the burning flame of the Jewish people will never be extinguished forever. And that's what our verse is teaching us when it says that the minora that's what the medish is teaching us. So it says the minora will burn for all eternity will shine for all eternity even without a mdash. So the minora says the rebi of kits is a reference. We again we had we had the first interpretation of the slumber rabi saying that what do we learn from the idea of the minora that shabas is the proverbial minora of the Jewish people and the Jewish people through shabas have the capacity to continue to experience that divine light in our lives. Okay and from that day of shabas that divine light carries forth into the rest of the week. That was the first interpretation. Now we have we have the kajutsi and the kajbi is saying no that what's the minora? The Jewish people are the proverbial manora. Okay. Through us through the Torah we learn through our commitment to Tara mitzvos we are the conduit to bring light into the world even in the darkest of moments even in the darkest of circumstances. And because of that, because that's our role, we as a people are eternal and will be protected through the merit of our being that proverbial minora. That's the questions. Okay, we're now going to learn a few pieces from RV cook just to bring us all together. The la the Okay, we're going to learn from two more modern masters this morning. We're now going to learn a few pieces from RV Cook. This is RV Cook in Oro Torah. Ruk's one of his famous famous works the lights of Torah and where text number five on the top of page four here says okay we all have this expression we all know this expression which means what tora for its own sake that's how we usually interpret the word Torah without any outward mo motivation any ulterior motives okay Torah for the sake of it its own thing. By the way, the bala says the word lima is correct is made up of the letters of lashem. So to according to the bala is what to learn to as a vehicle to feel connected to that's what the expression of means. Okay. But RV cook says one of the ways in which we can define whether or not we succeed in learning to Torah for its own sake or Torah for coming closer to Hashem is to realize and recognize that. One of the ways in which we achieve this idea of learning Torah is what? That through our learning Torah, we are enriching the Jewish people collectively with great spiritual strength. And any act that we do that increases the light of Torah and with it it's the the respect and love for Torah in the heart of one Jew. Wow. book says that when one Jew learns Torah, when one Jew through that learning Torah comes to love Torah and honor Torah, okay, what does it do? Metaphysically, it's enriching the entire entity of Kalisra. When one Jew sits and learns Torah, it has a powerful effect metaphysically on the collective soul of AmI. The light, we'll take questions at the end. The light of Torah is enriching all of Ami is. Okay. Now the next the next entry entry from which is the dollar learn learn hey from when one learns to okay for its own sake without any ulterior motivations we're actually doing a kindness for the Jewish people what does that mean what is how how so ru Okay, listen to this beautiful poetic line from the entire n the spirit of the entire nation is strengthened when its children receive their sustenance through the spiritual sustenance of the fruit of their soul. Torah completely fills the spirit of the Jewish people. And every individual who learns Torah and is involved and immerses themselves in the study of Torah, he reveals great the great power of life, a new power of life within the soul of the Jewish people through the spiritual sustenance that they receive from learning Torah. So says of cook when an individual learns Torah, we're not only lifting ourselves up, we're lifting up all of Kaiso. Okay? Even if there is only even if I'm sitting and learning by myself, that learning is not only lifting up me, whether we realize it or not, metaphysically, it is lifting up and and enriching and strengthening the entire cl says. Okay. Elsewhere in our Torah, Rafuk takes it a step further. This is text number six. Cook says, he says, truly righteous individuals, the famous quote from Rook, truly righteous individuals, when they look at what's wrong in the world, what's broken in the world, when they see the darkness and confusion and despair in the world, they don't complain. They don't complain about what's broken. They don't talk badly about what's broken. Rather, they roll up their sleeves and they add justice. They contribute to making the world a better place. Okay? And this is a this is a manifestation of the concept. Okay? A little bit of light can push aside so much darkness. Cook is saying in this beautiful short piece that what the role of Isel is when we look at the world around us that can seem sometimes so dark and confusing and and and and we could look at the world and we can say the world is completely broken and it's a terrible place and we can very easily begin to talk badly about others. That's not the way a truly righteous individual conducts themselves as a group. truly righteous individuals, they look at the world, they say, "Okay, the world is broken. So, what can I do to fix it?" Okay, we see darkness, what can we do? Even if it's on a minute level, that can begin to turn the page to a brighter day to bring light amidst that darkness. And Cook says that even the littlest bit of light can outshine so much darkness. So when we learn Torah even as an individual, okay, not only does it enrich us and lift us up, okay, lift up our own personal manora, but it lifts up and even more so is what Cook says in this piece. Okay. The light that we bring to the world, okay, even as individuals, has the capacity to lift up the entire world, to lift the world through light, the light of Torah. I just want to share one last beautiful idea from another modern master. It's our fourth modern master of the day, and that's Rabbi Schlama Ainer. Absin is one of the great leaders of the religious scionist world today. He just celebrated his 80th birthday last year. He is the Roshiva of Yeshiva at the Terakanim in the old city. He's also the the ba the the the ra the chief rabbi ammeritus of betel and uh this beautiful short quote he says there are people that look at the world and they see shadows and then there are other people who see the world and they see the shadows but rather than see the shadows they see what the light that comes before the shadows. And we have to realize just realize that if there if there are shadows that exist in the world, if there are dark images that exist in the world, what is a shadow? It's a reflection of light. It means that what? There's a sign that there is light of a if we look at the world and we see dark images. We see shadows. Okay? We should be strengthened and realize that what that if there's a shadow that means that there's a light that there's a a light that exists as well as well and we have to strive the the role of the Jewish people is to strive to be that proverbial manora to be that vessel to bring that light into the world to reveal that light to the world to shine the light to the entire world and in so doing even as individuals when we bring a little bit of light when we sit and learn when we do a mitzvah when we do an active We do a little bit of light says cook. You have no idea how much that little bit of light outshines so much of the darkness. How much that light okay projects over and beyond the shadows. How much that light lifts us up as individuals, lifts us up as claw and lifts up the entire world. for all of us as we prepare to read parasa this week is that we take to heart all these beautiful ideas and beautiful teachings that we learn from each of these MA masters that indeed we should be blessed to be a source of light to lift ourselves up to strengthen ourselves to the light of the of the Torah Kadosha to strengthen claosha and in so doing to bring light and lift up the world which right now seems very very dark and full of plenty of shadows to lift up the world and realize that the key to protecting the Jewish people as as the as the uh as the kajbi said so beautifully the len so beautifully the greatest the greatest thing that we have to protect us is the fact that we are given this sacred mission to emulate our own and bring that light into the world even amidst the darkness shalom