Parshat Bahalotcha - Mrs. shira smiles

Hashem spoke to Moshe saying, "Begin first in Parshas Behaaloscha." "Speak to Aaron and say to him, when you kindle the lamps toward the face of the menorah, shall the seven lamps cast light." I like to take a look at a Rashi. A Rashi we all know. A Rashi we have learned from grade school. And and and you have the Ramban with the Rashi already imprinted in your brain. So, I need us to take a look at this as if we have never seen this and take a look at it with fresh eyes. Rashi says, "When you kindle the lamps source three, why was the passage dealing with the kindling of the menorah put next to the passage dealing with the contribution of the offering of the princes, which we know we learned last week that the Nesi'im brought the sacrifices? What is then the connection to the lighting of the candles?" Leficha She'ar Aaron, because when Aaron saw Chanukas HaNesi'im, the inauguration of the princes, Chalsa Da'ito, he felt badly about it. Shelo Ya'am Mahem Chanukas Lo Hu VeLo Shivto, for neither he nor his tribe was in the inauguration. Amar Lo HaKadosh Baruch Hu, "Hashem said to him, 'Don't worry, Chayecha I swear by your life, SheLo Chanu Lo MiSheLahem, that yours is greater than theirs, She'Atah Madlik and you light the candles.'" And we also know, which is brought in the Midrash found in source number 37, HaKorbanos Kol Zman SheBeis HaMikdash Kayyam, Hen HaGim. "Why is the menorah even greater?" Because says the Midrash, "When the Beis HaMikdash is around, that's when you have korbanos. Aval HaNeiros LaOlam AMulpaneiha Menorah Ya'ir, the menorah is forever." Okay, so that's the Rashi and that's the Midrash, which is an addendum to Rashi. So, now my friends, we have a number of questions to ask. First and foremost, "What is driving Rashi to ask this question?" You do not find that Rashi in every beginning of every parsha ask, "Lama Nishmach Ha, why is this parsha after the parsha that comes before it?" Right? That's If Rashi asked that question every single time, "What's the connection between the two?" So, then there's no question. But, he doesn't ask it. Which means that there must be something here that's driving him to ask this specifically. Further, let's go on with our questions. Chalsa Da'ito, he's upset and Hashem says, "Don't worry, yours is greater cuz you light the candles." Well, hold on a second. This is source number seven. HaRamban Nishal Divrei Rashi. The Ramban asked a number of questions on Rashi. VeLo NiParlelu Lamah Nachal Lakas HaNeiros, "Why is he being consoled with the lighting of the candles?" He brings the ketores every morning, right? And he has korbanos. And and all these things Avodas Shema Ketores. And with that he's not satisfied? "You have the menorah. There's something about the menorah which is greater than all of these korbanos." And our final question is source number eight. Ulecha Tzarich La'avin, Halo Chalsa Da'ito Ki Chilu, U Madua Hayta LeAharon Chalishus Da'ato Al HaLinyan HaMeyuchad SheShivtei Acherim Asu? You know what, my friends? We all have different jobs. That's the reality of life. So, he couldn't bring it. But, you know what? YOU HAVE OTHER things to do. We don't find the Shvatim woke up in the morning saying, "Hey, Chalsa Da'ito, hey, we can't bring the ketores this morning." No, because it wasn't their job to bring the ketores. No, it wasn't his job to bring the other korbanos. So, why Chalsa Da'ito, why is he so upset? Okay, so those are our three questions. Understand what the whole inyan of the parsha doing here is, the Smichus Ha'Inyanim. What is it about the menorah that's so the lighting of the candles? And Chalsa Da'ito, so he couldn't do it. Right? Then move on in life. You with me? Let's begin with just giving us a background a little bit into the first question. Then we'll do the third question, the second question, and you third question, the first question, and the second question. Don't worry, I have it under wraps. Sort of. Um the Be'er BaSadeh, which Rabbi Artscroll quotes in source number two, the menorah's Avodas HaTamid, yeah. The menorah's service took place for the first time on the first of Nissan, the same day that the first inaugural offerings of the princes was brought. Here's the key. The preparation of the lamps of the menorah takes place before any of the daily offerings are brought. Therefore, we would have assumed that the idea of commanding Aaron to light the candles would be found before the Nesi'im brought their korban, and it would be a perfect place right after Birkas Kohanim in Parshas Nasso, when you say that this is the job of the Kohanim to bless the people. Right then and there, light the candles, because that was the first service that was done, and then you would have the inaugural service. So, Rashi's really asking, "What is it doing here when the menorah's service was, in terms of time, actually done before the inaugural sacrifices?" Further, the question that Rabbi Melevsky brings in Ner Uziel, is that after this section in source number four, in Parshas Behaaloscha, right after the menorah, you have the inauguration of the Levi'im, of how they were brought into their service. So, says Rav Melevsky, "Another part of Rashi's question is, this doesn't in Lehavdil Eleph HaVdalos Sesame Street language, this doesn't belong. You have the inauguration of the Nesi'im, you have the inauguration of the Levi'im. So, then this section here should also be about what? Something to do with inauguration. And it's not. So, what's bothering Rashi is, "Well, why are you putting this here when it has nothing to do with inauguration?" To which the Ramban, and we all know this Ramban in source number five, to answer this question, Ramban cites a Midrash that declares that a day will come when it will be as if there's when it will be as if there's no Temple, although the Temple will be standing. At that time there will be no offerings. The Jewish people will not gather three times a year. Then a group of Jews, all of whom will be descendants of Aaron, known as the Chashmona'im, who were all Kohanim, will bring about the reinauguration of the Temple. So, the Ramban is, right, based on the good story, is saying what? That Rashi that the pas the the pasuk is now telling us, "Ah, you think that this isn't part of the inauguration rule? Ah, it's not part of the inauguration at the time of the Mishkan, but it has an inauguration quality to it because this is foreshadowing that Aaron's children will be able to inaugurate." Hence, what do we call the holiday? Chanukah, inauguration, yeah? They will inaugurate the Temple in the time of the Bayis Sheini. To which the Ner Uziel asks, "Well, hold on a second. That was a thousand years later. That's very nice. But, we still have to answer, what is it doing here in this place?" And again, the classic answer of the Ramban echoes that Midrash of yours will be around forever, because albeit we don't have the lighting of the menorah, but we do all have what? Chanukah candles. But, we're still bothered, because the Chanukah candles are still not the candles of the menorah. Have I confused us more than I've settled us? I've confused us. So, let me recap. Question number one is, "What is this section doing here when before and after came inauguration?" This must have a quality of inauguration. Ramban says it's the inauguration of the Chashmona'im, which is fine, but it doesn't really respond to the 3,000 years before the Chashmona'im come. And further, the service of the menorah was the first service of the day. It should have preceded the Nesi'im. So, we need to understand, "What is this section doing here?" Question number two. "Why is the menorah what was given to him to appease him when he has so many other services?" Again, the answer of the Ramban is because that will be what? Everlasting. That still asks questions. Question number three, which is the question I'd like to begin with, "Chalsa Da'ito, he's upset." Please. You know, you have other things. Could we just We're ready to start, my friends? Why isn't Aaron called out on his jealousy? Yeah, I would also ask that. Yeah, this sounds like jealousy, doesn't it? Great. So, now let's begin. Ready? But, he can't be jealous because it's so not his personality. Right, of course it's not jealousy. Yeah, he's not jealous. He's Yeah, that what you were going to say? When the second and the What happened? The second question is why does the candle and the third question is why is he getting upset? Yeah, okay. So my friends, I mean let's answer this ready here we go. Source number eight in the arrow now we're going to be on the same page for a while. I mean in order that's what I meant. We learn here a fundamental principle in spirituality. which is the opposite of the natural world. We would think that someone who doesn't have any mitzvahs is going to be looking for mitzvahs and somebody who have a lot of mitzvahs will say you know what Shalom Al Nachshi it's okay. But we don't find it that way. Someone who doesn't have much mitzvahs he's sitting on his lower or saying I'm fine where I am. And someone who's filled with mitzvahs wants what? Wants more. quotes the 11 Stein but a lot of people quote based on the Sabbath kill. Source number nine doubles quickly. We say in our diving at the end of the seal. who's created us for his honor and separated us from the nation. nations with a son Taurus Emmett and gave us a tour of truth that's a very rough translation. He planted within us everlasting life. And We know that anytime you have a garden, you have to what? You have to work it. Otherwise it looks like my garden which is overgrown weeds. Got the picture. How do you know whether your garden is growing or not? The answer is but I got shot him. Your desire for life. Now let's put this into English. A person who lay down is sick will go to the ends of the world will spend all of their money just for what? A few more days months of life. That physical life. To what extent do we go to for our spiritual lives? How much do we expand ourselves for a little bit more Torah and mitzvahs? If you see you want more and more life If you're looking for higher and higher levels, that's a sign that your garden is growing beautifully, it's flowering, it's doing great. This says is about Aaron the Cohen. There is a type of kinah which we call what? kinah sofrim kinah sofrim the jealousy of of of wise people is a different type of kinah. It's not that I'm jealous of you and I want what you have, rather I am jealous of your level and me on my level want to I want to be able to achieve more and more which means He sees in this seam have reached a higher level. They have initiated and brought a korban. All the things that Aaron the Cohen did were mandated to him. Here he sees people are taking what? Their own initiative and he says that's what I want. I'm looking for something more that I can be able to do in my service to Hashem. And he notes here the quoting of school the school in 12 He says leave the all of to choose this type of life is a mitzvah that's saying it's a positive command and he quotes Yona. The high levels are given in the mitzvah that's saying and this is a mitzvah look at the pace of life live core. We are commanded to try to grow, move forward look for more. And that could be in the Torah mitzvahs that we already do. I want to take that same Torah and learn it deeper, learn it again. The same mitzvah that I'm doing I want to do it with greater passion, with greater enthusiasm. I'm looking for opportunities of growth. Let's put this into English. Yes, ma'am. Excellent. Excellent. The same idea. Yes, 100% it's that desire for more and more. Yeah. Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, I understand that. And generally in life you're right it doesn't take away from the fact that at times you want to what? You want to give not to live your life on that way 100% but there are you know, you want to gift as well. I agree with you. Now Let's put this into English. You pick the store. I don't care where you shop. If you're not using self-checkout you will invariably wait a line. And if you follow me, you will always be on the wrong line. Now really there is no wrong line or right line it's exactly where you're supposed to be. We understand that. We got that. At the same time I will reframe it. You were on the line that gives you plenty of time. You know that before you walk into Yesh. Are you taking a to him with you? Are you calling Aunt Sadie? You know, like what are you doing in that time that can be productive and giving. Now it could be that you're going to unload the person in front of you and reload and repack that's fine. But you're utilizing it with my antennas are up to see how I can what? Utilize this time to grow. And this is You know, somebody was telling me on on my Sunday sheer that their brother-in-law made a separate see my shots. He's like you know, not like one of the yet. I don't even know him. I shouldn't comment about him. He made a separate see my shots that took him 13 years of these five minutes. That he took these you know, waiting for a breath waiting for and he finished that in 13 years. We have a lot more time than we what? We give ourselves credit for. And we spend a lot of it on I don't have it on me those machines. But these machines have on them I believe. Yeah, they do. Yeah. I wouldn't know but that's what they tell me. I love when you finish benching and you you know, go like this to the machine. Yeah, knee-jerk reaction. Yeah. It says a lot more than you realize but okay, we're not commenting right now. But we will Yes, ma'am. Rebbetzin. Yeah, you got it. 100% Yes, 100% 100% I agree with you. I'm not disagreeing with you that you can use it as time of to make us and he's for the toes and planning and doing It was just an example. 100% 100% You have to be very disciplined. You have to be disciplined to use your mind because otherwise I start thinking about and then my mind goes to and then it goes to I don't know about your mind. But um Source 13 A person will have a drive and a desire based on their level and where they're holding. If you are a person who is drawn to the physical world, so that's what you're going to desire. I have a student from Chamish whose son works and every time he gets money, he buys sneakers. He has like 35 pairs of sneakers. And when I meet her, I say, "How's your sneaker son doing?" I have no idea what his name is, but I refer to him as the sneaker son. He's always on the run, I guess. Ach im Adam but if you're spiritual looking out for aspects. And he then quotes an idea that is so impactful. We know one leads to another one. Why is one lead to another? Because you're training your mind. You're getting it into the gears of giving. The beginning of email. You're planting within you. Listen to the I want us to take it home in our pockets. There's 14 top left. Don't rejoice for the you've done. I love us share your old. Rejoice in the that will come on the heels of what you've done. Likewise, don't be upset about the sin you've done Ella mean have you cool me men up. But from the sins that will come in its wake. And the imagery back to our garden in the middle double underline of the next paragraph for the arrow. When you plant righteousness, you will sow salvation. No that life is about not just doing one here's the keyword habituating ourselves to a mindset and a life of will lead us to more and more metals. And that's what we have to get in the habit of that I'm looking for more and more opportunities of growth. Like we all know, we've all grown up with and I do not like this muscle because I find it very sad. You know, the guy who goes to a desert island and it's full of diamond and he puts a few in his pocket and they tell him, "No, here it melts. That's what's worth money." And he fills up with and he comes back home and it all spoils on the boat. And then smells terrible and his family said, "I thought you were getting diamonds and you bring BACK NO ONE MELTS." I hate this muscle. I hate it. Why? I'll tell you why. You know why? Who could tell me why I hate it? Because it's so It's so true. It's so sad. I'm looking for another word with an S. SC Scary. You got it. It's so scary. We have so many diamonds that we have the ability to pick up. So many. 16 cherry of ice that sell He wanted more. And he quotes the madras. And the one who loves money will never be satisfied with money. The madras says I have those. I love you but those. If you love you can never get enough. Like we can never get enough money, you can never get enough what? Metals. And you're looking for more and more opportunities. Now what's interesting, now I'm two for two doing the whole parsha or more of than just one, you see two examples of the both sides of the coin in our parsha. In 17, you see the shiny. Who were the shiny individuals who couldn't we can't bring? Why should we be held back? Okay, we can't bring. That's the reality, but does that mean we can't bring please? And they bring that parsha of shiny. And you have the flip side as well. The flip side is we have the our own to break three negative things. What is the first of the three negative things? Um Summarizing 17, they traveled for the mountain of what's so terrible. They only traveled when there was an that went up. So say the way they traveled was a little bit too happy. The language of could have a wreck with like a child who runs away from school. I always like to add on that measure like a teacher who runs away from school. That's my personal addendum to that. Um you see how much I love my work. Um It's all good. Can you repeat that? Right. Are you happy when it rains when this when are you happy when it rains or you sad? You should know just to add to that Um the most of on the brings down Let's say you can't sit in a you're sick, you're old or face. Does that mean you can't build a car? You can't sit in it, but does that mean you can't build it? If you have a view If you have so you what? But he built it. Yeah. Yes. One more day just to yeah, 100%. Do you have to run away from the why? Oh my gosh, if we're here any longer, who knows what more what? What more are they going to give us? And listen to this because this is a punchline of the double squiggly. Maybe it's near Hanukkah. He definitely open so mostly involved it. Perhaps this explains to us why Hanukkah is so connected with we start with one candle, go to two candles, three candles because as we saw the Hanukkah candles are connected on some level to coin. I want to coin the whole resident in life was what? More increase. So Hanukkah is a holiday of more and increasing really really echoing the sentiment of I want to coin which I think is an absolutely involved involved that. If this is true, let's flip the page. Um If we understand that this is like a need we have in source 19 says Leo. You wake up in the morning and you have nothing to eat. You don't then say what? Okay, so I've nothing to eat. I don't call my the army so You go to the store, you buy something to eat. My kids come to my house. Someone told me a great line. My call it. Very good. I love it. And it's so true. They of course and in my class, I just tell them when you take the last thing, could you just please what? Just let me Even you have nothing in the house. I didn't know you were coming, you know. My call it. Think about that. It was one of the best lines I've heard. I love you cuz I know you and you love. I love you so much. I love you so much. If I don't have a to do right now, give me an opportunity. Knock on my door. Look for something. It's that same starving. I have to eat something. I I have to do a car. That's the pitch. That's the level we need to work on. If this is true in general, I'd like to just pause for a moment and and speak about in one area which is really essential. We've spoken about this many times and that's it. We know this is our best friend in source number 20 that um He give them a toast tells us what we can ask. The Marcus tells us to do the Naveen distill down the into levels that we have to focus in on. And the distill it down to and it's says it's not doing acts of kindness, it's loving acts of kindness. You when you really want something, it's a reflection that you really love it. Here's a simple test. Imagine your home on a Sunday morning, a parade of This is America, yeah. Parade of You're never home on Sunday morning here. A parade of comes to your door, you give them a check. And then you have to step out for a few minutes, and as you're pulling into your driveway, you see two of them leaving your house. This is the test. What is your knee-jerk response? Do you say, "Oh, what a close call?" Or do you run after them to invite them into your house? I'm not asking you to answer that publicly. It's a personal question. Yes. Yeah, 100%. That would be Shalom. 100% beautiful. And this brings us to a famous Feinstein's that's on Russia on Avraham Avinu, who's sitting at his tent. You know, 45° heat, Celsius. And it was Israel, yeah, Celsius. And 3 days after Mila. And he's looking for guests. Says Moshe, it would be like you're sitting on Tuesday saying, "Oh, I wish I made kiddush." Well, you can't make kiddush. It's Tuesday. You don't have guests. You don't have to do the mitzvah. Wrong. It's different. Feinstein concludes that mitzvah of doing in the arrow 21 is different from other mitzvahs because you do is more for your benefit. Just as the body needs food every day for its nourishment, so does the neshama, the soul, need to do for its nourishment. Because when we give, we're emulating the way of the Almighty and thereby refreshing our souls. So, when we wake up in the morning, when we ask ourselves, "What will we for breakfast?" We should ask naturally, "What will I ask her?" Ask what I ask the customer. What will I do for our souls? If we truly love it, then this is how we would think. You know, just to share a short story cuz we're in the neighborhood of Zalman Auerbach. That's all. He liked to go to the Kotel on fast days. Shevat Tamos, he asked one of his Can you get a minute to drive me to the Kotel? Sure. He gets into the car and he apologizes to the He says, "I'm really not feeling well. I just need to rest." It's not that far, right, between here and the and the Kotel. And he puts the chair back with Gets to the Kotel, fine. The next day in Yeshiva, Rav Zalman calls over that guy. And he said, "I want to apologize. I usually smooth with the how they are when I'm in the car. And I just wasn't feeling well yesterday to, you know, have small talk. Please, sit down. Tell me, how's your learning going? How's your family? How are you?" Oh, I have mitzvahs for you, small mitzvahs. And there's so many opportunities for us in particular just to stop Remember I used to speak about when you open the door, look behind you? That's my theme song. Remember that? Yeah. There's so many opportunities. You know, like in the airplane, they say, "The exit door may be what?" Behind you. You have to train yourself to look behind you. The airplanes know this. This is what it's about. Look for opportunities that surround you in order to be able to what? Okay, my friends. Yes, ma'am. I just can't see without my glasses. Anyone have have that problem? Yeah. I can't hear with that. I can see, but I can't hear. Yeah. Yes. I will I'll get to that It's a mitzvah to do it. Yes. Yes. Yes. 100%. Right. Yes. Yes, 100%. That's it. Babysitting privileges. That's where it's at. That's where it's at. And it is a privilege to be able to be the next generation. And every mitzvah is a privilege. And every opportunity to do a mitzvah is a privilege. As you mentioned, davening, mitzvahs, benching. Wow. It's changing our mindset. Oh, I have mitzvahs for you, small mitzvahs. The way of sedaka that's with us. You You have no You have no idea. You have no idea. You have no idea. You have no idea. You have no idea. I I think you get the idea. Okay. I have no idea. My friends, listen out. That was the first question. How sad is that? He's upset. That's the greatness of Aaron Cohen. He's not satisfied. It's He wants more. He wants more. I want more. I want more. And that should be our desire. More. More. Just like a person has, you know, in physical things you want more and more, that should be our spiritual mindset. Okay. Now, let's move to the first question. What is this doing here? It's It's It's It's buttressed by two inauguration ceremonies. This is If you don't include the later period of the menorah, it's not an inauguration. What is it doing here? I want to look at this on two different levels. Very different ideas. And um the first is more technical and the second is more a message for our lives. Rav Yisrael Meir Druk in uh I know that doesn't look like Yisrael, but it is. Um in to me, it says the following. Is this a source? 22 in the arrow. The arrow of the menorah Rashi back then was in the divan Mishkan. You'd give them trummus. Let's go back to parshat trummus. There were 13 different items that were donated. She needs to parshat trummus. The have trailer and There were different materials that were gold, silver, right? Turquoise donated to the the Mishkan. Among them was shamen or oil to light the candles. Now, back to the Sesame Street. You don't build a Mishkan with oil. What's it doing in the list? So, says the same as in the Yes, this question. They're for the building of the Mishkan. And what What is it doing here? And the asterisks here, too, should look at the Torah. Here's the key line. I'm going to buy it. Lighting the candle was part of the honor of the house. She ain't buying below her. Again, Motel 6, we will keep the light on for you. Very good. The or could serve a house. It's part of the house. And hence, that's why it was what? The first thing that was done in the morning. It's only appropriate that you're going to bring the in. You want to bring him into a house that's well what? Lit. It's part of the house. It's part of the It's part of the atmosphere. You know, I'll just add here parenthetically, and this will be in the safer, and it's coming along. So, a number of people here have donated toward it. It's really moving. I I was just wondering why I'm working with editors when I can just give it to AI and have it edited for me. And you know why I'm not? Cuz I want to have the personal touch. And you don't have it. I'm sorry, you don't have it. I was just mentioning, and someone heard this yesterday, my brother asked AI to send him a picture of me at 60. It was Oh my gosh. It was this old, scraggly woman. 100 lb thinner. I'm I'm glad they have that vision of me. Wrinkled. Like, really. I said, "In what way does it look like me?" And he said, you know, as you all know, in Torah Tidbits, my picture is not there. So, as my kids say to me, when they ask for a headshot, "Why would you want your headshot?" So, um he said, "Now, you can send people that picture and tell them it's an accurate AI description of you." So, now it looks like you. Okay. Let's leave that aside. In the safer, I knew where I was. I knew where I'm getting back to. That had absolutely nothing to do with anything. You will find that in any time you do uh suit us a mitzvah, you light candles. Obviously, not a bracha. A bris mila, a pidyon haben. Whenever you have any suit us a mitzvah, for sure, you bring you light candles. Suit up. Because it creates an environment. And And And you know, this is This is the basis we have to we have to get to. Uh I was just thinking that the The mitzvah that gives Avraham is to light a flame. And a flame is something that's ephemeral. It It doesn't have quote unquote substance, and yet it has tremendous benefits, and it has tremendous sphere of influence. Yes. So, here it is. It's giving light, it's giving warmth, it's giving hope. And they And this is bid you what Aharon does as a person. We're going to get you. We're going to get you. Which I'm trying to get to because I'm And I have to put my foot on the accelerator cuz I got lost. But exactly, we're going to see this. Now, therefore, we find in 23, I'm moving here. The Kevan the Nirel of the neighbors coming base dinim. There are two aspects to lighting the menorah. One is part of the carbonos of the Kodesh, and one is part of the neias habayis, that the house needs to have light. And therefore, says Rav Druck in 24, Uva se mufan gam do avarsek do machanukah um nesiim. This is why he is greater than the chanukah nesiim because they only what? Or for that once. His chanukah hamishkan happens when? Every day. Every day that he lit the menorah, it's as if he is reinaugurating the mishkan. Now, my friends, we understand why this was given to him and not what? The carbonos or the ketoret because this has a quality of what? Of inauguration. And that's why it's put here to emphasize to us that even though it was done earlier and should have been whereby birkas kohanim, it's put here in order for us to realize that the lighting of the menorah is not just any other service, but rather it's a part of the inauguration of the mishkan. Gevaldig word of the eish tamid. A second answer, very different more philosophical, in 27 is the neir tamid. We know Vayas Kein Aharon, Rashi tells us me to loshina, that he did it every day differently. The Sfas Emes 27 asterisk comments that one of the great challenges of performing mitzvos is that with time we may begin to feel that the repetition even meaningless boredom. Our job is to find hichadshus, renewal, right? Asher anochi metzavcha hayom to find it every single day. The kohanim, I wrote, and the kohanim were able to light the menorah that every day they had the feeling as if they performed this mitzvah for the first time. So, albeit, it can only be inauguration only on the first day. And after that, it's no longer one of the first. But for Aharon and the kohanim, I flipped the page in the asterisks, however, lighting the menorah was so exciting that this mitzvah was reinaugurated every day the way they performed it. So, you're right. On the first level, yeah, it's a mamash reinauguration. On this level, albeit, it may not be a reinauguration, it may be part of the service, but their mindset created it as a what? As this is a first. Now, we know chanukah lechanech, it's not only inauguration, it's also education. And this is the key of education, to be able to infuse that feeling of newness and life. And we come here to a gevaldig word of the Sfas Emes in 29. The famous pasuk of chanukah lanar pi darko gam ki yaskim lo yasur mimenu. Right? Teach the lad as he's young so he won't deviate when he gets old. Says the Sfas Emes, why is the word for child, I'm in 29, yeah? Why is the word child naar? Why not chanukah layeled? Why naar? So, he says, we know that naar the word naar comes from the word say Now, what I'm going to? Meor means to Meor is alive to reinfuse uh Somebody help me out. Meor. To invigorate, to invigorate's the right word. Then when they get old, or they won't what? Deviate from it. That's what we have to do, to focus in on the passion and the kids pick up on everything. We have to create the what? The environment that this is This is what they want. This is their excitement. This is what they're looking for. And here, Rabbi friend, with heartfelt love, and I apologize, I'm doing a lot outside because I'm running, and I'm always running, and I know that. You need to get some of those sneakers. Yeah, let's get some of those sneakers. Fortunate is the man who fears Hashem, who strongly desires his mitzvos. His offspring shall be the mighty of earth. A virtuous generation shall be blessed. What's the connection? So, the Gemara says, what is meant by a man who desires his mitzvos in 31? It's somebody who's doing the mitzvah for the sake of the mitzvah and not for the reward. How does this connect with the next pasuk? So, Rabbi So, Rabbi Nachman Solomon's is fantastic safer says, very important. You want to raise children where the focus of doing mitzvos is for the mitzvah itself and not for the reward. And the reason is simple. If you just focus in on you do this mitzvah, you're going to get a gevaldig reward. You'll get Gan Eden. A kid may very easily look you in the eye and say, "For you, that's a reward. For me, I couldn't care less." Yes, ma'am. Aspire is a good word. Yeah. You need to inspire them a lot. Yes, 100%. I'll tell you personally, I don't know why I'm saying this out loud, is that one of the things that I felt was a powerful aspect of chinuch in my own home is before I got rid of internet in my house, I used to do a lot of zoom shiurim in my house. And I felt my kids listened, overheard, but they would come in afterwards. If I would tell them that message directly, they'd roll their eyes. But when I taught it in a different context, it wasn't at them. And then they were more able to receive. Um and that's why I know exactly what you're saying. Yeah. Yeah. Okay, I finished my personal story. Um if, however, the child sees the joy that his father experienced when he's doing a mitzvah, if that joy is the foundation of the home in which he grows up, then inevitably be affected by the spirit and mood of the atmosphere and the atmosphere. Rabbi Kaplan tells the story of a boy who was off the derech, 15, 16 years old, and he was smoozing with the rabbi, and he said to the rabbi, "You know, my father always spoke about we loved mitzvos, how, you know, mitzvos were so special to v'chulei v'chulei. But I saw right through my father. And when did I really see right through him? When my neighbor got a fancy car. Was my father really excited? I saw what really excited him. And it can't just be lip service, I'm excited, I'm excited, cuz kids see what? Right through that. They They see what's really important to us. Okay, my friends, let's move now. I'm skipping, that's how I get through things faster. Let's move now to the final level. Let's summarize what we've seen and spend a few minutes on the last level. Idea number one is how Ssadik so he's upset. That isn't a jealousy, that is coming from this deep heart of him, "I want more." Ohev mitzvos, lo yisfak mitzvos. You love mitzvos, you're never satisfied. Give me more, bring them on. Zera tzaddikim matzmiach yeshuos. You have no idea how every mitzvah you do plants and wires your brain, and it gives you more opportunities for more and more. Two. What is this doing here? It doesn't belong here. One is it's teaching you that the lighting itself is inauguration, which also answers our third question of why is the menorah even greater? Because it had the inauguration aspect to it which the others did not. And the second is that the way they did the menorah was in that spirit of inauguration, and that's what the Chumash is trying to teach us. Now, we're we're left with this final question. What is it about the menorah that it is greater and it's here forever? So, I'd like to look at two ideas. I'm skipping one, I'm going to do two. 35 B, Avos Avot you have the sheets, Shabbos is long. Good luck. 35 B. The Teshuvah Rebbe. There are two aspects. Uva ofen kazem yichalek schar mitzvah leshnei chalakim. There's the outer aspect of doing the mitzvah, and that you get reward for in this world. And then there's the chelek apnimi. V'chelek apnimi, the inner, the passion, the excitement shel mitzvos olam haba, that's reserved for the next world, which is a pretty scary idea, because it's a pretty scary idea. We'll leave it at that. And this is the idea that there are that you need to have two wings in your vote of Hashem. Ahavah and Yirah. Love and fear of Hashem. That's what makes things move. So here in the bracket is the key. U'v'seten l'havdil u'l'varech et ha'neirot. K'neirot, the candles ro'm'zim l'nishmot Yisrael. Reflect the nishmot of Klal Yisrael. As Pasuk says, Mishlei Ner Hashem nishmat adam. Right? The candle of Hashem, it's like the soul of man. U'v'hadlik Aharon et ha'neirot b'Beit Ha'Mikdash when Aharon would light the neirot in the Beit Ha'Mikdash pa'al l'hadlik v'lahiv et nishmatam shel Yisrael. The moment Aharon lit the menorah, it wasn't just an technical act of him lighting the menorah, simultaneous to that, the the souls of Klal Yisrael's were also lit, I'm going to use a better word, ignited. And they felt passion. And they felt enthusiasm. And that all that ko'ach p'nimi d'haval haner l'shame ha'mikdash shel Aharon asher pa'al l'hadlik ko'ach nishmatam shel Yisrael. And hence that's why it was the first of the avot as well. This is what got them started. This was revving the engine. Hence in 36 chayecha shelcha gadol mishalem Yours is greater than theirs because theirs is the external aspect and yours is the p'nimiyus. And that's how he explains in 37 why this is even longer than the korbanot because the korbanot, the sacrifices are only when the Beit Ha'Mikdash was around. But today, if you want to offer a sacrifice, if you going to daven, Hashem, I want it rebuilt and you have that passion for it, you get credit as if you've actually what? You've actually done it. The way the the Tatzria Rebbe then goes in the asterisks in 38, which I'll just make mention, is if Aharon Ha'Kohen's is yours is greater, yours is around forever. So the question has to we have to ask ourselves, is where is it today in our lives? The doing, I got. But the yours is greater than theirs. So where's our passion? And he says we've turned the corner after Shavuot to now we're entered into the Aseret Yemei Teshuvah which gives me license to be intense now for now through the rest of the summer. Thank you very much for the license. We're at the cusp of the whole high holidays. Where are we holding? Where's the p'nimiyus? And he says something a little bit scary in 38. He says, Ah, we spoke about at length mitzvot tzrichot kavanah, that mitzvot need kavanah, but the kavanah itself could be intellectual. I'm hereby doing this because God commanded me. The kavanah itself has to have a component of what? Because I want to come closer to Hashem. I want to feel your presence, which we'll speak a little bit more about next week in Hashem. Then there's a second aspect of the menorah and this will be our final idea for today. The menorah ignited them. It put them on fire and that's why the menorah's service is around forever. Because even if I don't have a Beit Ha'Mikdash and I can't do the korbanot, I can yearn for the korbanot. I can long for them. That idea of that connection to Hashem is around forever. But there's another idea of the menorah. We know that the menorah was a sign of chochmah. The Gemara says if you want to be smart, when you daven toward Yerushalayim, face a little bit to the south, the yad hayamin, because the south is the place where the menorah was in the heichal. The seven branches meeting the middle branch, it was the chochmah shel Torah. So to understand this, my friends, there's a Gedolei Nitzivei Shalom 43. Here we go. It doesn't look like a three, I know, but it's under Nitzivei Shalom who says the following. The the Midrash Tanchuma says, Dishak nichrav Beit Ha'Mikdash, when the Beit Ha'Mikdash Beit Rishon was destroyed, nigzeirah ha'menorah. The menorah was hidden. The Aron was hidden. There were five things that were hidden. The menorah on the Arch of Titus is the menorah from Beit Sheni. It's not Beit Rishon. Beit Rishon menorah was hidden. V'im she'einah kayemet l'olam So if it's hidden, the menorah is around for ever. Why was the menorah around forever? B'mei kayemet? In what way is it around? V'eich m'kaymin b'zeh she'neirot olam ye'iru? So we know that Chazal tell us that the light of the menorah was a reflection and we've spoken about this at length of the light of creation. What we call the Or Ha'Ganuz. When Hashem created the world, va'yehi or, Hashem saw that that light was going to be too powerful and kivan she'ra'ah she'asidin l'mot r'shaim she'einam r'uyim l'or zeh and he saw that r'shaim, wicked people, won't be worthy of this light. Amad v'ganzo l'tzaddikim. He hid it for the tzaddikim. So we ask the obvious question. Hello. Hashem knew that this light wasn't going to be worthy for the r'shaim before he created the light. To create something and then to hide it. You know how it'd be like giving my my granddaughter a you know, a crystal vase and then saying, "Well, I don't know, maybe she'll break it. So let me take it away from her." Then why give it to her? Like, hello, you know she's going to break it. You know, 14 months, that's what they do. Either eat it or break it. It's it's one of two options. You don't get it. Where did Hashem hide it? For amalei Torah. He hid it for it to be found. He didn't hide it for it to be put away. He hid it so they would appreciate it. So they would find it, struggle with learning Torah, and be able to find that gorgeous light of clarity and closeness to Hashem. That's what it means that the menorah was a symbol of chochmah. And that's what it means that the menorah was a symbol of the Or Ha'Ganuz. Because when you're able to really access that deep wisdom, you have access to connection with to Hashem on an entirely different level. We've all experienced this on some level. You hear an idea that's really impactful. You're like, "Wow." Your your your eyes are lit up. Any of you know what I'm talking about? Like, "Whoa." Aharon's contribution is an eternal contribution because the light of Torah, the light of chochmah, is still available for us to access. Yours is greater than theirs because yours is around forever. The learning of Torah is better than ever. But I want to end with a punchline. And this the Sifrei Pinchas brings Tashan Peh Bet in the name of the Chidushei Ha'Rim. The Chidushei Ha'Rim says the following. When Aharon lit the candle for the first time, the ner ma'aravi lasted the whole night. It was from that ner ma'aravi that he then what? Lit the next day. And then from that ner ma'aravi, he lit the next day. Now if you follow along with me, when we come to the time of the end of Beit Rishon, it's really the same candle as what? As Aharon. Listen to the Chidushei Ha'Rim 47. Chidush niska k'ner ha'ma'aravi she'idlik Aharon Ha'Kohen b'Mishkan nish'ar daluk ad acharei churban Beit Ha'Mikdash. It was around until the times of the churban. Watch this. Sha'az nigzeirah michlal ha'heichal yachad im sha'ar ha'Mishkan Here's the punchline. B'od daluk that ner ma'aravi is still lit under the Beit Ha'Mikdash. You'll tell me, "Well, how is that possible? There's no oxygen and air." R' Posuk says, "There's no teva in this world." The question's not even a question. But symbolically, the message for us is more important than anything. Yours is around forever. It's a few blocks away from here. Know that the candle is lit. Know in your mind the menorah is there and that original candle of Aharon is still alight and and going strong. What is our challenge and job? Knowing this information, this gives us then inspiration to access that light, to come close to that light. Okay, we can't dig under the base of make this grant you, but we can dig within Torah. And we can be able to have our light resonate with that light. And when I'm aware of that, that's why I wrote "So She's Your Kim, Your Dream." Face that menorah. Face the south. Face that reality. When I have that mindset in my mind, there's an or haganuz, there's that hidden light that I can access, that I can find in Torah. That gives me the impetus to learn deeper. But not only to learn deeper, to also connect deeper with what I'm learning. I've come.