"And the L-rd spoke unto Moses saying: Speak to Aaron and say to him: When you light the lamps of the candelabras, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the candlestick. And Aaron did so..." -Numbers 8:1-3
The foremost commentary Rashi asks, what is the significance in the juxtaposition of the portion in the previous Parsha discussing the inauguration of the Temple by the princes, and the lighting of the candelabra?
He answers based on a Midrash, that Aaron became faint of heart when he saw that the princes had surpassed him in the G-dly service. G-d therefore assured him that he has a greater portion than they do because he lights the candelabra. Rashi notes that the emphasis in the verse proclaiming Aaron's devotion in carrying out this command teaches us that he never changed the observance of this mitzvah.
Nachmanadies is bothered by the singular comfort which Aaron received by lighting the candelabra. Aaron performed many daily services in the Temple. What was so unique about the lighting of the candelabra? Additionally, we never find the Torah making an emphasis about Aaron's carrying out a mission faithfully. What happened over here?
The Chassidic masters (Sfas Emes, Shem Mishmuel, and Nesivos Shalom) all echo the same theme. Aaron was very fearful of losing his lofty spiritual status. Therefore G-d assured him with the lamps. Every single mitzvah creates an opportunity of solidifying that moment for eternity. If one allows inspiration to linger, it will dissipate. The inspiration needs a medium by which it can be retained. Every mitzvah has that ability. The uniqueness of a candelabra is that fire is constantly renewed (Talmud Berachos 53a). The mitzvah of the menorah signifies that the love and devotion that Aaron felt for G-d would not merely get placed in the vessel of a mitzvah to hibernate; every single second that love for G-d burnt anew.
Nachmanadies adds that the mitzvah of lighting the candelabra is eternal. Obviously there is no Temple today, and nobody is lighting the flame on a daily basis. Rather the message is that the feeling and devotion inherent in this mitzvah is eternal. This mitzvah represents our solidifying inspiration and taking it to the next level. That is timeless. This explains the emphasis of Aaron's commitment to this mitzvah. Of course Aaron followed G-d's directive. The uniqueness here was that his initial love and feeling for the mitzvah never left him. Although he performed this same act for years on end, each day was like his first! The mitzvah of lighting the flame is to just place the first spark there. The flame should then grow by itself. Similarly in life, we only need to connect with that spark in our soul. Once we spark that connection, the flame will magnify with G-d's help.
This concept is actually built into our week. The candelabra had 3 lamps on each side facing the seventh middle lamp. It represents our weekday. All days in the week reflect on Shabbos. We begin Shabbos by lighting two separate candles representing our soul and Shabbos (neshama yeseira). Over the course of Shabbos we become so inspired and connected that by havdalah all the wicks are intertwined. Of note, the blessing that we make on the candle before Shabbos is to light the candle of Shabbos, in the singular. That represents our mission to connect those two lamps and make them into one by the end of Shabbos.
We all have moments of inspiration throughout our week. May we all take the inspiration of the week and channel into a conflagration of spirituality and devotion to G-d!
