15 Sivan 5773 / 24-25 May 2013
Torah: Numbers 8:1 - 14:16
Haftarah: Zechariah 2:14 - 4:7 (This is also the haftarah for Shabbat Hanukkah)
Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
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The Children of Aaron
"Speak to Aaron, saying, 'When you light the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the menorah (the candlestick).'" Numbers 8:2
The Midrash, Bamidbar Rabbah, says that Aaron was upset. The heads of all the tribes,except Levi (the tribe of Aaron and the kohanim, and he was the head of Levi) offered sacrifices. He feared they were being punished because of his sins. Rather, teaches the Midrash, Aaron and his descendants were given a greater honor - the lighting of the menorah in the tabernacle. Sacrifices would be offered only so long as the Temple stood, but the lamps would always give light in front of the menorah, and all the blessings God instructed the kohanim to bless the Jews with (see Numbers 6:22-27) would never be abolished.
Ramban (Nachmanides), in his commentary, wonders what this really means. After all, the menorah was not lit after the destruction of the Temple - it didn't exist either. Ramban says the reference is to the menorah of Hanukkah, for that would go into exile with the Jews after the destruction, just as the blessings offered originally at the dedication of the desert tabernacle would be given to the Jews forever.
The interesting thing about all of this is that, just as every Jew can offer the blessings of the kohanim over his/her children, so is every Jew obligated to light the menorah of Hanukkah every year. The real comfort to Aaron is not simply that his descendants get to light the menorah. It is that all Jews are in a sense his descendants, for we are a "kingdom of priests (kohanim) and a holy nation." (Exodus 19:6) We are all Aaron's children - so long as we keep the lights burning and bring blessings to our people.
Shabbat Shalom.
Rabbi Richard A. Flom – ZSRS ‘00
Burbank, CA
Visit me on Facebook
"For the sake of Zion I will not be silent; for the sake of Jerusalem I will not be still"
Isaiah 62:1
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Candlelighting: 7:36 pm
Lunch and Learn is an ongoing program of Beit Midrash Shalom that meets Tuesdays to discuss Jewish texts and other topics of Jewish interest. It is open to all regardless of affiliation. Next meeting is Tuesday, May 28, 12:00 noon, at Congregation Beth Meier. PLEASE DO NOT BRING ANY FOOD UNLESS IT IS IN ITS ORIGINAL SEALED CONTAINER AND BEARING A HEKHSHER AS DAIRY OR PAREVE. Lunch will be provided by Congregation Beth Meier. Donations gratefully accepted.
This d'var torah is offered in honor of Jill Kronzek and Bryan Cohen, whose wedding I am joyfully conducting this afternoon. Mazal Tov!
This d'var torah is offered in memory of all those US military personnel who died in service to our country. Remember them on Memorial Day.
This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Eve Beatty, Selby Horowitz, Pamela Huddleston, Micah Kosche, Sara Lanxner, Emily Levin, Frank Marcovitz, Phil Raider, Helen Reiter, Len Reiter, Gil Robbins, Rachel Robbins, Judith Sakurai, and Kitty Schmerling.
My weekly Divrei Torah are also available by e-mail via the Cyber Torah list.
Cyber Torah list management(no salesman will call!):
Send requests for dedications of Cyber Torah in honor of a simchah, in memory of a loved one or for a refuah shleimah to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
To unsubscribe from Cyber Torah, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Unsubscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
Torah: Numbers 8:1 - 14:16
Haftarah: Zechariah 2:14 - 4:7 (This is also the haftarah for Shabbat Hanukkah)
Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
---------------------------------------------------------
The Children of Aaron
"Speak to Aaron, saying, 'When you light the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the menorah (the candlestick).'" Numbers 8:2
The Midrash, Bamidbar Rabbah, says that Aaron was upset. The heads of all the tribes,except Levi (the tribe of Aaron and the kohanim, and he was the head of Levi) offered sacrifices. He feared they were being punished because of his sins. Rather, teaches the Midrash, Aaron and his descendants were given a greater honor - the lighting of the menorah in the tabernacle. Sacrifices would be offered only so long as the Temple stood, but the lamps would always give light in front of the menorah, and all the blessings God instructed the kohanim to bless the Jews with (see Numbers 6:22-27) would never be abolished.
Ramban (Nachmanides), in his commentary, wonders what this really means. After all, the menorah was not lit after the destruction of the Temple - it didn't exist either. Ramban says the reference is to the menorah of Hanukkah, for that would go into exile with the Jews after the destruction, just as the blessings offered originally at the dedication of the desert tabernacle would be given to the Jews forever.
The interesting thing about all of this is that, just as every Jew can offer the blessings of the kohanim over his/her children, so is every Jew obligated to light the menorah of Hanukkah every year. The real comfort to Aaron is not simply that his descendants get to light the menorah. It is that all Jews are in a sense his descendants, for we are a "kingdom of priests (kohanim) and a holy nation." (Exodus 19:6) We are all Aaron's children - so long as we keep the lights burning and bring blessings to our people.
Shabbat Shalom.
Rabbi Richard A. Flom – ZSRS ‘00
Burbank, CA
Visit me on Facebook
"For the sake of Zion I will not be silent; for the sake of Jerusalem I will not be still"
Isaiah 62:1
--------------------------------------------
Candlelighting: 7:36 pm
Lunch and Learn is an ongoing program of Beit Midrash Shalom that meets Tuesdays to discuss Jewish texts and other topics of Jewish interest. It is open to all regardless of affiliation. Next meeting is Tuesday, May 28, 12:00 noon, at Congregation Beth Meier. PLEASE DO NOT BRING ANY FOOD UNLESS IT IS IN ITS ORIGINAL SEALED CONTAINER AND BEARING A HEKHSHER AS DAIRY OR PAREVE. Lunch will be provided by Congregation Beth Meier. Donations gratefully accepted.
This d'var torah is offered in honor of Jill Kronzek and Bryan Cohen, whose wedding I am joyfully conducting this afternoon. Mazal Tov!
This d'var torah is offered in memory of all those US military personnel who died in service to our country. Remember them on Memorial Day.
This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Eve Beatty, Selby Horowitz, Pamela Huddleston, Micah Kosche, Sara Lanxner, Emily Levin, Frank Marcovitz, Phil Raider, Helen Reiter, Len Reiter, Gil Robbins, Rachel Robbins, Judith Sakurai, and Kitty Schmerling.
My weekly Divrei Torah are also available by e-mail via the Cyber Torah list.
Cyber Torah list management(no salesman will call!):
Send requests for dedications of Cyber Torah in honor of a simchah, in memory of a loved one or for a refuah shleimah to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
To unsubscribe from Cyber Torah, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Unsubscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
