The Indestructible Light Aaron envied the tribal leaders. G-d's response revealed a deeper truth about where holiness resides. The opening statement of this week's portion is the commandment to light the Menorah, a commandment that was already stated twice earlier in the Torah. Rashi quotes the Midrash, which explains that the reason the portion of the Menorah was repeated is a direct response to Aaron’s concern. In last week’s portion, we read at great length how the leaders of the tribes each offered offerings for the inauguration of the altar. Aaron was distressed that neither he nor his tribe participated in the inauguration. G-d therefore reiterated the commandment that Aaron should kindle the Menorah, implying, as the Midrash states, that “yours” (the menorah) is greater than “theirs” (the offerings of the leaders). As Rashi says: Why is the portion dealing with the menorah juxtaposed to the portion dealing with the chieftains? For when Aaron saw the dedication [offerings] of the chieftains, he felt distressed over not joining them in this dedication, neither he nor his tribe. So God said to him, “By your life, yours is greater than theirs, for you will light and prepare the lamps.” (Rashi, Numbers 8:2) But why is the lighting of the Menorah “greater” than the offerings? The Midrash does not explain. Nachmanides offers an innovative interpretation. When the Midrash says Aaron lighting the Menorah is greater, the Midrash is referring not to the Menorah in the temple, but rather to the Chanukah menorah, which was established to commemorate the rededication of the temple by the Maccabees, Aaron’s descendants. The Chanukah menorah is “greater” than the offerings, because the offerings can no longer be offered now that there is no temple, whereas the Chanukah Menorah is eternal, and will never cease. In the words of Nachmanides: Therefore, we must say that the Sages of the Midrash were alluding to the lights of the Dedication of the Hasmoneans, which apply [on the festival of Chanukah] even after the destruction of the Sanctuary, in our exile. This teaching turns the seeming hierarchy of holiness on its head. The offerings were offered by the priests, the holiest members of the Jewish community, in the holiest place, the temple in Jerusalem. They represent a person’s ability to experience the intense awareness of the presence of G-d, available in the temple. Yet, the Midrash, viewed through the lens of Nachmanides, teaches that even more profound than that is the ability to light the Chanukah Menorah, where, not just the priests, but every individual Jew brings light to his or her part of the world. The offerings represent the ability to reach the pinnacle of holiness, yet the Chanukah Menorah is far greater because it empowers each person to be an ambassador of light, to turn their home into a miniature temple. The Chanukah Menorah may not be as glamorous as the temple, but it is indestructible, and it can be applied to every time and every place. It represents the ultimate mission of the Jew, to spread transformative light to every part of the world.
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