Let Your Light Shine On: B'Ha-alotcha 5782

בהעלתך lit., WHEN THOU MAKEST [THE LIGHTS] RISE — Because the flame rises upwards (עולה), an expression denoting “ascending” is used of kindling them (the lights), implying that one must kindle them until the light ascends of itself (Shabbat 21a). —

2 (Is. 42:21) “The Lord was delighted because of God's[servant's] righteousness to magnify and glorify Torah”: The Holy Blessed One, said to Moses, It was not because I need your light that I am telling you to light a lamp. Rather [I am doing so] in order to have you acquire merit (by fulfilling a commandment).” It is likewise written, (in Dan. 2:22), “and the light dwells within God”; and [similarly] it says (in Ps. 139:12), “Even darkness is not dark to You; for night shines as the day, and darkness becomes like the light.” [Scripture says these things] to inform you that God does not need the lamps of flesh and blood. You yourself know [this truth].

When a person builds a house and makes windows within [his house], he makes windows narrow on the outside and broad on the inside, so that the light will enter from the outside and shine on the inside. But when Solomon built the Temple, he did not make the windows like that. Rather they were narrow on the inside and broad on the outside so that the light would go out from the Temple and shine outside.

It is so stated (in I Kings 6:4), “And for the house he made windows broad and narrow.” [This text] is to inform you that God is all light and that God has no need for its light. So why did God command you [to set up the lamps]? In order to have you acquire merit (by fulfilling a commandment). It is therefore stated (in Numb. 8:2), “When you set up the lamps.” Ergo (in Is. 42:21), “The Lord was delighted because of His [servant's] righteousness.” The Holy Blessed One said to Israel, “Be careful to light lamps for My sake, and I will shine a great light for you in the future to come.” It is so stated (in Is. 60:3), “And nations shall walk by your light, even kings by the brightness of your rising.”