Jewish Life Digital Edition November 2013 | Page 19

NO BLESSING COULD BE MANIFEST FROM ANY GIFTS,
NOR ANY HOLY VESSELS, UNTIL THE SACRED CANDLES
WERE TO SYMBOLICALLY BRING FORTH SHALOM INTO
G-D’S DWELLING PLACE.
would prepare and kindle the Menorah. But
what exactly was so special about illuminating the lights of the Tabernacle’s Menorah?
Rabbi Yitzchak Horowitz turns our attention to one of the reasons why we are obligated to light candles on Friday night as we usher
in the holy Shabbat. The Talmud (Tractate
Shabbat 23b) states that the Shabbat candles
are conducive to shalom bayit – peace and harmony – in the home. Rashi explains that the
light they produce dispels the tension that often permeates an unlit house, and provides an
ambience of domestic serenity as the members of the household can move about freely
and delight in the aura of Shabbat. Although
G-d and His holy Temple certainly do not require the light of our candles, their illumination remains symbolic of the lofty concept of
shalom bayit that was to prevail in the dwelling place of the Divine Presence as well.

That is why, offers Rabbi Horowitz, Aaron
was appeased with being charged with the
kindling of the Menorah. Shalom, peace, is
referred to as the only vessel G-d claims to
contain His bountiful blessing (see Mishna,
Uktzin 3:12), and it was therefore specifically Aaron who would complete the dedication of the Tabernacle with the finishing
touch of bringing shalom – and thus accompanying blessing – to everyone else’s contributions. No blessing could be manifest from
any gifts, nor any holy vessels, until the sacred candles were to symbolically bring
forth shalom into G-d’s dwelling place. And,
naturally, who is more suitable for this honourable task of bringing shalom into G-d’s
‘bayit’, G-d’s home, than Aaron the High
Priest, the quintessential “o’heiv shalom
ve’rodeif shalom”, lover and pursuer of
peace (Pirkei Avot, 1:12).

It was thus specifically the vehicle of the
kindled lights that highlighted the sense of
shalom that reigned in the Tabernacle and
subsequent two Temples – just as our weekly candles have come to represent our own
shalom bayit. And what is pure shalom but
the ensuing harmony reflecte d when two
people become so close that there is no longer any room for conflict. The grand edifice
of the Tabernacle was erected precisely to
emphasise the renewed closeness between
G-d and His chosen people in the wake of
the sin of the golden calf. They had been forgiven for their grievous sin and G-d demonstrated His renewed ties and proximity to
His beloved nation that would now merit
experiencing daily the tangible closeness of
the Divine Presence.
During the Temple’s rededication in the
time of the Hasmoneans, this overwhelming closeness was felt once again as the
original dedication of the Tabernacle,
which had been scheduled for 25 Kislev,
was re-experienced on the same date much
later in history. The Hasmoneans had witnessed G-d’s miraculous intervention on
their behalf, and immediately rushed to

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