Komentarz do Wyjścia 25:37

את נרתיה ITS LAMPS — a kind of small bowls into which the oil and the wicks were put.

נרותיה, a reference to the little bowls in which both the oil and the wick would be placed. The priest would point the direction of each flame towards the center shaft so that they would illuminate also each other. [the word פניה refers to the table standing across from the Menorah which would be indirectly illuminated by these seven lights.] This same point is repeated in Numbers 8,2 making sure we understand that the lights of the Menorah illuminated the breads on the table opposite it.

והאיר על עבר פניה, (verse 36) this means that the lights both on the right of the center shaft and those on the left should be arranged so that the respective flames would focus in the direction of the middle. Inasmuch as the lights symbolised spiritual “enlighten-ment,” the lesson is that in all our efforts at obtaining such enlightenment, and during all the digressions that the pursuit of such disciplines necessarily entails, we must never lose sight of the direction in which we are striving and keep this central idea of such enlightenment resulting in us becoming better servants of the Lord, constantly in front of our mental eye. The reason that there were lights on both the right side of the center shaft as well as on the left side, is that pursuit of enlightenment expresses itself both in gaining of theoretical knowledge, ethical imperatives, but no less so in the practical application of such lessons learned. Both must be placed in the service of the נר המערבי, the light from the center shaft, the one which faces the Shechinah directly. Only the focusing on our spiritual goal ensures that the six lights on the various arms will continue to burn without hindrance. The thought we just tried to portray is expressed in Numbers 8,2-4 בהעלותך את הנרות אל מול פני המנוה יאירו שבעת הנרות “when you kindle the lamps, toward the face of the Menorah shall the seven lamps cast light.” This is the symbolism contained in the words וזה מעשה המנורה מקשה, (Numbers 8,4) i.e. in spite of what appears to be a multiplicity of lights emanating from this Menorah, their function is singular, one of unification, just as the Menorah from which they emanate was cast out of a single chunk of gold, something unified.

Their shine would be turned towards. . . Rashi is saying that the phrases of, “They shine toward it,” and, “Its lamps shall be lit,” do not teach the manner in which the menorah shall be lit because this parshah is not speaking about the manner of lighting the menorah but on how it should be constructed. Perforce, the verse is instructing the craftsman to make its lamps in a way that the lamps will shine toward the middle branch once the menorah is lit. This is accomplished by making the mouths of the six lamps, which are on the six branches, turned towards the middle one. (Re”m)

V.37. Wie schon zu V. 32 bemerkt, gingen die Arme aus dem Mittelschafte hervor und erhoben sich bis zur Höhe desselben. Mit ihm zusammen waren aber sieben Lampen in gerader Linie. Hier wird nun angeordnet, dass die auf den sechs Armen ruhenden Lampen ihr Licht der Richtung der von dem Mittelschafte getragenen Lampe zuwenden sollen, also, dass die drei der rechten Seiten links, die der linken Seite rechts gewendet waren. Diese Bestimmung wird Bamidbar 8, 2 nochmals wiederholt: מלמד .אל מול פני המנורה יאירו שבעת הנרות heißt es darüber (Menachot 98 b) שהיו מצדדין פניהם כלפי נר אמצעי

והאיר, ”it will illuminate, etc.” the meaning of the verse is that the lights from the menorah will illuminate the showbreads on the Table opposite it. This is spelled out in detail in Exodus 49,24. The plain meaning of the verses dealing with this is that the broadside of the lampstand faced from east to west so that it could easily provide light for the Table standing opposite it. According to the view of the scholar claiming that the position of the menorah had been in a north-south direction, we would have to assume that the lamp burning on top of the center shaft was pointing westward, whereas all the other six lamps were facing towards the center shaft. This is not very convincing, as clearly the purpose of the lamps was primarily to illuminate the showbreads on the Table. Alternately, we would have to accept Rashi’s explanation that the six lamps were facing in the direction of the lamp in the center in order to emphasize the light of that particular lamp.

ועשית את נרותיה, “and you are to make its lamps etc.;” the reason why the word: ועשית is repeated here is that these lamps were separate vessels, not part of the shaft and its six arms. Proof of this is provided by the wording: כפתוריהם וקנותם ממנה היו, “its knobs and shaft (only) were all of the same chunk (of gold).” In addition, the Torah uses a separate verse in 37,23 to tell us that Betzalel made these seven lamps. This proves that they were separate vessels.

והאיר על עבר פניה AND MAKE THEM GIVE LIGHT OVER AGAINST IT — Make the mouths of those six lamps which are on the top of the branches that come out from its sides so that they are turned towards the middle branch, in order that when you kindle the lamps they shall cast their light over against its (the candlestick’s) front-side, i. e. their light should be directed in the direction of the front of the central branch which forms the candlestick proper.

(2) HE, the kohen, SHALL MOUNT.

נרותיה שבעה, “its lamps seven.” This was to symbolise the seven days of the week, as well as the seven zodiac constellations that provide illumination in the universe; the Sun, Venus, Mercury, Moon, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars.

(3) THE LAMPS. Seven on the seven stems.

והעלה, “he shall light;” [the priest, as no one else was allowed in there. Ed.] את נרותיה, “its lamps.” Seven lamps on the seven arms of the candlestick. והאיר, “it will illuminate,” על ער פניה, “on its front side;” it will give light so that all its shafts/arms will be visible. [The wicks were so arranged that they were directed at the center shaft. Ed.] והאיר, “it will illuminate,”

(4) SO AS TO GIVE LIGHT ON ITS FRONT SIDE. He should light the wicks toward the side facing [in the direction across from] the lampstand, which is the side of the table, which is opposite it, as it is written (Exod. 26:35), "and the lampstand opposite the table," and it is likewise written (Num. 8:2), "Towards opposite [JPS: at the front of] the lampstand shall the seven lamps give light."