- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Beha'alotcha
1179
The other side of the coin in this matter is equally valid and important. The kohein may not remove the flame from the wick prematurely. He must make certain that the flame of the wick will not sputter out when he removes his flame from the wick. The responsibility of parents and teachers remains as long as the child or student is still unable to flame on its own. Many times in life it is difficult to light the flame in others. It always seems never to catch and flame on its own efforts and abilities. The tendency therefore is for the flame giver to despair and eventually give up on the effort. Students are expelled from schools and parents and children remain distant. No two instances in life are alike and there are therefore no real general rules that can be imposed on such occasions when they occur. Yet it must be obvious to all that infinite patience and untiring efforts must first be expended before reaching a point of impasse and no return. Some people are late bloomers and thus the lighting flame has to be kept to their wick longer than the usual norm. These are all naturally individual judgments and uncertain decisions. Perhaps that is why the Torah emphasizes this seemingly ordinary act of lighting the menorah in the Temple because it represents the ambiguities that lie at the heart of many basic issues in life, family and community affairs.

The Consolation of Lighting the Menora - Rav Kook at the Third Shabbat Meal
15 Sivan 5784

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Have A Happy Shabbat!
Parashat Behaalotcha
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