Back
Behaalotekha
Illuminate before MeGod is all light. If so, what is the value of the lamps of the candelabrum that the priests kindled in the Tabernacle?
To what can this matter of kindling the candelabrum be compared? It can be compared to a king who had an admirer. The king said to him: Know that I will be dining with you; go and prepare for me. His admirer went and prepared a couch fit for a commoner, a candelabrum fit for a commoner, and a table fit for a commoner. When the king arrived, servants accompanied him who surrounded him on all sides and carried a candelabrum of gold before him. When his admirer saw all the splendor, he was ashamed, and he hid everything that he had prepared, all of which were fit for a commoner. The king said to him: Didn’t I tell you that I will be dining with you? Why didn’t you prepare anything for me? His admirer said to him: I saw all the splendor that accompanied you, and I was ashamed and hid everything that I had prepared for you, all of which was fit for a commoner. The king said to him: I take an oath by your life that I am setting aside all the vessels that I brought, and because of your love, I will use only yours. Similar to this, the Holy One, Blessed be He, is all light, as it is stated: “And the light rests with Him” (Daniel 2:22), but He said to Israel: Prepare for Me a candelabrum and lamps.