SUNDAY PRAYER: NETZACH-GRACE ON SECOND SHABBAT MEAL
READING: SUNSET SATURDAY
A LAMP IN THE HUMAN HEART
-by Rav Michael Laitman
The Torah, “Exodus (Tetzaveh),” (Command), 27:21: And you shall command the children of Israel, and they shall take to you pure olive oil, crushed for lighting, to kindle the lamps continually.
The olive oil is the Light of Hochma, the light of life. It is well known that during the war with Greeks, the Maccabees found a jar with olive oil. There was enough oil to consecrate the Temple for only one day. However the lamp burned for seven days and nights. This was the miracle of Hanukkah.
The phrase “burning the lamps continually” means that one has to be permanently illuminated by the Upper Light and always stay oriented directly to the Creator (Isra-El). In one’s aspiration to the Creator, one has to kindle a lamp of one’s desires, thus making all of them similar to the Light of Hochma, the Light of wisdom that dresses in the Light of Hassadim, the Light of mercy. If one is merciful to others, one receives the Light of life from the Creator, the Light of Hochma, and then one is called “a son of Israel.”