Exodus 27:20-30:10 - Oil for the Lamp
One
of the topics last week’s Torah discusses is the people of Israel’s
responsibility to bring pure beaten olive oil to keep the lamp burning. This
lamp is the precursor of the Eternal Light above the Ark in today’s
Temples. I was struck by the discussion
of making the lamp burn continually for two reasons: the significance of light in our life and the
need for community to keep the eternal light burning.
Rabbi Marci Bellows[i]
writes about the significance of light in our life. She asks "Have you ever gone through
your iTunes collection and done a search for the word, "light?" She says that she wouldn't be surprised if “you
had at least a dozen songs that use the word light in the title. There are so many songs with light imagery in
their titles: sunshine, fire, brightness, and more.” She continues with the difference between
light and darkness in our culture.
Darkness brings thoughts of suffering, being sad, or alone. Light represents love, happy, or celebrating
good times. Darkness is equated with fear and uncertainty, as any of our
children could tell us. Likewise, light
is associated with hope, safety, and peace.
It makes sense then that the building and maintenance of the
Tabernacle was a place for the lamps to burn.
Eventually, the lampstand in the Tabernacle became the eternal light
that floats above the ark in most synagogues today. The eternal light is a visual, tangible reminder
of God's presence.
Today, in our Temples our eternal light continues to burn
with electricity. Rabbi Loren Lapidus[ii]
writes that before the invention of electricity in the mid-1800, it was a
communal responsibility to keep the light burning. Imagine, what it was like to have your turn
at your Temple to prepare the oil and put oil in the lamp to keep the light
burning. Imagine, how connected you would feel to others in your community
being part of fulfilling the commandment to keep the eternal light burning.
The Eternal Light, Ner
Tamid, is a symbol of the power of community, for it is through our
connections to one another and our willingness to work together that we are
able to bring light to others lives. The verse reminds us to participate in
community with enthusiasm and dedication.
Thanks to Benjamin Franklin and others that we don't need to fill the
lamps to keep light in our homes.
There is no invention that will provide light in
people. We need to bring enthusiasm,
inspiration, and dedication to others if we are to have light in our
lives. We still need to care about and
help others to have hope, safety, and peace.
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