PARASHAT BEHA’ALOTCHA

14th June 2025                                    18th Sivan 5785

 PARASHAT BEHA'ALOTCHA     

by Herschel

Numbers 8:1-12:16; Zechariah 2:14-4:7; Matthew 14:14-21

Num 8:4

1  And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:

2  Speak to Aaron, and say to him, 'When you kindle the lamps – beha’alotcha et haneirot - the seven lamps shall give light in front of the menorah.'"

3  And Aaron did so; he arranged the lamps to face toward the front of the

menorah, as the LORD commanded Moses.

The rabbis spend many hours each and every day, studying the scriptures, reflecting on every paragraph, every word. They believe, as do we, in the inerrancy of Scripture and that every word, letter, or paragraph contains revelation about HaShem and His purposes with mankind. We are reminded that Sha’ul wrote to his disciple Timothy that “ALL scripture is written by men under the inspiration of the Ru’ach HaKadosh and is profitable for doctrine, correction, reproof and training in righteousness’ (1 Tim 3:16) and he wrote this before the new covenant was transcribed.

And so, as they examined the context of the instructions about kindling the menorah, they wondered, why it was included immediately after last week’s parasha which dealt in great detail with the offerings of the tribal leaders?

The offering of the tribal leaders recorded in last Shabbat’s Torah portion must have been a spectacular sight. Each tribal leader bearing the standard of his tribe, presented their offerings to HaShem in front of all of Israel. We read about the tribal offering in Numbers 7:

“When the altar was anointed, the princes brought their dedication offerings

and presented them before ADONAI. 11 For ADONAI had said to Moses, “Each day one of the princes is to bring his offering for the altar’s dedication.”

(Numbers 7:10-11).

In Hebrew, the dedication of the altar is לַחֲנֻכַּת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ – l’chanukat hamizbeach. This is the first instance of the word Hanukah appearing in the Torah. Hanukah is called The Feast of Dedication.

However, the tribe of Levi was excluded from the spectacle of the tribal offerings to HaShem. who were not included in this spectacle. Levi was called apart to minister to HaShem in the Tabernacle on behalf of the people and they did not participate in this impressive display.

Deut 18:1-2

1   The priests, the Levites-- all the tribe of Levi-- shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and His portion.

2   Therefore they shall have no inheritance among their brethren; the LORD is their inheritance, as He said to them.

Rashi suggests that because they were not represented at the tribal offerings - just in case they felt marginalized - G-d included them here. The instructions regarding the menorah were introduced here to console them that their duties were equal if not more important than the tribal offerings. The offerings of the tribal leaders were grand and impressive, but they were temporary; it was a once-off affair.

The dedication of the tribal offerings was a once off event,

but the ministry of the Levitical priesthood was eternal

and in fact, the Talmud states that the Menorah burned

continuously for 116 years without being extinguished.

Let me make three comments on these first three verses:

1.    Beha’alotcha et haneirot

Most English translations – even in the Chumash – say “when you kindle”. But, the Hebrew beha’alotcha’ translates more accurately as ‘when you go up’. In order to participate in the Tabernacle service, you had to make Aliyah for the Temple was on the highest hill in Jerusalem. Even so, in the Spirit, in order to draw nearer to the divine Presence, you had to ascend, spiritually speaking. You had to go up. Aliyah!

2.   Why the repetition?

 3  And Aaron did so; he arranged the lamps to face toward the front of the

    menorah, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Num 8:3

Aaron did so, he did as HaShem had commanded. This phrase occurs 20 times in Exodus; 8 times in the book of Leviticus and 15 times in the book of Numbers. Why the repetition? If it just said ‘Aaron did so’, surely that would have sufficed because Aaron always followed HaShem’s instructions given through Moshe?

The sages teach that the repetition emphasized the need for Aaron to precisely follow G-d’s instructions regarding the ministry of the menorah, day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year ….. for 116 years without the slightest deviation from the original instructions given to Moshe at Mount Sinai. 

The Levites followed the instruction with complete attention to the minutiae of the detail for there was only one way to perform this task! Each and every time they served in the Tabernacle, G-d’s instruction had to be accurately followed without any room for man’s creative urges because you cannot improve on what is already perfect.

Ps 19:7-11

7   the law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;

8   The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;

Everything involved in the Tabernacle worship service whether it was lighting the menorah or removing some of the ashes from the Altar where the animals were sacrificed, was an act of worship to HaShem! 

Whichever way you served the Almighty, you had to make Aliyah – you had to ascend to a higher level of worship and sacrifice. And, the closer you approached the Divine Presence, the more rigid were the laws of ritual purity but more importantly, the inner spiritual flame burned brighter! It is G-d’s Spirit alone that causes the flame of His Presence to be kindled within the Sanctuary of our hearts!

In Jewish theology, the soul of a person is called

“Hashem’s candle” – “נר השם”

Torah is called light. When we study the Torah, we bring light into our lives.

However, when we study G-d’s word superficially, it illuminates only for a brief moment. Wisdom flickers but never really bursts into a flame. And with the passage of of time, we tend to forget what we have learned.

But, when we look deeply into Torah and ponder into its wisdom, seeking to apply its wisdom to every aspect of our lives, the “flame” catches on and continues to illuminate our lives long after we finish studying. It settled in our spirit, puts down deep roots and has an ongoing influence in our lives. G-d’s Word is indeed a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (Ps 119:105)!

James 1:23-25

23        Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror

24        and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

25       But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it — he will be blessed in what he does.

In Pirke Avot, the Ethics of the Fathers, we read:

“Ben Bag Bag said:

Turn it (Torah) over, and [again] turn it over, for all is therein. And

look into it; And become gray and old therein; And do not move away

from it, for you have no better portion than it” (Pirke Avot 5:22).

According to legend, Ben Bag Bag were converts. In order to hide them from the Roman authorities who forbade conversion, they were called by nicknames (these are obviously not real names). Both nicknames are in essence the letter “heh”, which is the letter that was added to Sarai and Avram’s, the first two converts, names.

“Beha'alotecha is the Torah portion that is always read the first or second Shabbat after the holiday of Shavuot, the annual celebration of the renewal of G‑d's giving the Torah at Sinai to the Jewish people, and the outpouring of the Ru’ach on the day of Shavuot, centuries later.

Therefore, there must be a connection between this portion and how we should perceive ourselves after receiving the Torah.

The second verse in Parashat Beha’alotcha, "when you raise up the candles," is a statement describing the essential human relationship to the Divine. In Torah terminology, a candle is a vessel that includes a wick and oil, that must be lit with a flame. Now, every Jewish soul is analogous to a candle, as it says in Proverbs 20:

Proverbs 20:27

The spirit of man is the lamp of ADONAI, searching all his inmost being.

Proverbs 6:23

For the mitzvah is a lamp, Torah a light, and corrective discipline the way of life,

When Samuel was sent by God to anoint a son of Jesse who would replace Saul. And we read HaShem’s words to Samuel:  “I ADONAI search the heart, I try the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds” (Jeremiah 17:10).

Concerning this, we also read that “I know, my God, that You search the heart and take pleasure in uprightness” (1 Chronicles 29:17).

These verses, raising up (beha’alotcha) the flame to kindle the Menorah, means to spark "the soul of man", with the divine light of

His instructions and His ru’ach! We need both the Spirit

and the Word in order to be transformed from within so that we can make aliyah in the Spirit, thereby drawing nearer to the Lord

in a state of holiness and righteousness.

In doing so, we will "illuminate" every aspect of our being, spirit, soul and body. We do so in the understanding that the Menorah was hewn out of one solid piece of gold

Furthermore, the haftarah portion in Zechariah 4:2 affirms that the Menorah was made entirely of gold. We too in Yeshua are being transformed into vessels of honour:

2 Timothy 2:20-21

Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay—some for honor and some for common use. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these, he will be a vessel for honor—sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

The previous verse in 2 Timothy 2 states that ”the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord keep away from unrighteousness” (2 Timothy 2:19).

I have suggested previously on many occasions that we are not idle spectators in the process of the outworking of our sanctification. Rather, we are co-labourers with HaShem. “For we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9). What does it imply to be a cp-labourer?

To be a co-labourer with God means that every believer in Yeshua has a vital role to play in fulfilling their destiny in order to advance the kingdom of God. We can never accomplish this remarkable task in our own strength as it states quite specifically and clearly in our haftarah portion.

The angel of the Lord asks Zechariah what he saw. Zechariah responded: “Behold, I see a solid gold menorah with its bowl at the top of it, and its seven lamps on it with seven pipes for the lamps that are on the top of it. Also two olive trees are by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on the left side of it.’ Then I responded by saying to the angel speaking with me, ‘What are these, my lord?’ The angel who spoke with me responded by asking me, ‘You do not know what these are?’ I replied, ‘No, my lord.’ “Then he responded to me by saying, ‘This is the word of ADONAI to Zerubbabel saying: “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Ruach!” says ADONAI-Tzva’ot”   (Zechariah 4:2-7).

We need the knowledge of the Word and the enablement of the Spirit of God in order to fulfil this high calling. We need both! And, God depends on us having this awareness because we are His hands and feet in this world.

We have a heavenly responsibility to live and move and have our being in the fear of the Lord, so as to positively impact the world and be a strong influencer for God and humanity. Ours indeed, is a high calling!