Last week’s Torah portion was focused on the details of the construction of the Mishkan, the traveling sanctuary. This week’s Torah portion is focused largely on the creation of the clothing for the kohanim, the priests of the Mishkan, and the details of their investiture ceremony.
Yet in the middle of all this, there are three verses at the start of this week’s Torah portion that are concerned with securing olive oil and setting up the eternal light in the sanctuary. Why? With all the major details in front of us, why is our attention diverted to the lighting system?
Nehama Leibowitz, echoing earlier commentators, draws a parallel between the instructions for the creation of the Mishkan and the story of the creation of the world. In both instances, light plays a prominent and early role in the respective narratives. Nehama Leibowitz notes, as well, that light is often employed as a metaphor for Divine wisdom and instruction: “The Lord is my light and salvation” (Psalms 27:1), “For the commandment is a lamp and the Torah a light. (Proverbs 6:23). We see then that the description of the eternal light is placed here to deliver an essential message - that we should not get lost in the description of a grand structure and the awe-inspiring nature of its attendants. While these details are important, the ultimate objective is to develop a greater awareness of, respect for, and commitment to God’s glory.
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