T’tzaveh
Candle-lighting: 7.33pm
Havdalah: 8.30pm
Our parashah opens with the verse “You shall further instruct the Israelites to bring you clear oil of beaten olives for lighting, for kindling lamps regularly” (Exodus 27:20) and continues with detailed instructions on how to build the mishkan (sanctuary) - the initial instructions were already given in last week’s parashah.
What might we learn from such a verse?
Perhaps the “clear” olive oil, produced from an involved and tiring process of labour, symbolises that we must strive to be clear (or pure) in our own lives, refining our middot (character traits) in an attempt to become pure of heart. Working on our middot involves a level of effort that might not come naturally and might even exhaust us. But it is necessary in order for us to be open to allowing light to enter ourselves, and to bring light to those around us.
The verse ends with the idea that the light will be a ner tamid (often translated as an eternal flame),
Candle-lighting: 7.33pm
Havdalah: 8.30pm
Our parashah opens with the verse “You shall further instruct the Israelites to bring you clear oil of beaten olives for lighting, for kindling lamps regularly” (Exodus 27:20) and continues with detailed instructions on how to build the mishkan (sanctuary) - the initial instructions were already given in last week’s parashah.
What might we learn from such a verse?
Perhaps the “clear” olive oil, produced from an involved and tiring process of labour, symbolises that we must strive to be clear (or pure) in our own lives, refining our middot (character traits) in an attempt to become pure of heart. Working on our middot involves a level of effort that might not come naturally and might even exhaust us. But it is necessary in order for us to be open to allowing light to enter ourselves, and to bring light to those around us.
The verse ends with the idea that the light will be a ner tamid (often translated as an eternal flame),
07
MAR
MAR