| ב"ה אֵשׁ תָּמִיד תּוּקַד עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ (ויקרא ו, ו) A continuous fire shall burn upon the altar. (Vayikra 6:6) Burning Fats, Fueling Flames In addition to the simple meaning of the verse, instructing us to maintain a constant fire on the altar, the Talmud sees the words "a continuous fire" as an allusion to the fire of the Menorah, which is likewise called "a continual lamp" (Shemos 27:20). Accordingly, the Talmud (Yoma 45b) extrapolates that the flame used to kindle the Temple Menorah must be taken from the fire on the altar. What is the significance of this requirement? The light of the Menorah symbolizes Torah study, as the verse in Mishlei states, "For a mitzvah is a lamp, and the Torah is light." Like the continuous burning of the menorah's flames, a Jew's obligation to study Torah is constant. To succeed in Torah study, however, one must be prepared to sacrifice. As the Rambam (Hilchos Talmud Torah 3:6-9) writes, "He whose heart inspires him to fulfill this mitzvah in a fitting manner and to become crowned with the crown of Torah, must remove the desires and pleasures of the times from his heart." To maintain the level of dedication necessary to succeed in Torah study, one must utterly abandon his pursuit of material pleasure. This principle is hinted at in the Torah's requirement that the fire for the menorah be taken from the Outer Mizbei'ach, upon which the blood and fats of the animal sacrifices were offered. This signifies that we "fuel" the fire of the Menorah—our continuous fire of Torah study—when our "blood and fats"—our excitement, passion and delight—are completely "consumed" in the pursuit of G-dliness—the fire of the altar. —Reshimas HaMenorah, pp. 124-125 | |
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