“...When you kindle the lamps, the seven lights shall cast light toward the face of the Menorah.”
In the name of Heaven, it seems that almost as much blood as rain has soaked the earth. Self-righteous fanatics from the Spanish Inquisition to modern day terrorists have invoked the name of Heaven to justify their atrocities. The Nazis believed that their obscene horror-show was the Divine Will. In 1646, after the Civil War in England, Mathew Hopkins, the self-proclaimed "Witchfinder General" led a terrifying purge that relied on testimony extorted by means of “ordeal.” This featured torture of the most horrific nature including hot pincers and the thumbscrew.
All in the name of Heaven.
“...When you kindle the lamps, the seven lights shall cast light toward the face of the Menorah.”
Rashi tells us: “The face of the Menorah” means the ner ma’aravi, the middle of the seven lights. The wicks of the three flames on either side of the ner ma’aravi must incline and “cast light” toward this central light. If so, why does the Torah say, “the seven lights shall cast light”? It should say,” the six lights shall cast light toward the face of the Menorah” – the ner ma’aravi.
Six represents the mundane and the workaday. Seven represents Shabbat; Shabbat is not so much the end of the week as the week’s end — its goal and purpose. The six lights pointing toward the central flame teach us to orient all our actions towards the center, towards Heaven.
When the Torah says that all seven lights should cast light on the center, it means that even the center must face the center. It’s all too easy to justify anything and everything “in the name of Heaven.” We must be sure that the things that we do in the name of Heaven should truly be worthy to bear Heaven’s name.
