The Korbanos for the Inauguration of the Mizbeiach Extinguished the Negative Aspect of the Seven Midos
Aharon HaKohen Illuminated for Yisrael the Kedushah of the Seven Midos
This week’s parsha is parshas Beha’aloscha. Hence, it is fitting for us to focus on the mitzvah of the kindling of the lamps in the Mishkan and in the Beis HaMikdash (Bamidbar 8, 1): "וידבר ה' אל משה לאמר, דבר אל אהרן ואמרת אליו בהעלותך את הנרות אל מול פני המנורה יאירו שבעת הנרות, ויעש כן אהרן אל מול פני המנורה העלה נרותיה כאשר צוה ה' את משה". Hashem spoke to Moshe saying, “Speak to Aharon and say to him: ‘When you kindle the lamps, toward the face of the menorah shall the seven lamps cast light.’” Aharon did so; toward the face of the Menorah, he kindled its lamps, as Hashem had commanded Moshe.
Rashi asks: Why does the Torah juxtapose the passage of the Menorah with the passage describing the contributions of the “nesiim” (the princes of the shevatim)? Because when Aharon saw the inauguration of the “nesiim,” he was disheartened, for he did not participate with them in the inauguration—neither he nor his tribe. HKBH said to him: “I swear by your life! Your contribution is greater than theirs, for you will kindle and prepare the Menorah’s lamps.” The commentaries, each in his own way, endeavor to explain how exactly Aharon’s contribution was superior to the contribution of the nesiim.
Additionally, we will focus on the detail specified by HKB”H: “Toward the face of the menorah shall the seven lamps cast light.” Here is the Rambam’s explanation (Hilchos Beis HaBechirah 3, 8): "ששת הנרות הקבועים בששת הקנים היוצאים מן המנורה, כולן פניהם לנר האמצעי שעל קני המנורה, וזה הנר האמצעי פניו כנגד קודש הקדשים והוא הנקרא נר מערבי". The six lamps affixed permanently to the six branches extending out from the body of the Menorah all faced the central lamp, which sat above the branches of the Menorah. The central lamp faced the Kodesh HaKodashim and was called the Western Lamp.
Apparently, the Rambam’s explanation is based on the opinion of Rabbi Elazar the son of Rabbi Shimon (Menachos 98b) that the Menorah was positioned in the Beis HaMikdash from north to south. Now, the passuk related to the mitzvah of lighting the Menorah states (Shemos 27, 21): "באהל מועד מחוץ לפרוכת אשר על העדות יערוך אותו אהרן ובניו מערב עד בוקר לפני ה'"—in the Ohel Mo’ed, outside of the Parochet that is near the Testimony, Aharon and his sons shall arrange it from evening until morning, before Hashem. This indicates that one of the lamps must “face Hashem,” i.e., the Shechinah located in the Kodesh HaKodashim to the west. More specifically, the middle lamp had to face west toward the Kodesh HaKodashim; hence, it is referred to as the "נר מערבי"—the Western Lamp. We will elaborate to achieve a better understanding of the matter.
