The Central Focus

parashas Terumah 5782

“Make its seven lamps—the lamps shall be so mounted as to give the light on its front side.” – Exodus 25:37, sefaria.org

“Their light should be directed in the direction of the front of the central branch which forms the candlestick proper.” – Rashi, sefaria.org

“Inasmuch as the lights symbolized spiritual “enlighten-ment,” the lesson is that in all our efforts at obtaining such enlightenment, and during all the digressions that the pursuit of such disciplines necessarily entails, we must never lose sight of the direction in which we are striving and keep this central idea of such enlightenment resulting in us becoming better servants of the Lord, constantly in front of our mental eye.’” – Sforno, sefaria.org

According to Rashi, the seven-candled menorah, that rested in the mishkan (sanctuary), was lit in a way whereof the wicks set in oil on the top of each of the seven branches faced the central branch. They illumined the light that shone in the middle of the menorah with their own light. In a manner of speaking, they reflected back the glory of the center light, with their own.

We can learn from this to let our efforts during the week, three days preceding Shabbos, and three days following the Shabbos, enliven the quality of our Shabbat. The weekdays must be “directed” towards the sanctity acquired on Shabbos from Above. Yet, the relationship is reciprocal, in like manner that our own efforts will influence the quality of sanctity that we experience on Shabbos, so does Shabbos influence the mundane days of the week.

Here, the central light represents Shabbos, while the six other lights represent the end of the “work week,” and the beginning of the new week after Shabbos. It is a profound teaching, because it is implied that the spiritual quality of Shabbos somehow nourishes the three preceding days, as well as the three days that follow the Shabbos.

The mundane days of the week require our efforts at dedicating the hours of each day towards higher purposes, despite their mundanity. As mentioned previously, this will also benefit the quality of our individual experience of Shabbos. Yet, the light from Shabbos, in and of itself, increases our sense of kedushah, in a tangible way. One can “feel” the holiness of the seventh day, especially when immersed in its observance.