This week basically marks the conclusion of our academic week of studies as once the month of June begins we embark on end term activities, projects, trips and final exams. When we think about how the year has been we can feel very encouraged that Sha'arei Bina has more than survived through the prolonged stress of the Covid pandemic, we have actually thrived! Our teachers and our students have learned to be resilient, to reach into their inner reserves of strength, character and emunah as we faced multiple minor and major challenges in what we came to think of as our normal lives. I believe by experiencing the challenges of this past year, our identity as a school community has grown stronger. Our mission is to guide young girls to become strong women of faith and instill in them confidence predicated on belief in their own abilities as well as knowing that what they have accomplished was made possible “besiyata dishmaya” with G-d’s help.
B'nai Yisrael went through many the yesorim, יסורים in the Midbar, the desert, on their journey to the Land of Israel. Perhaps the trip could have taken only three days, but it appears that the nation was not yet ready to build a future together. The Chidushei Rim says that Bnai Yisrael were unwilling to understand that the Land, like knowledge of the Torah, can only be gained only by working for it. Nothing in life that is worthwhile comes easy - if we value an ideal we have to work to promote it and preserve it. The Sifre notes that the complaint that they had no meat was a baseless complaint as they had more than enough flocks with them, but focusing on the word chinam, חינם, free (“We remember the fish we ate in Egypt for free” ) Sifre writes that it was their excuse to be free of mitzvot. It seems most people do not enjoy restrictions or limits put upon them, but it is precisely these laws, these commandments which we follow, which free us to reach our potential as individuals and as a nation. We unfortunately know that whenever there is an existential threat from an enemy, or a major tragedy, as we witnessed in the past two weeks, Am Yisrael unites.
This week’s parsha, Beha’alotcha, begins with the laws of lighting the menorah. The posuk reads בְּהַעֲלֹֽתְךָ֙ אֶת־הַנֵּרֹ֔ת אֶל־מוּל֙ פְּנֵ֣י הַמְּנוֹרָ֔ה יָאִ֖ירוּ שִׁבְעַ֥ת הַנֵּרֽוֹת׃
When you kindle the candles, towards the face of the menorah, shall these seven candles light. The word “behaalotcha” literally means when you bring up. Rashi explains that from this we learn that the Kohen has to keep lighting the candles until the flame goes up by itself. Isn’t it enough for the Kohen to light the wicks? Doesn’t a flame have the capacity to build itself up? The menorah and the candles represent Torah. The candle is the mitzvah and the Torah is the light. Harav Hagaon Rav Moshe Feinstein, Z’l, wrote in his sefer Kol Ram. that the laws of lighting the menorah are given to teach us the principles of learning and educating. The law that the Kohen must light the candle until the flame goes up by itself represents the relationship between teacher and student. We learn that as mechanchim, educators, we must continue to teach and guide our students until the flame of learning goes up by itself - until a student has a fire in herself to want to learn and she has developed the skills for independent study.
The Parsha continues- Facing the Menorah shall these seven candles cast their light- אֶל־מוּל֙ פְּנֵ֣י הַמְּנוֹרָ֔ה יָאִ֖ירוּ שִׁבְעַ֥ת הַנֵּרֽוֹת׃. It is from this pasuk that we derive the desired attitude of the student . Every candle’s glow must be cast towards the Menorah. Even when a student thinks she is ready to be independent, she must face the Torah for guidance.
Each branch of the menorah stood tall and independent, nevertheless they were all joined by the middle kaneh-post. Even as each one of the candles burned brightly, they were all joined as a unit. Just as each of us is unique and special in our own ways we are joined as a one with a common mission and a common destiny- to be am yisrael, b’ eretz yisrael, al pi Torat yisrael.- to be the nation of Israel, in the Land of Israel, based on the laws of Torat Yisrael.
May the warmth and glow of the Shabbat Candles emanate in our homes.
Shabbat Shalom
Rochelle Brand, Ed.D.
Head of School
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