We read at the beginning of Parashat B’ha’alotcha:
“’Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you mount the lamps, let the seven lamps give light at the front of the lampstand [menorah].” ~ Numbers 8:2
The seven-branched menorah is the quintessential Jewish symbol, older even than the Star of David. It has always illuminated our path, and it is no coincidence that the seven-branched menorah, flanked by olive branches on either side, was chosen to serve as the official symbol of the State of Israel.
But sadly, today, many do not see the light of that menorah. And sadly, many young Jews express alienation and even aversion toward the State of Israel as it exists today. We must take a good, hard look in the mirror. When extremist rioters attack Arabs in villages in the territories, do such brutal attacks reflect the light of the Torah and the menorah?
The light of the menorah must shine and spur us on to building a more just society, one that is based on and upholds the lofty values of the Torah, the Prophets, and Israel’s Declaration of Independence!
