Being an inspiration to others is a blessing, and although the feeling of sharing a meaningful lesson, heartwarming anecdote or some thoughtful advice is very special, it is far from the end game in the purpose of our creation.
The opening verse of this week’s parsha describes the Holy Temple service of lighting the Menorah, the seven branched candelabra which stood in closest proximity to the holiest spot on earth. The expression used is “Beha’alosecha es haneiros - when you (Aharon the high priest) will light the candles (of the Menorah).” The way I just translated the verse is true to its general meaning, but if you were to translate the words literally it would read “when you elevate the candles.” There are other words in Hebrew which mean “kindle” and the like, but the Torah chose to employ the word which also means “to elevate.” The most authoritative explainer of Torah, Rashi tells us the following: Since the flame rises, Scripture describes kindling in terms of ascending. He is required to kindle the lamp until the flame rises by itself. Technically speaking the kindler can hold the flame to the wick and cause it to shine brightly even if the fire did not catch on to the wick very well. But then the fire would cease to exist once the kindler moves away. Hence the Torah exhorts the Kohen to kindle the wick in such a manner that the flame would ascend on its own without the kindler’s help. Seems like a simple and self evident idea, but probing into the deeper meaning of the Menorah and its spiritual function, this detail becomes the catalyst for a profound paradigm shift in understanding our purpose in life. Every Jew is a lamp, filled with fuel and a wick ready to illuminate the world with divine light and inspiration. Our wick is kindled through Torah study and Mitzvah observance, filling the world with divine brilliance, but that’s not enough. We need to be lamplighters, ensuring that all the lamps around us are also kindled, able to illuminate and kindle more lamps. When the Kohen entered the sanctuary with a light, the service was not complete by just introducing light there. He needed to share that light in a way that the lamps of the Menorah would shine brightly on their own and kindle other lamps as well. Being the bearer of good cheer and doing good things is not enough. We need to invest time and energy in inspiring others to the point that they are empowered to be an inspiration to many more. Our success is only realized when we elevate another to the point that they can in turn elevate someone else.