Parshas Behaalosecha: Eliminating The Shulchan

About this episode

Rabbi Shulman discusses the significance of the menorah's lamps and their connection to spirituality and physical enjoyment.

Rabbi Shulman focuses on the Torah’s instruction that all seven lamps of the menorah must shine “אל מול פני המנורה,” and he raises two questions: how this applies to the middle lamp, and why this detail appears here rather than earlier in the construction of the Mishkan’s vessels. Drawing on Rav Tzadok, Rabbi Shulman explains that “מול” hints to the north side of the Mishkan—the spiritually vulnerable “opening” associated with the hidden yetzer hara (“הצפוני”). The menorah’s light (Torah) must therefore shine “into the north,” elevating the שולחן (physical eating and enjoyment) into holiness and providing the only real antidote to modern excess and indulgence.

People in this episode

Host: Rabbi Aryeh Shulman

Topics covered

• menorah
• Torah
• spirituality
• Mishkan
• yetzer hara
• holiness

Keywords

• menorah
• Torah
• spiritual vulnerability
• Mishkan
• yetzer hara
• holiness
• Parshas Behaalosecha

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Parshas Behaalosecha, Torah

Places: Mishkan, north, הצפוני, שולחן

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