 | As our Northern Hemisphere enters the weeks of fastest increasing daylight and we accelerate into the oncoming spring (not a moment too soon!), this week's Torah portion opens with a command to make eternal light. The command aims at all of us, and the sudden absence of Moses underscores the message at this important moment. |
By Rabbi David Evan Markus
Tetzaveh 5785 (2025)
A few days ago, for the first time since October seemingly so long ago, I felt first glimmers of warmth from the Northeast sun rising higher in the sky. The next day, I saw the first robins of spring.
At last, haltingly at first, seasonal change is moving through. We enter the weeks of fastest increasing daylight. In rapid succession will come first flowers, Purim, the spring equinox, spring religious holidays (Holy Week for Christians, Passover for Jews), then tree leaves.
At exactly this time, the Torah portion opens with a command to make and spread light (Exodus 27:20-21):
Tetzaveh 5785 (2025)
A few days ago, for the first time since October seemingly so long ago, I felt first glimmers of warmth from the Northeast sun rising higher in the sky. The next day, I saw the first robins of spring.
At last, haltingly at first, seasonal change is moving through. We enter the weeks of fastest increasing daylight. In rapid succession will come first flowers, Purim, the spring equinox, spring religious holidays (Holy Week for Christians, Passover for Jews), then tree leaves.
At exactly this time, the Torah portion opens with a command to make and spread light (Exodus 27:20-21):
| וְאַתָּ֞ה תְּצַוֶּ֣ה ׀ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְיִקְח֨וּ אֵלֶ֜יךָ שֶׁ֣מֶן זַ֥יִת זָ֛ךְ כָּתִ֖ית לַמָּא֑וֹר לְהַעֲלֹ֥ת נֵ֖ר תָּמִֽיד׃ בְּאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵד֩ מִח֨וּץ לַפָּרֹ֜כֶת אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־הָעֵדֻ֗ת יַעֲרֹךְ֩ אֹת֨וֹ אַהֲרֹ֧ן וּבָנָ֛יו מֵעֶ֥רֶב עַד־בֹּ֖קֶר לִפְנֵ֣י יְהו''ה חֻקַּ֤ת עוֹלָם֙ לְדֹ֣רֹתָ֔ם מֵאֵ֖ת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ | You will command the Children of Israel to bring you clear oil of beaten olives for lighting, for lifting lamps always. Aaron and his sons will arrange them in the Tent of Witnessing, outside the curtain over [the Ark] from evening to morning before YHVH. It will be an eternal statute for the generations of the Children of Israel. |
From here emerge the Eternal Flame and the Menorah – core light symbols of Jewish life.
Today olive oil is a mere grocery run (or delivery) away, but back then making olive oil needed communal effort – especially from "beaten" olives, which is a misnomer. Most olive oil comes from crushing inferior olives, but this particular olive oil was special. It could be obtained only from choice naturally tree-ripened olives, mainly from the apex of the tree, from which just a few drops of especially light and fine oil emerges from gentle pressure rather than crushing. The effort, gentleness and rarity of this special oil for lighting required all hands on deck to generate sufficient supply.
Put another way, olive oil for spiritual lighting could come only from community collectively. Light literally came from the people.
Not coincidentally, this Torah portion is the only one after the Book of Genesis not to mention Moses' name. The light expressly did not come from the leader, even though Moses' face later would shine (Exodus 34:29-30). In this Torah portion that begins with making light, Moses' name is nowhere to be found.
The metaphor is exquisite, especially because next week at Purim we'll read the Book of Esther – the only book of Tanakh not to mention God. Amidst the Book of Esther's overt antisemitism and misogyny, it was seemingly ordinary people (Mordekhai and Esther) who needed to act with extraordinary courage. And when they did, "there was light" (Esther 8:17).
So too today. Power lies in the people – in community – not primarily any leader. It takes community to make light. Especially now, it takes all of us to shine in the darkness.
It's time. Happy spring.
Today olive oil is a mere grocery run (or delivery) away, but back then making olive oil needed communal effort – especially from "beaten" olives, which is a misnomer. Most olive oil comes from crushing inferior olives, but this particular olive oil was special. It could be obtained only from choice naturally tree-ripened olives, mainly from the apex of the tree, from which just a few drops of especially light and fine oil emerges from gentle pressure rather than crushing. The effort, gentleness and rarity of this special oil for lighting required all hands on deck to generate sufficient supply.
Put another way, olive oil for spiritual lighting could come only from community collectively. Light literally came from the people.
Not coincidentally, this Torah portion is the only one after the Book of Genesis not to mention Moses' name. The light expressly did not come from the leader, even though Moses' face later would shine (Exodus 34:29-30). In this Torah portion that begins with making light, Moses' name is nowhere to be found.
The metaphor is exquisite, especially because next week at Purim we'll read the Book of Esther – the only book of Tanakh not to mention God. Amidst the Book of Esther's overt antisemitism and misogyny, it was seemingly ordinary people (Mordekhai and Esther) who needed to act with extraordinary courage. And when they did, "there was light" (Esther 8:17).
So too today. Power lies in the people – in community – not primarily any leader. It takes community to make light. Especially now, it takes all of us to shine in the darkness.
It's time. Happy spring.
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