In Every Generation A Light: Tetzaveh

“… you shall command the Children of Israel that they shall bring clear pressed olive oil to you for the light, to keep up a lamp always.” Exodus 27:20. The lighting of this lamp was “an eternal law through their generations from the Children of Israel.”

Exodus 27.

When leaving our houses, to save energy, we turn out the lights. For the Children of Israel in Tetzaveh, their concern was to keep the light burning forever. What purpose is there to s expend energy on an eternal light. Does this fly in the face of conservation? Or, is burning an eternal light an act of conservation?

Light production is complicated. Clapping one’s hands or commanding “Alexa” to turn on lights are the mere ends of a lengthy process. While these novel acts of generating light were likely inspired by the Creator of the Universe’s famous declaration of “let there be light”, we do not possess the alchemy to follow suit. Rather, Humans dedicated themselves to having reliable and effecient sources of light production. Proof of how good we are at producing lumination is found in a song by the Poet Jim Morrison as he described Los Angeles as the “City of Lights.”

With Tetzaveh’s commandment -an eternal light- the Israelites were confronted with all aspects of light production. For them, they were now in the olive oil business. This business was not with the Godfather, but rather the “Big Guy”. Thus, the Israelites had to address many questions, “who was to be in charge?” “who was to own the land upon which the trees grew? “who was to grow, maintain and harvest them?”” who was to produce the product?” “who was to build and maintain the machines that extracted the oil?” “who was to engage in quality control to make sure the oil reached the specification?” and “who was to deliver the oil to the priests?”

Thus, a seemingly simple task is actually a complicated exercise in contemplation, planning, performance, cooperation and communication. Keeping an eternal enterprise is difficult, demanding and obsessive in nature.

Perhaps, one of Tetzaveh’s eternal light’s goals was to inspires humanity’s engagement in the positive measures that surround the production of quality oil.

Be well!!

Please like, follow, comment or share