February 28, 2026 – Tetzaveh (“You shall command”) Parshat 20 – Shabbat Zachor

• Torah: Exodus 27:20 – 30:10
• Haftara: 1 Samuel 15:2-34
• Brit Chadasha: Mark 6:14-29

וְאַתָּ֞ה תְּצַוֶּ֣ה ׀ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְיִקְח֨וּ אֵלֶ֜יךָ שֶׁ֣מֶן זַ֥יִת זָ֛ךְ כָּתִ֖ית לַמָּא֑וֹר לְהַעֲלֹ֥ת נֵ֖ר תָּמִֽיד׃

Ve’atah tetsaveh et-beney Yisra’el veyikchu eleycha shemen zayit zach katit lama’or leha’alot ner tamid.

You shall further instruct the Israelites to bring you clear oil of beaten olives for lighting, for kindling lamps regularly.

Eternal light: HaShem commanded that Aharon and his sons keep the light of the Menorah lit perpetually throughout their generations. [Exodus 27:21] the commandment was not for light to benefit Adonai, but for man, and the whole world. In the first temple the windows for the light had a beveled encasement with the opening widening as it went out, so it was said that the windows were not for the purpose of letting the light in, but rather the light from the lampstand out into the world.

“You are unable to survive by means of the light part of your own eyes (through which you cannot see), yet you desire to survive by means of the light of the Holy One, blessed be He. Why is this so? Your first inclination might lead you to err and say: “He requires your light.” R. Abin the Levite BeRabbi:7 You find that when a man constructs windows, he builds them wide on the inside and narrow on the outside. Why? He does this so that the light may spread throughout the house. The windows in the Temple, however, were constructed wide on the outside and narrow within, so that the light of the Temple might spread forth to illumine the world. Therefore He demanded the lamps only for our sake. David said: Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart (Ps. 97:11). [Midrash Tanchuma, Tetzaveh 6b]

And again we see it said “Not that I need you to provide light for me, but in order that you may provide light for me as I provide light for you. This is in order to elevate you above all other peoples, that they might say. “Israel gives light unto Him who illuminates the whole world.” (Exodus Rabbah 36:1)

So the sages say that the light from the Menorah was not for Hashem’s sake but for us, and the benefit was more than just providing light to us. It provided a way for us to serve or bless Adonai in the same way He blesses us with light. It also provided a way to show the nations the way to His light, and to draw them unto Himself through this mitzvot of light.

But the Rabbis saw an even greater explanation of this in the writings of the Neviim (prophets) that pointed to the new heaven and earth. This light would be the inexhaustible light emanating from HaShem himself that would dispel darkness for all eternity!

“In the tent of meeting, without the veil (Exod. 27:21). In case you are inclined to assert that He required the light, the menorah was placed before the curtain near the ark, outside of the veil. This was to demonstrate to you that He did not require the light supplied by man. Usually, when a human king constructs a bed and a table, he places a lamp on the table at his left side, but in the Temple, the Menorah was placed at the right of the table, as it is said: And thou shalt set the table without the veil, and the candlestick over against the table (Exod. 26:35). This was done to teach you that He does not require your light. It was instituted solely for your sake, so that the world would be illumined in the future, when darkness descends upon the nations of the world, as it is said: For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but upon thee the Lord will arise, and His glory shall be seen upon thee (Isa. 60:2).” [Midrash Tanchuma, Tetzaveh 7:1]

And finally “The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses: Tell the Israelites that in this world my sons are responsible for the light in the Sanctuary and must kindle it, but in the Messianic days, because of that lamp, I will bring you a Messiah who is likened unto a lamp, as it is said: There will I make a horn to shoot up unto David, there have I ordered a lamp for Mine anointed (Ps. 132:17). [Midrash Tanchuma, Tetzaveh 8]

Baracha Rabbah great blessings over you all in your study of Parshat Tetzaveh this week. May we all see Mashiach continually as we study the elements of the priestly garments and duties. We at His house of praise, celebrate as our Cohen Gadol is drawing near to give His light, Messiah Yeshua!

Ahav V’shalom L’mishpachatenu love and peace to our family in Messiah from Beth Hallel Lodi