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until the flame goes up on its own (chinuch)

Written by D Fine

At the start of the sedra, HaShem commands that the Bnei Yisrael are to ensure that ‘the tamid flame shall rise.’ Rashi (27;20) brings the gemarra which comments that the obligation is to light until the flame goes up on its own. Rav Shimshon Refoel Hirsch comments that the menorah represents Torah (‘ki ner mitzvah vetorah or’; for a candle is a mitzvah and the torah is light), and so the fact that the menorah candles are to be lit ‘until the flame goes up on its own’ is a lesson in chinuch. The lesson is that one should invest the pupil with the skills and tools with the ultimate goal that the student/child will pG be able to achive on his own with those skills – that the flame should be able to rise up by itself.

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