B'Haloschah

The beginning of this weeks week’s parshah instructs Mosheh Rabeinu - “Daber el aharon…B’haloscha es haneiros, el mul pnei hamenorah yairu shivas haneiros”
Speak to Aharon…When you light the flames, - towards the face of the Menorah shall they burn - the seven neiros”
It is well known that a ner (candle or flame) in the Torah represents the spark of Torah and the soul. Aharon the Kohein Gadol has the charge of bringing the Torah to the souls of the masses.
In our parsha Aharon is told – “When you raise those flames- and ignite the souls of the Jewish people-they must all face towards the same direction! There may be a multiplicity of Neshamas – and they will have their own placement on the Menorah – but their purpose must be one: To know and serve Hashem.
Rav Simcha Wasserman zt’l was a well loved Rosh Yeshiva and community leader in California. He was once invited to a bris at which both a Chabad Rabbi and a leader of the local reform community were present. The Reform Rabbi saw Rav Wasserman and the Chabad Rabbi engaged in Torah discussion.
He jokingly chided; “Rabbi I thought you don’t see eye to eye with the Lubavitch?”
Rav Wasserman quickly refuted- “On the contrary! The Chabad Rabbi and I are like two officers in the same army – we just have different positions. He’s in the field and I am at headquarters.”
“So what’s my position?” The Refom Rabbi played along.
“You’re the deserter!” came the reply.
From this pasuk and story there is much to be learned about the various faces within the Jewish nation. The bottom line however is to question who are we serving , our own self interests, or G-D.

Gut Shabbos.