Keep Focused on G-d

By Shai Malkah




"When you shall light the candles, the seven candles will illuminate facing the menorah." (From this week's Torah portion)

At first glance, it is difficult to understand this verse. The six candles of the menorah were facing the middle candle while the middle candle itself was facing heaven and did not illuminate the menorah. The commentaries explain that because the middle candle was facing heaven, it too, illuminated the menorah because it highlighted the fact that the purpose of all the candles was to give glory to G-d.

Sometimes, a person is faced with a situation in which he is working hard toward a certain goal. But he must make sure that his personal middle candle, found in his innermost heart, is directed toward heaven.

The voting on the Regulation Law on this Wednesday is a good example of the above. When there is no direction, no lighthouse to steer all of a person's efforts toward heaven, then even people with positive intentions can cause negative and distorted results. When they are put to the test, they lack the fortitude to stand by their principles. When a person's heart is not directed toward heaven, it reflects on his actions when the going gets tough.

Shabbat Shalom,

Shai Malkah
Director General
Manhigut Yehudit