Behaalotecha is usually translated as "when you
light the lamps" but the literal Hebrew translation is
"when
you ascend the lamps" (Numbers 8:2). This lighting
represents an ascending process or action that takes
place when we elevate all levels of consciousness to the awareness of God's
Love in every aspect of our lives.
"And this
was the work of the menorah (candelabra),
beaten work of gold; unto the base thereof, and unto the flowers thereof, it
was beaten work." (8:4)
We have said that
gold symbolizes the finest and most precious quality in the material
world. It is written in the Torah (Exodus 35) that the menorah was
made of a single piece of gold, which also represents the finest awareness of
our Oneness with the Creator.
Although Aaron
the High Priest was assigned to light the menorah, our Sages say that any lay
person can do it outside of the Tabernacle or Temple (Talmud, Yoma 24b).
We
learn that every aspect of consciousness is able to light itself up to reach
out to God's Love and become His vessel to light up the world. In this context
the function of the High Priest, the highest awareness of our connection with
the Creator, is there to assist us when our lower aspects of consciousness
can't become the vessels by themselves.
It
is interesting to note that in the same chapter of this portion is
emphasized once again the role of the Levites (the Tribe that includes the high
priests) as the ones in permanent connection with God.
"Thus
shall you separate the Levites from among the children of Israel, and the
Levites shall be Mine." (Numbers 8:14)
The
portion continues with an essential message of the Torah. In His infinite Love
our Creator embraces us every time that we return to Him after we (for one
reason or another) separate from Him.
"If
any man of you or of your generations shall be unclean by reason of a dead
body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the Passover unto the
Lord." (9:10)
This
is the sweet Commandment called Pesach
sheini, the second Pesach, which means that regardless the
transgressions we may have committed when we separate ourselves from God's
Love, and distance our material lives from His ways and attributes, He awaits
our return to Him. Let's reflect on this Commandment.
The
people who were "unclean" or "far off" were the ones
who pleaded to Moses, asking for a second chance to bring the sacrifices that
they were not able to bring during the time set for Passover. God gives them
that second chance.
Again,
it's up to us to return to Love as the means to also return to God.
Consequently it is our duty to maintain our permanent
awareness of Love as our true identity in everything we are and do,
because He is constantly with us as our Creator and sustenance.
"So
it was always: the Cloud covered it, and the appearance
of Fire by night." (9:16)
The
following verses (9:17-22) reiterate the permanent Divine Presence in the
Tabernacle, the place that symbolizes our connection with God. When we are in
constant awareness of this connection, anything that threatens Love's ways and
attributes disappears. If God's Love is with us, what could be against?
"And
it came to pass, when the Ark set forward, that Moses said: 'Rise up, O Lord,
and let Your enemies be dispersed; and let those who hate You flee before
You'." (10:35)
When
our thoughts, emotions, feelings, passions and instincts are filled and guided
by Love, God's Love transforms and elevates what we touch with our deeds and
actions. This transformation works like fire as a catalyst for change. We have
to understand the Biblical allegory of God's Fire as Divine Love. This Love is
not a destroying force but a transforming one. Love is what redeems us from the
darkness of materialistic illusions that we must burn in order to return to
Love, our true reality, and not reality based on ego's fantasies.
The
epithets with which God is related to in the Torah and the Hebrew Scriptures
such as "jealous", "wrathful" and "vengeful" are
contextual allegories meaning that He does not cohabit with anything different
than His ways and attributes. God's Love as Divine Fire is applied in the
same context.
We
have said that God made His Creation for His Glory, which is Love. We are here
to reveal His Love in order to proclaim His Glory. In order to fulfill that
mission we have to transform all levels of our consciousness with the fire of
Love as the material manifestation of God's Love.
"And
the people were as complainers, speaking evil in the ears of the Lord; and when
the Lord heard it, His anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among
them, and devoured in the uttermost part of the camp. And the people cried unto
Moses; and Moses prayed unto the Lord, and the fire abated." (11:1-2)
This
is the apparent destruction that we bring to ourselves when we separate from
Love. It is indeed apparent as the "death" that is
also mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures when one is "expelled" from
the Oneness of God, because death ceases to be when we choose to return to Him.
"And
the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting; and the children
of Israel also wept on their part, and said: 'Would that we were given flesh to
eat'!" (11:4)
"While
the flesh was yet between their teeth, it was not yet chewed, the anger of the
Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord smote the people with a very
great plague. And the name of that place was called Kibrot-hattaavah (lit. graves of
lust), because there they buried the people that lusted."
(11:33-34)
We
quote our Sages listing lust, along with greed, pride, envy, impatience,
imprudence and indolence, as the negative qualities that corrupt our thoughts,
emotions, feelings, passions and instincts. They are allegorically represented
by the Canaanite nations that God commanded us to conquer and expel from the
Promised Land.
The
battles to conquer them are not easy when we separate from God. However, He
knows that we are weak before the illusions of materialism because we
experience physicality more with a materialist approach than a spiritual
one.
God's
Love allows us to exercise free will, and lets us learn from the choices we
make. In this case lust ruthlessly punishes us by making us feel dead as in a
plague.
The
portion ends with the temporary expulsion or (spiritual)
death for seven days of Moses' sister, Miriam, as a consequence of her negative
talk against him. Once again evil talk is condemned as one of the main
transgressions against our fellow man.
It's
ego's easiest way to proclaim its rule in our consciousness and making us feel
"separated" from the Unity of our People, the Oneness of Creation, and
the Oneness of God. This episode is so important that we are commanded by Him
to remember it every day.
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