Knowledge is Power -- G-dly Knowledge is SUPER POWER
The Menorah that was lit in the Temple represented the light that shines from the center of the world i.e. the Temple, to and for the entire world. For this reason the Menorah also represents the Torah – “the Torah is light”.
Just as the actual Torah was brought down to this world by Moses who represents wisdom, so to it was Moses who was commanded to make the Menorah, since the menorah, light and wisdom was his thing.
Aaron (Moses’ older brother) as Priest, represented the other pathway to G-d, that of worship/service and prayer to G-d. Therefore, it was Aaron who was commanded to prepare the Menorah, and to light it.
The making of the menorah and “potential” for creating and holding light isn’t enough; it has to actually be lit, so the original intended purpose for making the Menorah is brought to fruition. If someone merely brought the ingredients to make light, oil and a wick, this isn’t yet a functional candle.
There is a saying “it isn’t enough to know Torah and wisdom. Torah and its wisdom has to influence the person and his life.”
The wisdom of Torah in itself isn’t the ultimate. It is only when the light is ignited and the wisdom actually sheds its brilliance and clarity on a person, in his life and his surroundings that the goal has been reached. This is accomplished by the spiritual service represented by Aaron, prayer.
The light, is the result of the oil and the wick being consumed. The more A) oil and wick B) being consumed, the greater is the fire. The first step in creating light is to stack up on the ingredients for light A) – the knowledge, wisdom and Torah.
Maimonides writes, “ It is a well-known and clear matter that the love of God will not become attached within a person's heart until he becomes obsessed with it at all times as is fitting, leaving all things in the world except for this. This was implied by the command [Deuteronomy 6:5: "Love God, your Lord,] with all your heart and all your soul.
One can only love God [as an outgrowth] of the knowledge with which he knows Him. The nature of one's love depends on the nature of one's knowledge! A small [amount of knowledge arouses] a lesser love. A greater amount of knowledge arouses a greater love…..”
When a person is praying, B) meditating deeply and intensely concentrating on the words prepared according to the structure designed by our great sages, specifically the Men of the Great Assembly, this will bring them to a state of B) self-abnegation. A state where they will deeply cherish the G-dly and the spiritual and will yearn for more. More of the awareness that all that is physical is merely small and insignificant, and many times counterproductive expression to the experience of G-dliness. They will therefore care for less of the physical and more of what has, and is, of eternal value.
The more a person has studied the Torah – “Torah is light” and the knowledge of G-d, and realizes the infinite greatness of G-d he/she will be filled with an immense joy and happiness (through prayer & its meditations) that he/she is able to approach G-d in any way whatsoever, only by observing His commandments.
In our “prayers” we ask G-d to, “open our heart in your Torah” and wisdom. We are not asking for more brain clarity, but for more sensitivity, breadth and depth of the "heart". That is because in prayer, the person realizes that unless his wisdom of the Torah is able to affect his soul and his personal life nothing important was accomplished. At this point the person desires that his emotions be fired up with enthusiasm that will move him/her, and shed the light in his life on, and for, the things that matter.
That is why in mysticism the “best man” of the congregation of Israel is, Aaron. Prayer, is the vehicle to elevate all parts of our soul and being, to become attached with the groom, Almighty G-d,the source of all that is blessed and good.
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