The lighting of the Menorah seems to be a task reserved for the Kohen and does not concern the average Jew. We know that Torah is exact in its wording and no word is extra. Why then does the Torah, which is applicable to all Jews, repeatedly emphasize the significance of lighting the Menorah in detail?
One important message conveyed is the value of inspiring and uplifting others, a responsibility we all share. This week's Torah portion begins with "When you raise up the lights..." This means that when lighting the menorah, the Kohen needs to ensure that the flame continues to burn on its own.
When we want to uplift and strengthen others, we need to help them recognize their own light and potential. Realizing how strong and beautiful our own light is gives us the ability to shine and illuminate the outside world.
The Torah repeatedly mentions this lighting, teaching us the importance of inspiring others. We shouldn't just provide temporary inspiration, instead, we should uplift others to the point where they can recognize their own leadership qualities and shine independently.
When our goal is to uplift others, we should empower them to shine on their own, even when the initial burst of inspiration fades away.
Wishing you an inspiring Shabbos,
Rabbi Kushi Schusterman
P.S. This is an interesting relevant snippet from Israeli Ambassador Yehuda’s meeting with the Lubavitcher Rebbe in 1978.
“I will tell you what I’m trying to do . . . Reb Yehuda, imagine you are looking at a cupboard, and I tell you to open that cupboard. You open the cupboard, and you see there a candle, but I tell you that it is not a candle—it is a lump of wax with a piece of string inside. When does the wax and the wick become a candle? When one brings a flame to the wick. That is when the wax and the wick fulfill the purpose for which they were created.
“And that is what I try to do—to help every man and woman fulfill the purpose for which they were created.”
I was sitting there listening to him, impressed by the authority in his voice. And then he said these words:
“Ha-esh, zeh esh ha-Torah—the fire is the fire of the Torah. When one brings the flame to the wick, one ignites the soul—for the wick is the soul—and it gives life to the body, which is the wax. And then the body and the soul fulfill the purpose for which they were created. And that happens through the fire of Torah.”
By the time my meeting with the Rebbe was over, it was past two in the morning. For the last hour, a buzzer had been buzzing intermittently, and only later did I realize that the door couldn’t be opened unless the Rebbe released the latch from the inside. But he didn’t. He merely said, “Al tityaches—don’t pay attention.”
Finally, I rose and he escorted me to the door. He took hold of both my hands to say goodbye, and I said, “Has the Rebbe lit my candle?”
He answered, “No. I have given you the match. Only you can light your own candle.”
Excerpt from https://www.harfordchabad.org/2252758/The-String-and-the-Flame.htm