Tetzaveh 5786 - Becoming the Menorah

Why is Moshe's name missing from Parshas Tetzaveh? This parsha is unique - it's the only one from Moshe's birth through the end of Bamidbar where his name never appears. But there's something even more curious: Hashem tells Moshe to take pure olive oil "for you," yet the oil is meant for the menorah in the Mishkan, not for Moshe personally. In this episode, we explore Rav Druk's insight that reveals why Moshe and the menorah are inseparable. The Gemara teaches that the menorah symbolizes Torah wisdom, and because Moshe brought down the Torah, he himself became identified with the menorah's light. The Torah's specification of "shemen zayis zach" - pure olive oil - teaches that our Torah learning must also be pure, undertaken for its own sake rather than for honor or recognition. Join us as we discover how to check our learning intentions and transform from students of Torah into living menorahs - sources of illumination for ourselves and those around us. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit notarabbi.substack.com