We pray every week for the leaders of the Jewish Ministry,
• Website: https://jewishadventist-org.gcnetadventist.org
A must website. To subscribe to our newsletter. To download some resources (Hebrew Sabbath School, and other documents). To order the book “Comfort, Comfort my people…” and many other things. •
Professional Urban Development: The WJAFC provides: - Professional Urban training for Jewish Ministry - Teaching for theological students - Help to plant new congregations. - Support for AdventistJewish dialogue with scholars and rabbis
Shalom Adventure Magazine online: www.ShalomAdventure.com
If you would like to read articles, watch videos, learn things about Judaism and Israel, this website is just for you. • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WJAFC: If you would like to share with people, this forum on facebook is a good place for that. • Photos on Google+: http://picasaweb.google.com/jewishadventist: We have posted a lot of pictures on Internet during the last years. Don’t hesitate to look at them.
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If you would like to listen Jewish or Messianic songs. If you want to be used to ear modern Hebrew of the Apostolic Writings, it is the right radio to listen on the web. • Adventist Mission Website: http://wjafc.adventistmission.org/ This website is the new resource provided by the Office of Adventist Mission of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists. • Russian Website: http://www.boruh.info/ This website is in Russian, many articles and the parasha are posted on it every week.
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Paris
A weekly Journal of information and training published by the World Jewish Adventist Friendship Center Under the umbrella of the General Conference —Office of Adventist Mission
This issue
week for leaders of the Jewish Ministry,
list of prayer for 2016, I suggest that our partners
English Edition: Richard-Amram Elofer
Richard Amram Elofer
Russian Edition: Alexandra Obrevko French Edition: Sabine Baris Spanish Edition: Jael Wells Cuellar Portuguese Edition: Carlos Muniz Dutch Edition: Hubert Paulleta
Hubert Paulleta 8
pray from June Carlos Muniz Emails: English: richard@elofer.com Russian: sashok_l@mail.ru French: sabinebaris@gmail.com Spanish: jael_wells@hotmail.com Portuguese: cdmuniz@gmail.com Dutch: hpauletta@hotmail.com
Credit photos: Richard Elofer, Alexandra Obrevko, Jael Wells Cuellar Hubert Paulleta, Laurent Baris and Advent Digital Media
for more information: contact us at www.jewishadventist.org
26 to July 2, for Alexandra Obrevko
News P.1 Parasha’s comments P.2-4 Haftara P.4-5 Apostolic Writings P.5 Stories P.6 Inspirational Corner P.6,7 Color Sheet for Kids P.7
Weekly Jewish-Adventist Journal of Information
According to our
Journal of Information and Training — Issue 686— 25 June 2 0 1 6 / 1 9 S i v a n 5 7 7 6
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25 June / 19 Sivan 2016 / 5776
We pray every
WJAFC
Jael Wells Cuellar
Shabbat — Beha’alotkha
Shabbat Shalom Newsletter
Resources:
Paul Daniels
NEWS
Immersion on Shavuot
i Jeff Zeremsky sent this news: The Beth-El Shalom synagogues of St. Petersburg & New Port Richey FL celebrated Shavout (Pentecost) with the reading of the 10 commandments from the Torah and an immersion service. It is Jewish tradition teaching that God gave Moses the 10 commandments on Shavuot. Calculating the time from Egypt through the 40 days of Moses’ time on Mt. Sinai would put Moses on the mountain receiving the Torah during Shavuot, but the Bible does not state the exact day of the writing of the 10 commandments on stones. This celebration of Shavuot has been a great celebration since an immersion service was added.
his big VHS video camera and began recording our services, and eventually we upgraded to digital. Later Lou moved to the Philippines and continued to watch our services on www.ShalomAdventure. com, based on the video system that he got us started with. After his stay abroad, Lou moved back about a year ago and has taken over the filming of the service again. Lou used to own a hotel right on the Gulf of Mexico and we went there several times to do our immersions in his back yard. It is with great joy we attended this year his own immersion or baptism.
who is leading the Jewish ministry in Roterdam, The Netherlands. Sabine Baris
Let’s pray for his ministry.
Lou Weintraub has been coming to Beth-El Shalom for many years. When we purchased and moved into our new synagogue in St. Petersburg, he brought
So in several ways he has come full circle, from starting filming to benefiting from them, from letting his hotel be used for immersions to being immersed himself.
Parasha Overview
Parasha for this Week
Beha’atlotkha
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haron is taught the method for kindling the menorah. Moshe sanctifies the levi’im to work in the Mishkan. They replace the first-born, who were disqualified after sinning at the golden calf. The levi’im are commanded that after five years of training they are to serve in the Mishkan from ages 30 to 50; afterwards they are to engage in less strenuous work. One year after the Exodus from Egypt, G-d commands Moshe concerning the korban Pesach. Those ineligible for this offering request a remedy, and the mitzvah of Pesach Sheini, allowing a “second chance” to offer the korban Pesach one month later, is detailed. Miraculous clouds that hover near the Mishkan signal when to travel and when to camp. Two silver trumpets summon the princes or the entire nation for announcements. The trumpets also signal travel plans, war or festivals. The order in which the tribes march is specified. Moshe invites his father-in-law, Yitro, to join the Jewish People, but Yitro returns to Mid-
“Now this was the workmanship of the lampstand, hammered work of gold; from its base to its flowers, it was hammered work; according to the pattern which the LORD had showed Moses, so he made the lampstand.” (Numbers 8:4)
Beha'atlotkha
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Numbers 8:1 - 12:16
Illuminating the World
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he parasha starts saying: “Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to Aaron and say to him, When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.’” (Numbers 8:1–2). Lighting the Menorah comes immediately after the list of the gifts given to dedicate the Mishkan by each tribes. What are the connection between these two facts? Our sages explain it as follows: When Aharon, who was head of the tribe of Levi, saw that each of the leaders of the twelve tribes offered special gifts in honor of the dedication, and he didn’t, he felt bad. He thought that perhaps he or his tribe were not worthy enough. In this Parasha, G-d reassures Aharon by giving him the special mitzvah of kindling the Menorah in the Temple. While the others gave a one-time gift, Aharon and his descendants would light the Menorah in the Holy Temple each day. In addition, G-d said to
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Aharon, “The mitzvah which you will be performing; lighting the candles, will apply even when the Holy Temple will not be in its physical existence. This will be in the form of lighting the Chanukah Menorah, which came about through the Macabees, who were descendants of Aharon. The Midrash tells us that the idea of lighting the menorah caught the Jewish people by surprise. They said, “Is there any darkness before G-d that He needs our light?” G-d replied, “It is not for My benefit that I command you to kindle the light in the Temple. It is for you.” The Menorah in the Holy Temple brought forth spiritual and holy light to the people of Israel and to the entire world. To emphasize this point, the windows in the Holy Temple were constructed narrow inside and wide on the outside. This was so that the light of the Beth Hamikdash will spread forth to the outside, illuminating the world. The scriptures tell us that man is compared to the light of a candle. The flame of a candle needs a wick and oil in order to stay lit, for without
them the flame cannot exist. So too, say our sages, the Torah, mitzvot and good deeds we perform are the spiritual wick and oil which we need to shine and illuminate the world. Just as the light of the Menorah was intended to bring light to the outside, so too is the mission of each believer, to illuminate the world with G-dliness and holiness, through studying and teaching Torah and obeying the Bible.
Elevating the Light
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his week’s Parasha, Beha’alotcha begins with G-d’s instructions to Aaron concerning the lighting of the Menorah. But, instead of using the word Lehadlik, which means to “kindle,” and used on Friday evening when we light the Shabbat’s candles the Torah uses the word Beha’alotcha, which literally means to “elevate.” Torah sages discuss the reason for this and many solutions have been suggested. Some say that Aaron had to climb several steps in order to light the Menorah. Although the Menorah was not high
and he would have been able to clean and kindle the Menorah standing on the ground, Aaron was wearing a plate on his forehead with G-d’s name engraved on it. Therefore, he was not permitted to lift his hands beyond the plate. Thus, he had to go up the steps to kindle the Menorah. “The function of a believer is to be a lamp-lighter,” said Rabbi Shalom Dov Ber of Lubavitch. “It is not enough to feel spiritually enlightened and warmed by the light of ones soul, one must also use their spiritual fire and make an effort to light up the candle (soul) of another believer by bringing them closer to Torah and Mitzvot.”
Symbolism of the Menorah
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ire, light and flame are the symbol of the Ruach Hakodesh, the Spirit of G-d. It denotes the presence of G-d (Exodus 3:2), it also represents the protection of G-d (Exodus 13:21), but also the approval of G-d (Leviticus 9:24). When Yochanan Hamatbil (John the Baptist) introduced Yeshua to his disciples, he said
“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11). Yeshua did it when he sent the Holy Spirit to his disciples on the day of Shavuot. The Ruach Hakodesh is certainly the most extraordinary gift we could receive from G-d. The Ruach Hakodesh which is represented by the main shaft or flame of the Menorah at the center. From this main shaft six branches or flames issue, three on the left side and three on the right side. Six flames or lights which represent the main gifts given by the Ruach Hakodesh. Gift or spirit of wisdom, gift or spirit of understanding, gift or spirit of counsel, gift or spirit of might, gift or spirit of knowledge and gift or spirit of fear of the L-rd, all these six gifts are listed in Isaiah 11:2 as spiritual equipment of the Messiah “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the L-rd shall rest upon him,” (Isaiah 11:1–2), that is why one of the first quality of the Mashiach is to be a light in this world. “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. … The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming
into the world.” (John 1:4-5, 9). The work of the Ruach Hakodesh in the Mashiach was announced by Isaiah the prophet. “The Spirit of the L-rd G-d (Ruach Adonai L-rd) is upon me, because the L-rd has anointed me to bring good news to the poor…” (Isaiah 61:1). While the princes of Israel brought offerings to the altar, Aaron and his tribes were dedicated to the Sanctuary, and on of the duty of Aaron and his sons were “to tend the ‘lights’ in such a way that the whole diversity of spiritual aspirations is united in the aspiration of G-d” This is the task assigned to the Kohanim, Aaron is to give expression to it by directing all the lights to the central light as it is written “Aaron did so; he lit up its lights toward the [center of] the Menorah, as G-d had commanded Moshe” (Numbers 8:3) (translation from Rabbi Hirsch).
Wrong Family Relationships
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he Torah states, “Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses regarding the Cushite woman he had married. . . . They said, ‘Was it only to Moses that God spoke? Did
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ian. At the instigation of the eruv rav — the mixed Egyptian multitude who joined the Jewish People in the Exodus — some people complain about the manna. Moshe protests that he is unable to govern the nation alone. G-d tells him to select 70 elders, the first Sanhedrin, to assist him, and informs him that the people will be given meat until they will be sickened by it. Two candidates for the group of elders prophesy beyond their mandate, foretelling that Yehoshua instead of Moshe will bring the people to Canaan. Some protest, including Yehoshua, but Moshe is pleased that others have become prophets. G-d sends an incessant supply of quail for those who complained that they lacked meat. A plague punishes those who complained. Miriam tries to make a constructive remark to Aharon which also implies that Moshe is only like other prophets. G-d explains that Moshe’s prophecy is superior to that of any other prophet, and punishes Miriam with tzara’at because she gossiped about her brother. Moshe prays for her, and the nation waits until she is cured before traveling.
Haftara Overview Zechariah 2:14 - 4:7
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n the text of the parasha the L-rd commanded Aaron to atone the Cohanim: “When you bring the Levites before the L-RD, the Israelites shall lay their hands on the Levites, and Aaron shall present the Levites before the L-RD as an elevation offering from the Israelites…” (Num. 8:1012). Our haftara is about another priest. “Then he showed me the Cohen Hagadol Joshua standing before the angel of the L-RD” (Zec 3:1). We have in this haftara a beautiful story about Joshua the Cohen Hagadol, Zerubbabel and the angel of the L-rd. We have already spoken about the angel of the L-rd, a special angel who is the great Michael, the one who has the power to forgive the sins of Israel (Exodus 23:20). In our story the angel came to give forgiveness to the Cohen Hagadol Joshua. “Now Joshua was dressed with filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” And to him he said, “See, I have taken your guilt away from you, and I will clothe you with festal apparel.” And I said, “Let them put a
“Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp.” (Numbers 10:2)
He not speak to us as well?’ And God heard. Now the man Moses was exceedingly humble, more than any person on the face of the earth!” (Numbers 12:3). Rabbi Noson Weisz from aish.com reminds us the background to the incident according to the Midrash Tanchuma 96,13. “Moses stopped cohabiting with his wife Ziporah after he descended from Mount Sinai. When the seventy elders were being chosen, there was a need to deal with the problem of two extra elders that had to be excluded from the group. There were twelve tribes to represent and only seventy sages allowed. The most equitable distribution would have allowed six elders per tribe, but this would have added up to seventy-two, more than the number allowed. The decision was taken to write seventy-two names on lots and pick the seventy elders by drawing the first seventy names. Eldad and Meidad, both of whose names had been included in the draw, decided to solve the selection problem by not showing up to the drawing. For this act of generosity and humility they were
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awarded with the gift of prophecy, and they began to prophecy in the camp. Their prophecy: ‘Moses will die in the desert and Joshua will lead Israel into Canaan.’” Ziporah and Miriam were both present when Moses was informed. Miriam overheard Ziporah remark, “How unfortunate are their wives as their husbands will now stop cohabiting with them just as my husband no longer cohabits with me.” Ziporah was so upset about Moses’ separation from her that she didn’t even react to the content of the prophecy regarding her husband’s death, but remained focused on the unfortunate marital consequences of the phenomenon of prophecy, as she understood them. The separation practiced by Moses was obviously undertaken and carried out without soliciting her agreement and against her will. Upon realizing this, Miriam, who was Ziporah’s sisterin-law, decided to intervene on her behalf. She went to her brother Aaron and attempted to enlist his aid. Her argument: she and Aaron were also prophets and yet they continued to lead normal lives including the maintenance of full marital relations with
their spouses. Moses was therefore inflicting uncalled for mental anguish on his wife by his ascetic behavior, and it was up to them, his family, to straighten this out and protect the conjugal rights of their sister-in-law.”
Pray for your enemies
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he Torah states “And Moshe cried unto the Lord, saying ‘Please G-d, heal her (Miriam), I beseech you” (Numbers 12:13). Miriam just spoke against Moshe! And what is Moshe’s response? He prays for her to be healed! The Ralbag (Rabbi Levi ben Gershon, who lived 12881344) shares with us an illuminating insight. From here we learn that even if someone acts against you and is punished for his act, you should do all you can to assist him. The Ralbag is referring to someone who regrets his act and wishes to make amends both in his personal life and to the one he has harmed. Aiding those who wish to hurt you is definitely not a Jewish value, a praiseworthy behavior nor a beneficial idea. “And the man Moshe was extremely humble, more so than any man on the face of the earth.” (Numbers 12:3).
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Apostolic Writings — Romans 11:24-29
he parallel between the parasha and the Apostolic writings is clearly seen in the Menorah, which symbolize the light of Mashiach in the world. Let’s look at the construction of the Menorah to discover its full meaning. The whole Sanctuary describes symbolically G-d’s plan of salvation, that means the plan has established before the creation of the world to save humanity from definitive and eternal death. That is why the furniture of the Sanctuary represents the different phases and actions of the Messiah who is the master piece of the plan of salvation. Some of the furniture of the Mishkan (sanctuary) have a double meaning, they represent the Messiah and G-d’s people as well. It is the case of the Menorah. It represents the light of the Messiah, but also the light that G-d’s people is shining in this world. The Menorah is in the biblical tradition or looks like a tree of gold made of one piece, hammered out by repeated blows of the hammer, from rootstock to blossom. Rabbi Hirsch affirms “This is the appearance of the bearer of the light sown in the Sanctuary, and thus it rises and blossoms out to G-d and to His Torah. Its bearer is a tree that grows and develops from the rootstock below to the blossom above. In individuals, also in nations, development to the highest spiritual blossoming requires time. For the individual it takes years, for the nation centuries. The tree is formed of one mass, which already includes material for everything — material for
the rootstock, material for the blossom.” As it has been said, the Sanctuary is an illustration of the plan of salvation. Among the furniture of the sanctuary, G-d showed to His people the Menorah, a tree of life representing G-d’s people’s whole future. This presentation of the Menorah, as a tree is used by Rabbi Shaul in his letter to the believers living in Rome. It is the “olive trees” of Romans 11. This chapter introduces to us two olive trees, the cultivated olive tree and the wild olive tree. The cultivated represents G-d’s people and the wild olive tree, the Gentiles. In this illustration, Gentiles are invited to enter the covenant of G-d, and be be grafted in the cultivated olive tree or G-d’s people. Ultimately, the natural branches, which represent Israel will be also grafted in their own olive tree, “For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.” (Romans 11:24). The purpose of G-d is to help Israel to discover the true light of the Mashiach and with the Gentiles who have accepted the Messiah of Israel to be G-d’s people together. Paul concludes: “in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake.
But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” (Romans 11:26– 29). This idea of joining the Gentiles to Israel to form Gd’s people is not a new idea, it was already given by Moses to the people of Israel in Deuteronomy. G-d is clear that the covenant is open to everyone, Israelites and aliens: ““You stand today, all of you, before the LORD your God: your chiefs, your tribes, your elders and your officers, even all the men of Israel, your little ones, your wives, and the alien who is within your camps, from the one who chops your wood to the one who draws your water, that you may enter into the covenant with the LORD your God, and into His oath which the LORD your God is making with you today, in order that He may establish you today as His people and that He may be your God, just as He spoke to you and as He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” (Deuteronomy 29:10–13). Thus this menorah shining in the sanctuary was not only the light of Mashiah, but also the light of the people of G-d in the world, as Isaiah invited his people: “Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. “For behold, darkness will cover the earth, And deep darkness the peoples; But the LORD will rise upon you, And His glory will appear upon you. “And nations will come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.” (Isaiah 60:1–3).
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clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with the apparel; and the angel of the L-RD was standing by. . (Zech. 3:35). But also to give to Joshua a special message: “If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here.” (Zech. 3:7). For G-d the requirement is always the same, to be faithful to him. Then the angel give a wonderful promise, the promise of the Messiah called “the Branch” “Now listen, Joshua, Cohen Hagadol, you and your colleagues who sit before you! For they are an omen of things to come: I am going to bring my servant the Branch.” (Zech. 3:8) This “branch” is a branch coming from the genealogy or “tree” of Jesse and it is called the “Branch of the L-rd” (Isaiah 4:2). It is the Messiah. Yeshua is a descendant of Jesse and David, He is the “Branch.”
Inspirational Corner v If we refuse to let our light shine for the Master, if we do not do the works of G-d, others will do that very work which we might have done and could have done, but refused to do. When we cease to fulfill our mission, when the candlestick refuses to reflect light, and the great truths committed to us individually in trust for the world, are not given to them, then the candlestick will be removed. “I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place.” (RH June 7, 1887).
Stories and Traditions Torah Expertise
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he Midrash (Tana D’vei Eliyahu) records a similar instance of rebuke. Elijah the Prophet found himself mocked by an ignorant boor, who did not even know the aleph-bet. Elijah asked the man if he did not fear for the day the Heavenly Court would ask him why he did not learn Torah. The man replied that he was not afraid because he was not given the intelligence to learn and therefore could not be blamed. Elijah then asked him to describe how he made his living, and the man commenced an animated description of how he made fishing nets and set them out in the most efficient possible fashion. At the end of this discussion, Elijah told him, “For fishing you have wisdom, and for Torah, which is even more crucial to life, you do not?” Immediately the man burst into tears at the realization that he had refuted himself. Elijah concluded by pointing out how rampant is such inconsistency. There are those who will plead before the Heavenly Court that they were not given the means to give tzedakah, charity. They will be shown how for their own personal pleasures the money was somehow found. Others will defend their lack of Torah study on the grounds that they were too busy making a living. They will be shown the time spent doing
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nothing or in idle chatter. There is no more telling refutation of all our excuses than those we ourselves provide.
Looking Up
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he story is told of a group of children who had a contest to see who could climb to the top of a tall ladder. One after the other, the children climbed about half way, became frightened, and gave up. Only one boy managed to make it to the top. His grandfather asked him, “How did you accomplish what the others couldn’t?” The little boy answered, “The other children kept looking down as they climbed the ladder, thus, realizing how high they were and they became frightened. I, on the other hand, continuously kept looking up and realized how low I was so I wanted to go higher and higher. This is why I was able to reach the top.” “Know what is above you,” says Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi. By “looking up” we will be encouraged and strive to go higher and higher spiritually, thus we will not come to sin.”
Someone’s Watching
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rabbi paid a wagon driver to take him from one town to another. On the road they passed a field full of hay and
Kids Parasha Beha’atlotcha
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Inspirational Corner
the driver decided to help himself to some bailed hay. He stopped the wagon and jumped to the ground. “Rabbi, if you notice anyone watching let me know immediately!” Assured that nobody was watching and the rabbi was on guard he ran toward the field. No sooner did the wagon driver start gathering the hay, when the rabbi yelled out, “Someone’s watching! Someone’s watching!” The driver dropped the hay, ran frantically back to the carriage and drove away as quickly as he could. After a while, he turned to the rabbi and said, “Rabbi, I didn’t see anyone! Are you sure someone was watching?” “Definitely!” replied the Rabbi. “G-d was watching!”
v These sacred
Torah to the nations
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he Midrash records that prior to Hashem offering the Torah to Bnei Israel, He made it available to the nations of the world. He offered it to the children of Esau (who lived in the land of Seir). When they discovered that it contained the prohibition of murder, they rejected the Torah on the grounds that, by nature, they were a violent people. A similar result occurred when Hashem offered the Torah to the children of Ishmael (living in Paran). They rejected it, for it contained the prohibition of stealing.
Numbers 8:1 - 12:16
“Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and say to him, When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.” And Aaron did so: he set up its lamps in front of the lampstand, as the LORD commanded Moses. And this was the workmanship of the lampstand, hammered work of gold. From its base to its flowers, it was hammered work; according to the pattern that the LORD had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand.” (Numbers 8:1–4) http://www.bnai-tikkun.org.nz 7
apartments had no windows to give light. The candlestick was made of purest gold, and was kept burning night and day, and gave light to both apartments. The light of the lamps upon the candlestick reflected upon the boards plated with gold, at the sides of the building, and upon the sacred furniture, and upon the curtains of beautiful colors with cherubims wrought with threads of gold and silver, which appearance was glorious beyond description. No language can describe the beauty and loveliness, and sacred glory, which these apartments presented. The gold in the sanctuary reflected the colors of the curtains, which appeared like the different colors of the rainbow. (4aSG 9)