The Inner Meaning of Mitzvot \ Insight for Parashat Tetzaveh
D'var Torah: "And you shall command the Children of Israel, and they shall take to you pure olive oil for lighting, to kindle the lamps continually" (Shemot 27:20). It would have been correct for the verse to say "they shall bring to you pure olive oil..." Nevertheless, the Torah wrote "they shall take to you pure olive oil" in order to reveal to us a great secret. Specifically, when we perform a Mitzvah with the proper intention we are not giving, rather we are taking great gifts of light and holiness. In this light, the Midrash explains the inner meaning of a verse from Mishlei (6:23), The flame of a Mitzvah: "When a person fulfills a Mitzvah it is as if he kindled a flame in front of HaShem and instilled life within his very soul; for the soul of man is called the flame of HaShem."
Moral: Each Mitzvah is a spiritual source, and a wellspring of goodly waters for us to partake. The more we are aware of HaShem's Presence in the Mitzvot, the more we actively enrich our souls with new supplies of light, holiness, and life.
Application: Envision the joy of Aaron HaKohen kindling the lights of the Menorah in the Mishkan. Sense the holiness that he draws from the Mitzvah and the closeness to HaShem that he experiences. Before you do a Mitzvah, reflect that the Mitzvah is an opportunity to kindle the flame of your holy soul, and an opportunity to come close to HaKodesh Baruch Hu.
(Based on the commentary of the Sefat Emet and the Bat Eiyin)
