The Menorah and the Shulchan

In פרשת תרומה we learn of the construction of the שלחן and לחם הפנים, the Table and Show Bread placed on the northern side of the אהל מועד, Tent of Meeting, as well as the מנורה, placed on the southern side.

The שלחן and מנורה have two distinct messages. The Table represents man’s physical and material needs. This is like the expression, “putting bread on the table.” The Menorah represents the spiritual. Light represents goodness and holiness and the elevation of the soul.

When a baby is born, for many years, all it knows is having its physical needs met and as soon as possible. As the baby grows into a child and gains intelligence, it is the duty of his parents to begin teaching him about right and wrong, and sharing. Ideally, the child will learn to feel a sense of satisfaction when he does something nice for his parents or siblings.

As adulthood approaches, the hope is that there is a good blend of the physical and the spiritual.

Unfortunately, there are many adults that never get past the infant stage of constantly wanting their physical needs met. They may be very intellectual on one level, but self gratification remains their reason for living.

The Tzaddik, on the other hand, becomes almost an entirely spiritual being. His essence is doing acts of kindness, and he achieves contentment by feeling Hashem close to him. The material world is of little interest to him.

The lessons of the שלחן and מנורה is to attempt to achieve a balance between the physical and material world. Torah observance turns even the physical into the spiritual. This takes place when an individual elevates even mundane activities, as a means of serving G-d. And this is the key to bringing purpose and meaning into our lives.