TWO MINUTES OF TORAH| T’TZAVEH | EXODUS 27:20-30:10

What if the ner tamid, the eternal light that burns in every synagogue the world over, the symbol of God’s ever-shining presence in our midst isn’t actually that? Carol Meyers writes in The Torah, A Women’s Commentary, “Although God is theoretically everywhere, the Israelites needed assurance of God’s constant accessibility and availability.” (p. 451) The Israelites’ relationship with God was a new one; the ink not yet dry on the metaphorical ketubah. They needed to know that God was with them as they made their way slowly through the desert, so God described exactly what their meeting place ought to look like and how it ought to be built. Although we enjoy the benefit of thousands of years of covenantal relationship with our God, we too seek proof of the divine, and assurance that we are not alone in this world. That is how the ner tamid has always been described to me; an eternal reminder of God’s presence amongst us.  

Our parsha, T’tzaveh continues this highly descriptive list of the ritual items and garb that were to be in service to the Mishkan. In it, we are introduced to the ner tamid (Exodus 27:20 – 21.) It is a ritual object created to illumine the place where God and the Israelites would meet, “from evening to morning,” which suggests that the translation “eternal,” is not quite right. Rather, this was a “regularly,” kindled light. The verse goes on to say that this light was to be, “before Adonai,” which could refer to its physical location (outside the inner sanctum of the mishkan), or it could mean that the light was not for the Israelite’s comfort, but for God’s. When read this way, we are invited into the possibility that the original ner tamid was a glowing nightlight; a reassuring reminder to God that even though the Israelites were asleep in their tents, their attention, love and devotion was right there with God.