🔦 What Happens in This Part of the Parsha?

1. Aaron Lights the Menorah 🕯️
   Hashem (God) tells Moshe to speak to Aaron and tell him how to light the Menorah in the Mishkan (the holy Tabernacle). The Menorah had seven branches, and it had to be lit every day with pure olive oil. Aaron follows the instructions carefully.

The way the Menorah is described shows how beautiful and special it was—it was made from one solid piece of gold!

1. Preparing the Levi’im (Levites) 🧼🧍‍♂️
   The Levi’im are chosen to help serve in the Mishkan. But before they can begin, they need to be purified and made ready for their holy job. This means:
   • Sprinkling special water on them
   • Shaving their whole bodies
   • Washing their clothes
   • Bringing offerings (korbanot)

This shows that serving Hashem in a holy way needs preparation—not just anyone can walk in and start doing holy work!

1. Why the Levi’im Were Chosen 🔄
   At first, the firstborn sons of each family were going to be the ones who served Hashem. But after the sin of the golden calf (which happened earlier), the Levi’im showed loyalty to Hashem by not joining in. Because of this, Hashem chose them instead of the firstborns.

The Levi’im now take the place of the firstborns in the service of Hashem in the Mishkan.

1. The Levi’im Are Given to Aaron and His Sons 🛠️
   The Levi’im are now officially given over to Aaron and his sons (the Kohanim) to help them. This is a holy job, and they must do it with care and respect.

🧠 Key Messages

• Light Hashem’s Light: The Menorah reminds us to bring light into the world. That means not just real light, but spiritual light—Torah, kindness, and mitzvot.
• Holy Work Takes Preparation: The Levi’im couldn’t just start helping in the Mishkan. They needed to be made pure and ready. In our lives, before we daven, learn Torah, or do mitzvot, we can also take a moment to prepare and focus.
• Everyone Has a Purpose: The Levi’im had a different job than the Kohanim or the rest of Bnei Yisrael. That teaches us that every Jew has a role to play, and every job in serving Hashem is important.

💬 Takeaway Lessons for Life

• 🕯️ Be a Light: Just like the Menorah lit up the Mishkan, we can bring light to our families, schools, and friends by being kind, helping others, and making good choices.
• 🙏 Prepare for Holy Moments: Whether it’s saying Shema, giving tzedakah, or helping at home, take a second to think: “I’m doing something for Hashem.”
• 🤝 Use Your Talents: Some people are good at learning Torah, others are kind and helpful, some are great at organising or cheering others up. Hashem gave each of us special strengths to serve Him in our own way.

✨ Final Thought

The Menorah was lit every day to spread light in the Mishkan. Just like that, you can spread light in the world through Torah, mitzvot, and being a good person. Hashem needs all of us—just like He needed the Levi’im, the Kohanim, and the rest of Bnei Yisrael—to build a holy nation together.

Thought of Rabbi Sacks

 The Menorah – Bringing Light into the World

Rabbi Sacks explains that Aaron lighting the Menorah in the Tabernacle (the Mishkan) is about much more than just lighting candles. The Menorah symbolises bringing spiritual light into the world—light made from kindness, learning, helping others, and doing what’s right.

💡 We all have the power to bring light into our homes, schools and communities by doing mitzvot and being kind.

🧍‍♂️ The Levites – Getting Ready to Serve

The Levites were chosen to help in the holy service. Rabbi Sacks points out how they had to prepare themselves properly before beginning. They washed, brought offerings, and were purified.

This teaches us that when we do something important—like praying, learning Torah, or helping others—we should do it with care and focus.

🎒 Doing something for Hashem or others needs preparation and the right attitude.

🗣️ Moses – Even Great Leaders Need Help

Later in the parsha, Moses becomes very upset. The people complain a lot, and he feels he can’t handle it on his own anymore. He asks Hashem for help. Hashem tells him to appoint 70 elders to share the responsibility.

Rabbi Sacks teaches us that even the greatest people need support sometimes. It’s okay to say, “I can’t do this alone.”

🧠 Asking for help isn’t a weakness—it’s a strength.

🧵 Three Key Messages from Rabbi Sacks

1. Be a light – Like the Menorah, shine your light through kindness, honesty and good deeds.
2. Serve with care – Prepare yourself to do good things, just like the Levites did.
3. It’s okay to ask for help – Even Moses needed support. We all do at times.

Around the Shabbat Table

🕯️ Question 1: Why do you think the Menorah was such an important part of the Mishkan?

Answer:
The Menorah brought light into the Mishkan, but it also symbolised something deeper. It reminded Bnei Yisrael (the Jewish people) that they should be a “light to the nations” by spreading kindness, Torah, and goodness in the world. Just like the Menorah lit up the darkness, we can bring light through the way we treat others.

Follow-up idea: Can you think of something you did this week that helped bring “light” to someone else?

🧍‍♂️ Question 2: What can we learn from the Levites needing to prepare before doing their job in the Mishkan?

Answer:
It shows us that when we do something important—especially something holy—we shouldn’t rush. We should take time to prepare ourselves properly. This could mean thinking before we pray, getting into the right mindset before learning Torah, or showing respect before helping someone.

Follow-up idea: What’s something you can prepare for more carefully this coming week?

🗣️ Question 3: When Moses felt overwhelmed, Hashem told him to ask others for help. What does this teach us?

Answer:
It teaches us that it’s okay—even wise—to ask for help when we need it. Even someone as great as Moses couldn’t do everything by himself. We all need others to support us sometimes, and we should be ready to support others too.

Follow-up idea: Can you think of a time you helped someone or when someone helped you? How did it feel?

Parsha summary adapted from Chabad.org and Rabbi Sacks Legacy

The weekly mitzvot are adapted from the PAJES Primary Parashat Hashavua Curriculum, and form the basis of the school's PSHE curriculum for all pupils alongside the Torah, Well Being and Me curriculum.