In this week's parsha we read about the lighting of the Menorah which was done in the tabernacle and afterwards in the Holy Temple. Our Sages tell us that among the many miracles that occured in the Holy Temple on a regular basis there were miracles which occurred with the Menorah. One of the miracles is that the "western light" of the Menorah would never go out. We have to wonder though that if there were constant miracles taking place and in particular with the Menorah why was it necessary to even light it or fill it with oil. If it was able to burn in a miraculous fashion then why does G-d "need" us to contribute to the lighting?

I think that we can learn an important lesson from this. In the Temple we were able to witness these open miracles on a constant basis but we still needed to put in our effort. This would teach us that even in times when we no longer experience open miracles such as in our time, and everything seems natural we shouldn't think that we accomplish anything on our own. We may not openly see "G-d's Hand" in our success and we may attribute our success to our own efforts; this is not true. Without Divine Assistance nothing we do would have success. The same way that in the Temple we needed to take natural steps to facilitate the lighting of the Menorah it was nevertheless clear that the true success of the constant light had nothing to do with our efforts, so too in times like ours we should realize that our efforts are not the reason that we have success.

Shabbat Shalom,

Heath