June 10, 1995
I’m preparing to be the leader of the Bible study group next Saturday. Most of the year the two rabbis alternate weeks as leader, but during the summer they ask regulars to take turns leading. It involves studying the parsha in detail and find commentary (Talmudic, midrashic or modern) to illuminate the text. It’s always impossible to cover the entire portion of the week, so usually the rabbis home in on one or two sections or ideas.
Mine is Numbers 8-12:16 and contains about seven different events. I’m inclined to go no further than the opening verses, about the placing of the menorah, and start by asking the question, where did the Biblical writers get the design for the menorah, which in Exodus is described in minute detail.
The answer is, from the nature and landscape of Israel. I’ll use the books I have from Neot Kedumim to show pictures of the moriah (salvia) plant, olive branches and almond buds which all contribute to the design. This approach will give me the opportunity to explain why the menorah was chosen as the emblem of Israel. The Neot Kedumim materials also include much about the spiritual significance of the various plants and trees, illustrated with Biblical verses. It seems a good way to connect the people in the group as well as the ancient text with modern Israel.
Doing this assignment has shown me how much I’ve missed spending long periods of time with Biblical and Jewish literary materials. I love hopping from one passage to another and connecting concepts and ideas.