In the Torahportion of yesterday, on Shabbat, we could read about the Menorah.
It would have been so easy to make a mal and fill it with liquid gold.
But no, it turned out to be quite a tough job, because they had to hammer out the candlestick from a block of gold.
What does that mean for us now?
There is an explanation in both the Torah and the Brit'Chadassah.
The Israelites cross the Jordan (river of death) and the Christians can read about Gethsemaneh. Hebrew word meaning olive press. To obtain the oil from the olive, it is shaken and crushed.
Both statements tell us that if we want to stand in G-d's presence, we must come to the end of our fleshly way of thinking. This is a hard process. Long lasting and deep!
But we come out looking like gold! When gold is melted, it is as clear as glass at the height of heat! Which for us means no more hidden defects. No sin, no darkness, but one with HIM. G-d of Avraham Yitzchak and Yaakov.
The lamp stand
Exodus: 17 They made the lampstand of pure gold. They hammered out the base and shaft and made the flower-like heads, buds and blossoms in one piece. 18 Six branches extended from the sides of the candlestick: three on one side and three on the other. 19 Three cups in the shape of almond flowers with buds and blossoms were on one branch, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches that extended from the candlestick. 20 And on the candlestick were four cups shaped like almond flowers, with buds and blossoms. 21 One bud was under the first pair of branches that extended from the candlestick, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair: six branches in all. 22 The buds and branches were all of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.
Nevia-D'Vorah Pnina Meijer