Torah and Temple Light

מזוזה בימין נ"ח בשמאל.

“The mezuzah is on the right, and the Chanukah light on the left.”

The Sefat Emet opens by contrasting two sacred placements, hinting at two spiritual orientations: the enduring light of Torah (right) and the temporal illumination of the Temple service (left), preserved through the Chanukah light.

דאיתא במדרש שהראה הקב"ה לאברהם אע"ה תורה וקרבנות וגיהנם ומלכיות.

It is taught in the Midrash that the Holy One, blessed be He, showed Abraham our father the Torah, the offerings, Gehinnom, and the kingdoms.

The Midrash lists four revelations to Abraham, representing the structures that sustain or challenge Israel’s spiritual mission.

כשישראל עוסקין בב' אלו ניצולין מגיהנם ומלכיות וא"ל עתידין בניך כו' ובחר לו מלכיות ע"ש.

When Israel engages in the first two—Torah and offerings—they are saved from Gehinnom and from the kingdoms; yet He told him, “Your children will…” and Abraham chose for them the kingdoms.

The teaching suggests that involvement in Torah and sacrificial service protects Israel, yet Abraham’s choice of “kingdoms” reflects a decree of exile and foreign dominion.

ולכן התורה נשאר קבוע לעולם בישראל שהיא חיי עולם.

Therefore the Torah remains eternally established within Israel, for it is eternal life.

Torah endures regardless of historical upheaval, for its life-force is timeless.

וזהו מזוזה בימין.

And this is the meaning of the mezuzah on the right.

The right side symbolizes permanence, aligning with Torah’s eternal nature.

אבל ביהמ"ק שנחרב ולכן המלכיות מתגברין על בנ"י.

But the Temple was destroyed, and therefore the kingdoms overpower Israel.

The loss of the Temple allows temporal powers to dominate, reflecting the fragility of “left-side” holiness.

אבל בימים אלו נשאר הארה מבהמ"ק ע"י נר חנוכה.

Yet in these days, a radiance from the Temple remains through the Chanukah light.

The Chanukah lamp restores a trace of Temple illumination, sustaining Israel during exile.

ולכן תקנו בהלל והודאה כי תפלה במקום תמידין איתקן.

Therefore they instituted Hallel and thanksgiving, for prayer was established in place of the daily offerings.

Since prayer replaces sacrifice, Chanukah emphasizes verbal praise rather than Temple service.

ונק' חיי שעה כדאיתא בגמ' שהקרבנות ותפלה הוא לקרב ולהתדבק צורכי עולם העשי' בשורש העליון.

And it is called “temporal life,” as the Gemara states: offerings and prayer draw close and attach the needs of the physical world to their supernal root.

Sacrifice and prayer uplift the immediate, material needs toward divine connection—hence “temporal life.”

ועל ב' אלו מבקשין תמיד שיבנה ביהמ"ק ותן חלקנו בתורתך.

And regarding these two we always pray: that the Temple be rebuilt, and “grant us our portion in Your Torah.”

Both aspects—Torah and Temple service—are sought continually in prayer.

וזה מזוזה בימין ונ"ח משמאל.

And this is the mezuzah on the right and the Chanukah light on the left.

The spatial symbolism again underscores the eternal right-side Torah and the temporal left-side Temple illumination.

כמ"ש אורך ימים בימינה כו' חיי עולם.

As it is written: “Length of days is in her right”—eternal life.

The verse supports the association of the right with enduring spiritual life.

עושר וכבוד משמאלה היא חיי שעה.

“Riches and honor are in her left”—this is temporal life.

The left symbolizes worldly flourishing, aligned with the more temporal dimension of service.

והוא בחי' יששכר וזבולון.

And this is the aspect of Issachar and Zebulun.

The two tribes embody the duality: Torah and worldly service.

יששכר התורה.

Issachar is Torah.

Issachar represents the eternal right-side force of Torah study.

וזבולון ביהמ"ק בית זבול למצוא גם בעוה"ז מקום לה'.

And Zebulun is the Temple, the “Beit Zevul,” to find even in this world a place for God.

Zebulun corresponds to the worldly, left-side service—creating sacred space within temporal reality.

The Sefat Emet contrasts eternal Torah with the temporal holiness of the Temple, showing how Chanukah restores lost illumination. Mezuzah and Chanukah lights symbolize right and left, eternal and temporal, Issachar and Zebulun. Through Torah, prayer, and the Chanukah light, Israel reconnects both dimensions.