Menorah's hidden light sustains every galus

להעלות נר תמיד ברש"י כל לילה ולילה קרוי תמיד.

"To kindle a lamp continually" — Rashi explains that each and every night is called "tamid" (continual).

Even though the menorah was lit only at night, Rashi says this regular nightly kindling is what the Torah calls "continual."

ולפי הרמז נראה שצריך אדם לעשות כל מצוה ע"ד להיות נשאר ממנה הארה תמיד ממש.

And according to the hint, it appears that a person must perform every mitzvah in such a way that an illumination from it truly remains forever.

The Sefas Emes reads "tamid" as guidance for our own avodah: do each mitzvah so that its light leaves a permanent, lasting glow within you.

ובלי ספק הארת המנורה היה התגלות אור שלמעלה.

And without doubt, the illumination of the menorah was a revelation of the light from Above.

The menorah's flame was not ordinary light but a disclosure of the supernal, Divine light.

והוא למעלה מן הזמן.

And it is above time.

Because it stems from the supernal light, the menorah's illumination transcends the limits of time entirely.

ולפי מ"ש אא"ז מו"ר ז"ל בפ' בהעלותך כי המשכן נגנז ושם המנורה דולקת נר מערבי כו' ע"ש.

And according to what my grandfather, my teacher and master, of blessed memory, wrote on Parshas Beha'aloscha — that the Mishkan was hidden away, and there the menorah remains burning, the western lamp — see there.

He cites the Chiddushei HaRim, that the Mishkan was concealed rather than destroyed, and the menorah's western lamp still burns in that hidden place.

ואפשר גם זה נכלל בלשון רש"י.

And perhaps this too is included in Rashi's wording.

The Sefas Emes suggests Rashi's "tamid" may also allude to this hidden, ever-burning lamp.

כל לילה ולילה.

"Each and every night."

The phrase "each night" hints at every "night" of history — the long stretches of galus.

להיות הכנה מאור של מנורת המשכן לכל ימי הגלות (המוכנים) [המכונים] ללילות.

That there should be a preparation, from the light of the Mishkan's menorah, for all the days of galus — which are called "nights."

The hidden light of the menorah was set aside as a reserve of holiness to sustain Bnei Yisrael through every dark "night" of exile.

ויכולין לעורר הארת המנורה בכל לילה ולילה כנ"ל:

And one is able to awaken the illumination of the menorah on each and every night, as above.

Through our mitzvos in the darkness of galus, we can draw out and reawaken that concealed light of the menorah, night after night.

Summary: Rashi's teaching that "every night is called tamid" hints that each mitzvah should leave a permanent inner illumination. The menorah revealed a supernal light beyond time; following the Chiddushei HaRim, that light remains burning in the hidden Mishkan as a reserve for all the "nights" of galus — and through our avodah we can reawaken that light in every generation.