May these words of Torah serve as a merit le’iluy nishmat Menachem Mendel ben Harav Yoel David Balk, a”h.
This week we learned Menachot 28. These are some highlights.
May you make a menorah-like electric lamp with seven branches?
Our Gemara teaches that we are not allowed to make replicas of the holy items of the Almighty. When building a home you cannot make it in the dimensions of the Heichal or Ulam. You may not make a replica of the Menorah or a replica of the Shulchan. You may make a six-branched oil lamp and an eight-branched oil lamp. It is forbidden to make a seven-branched oil lamp for that was what Hashem had for Himself in the Beit Hamikdash (Yoreh Dei’ah 141:8). What about an electric lamp? Are you allowed to make an electric lamp, that will have light bulbs, in the shape of the Menorah that was in the Mikdash?
Machshevet Hakodesh (Cheilek Bet Siman 35) argues that an electric lamp by definition is not like the Menorah of the Mikdash and a person is therefore allowed to make such a lamp. Our mishnah teaches that the seven branches and the seven neirot of the Menorah are all needed. A menorah without seven branches is not kosher, and a menorah with seven branches but without seven neirot is also not kosher. Rashi explains that the neirot refer to small containers, like spoons, which had space for oil and wicks. A menorah of seven branches that does not have containers for oil and wicks is not like the Menorah of the Mikdash. An electric menorah is made to have light bulbs in it. The light bulbs are glass. Once the light bulbs are in, and the electric lamp can function as it is supposed to function, there is no room for putting in oil or wicks. The glass would block anything from entering. Since a seven-branched electric menorah is an item with seven branches but without seven neirot, it would not be something that could be used in the Mikdash. If it could not be used in the Mikdash, there is no prohibition in making such an item.
We find a similar idea in the writings of the Shu”t Maharsham. Maharsham was asked by a person who did not know of this law and mistakenly made a seven-branched menorah out of metal if there was anything he could do. Maharsham told him to drop lead on the top of each branch and thereby make it impossible to put anything into the branches. If the branches did not have receptacles that could hold liquid or wicks, they would not be similar to the Menorah of the Mikdash and there would be no sin in building or possessing such a lamp. The Menorah of the Mikdash had branches and receptacles for the oil and wicks. If there are no receptacles, then the menorah cannot be used in the Mikdash and there would be no sin in making such an item for secular use. Rav Ovadia Yosef also agrees with this reasoning and permits a seven-branched electric menorah.
Sefer Chidushei Chaviva disagrees. He rules that Maharsham discussed a menorah that did not have any place for oil and wicks. It had no receptacle at all. In an electric menorah there is an indentation where you would place the light bulbs. Furthermore, the light bulbs themselves are receptacles that in theory could be filled with oil and wicks. Therefore, he feels that an electric menorah of seven branches does resemble the Menorah of the Mikdash of seven branches and it should not be made. (Mesivta)
By Rabbi Zev Reichman
Rabbi Zev Reichman teaches Daf Yomi in his shul, East Hill Synagogue.
