Two Perpetual Flames

And the fire upon the altar shall be kindled on it, it shall not be extinguished...   The fire shall ever be kindled on the altar, it shall never go out.                                             Leviticus 6:5-6

These verses present both a positive mitzva  to kindle a flame on the altar and a negative mitzva  of extinguishing the flame. Rashi comments that based on these two verses, one who extinguishes the flame of the altar, in fact was guilty of violating two negative miztvot.

Our Sages  tell us that even during the Israelites' journeys in the desert, the flame of the altar was not extinguished. (Torat Cohanim, chapter 5) Further, the flame which descended upon the altar at the dedication of the Tabernacle burned continuously until the First Temple was dedicated by King Solomon. As Solomon completed his dedicatory prayers, again fire descended from heaven to kindle the wood of the altar. (II Chronicles 7:1) This flame was extinguished only during the reign of King Menashe, fourteen generations after Solomon.

The perpetual flame of the altar is obviously of great significance. As my father noted, our Sages comment that the altar brought peace between Israel and its Heavenly Father. The essence of korbanot  (“sacrifices”) is bringing man closer to his Creator. Yet, because the altar also represents peace between man and fellow man, our Sages tell us that when a couple divorced, the altar cried. The altar, thus, is the symbol of unity, peace and proper relations between man and God and between man and fellow man. The flame of the altar therefore represents the most basic element of man’s relation with God and with mankind. This flame may never be extinguished, we must always be aware of our obligations both to God and to man.

Within the Tabernacle/Temple there was another eternal flame, that of the menorah. The Rabbis taught that should the flame of the menorah  be extinguished, it must be rekindled by fire brought from the altar. The menorah, as our Sages tell us, symbolized the Divine Presence resting among the Children of Israel. By telling us that the menorah must be relit from the altar, our Sages teach us that God’s presence among us is dependent upon our continued efforts to maintain closeness to God. Ultimately, it is up to us.

This concept is also clear from the Rabbi’s’ statement that even though the fire descended from heaven, it was incumbent upon the Kohanim to add fire. Clearly, the Rabbis wish to teach us that there is a partnership between God and man, and man must do his part to maintain that partnership.