“Command the children of Israel, and they shall take to you pure virgin olive oil for the lighting, to kindle a lamp continually” (Leviticus 24:2). “Command the children of Israel, and they shall take to you…olive oil…” – that is what is written: “Your righteousness, God, reaches on High” (Psalms 71:19). Rabbi Ami asked Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman; he said to him: ‘Because I heard about you that you are a master of aggada, what is [the meaning of the verse]: “Your righteousness [vetzidkatekha], God, reaches on High”?’
He said to him: ‘Just as the earthly beings need charity [tzedaka] from one another, so the supernal beings need charity from one another.’ That is what is written: “He said to the man clothed in linen” (Ezekiel 10:2) and the entire introduction at the beginning of the portion: “Speak to the priests” (Leviticus 21:1).1The midrash references a discussion cited earlier (Vayikra Rabba 26:8) which explains, based on the verse in Ezekiel, how the angels engage in acts of kindness and charity toward one another.
“For You have performed great deeds” (Psalms 71:19) – these are the two great lights, as it is stated: “The two great lights” (Genesis 1:16). “God, who is comparable to You?” (Psalms 71:19) – who is comparable to You among the supernal beings, who is comparable to You among the earthly beings? Who is comparable to You, in that You subdue the attribute of justice? You illuminate for the supernal and for the earthly.
You illuminate for all who enter the world, yet You desire Israel’s light. That is what is written: “Command the children of Israel.”