In the Talmud Bava Basra 25b Chazal say, “He who desires to become wise shall go south; He who desires to become wealthy shall go north. The placement of the Shulchan in the north and the Menorah in the south supports this idea. The Shulchan symbolized material wealth, since it was the medium through which the blessing of nourishment flowed to the world. The Menorah represented Torah wisdom, which is compared to light. The wisdom of the Torah illuminates the path of life before a person and guides him along the way. Consequently, the Menorah was placed on the right side of the entrance to the Mishkan. The right side is a metaphor for wisdom, alluding to its prominence. The material dimension is represented by the left side. Hence, the Shulchan was placed on the north, which is the left side.
There is one problem, however, with our analogy. The Menorah was on the right side, and the Shulchan on the left side only as they stood free-standing. To the individual who entered through the gates of the Mishkan/Mikdash, it was just the opposite, since the entrance was in the east. A person entering the Mishkan would find the Shulchan on his right, and the Menorah on his left.
The Bais Ha’levi infers a significant lesson from this pasuk. When a person enters into the endeavor of avodas Hashem, service to the Al-mighty, at the onset he is permitted to study “shelo lishmah,” not for the sake of the mitzvah. One is allowed to have ulterior motives as he begins to study Torah, since it will ultimately lead to “lishmah,” pure Torah study for the sake of the mitzvah. When one begins to earn a living or undertakes any endeavor for the purpose of financial gain, his intention must be purely l’shem Shomayim, for the sake of Heaven. No room exists for ulterior motives in the area of earning a living. An individual works because that is the means by which he sustains himself, so that he can perform mitzvos and study Torah. Material endeavor is a means, not an end. Otherwise, the pursuit of financial gain can become an obsession. It drives one to do the unspeakable in his quest for greater and more significant rewards. Chazal guarantee “mitoch shelo lishmah ba lishmah.” Once one begins to study Torah, regardless of his motive, if he continues, he will ultimately become a student of Torah lishmah, for the sake of the mitzvah. This applies only to Torah study and no other endeavor.
Consequently, when one enters the Mikdash, the Menorah is on his left side, symbolizing that he may begin studying Torah for self-serving purposes. Regarding material endeavor, however, he must look at the Shulchan which is on his right–the side of strength, conviction and veracity. There may be no covert motives in earning a living. We do what we must in order to sustain ourselves for a higher purpose, service of Hashem.
