This first aliyah begins with G-d's commandment to Moshe to tell Aharon to light the Menorah in such a way as to illuminate the Menorah itself, which is made out of a single piece of beaten gold.

The aliyah then continues with instructions for an elaborate inauguration procedure for all the Leviim. The inauguration procedure included shaving their entire bodies with a razor (some commentaries say this didn't include their beards and peyos), then immersion in a mikvah. The Leviim are then to come to the tent of meeting where all the Jewish people would place their hands on the Leviim. The Leviim would then be designated as a wave offering of the Jewish people. After all that, the Leviim would become the ones to perform G-d's service in the Mishkan.