March, 2010
There is a midrash (rabbinic story) that tells how on the first day of Adam’s life he saw the light of the sun and he worshiped it until it went down. He got scared (it was his FIRST DAY, after all) but then he saw the light of the moon, He worshipped the moon until dawn when, gratefully, he saw the sun come up again.
He was learning that the light that he saw from both the sun and moon were created by God, the source of his, and all, life. “Who brings light unto the earth and all who dwell upon it with compassion.”
For thousands of years light has been the symbol of the presence of God. Lighting the menorah, lighting the Shabbat candles: light has always been paramount as a symbol of our relationship with God.
We search for enlightenment as a way to bring our spirit and consciousness and open ourselves to the miracle of our own holiness in the world.
We have a commandment to place a ner tamid, an eternal light, above the ark which contains the torah. Long before electricity, there was a shammes whose job it was to make sure the oil/candles never went out inside the synagogue. Its light is meant for all who enter to remember that our own personal relationship with God and torah never goes out. No matter our level of Jewish learning, just seeing that light is a reminder that God is there and that we are, indeed, carriers of that light.
There is a verse in Proverbs that says “The human soul is the light of God”. Whenever we come to services, whenever we study torah, whenever we LIVE torah, we bring light and enlightenment to our souls and to those with whom we connect.
I have been gratified at the attendance for the first two Saturday morning Back to the Basics classes we’ve had so far. It is both a ‘class’ and a place to ask questions and talk about things many of us have thought about but didn’t know where to go to talk them through.
I invite all of you to come. It definitely requires nothing more than curiosity and, as I have said before, ‘no experience necessary.’ Please bring your own light and come join us at 10 am on the first and third Shabbats of each month. If you have any questions about the class please feel free to call me. Otherwise, just show up. You may be surprised at how the light of our traditions can glow brighter just because you show up.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Yossi
Please send me an e-mail or call me at 818-469-8527.
