As the beginning of summer approaches, the hours of daylight will grow longer. Even amid our social distancing and staying at home more than usual, we can still go outside and recognize, and enjoy, the greater presence of light. It can lift our moods and spirits and offer us hope.
Sometimes, we need that external presence of light to remind us of the light that is inside of us. This past Shabbat, in the Torah portion NASO, we recited the priestly blessing, which includes the phase “May God shine the light of the divine face upon you and be gracious to you.” The Torah, and various commentaries, interpret this light as divine kindness and wisdom. The word “enlightenment,” in this context, can refer not only to intellect but also to our own moral and spiritual development and to our heightened sense of awareness at the wonder of living in the world and with each other.
This week’s portion, B’HA-A-LOT’CHA, begins with the mounting of seven lamps in the Tent of Meeting, the Israelite center of worship. The seven lamps comprised the MENORAH, the symbol with which we are so familiar, and which graces the main doors of our building. It was the duty of the priests to set up the MENORAH and to tend to the light, to keep it burning at all times. Synagogues and Temples now feature the NER TAMID, the Eternal Light, that always remains lit in a chapel or sanctuary, along with a seven-branched MENORAH that gives light during worship. These lights signify how divine inspiration and the teachings of our heritage can guide us. The EITZ CHAYIM Torah commentary quotes a midrash which imagines God saying, “As I shined a light on Israel…let them shine a light on Me.”
Even when we are not worshiping in our sanctuary, there is light all around us. Jewish tradition envisions God shining kindness on us as we radiate that light back to God. What is the source of OUR light? According to the biblical book of Proverbs, “the human spirit is the light of the Eternal One.” Every one of us – in our community, in the world – shares in that light of divine blessing that pervades the universe, a light that is an intrinsic part of who we are.
We have the opportunity, every day, to acknowledge the light of the Eternal One that can emanate from the depths of every person in this world, These days, we can see that light in efforts to promote healing, protection, understanding, and listening, which can lead to the mutual respect and consideration that all people deserve.
May this light, God’s light that shines through us, bring us blessing and unity in the days to come.
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