we never lose hope #768
03/03/2023 03:09:00 PM
Rabbi Irwin Huberman
Author | |
Date Added | |
Automatically create summary | |
Summary |
"You shall further instruct the Israelites to bring you clear oil of beaten olives for lighting, for kindling lamps regularly” (Exodus 27:20).
We Never Lose Hope
With mixed emotions, on the morning of Saturday, November 3, 2012, the Cantor and I silently crossed over dozens of fallen branches, unlocking the side door to Congregation Tifereth Israel.
On one hand—with some concern—we were stepping over the raw debris from Hurricane Sandy.
Our community was without power, and some of our congregants were struggling to keep warm.
On the other hand, a bar mitzvah was planned, and we had no thought of turning back.
As we walked into the darkened sanctuary, we saw something remarkable.
Our congregation’s eternal light—the Ner Tamid—radiated with a soft pink hew across the front of the sanctuary. It drew its light directly from the sun through a solar panel installed on the roof a few months earlier.
While most of Glen Cove and the area anxiously remained in darkness, our holy ark basked in a calming, steady light. Standing there, somehow we felt comforted, and filled with hope.
A generator eventually arrived to provide power to the first few rows in the sanctuary, and we held the bar mitzvah that morning with minimal light, but with maximum joy.
This week, I thought about that bar mitzvah, and the unique comfort we felt. Most of all, I thought about the purity of that moment—even without the trappings of our sanctuary, that there was an undeniable feeling that God was among us.
The importance of light opens this week’s Parashah—Tetzaveh (And you shall instruct)—as God commands the Israelites to produce pure olive oil to light the original Jewish santuary.
Jews know how important light is. It commands our attention as we kindle Shabbat candles—or celebrate Chanukah.
But 3,400 years ago, it meant more. It stood for positivity. It stood for God. It stood for hope.
How interesting that this is the only weekly Torah portion in the last four books of the Torah—where Moses’ name is not mentioned.
Our Sages speculate that this was designed to remind us that the Torah is not about a single person. Rather we are all unique and precious in God’s sight.
Some Sages speculate that Moses’ absence was devised to ensure that no cult would ever be established in his name. It is, perhaps, one reason why his name is never mentioned in the Passover Haggadah.
Rather, Judaism focuses on God and on all humanity—and that light burns within us and between us.
So, this week, before the Torah turns its attention to anointing Aaron and his sons as Judaism’s priestly class—the Kohanim—we focus on the originjal menorah, and the purity that emanated from it.
Our Sages note that, like God, we cannot hold light in our hand.
We become aware of its presence when we witness God’s creation, through our children, our grandchildren, the miracle of birth—the magnificence of this planet.
It is manifested in the burning bush and by the candles that flicker on Jewish festivals and celebrations—and perhaps most of all by the light of the Jewish people that never dies.
It reminds us that wherever we have travelled, whatever persecution we have endured, wherever we have been exiled—God’s eternal light travels with us.
The Talmud talks about many types of oil or other substances we can use to kindle lights—turnip oil, gourd oil, even bitumen. But we hold out for the purity of olives.
For an olive branch represents peace. Therefore, its essence—which was poured into the menorah—had to be pure, uncontaminated by jealousy, pride or greed.
Light represents the capacity within each of us to nurture optimism and hope, and to spread it when the world around us seems dark—even when it feels that the power has been turned off.
One of the most iconic Israeli songs talks about hope. It was written by the late Naomi Shemer, titled Al Kol Eileh, and its chorus implores us Al Tishkach et Hatikva—to never give up on our hopes and dreams.
In 2018, Israelis—strangers—were invited to a Tel Aviv auditorium to sing Al Kol Eleh together to witness how more than 10,000 strangers can gather—some survivors of the Holocaust—all weathering daily threats from terrorist groups and hostile nations—to embrace and become one single light.
For the purity of tikva—hope—will forever burn within you and me, and the Jewish people.
This week’s Torah portion reminds us that when all is dark, when it seems we are surrounded by debris and downed branches, when our foundation appears weak, we can still reach within and embrace the purity of God’s light.
By remembering that God does not dwell in the heavens, but rather within us and around us, we can endure any storm.
The Book of Isaiah reminds us as Jews to serve as a light unto other nations. We have not always succeeded, but it is our God-given mission:
When all around us appears dark we turn toward the light.
For by choosing light, we choose life.
Shabbat shalom, v’kol tuv.
Rabbi Irwin Huberman
Tue, March 21 2023
28 Adar 5783
Rabbi's Last 50 E-Sermons
what is your exodus story #770
Friday, Mar 17 5:32pmLosing our patience #769
Friday, Mar 10 6:08pmwe never lose hope #768
Friday, Mar 3 3:09pmWhere Does God Actually Live #767
Friday, Feb 24 4:11pmSlavery in the toraH #766
Friday, Feb 17 5:45pmTaking the lord's name in vain? #765
Friday, Feb 10 5:04amSerach- The Torah's Forgotten Leader #764
Friday, Feb 3 5:11pmAdding FUn to judaism #763
Friday, Jan 27 4:56pmFeeling Like an Imposter #762
Friday, Jan 20 4:55pmWomen Breaking The Rules #761
Friday, Jan 13 5:29pmHow And Why We Bless The Children #760
Friday, Jan 6 4:24pmThe Start of Anti-Semitism #759
Friday, Dec 30 5:09pmJoseph's FaceTime #758
Friday, Dec 23 4:30pmWho We Tell Our Dreams To #757
Friday, Dec 16 6:06pmMoney and Happiness #756
Friday, Dec 9 5:25pmGod on the High Seas #755
Friday, Dec 2 2:00pmThe Man With The Mop #754
Friday, Nov 25 4:30pmHospitality—and the Fort McMurray Miracle #753
Friday, Nov 18 6:06pmKindness—Acting Like God #752
Friday, Nov 11 6:00pmWhat is Your Family's Story? #751
Friday, Nov 4 6:21pmKanye West: Where are the Voices? #750
Friday, Oct 28 2:23pmEvil and Life's Cartoons #749
Friday, Oct 21 6:34pmWho Wrote The Torah? #748
Friday, Oct 14 5:42pmMoses Says Goodbye: Three Parting Messages #747
Friday, Oct 7 5:38pmReturning To Our Innocence #746
Friday, Sep 30 6:21pmJudaism: Not That Complicated #745
Friday, Sep 23 5:09pmWhere Is Your Promised Land? #744
Friday, Sep 16 5:16pmGrowing Up With The Queen #743
Friday, Sep 9 5:40pmTzedakah: What Does it Really Mean? #742
Friday, Sep 2 6:14pmWhat is Kosher to You? #741
Friday, Aug 26 2:14pmWhat's In Your Mezuzah? #740
Friday, Aug 19 2:30pmWhy Two Shabbat Candles? #739
Friday, Aug 12 5:58pmThe Places of Our Lives #738
Friday, Aug 5 5:49pmGlen Cove Loses a Friend #737
Friday, Jul 29 4:47pmElijah: A Guide to Life's Inner Meaning #736
Friday, Jul 22 4:39pmShould Your Email Remain Confidential? #735
Friday, Jul 15 5:33pmWhy We Observe Shiva, Shloshim, and More #734
Friday, Jul 8 6:10pmAre We Grasshoppers or Giants?#732
Friday, Jun 24 5:17pmDo We Deserve Second Chances? #731
Friday, Jun 17 6:07pmThe Blessing That Changed Me #730
Friday, Jun 10 5:29pm"It is what it is" - Not #729
Friday, Jun 3 4:34pmUvalde Tragedy: What do we do?#728
Friday, May 27 4:40pmShabbat for the Earth #727
Friday, May 20 5:08pmThey Stood For Him #725
Friday, May 6 5:28pmWhich Goat Will We Choose? #724
Friday, Apr 29 6:49pmThose "Dayenu" Moments #723
Friday, Apr 22 3:59pmCall for a Newer Seder #722
Friday, Apr 15 3:06pmClearing “Chametz” from Our Souls #721
Friday, Apr 8 6:50pmThe “Real” Jewish New Year #720
Friday, Apr 1 4:56pmBrought to You by the Number 8 #719
Friday, Mar 25 4:33pmUpdate this content.