Chodesh Tov! We offer this greeting to one another on the first day of a new Hebrew month; today begins the new month of Kislev – a month rich with opportunity for reflection and light as we look towards the celebration of Hanukkah.
In the month ahead, we will experience the days getting shorter: The sun seems to rise slower in the morning and doesn’t wait for us to leave work before it sets. For many people, the darkness that winter brings does not only impact the sun in their eyes on their commute, but also impacts them emotionally and physically. The emotional place that darkness pushes us into can feel isolating, scary, and, unsurprisingly, dark. The metaphorical darkness that many feel during this season is not far from the physical darkness of the natural world: It may feel cold and difficult to see and navigate out of.
Whether or not you experience this emotional darkness, our world is experiencing an ongoing emotional darkness as the war between Israel and Hamas continues and hostages have yet to be released. Amidst this darkness, Jewish text is rich with light and can help us navigate our way.
When God created the world, God explored the balance between darkness and light.
וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים אֶת־הָאוֹר כִּי־טוֹב וַיַּבְדֵּל אֱלֹהִים בֵּין הָאוֹר וּבֵין הַחֹשֶׁךְ׃ וַיִּקְרָא אֱלֹהִים לָאוֹר יוֹם וְלַחֹשֶׁךְ קָרָא לָיְלָה וַיְהִי־עֶרֶב וַיְהִי־בֹקֶר יוֹם אֶחָד׃
“God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day and called the darkness Night. And there was evening and there was morning, a first day.”
– Genesis 1:4-5
God could have decided that in contrast to the light being identified as good, the darkness was bad. If God had determined this, then God could have decided not to include the darkness in the beauty of creation. Instead, God made space and time for both the light and the darkness; enabling each state to have its moment in the story.
However, our text has also exhibited the danger and fear of darkness, most notably in the story of the 10 Plagues:
לֹא־רָאוּ אִישׁ אֶת־אָחִיו וְלֹא־קָמוּ אִישׁ מִתַּחְתָּיו שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים וּלְכל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הָיָה אוֹר בְּמוֹשְׁבֹתָם׃
“People could not see one another, and for three days no one could move about; but all the Israelites enjoyed light in their dwellings.”
– Exodus 10:23
In the face of darkness, the Israelites in Egypt were surrounded by light in their homes. Maybe God ensured that the plague did not impact their lamps. Or, maybe the Israelites knew how to bring their own light in the darkness.
אוֹר זָרֻעַ לַצַּדִּיק וּלְיִשְׁרֵי־לֵב שִׂמְחָה׃
– Psalms 97:11
This text from Psalms, sung by Jewish communities around the world as part of Kabbalat Shabbat, is just one example of the importance of light in Jewish texts.
The numerous references to light and increases in joy serve as reminders and inspirations to seek out light in our own lives.
Where in your life can you find light to help illuminate the darkness?
– Rabbinic Intern Yael Farber