Letting our Light Shine

This week‘s Torah Portion is B’haalotecha, which means when you light or when you raise up. The portion begins with the verse, “And God spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to Aaron, and say to him, When you kindle the lamps, toward the face of the menorah shall the seven lamps give light.” This commandment, to kindle light, is one that we continue to fulfill every Friday, on Shabbat. The flames on the candles are an enduring mystery that speak to the human soul: of understanding, enlightenment, and spiritual attainment. The sages of the commentary Midrash Rabba, which was written to fill in the gaps in scripture, asked why this commandment was given. Who needs this light: is it God, or is it we who need it? They wrote: “Israel said to the Holy One, blessed be the Eternal: ' Sovereign of the Universe! Do You ask us that we should give light before You? You, surely, are the Light of the universe, and brightness abides with You’; as it is written, ’The light dwells with You’ (Dan. II, 22) The Holy One, blessed be the Eternal, said to them: It is not because I require your service, but in order that you may give Me light even as I have given you light. .. as it says, WHEN YOU RAISE THE LAMPS; implying: in order that you may be elevated.”  (Numbers Rabbah V:5)
Light is given to us: daylight, fire, understanding, learning, sustenance, beauty: life itself. We are given such great gifts as an act of love, surely not to keep them for ourselves only, but to give them freely, as it says in King Solomon’s book of Proverbs, The spirit of man is the lamp of God (Prov. XX, 27). The book of Kings tells us that Solomon built the Temple with windows that were narrow on the inside and wide on the outside, not to let the light in, but to let it out: to let the light shine forth from the sanctuary. (I Kings VI, 4). Many of you know that my teacher, Rabbi Gelberman, teaches that we may kindle the inner menorah and bring light into the world. By allowing the beauty of our souls to shine forth, we can bring more love, more light, and more Divinity into the world. We are given hearts to love, minds to understand, hands to help, and eyes to let others know we care. It is through us that God’s Presence can manifest in the world. It is through us that tears are dried, arms embrace, and love is given. The Torah urges us to perform acts of lovingkindness. By giving our light to each other, we, ourselves are raised up, purified, and blessed. Our light is the light that makes the world shine. It is ours to give, and may we let it shine forth, lighting up our lives, and the lives of everyone we touch.