Dark Star Crashes, Pouring Its Light Into Ashes (Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia - "Dark Star")

There were two distinct moods in our home this week. One had to do with the joy of Chanukah and everything associated with it: presents, latkes and our family ritual that each person lights their own personal Chanukiyah. This year, we were able to “Facetime” with our two older daughters: one in New York and one in Israel. With the housed darkened and the night settling outside, indeed there is something quite spiritual about seeing the Chanukah lights creating an oasis of light amid the darkness. The second mood was just the opposite albeit a bit more esoteric than the physical light and darkness of the Chanuka lights and physical darkness. During each evening this week, we watched the various ceremonies, rituals, rites, and services took place to honor President George H. W. Bush. Perhaps President Bush’s greatest achievement occurred in the aftermath of the fall of the Soviet Union, in the aftermath of the tearing down of the Berlin Wall, and, presided over the Re-unification of Germany and bringing the light of Democracy to those nations that had been trapped behind the Iron Curtain since the end of WWII.

This morning we read from Parsha Mikeitz. This Parsha is always read during Chanukah. While the Parsha has no explicit relationship to Chanukah, also known as Chag Urim “The Festival of Lights”; the implicit relationship is quite powerful. The Parsha begins with Yosef hurriedly brought from the dungeon to meet Pharaoh after Pharaoh is troubled by two seemingly different dreams. Yosef, he has been told, is able to interpret dreams. So Yosef begins to interpret but not before he credits his gift as coming from Hashem. Yosef not only interprets the dreams he offers solutions for Pharaoh. As a result, Pharaoh appoints Yosef as Viceroy, the second most powerful man in Egypt and perhaps the Second most powerful man in the world. While managing an economic program to ensure Egypt’s survival during the seven years of famine as foretold in Pharaoh’s dream, Yosef made sure to build up storehouses with grain.  However, the famine affected the whole region including Canaan and Yosef’s father, Jacob and Yosef’s brothers. Eventually, Yosef’s brothers head down to Egypt in order to buy food. Joseph recognizes them, but they do not recognize him. Wanting to see his youngest brother Benjamin and his father Yaakov, Joseph arranges for the brothers to return home. One brother must remain in Egypt. Then, in order to redeem their brother, all the brothers including Benjamin must return to Egypt. After that, Joseph frames Benjamin, keeping in Egypt. The Parsha concludes with the brothers returning to their father and conveying what happened to Benjamin.

                We can understand the concept of darkness both figuratively and literally; physically, intellectually or even spiritually. Of course, we can understand the concept of light in the same way. VaYehi VaBoker VaTipaem Rucho – and it was morning; His spirit was agitated, VaYishlach VaYikra et Kol Chartumei Mitzrayim V’Et Kol Chochmeha – so he sent and summoned all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men (Gen. 41:8). Pharaoh had the dream about the seven cows and the seven ears of corn. Why do we need to know that it was the morning after his dream? How bad could the dreams have been? Based upon the Torah, Pharaoh slept through the night. Granted he didn’t sleep well. After all, we are told that in the morning, his spirit was agitated. In a sense, his spirit was still “in the dark” even though the morning light was upon him. He brings Yosef out from the dungeon, a place of physical darkness. However, Yosef, because of his relationship to Hashem, embodies a spiritual light. Pharaoh asks the Egyptian Magicians and the Egyptian wise men, symbols of intellectual and spiritual light, to interpret the dream; to cast light upon Pharaoh’s troubled/darkened spirit. They are unable to bring light or to offer a solution. However, Yosef, the embodiment of Hashem’s light, is capable of casting light upon Pharaoh’s darkness. To Pharaoh’s credit; his fear is not directed at Yosef. Instead, Pharaoh’s fear is directed at the ramifications of famine upon Egypt and how a famine would affect his authority.  Even Yosef conceals his identity from his brothers, he remains in the darkness so to speak while his brothers are unable to conceal their identity from him.  Yosef is the embodiment of spiritual and physical light as he always knows what is happening and what will happen.  Despite Yosef being in a pit, and in a dungeon, Yosef is light. He is able to transmit his light, his knowledge, his spiritual strength to those around him without being diminished; much like a candle transmits a flame to another candle.

                So as we continue to light the lights of the Chanukkiyah amid the physical darkness that comes with night; I am struck by the actual transmission of the light from wick to wick. I am also struck by the beautiful light that we create. The transmission of knowledge like a flame doesn’t diminish the source. It only diminishes darkness and ignorance. Yes, I understand people are scared of the rising tide of darkness. We are all a little scared of darkness. However, if we become overwhelmed by the darkness, we will be too scared of the fact that our souls are agitated. We will become paralyzed rather than ask what we can do to eliminate the darkness. Rather than listening to those who would only bring more darkness and more paralysis, we should listen to those who bring light and bring solutions. Nearly thirty years ago, President Bush could have retreated from the impending darkness that was the chaos of the collapsing Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War. He could have kept the light of Democracy lit only in the West. He didn’t. He chose to do everything he could to shine a light upon the darkness of those former totalitarian countries and create a possibility for nascent democratic institutions to survive.  It takes great faith and courage to transfer light to darkened places and know that the source of the transferred light will not diminished. Hopefully, as our children grow older they will appreciate Yosef’s role in bringing light to his world and President Bush's courage in bringing light to his world. Hopefully they appreciate the importance of service, of engaging in acts of Kindness. Transferring their light won't diminish their own light, but rather it will increase the possibility for more light to exist amid the darkness.

Peace,

Rav Yitz

Can't See Much Difference Between The Dark And Light (Jerry Garcia & Robert Hunter - "Comes a Time")

It is still winter. It is still cold. It is still snowing. Our children still need extra time to put on all their winter apparel before they go outside. My wife still complains about the fact that winter lasts far too long. While we have a week and a half until the end of February, winter still has its grip on us. Yet despite its icy grip, one can still see the first vestiges of, dare I say it, spring. Daylight lasts just a little bit longer. The sun sets just a little later. When at its apex, the sun burns just a little warmer and a little brighter.  Even though the wind still howls, snow flurries still occur, our driveways are clear. As February draws to an end, we know that we are weeks away from emerging from the darkness of winter into the light of spring.

This Shabbat we read from Parshah Tetzaveh. The focus of the Parshah is upon Aharon, Moshe’s brother, Aharon’s sons, their position as the Kohen Gadol, (High Priest), their “work uniform” an their preparations. Just like last week’s Parshah, Terumah, was chock full of specifics and details concerning the construction of the Mishkan, Tetzavah primary focus is upon the specifics and the details concerning the Kohen Gadol uniform. From material to design, this aspect of the Parshah is a tailor/fashion designer’s dream. Once the details for the uniform have been taught, the Parshah concentrates upon the necessary preparations that the Kohanim must engage in so that they are spiritually pure enough to make offerings on the behalf of the people. Only then, when the construction is complete, when the clothing is finished and the purification process fulfilled, then God will rest God’s presence among the people.

The Parshah essentially focuses upon the priesthood, its clothing and its preparation process. By definition, the parshah is very limited in scope. After all not many of us come from the Priestly family of Aharon and his sons. Yet God reminds Moshe Rabeinu as well as us that all these details are necessary for the simple reason that God wishes to dwell among Bnai Yisroel. It is interesting to note that Moshe is not mentioned by name. Rather, he is referred to as Atah – You. Until now, God spoke to Moshe and Moshe conveyed those instructions to those doing the work. Now Moshe had to be personally involved as he is the one that will be responsible for purity of the olive oil for the Menorah (7 armed candelabra), he will personally designate the Kohanim and he must select wise and talented people to make the sacred priestly vestments and build the Tabernacle. Regarding God’s first command of Moshe, the Torah tells us,  V’Atah T’tzaveh et Bnai Yisroel VYikchu Eilecha Shemen Zayit Zach Katit La’Maor L’Ha’Alot Neir Tamid – Now you shall command the Children of Yisroel that they shall take for you pure, pressed olive oil for illumination to kindle the lamp continually (Ex. 27:20). Rashi explains that “continually” does not mean 24/7. Instead “continually” means that the Menorah (was kindled every evening, even Shabbat, and burned from evening until morning. Ramban, citing Sifre ( a rabbinic text of Midrash Halacha), explains that “continually” indeed refers to the western most lamp of the Menorah that burned 24/7.

Generally, light is symbolic of wisdom, enlightenment. We also know that light is symbolic of God. Olive oil provides the fuel for Neir Tamid the Kohen Gadol, the High Priest, who is pure like the olive oil itself, embodies the pursuit of spiritual purity. The clothes that he wears contribute to the notion that spiritual purity is exists only within the Tabernacle whenever he put on those clothes.  However the Menorah, the Ner Tamid, the eternal light embodies the pursuit of holiness, spirituality and knowledge by the rest of the people and not only the Priestly class. The pursuit of wisdom, enlightenment and the attainment of holiness is a realistic goal for all,  including Moshe Rabeinu, and Bnai Yisroel.  We attain wisdom, enlightenment, and holiness through Torah study, and Mitzvot and by living our lives in the pursuit of holiness. However those are activities we engage in while we are conscious, involved and self aware. Those are activities that occur when our “light” is already lit.  Unfortunately, in the darkness of our subconscious, in the darkness of night, when we unresolved conflicts enter our sleep, or the existential angst of life comes percolating to the forefront of our conscious that we awake in the darkness. We look for light. We look for clarity. Our striving is neither confined by time or space, hence it provides light 24/7. We are able to carry that light with us where ever we go.

Peace,

Rav Yitz