Shalom, Internet friends!
This week's Torah portion, Bo, describes a plague of darkness -- "darkness so thick it could be felt." (Ex. 10:21). The Egyptians afflicted by the plague sit, encased in this impenetrable shroud, unable to move from their places, so utterly obliterating was the darkness.
But all the Israelites had light in their dwellings (10:23).
A famous midrash (Shemot Rabbah 14:3) noted that the text says that the light was found not throughout the land of Goshen where the Israelites resided but rather "b'moshvotam" -- in their dwellings -- so as to suggest that the light came from the residents, not from the residence! The light emanated from the people, a people blessed with light.
The Jewish people have always felt the charge to bring light into dark places. "I will make you a light unto the nations" (Isaiah 49:6).
There are many ways to bring light in the darkness: a kind word, a caring act, a loving look, a warm embrace. We can also embrace new ways of reaching out to people to cast light into the shadows. Many within and without our community would love easier access to worship services at our synagogue, but especially in the cold winter months feel uncomfortable driving at night or in inclement weather. Many people who live outside our area would love to find connections that keep them close to our community's experience of prayer. And many people would simply find it illuminating to know what happens at Westchester Reform Temple on a Friday night.
Rabbi Jonathan Blake
I am grateful to David Levy who reminded me of this wonderful midrashic teaching.
WRT's Board of Trustees has approved regular livestreaming webcasts of Friday evening services. As part of a winter update from WRT President Lisa Messinger, we will explain the policy in a bit more detail in a congregational letter next week. But since we had a number of congregant requests, we've decided to begin the regular livestreaming today since so many of us knew and loved Debbie, not only because of her wonderful music, but also as someone who spent so much time with us at WRT leading healing services and as an artist-in-residence for a year.
The link to the livestreaming webscast will appear on the bottom right section of the home page of our website and will not require a password. Feel free to inform your children away at school or others in the congregation who might not be able to attend the service that they can watch the webcast on www.wrtemple.org .
The webcast will begin at 7:45 PM. As a general guideline, please note that it is not possible for anyone watching to copy the webcast and that WRT retains all rights in and to each webcast, including the rights to use, modify, distribute, display publicly and control the contents of the webcast.
We hope you will be able to join us for this special Shabbat evening service in Debbie's memory, but, if not, we hope you and your family will be able to join us virtually to share in welcoming Shabbat and to enjoy Debbie's music that accompanies us through so many of our services.
Yoel Magid, Executive Director
"... "b'moshvotam" -- in their dwellings -- so as to suggest that the light came from the residents, not from the residence!"
ReplyDeleteThe miracle was such that if a Jew was in the house of an Egyptian, the Egyptian was in darkness and the Jew was in the light.
As for the Jew emanating light of his own, where is that in Midrash?
Only Moshe radiated light.
ReplyDelete