Darkness and light

Ever notice how sometimes the worst situations of darkness and despair, suddenly become auras of light and warmth?

Take the Jewish nation. Two thousand years of hardship and exile, and suddenly Israel is on top of the world.

Take October 7. The worst disaster in so many years. And suddenly, Israel has become victorious. Suddenly the US is fighting side by side with the Jewish people; fighting antisemitism, bombing Iran’s nuclear threat, and so on.

Darkness. It’s sometimes horrifying. Yet it can lead to the most triumphant and wondrous achievements.

Ever notice, how people are sometimes completely overwhelmed with sadness, and then suddenly bounce back with boundless optimism, transforming the darkness into light? The darkness propels, motivates, enables transformation, from bitter to sweet, from impossible to doable, from the depths of despair, to infinite heights.

“From the constraints I call to G-d, He answers me with the wideness of G-d.” (Psalm 118)

This verse was recited, over and over again, by Viktor Frankl when he first walked away from the concentration camp where he had been imprisoned. He walked a great distance, until he came to a meadow, and he stopped, and kept saying this verse, over and over again. He had been in the worst constraints, unimaginable horror, and he reached out to the infiniteness of G-d.

Viktor Frankl went on to promote logo therapy, helping so many people. And drawing on his experiences in the awful darkness of the camps, he went on to counsel, that when we can find meaning, then we can triumph.

Today is the 13th day of the Hebrew month of Tamuz. The previous Lubavitcher Rebbe had been imprisoned (for strengthening Jewish education in Communist Russia), and was in great danger; but by Divine providence, international powers intervened, and the Communists freed him on this day, ninety-eight years ago. Later he faced German bombing in Warsaw, but the US intervened, and the Nazis sent an officer to extract the Rebbe and his entourage. He came to America, and he and his son-in-law (who later became Rebbe) brought the light of Judaism and G-dliness to America and to the world.

When light emanates from darkness, it attains tremendous power, illuminating even the furthest corners, refining and elevating the entire world.

And very soon, we will see the complete Redemption with Moshiach. And the holy light of the menorah will shine out from the third and eternal Temple in Jerusalem. And the entire world will become aware of G-d’s greatness. And the darkness will melt away, evil will disappear forever, as “the world will become filled with the knowledge of G-d, just as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11; 9)

And the sun will not be needed for light, for G-d will be our light. (Isaiah 60: 19)

And those who passed away will become alive. And the happiness will be immense.

May it happen very soon.