Light

It enables us to see where we are.

But what about seeing who we are? And why we are?

“I see,” your friend might say when you explain a new concept. Your friend is “seeing” with the mind. Understanding is seeing.

The sages say, that a little bit of light pushes away a lot of darkness. Light one candle, and you can see the whole room. Explain one idea, and it illuminates so much.

Light shines on everything, so that we can see every single detail. So that we see the big picture.

On this day, the 18th day of the Jewish month of Elul, two luminaries were born. The Baal Shem Tov, and the Alter Rebbe (the first Rebbe of Lubavitch). The Baal Shem Tov taught the masses Chassidus, which illuminated their world. And the Alter Rebbe expanded this effort, explaining Chassidic concepts in even more detail and depth.

When you look at the table in front of you, and you realize that G-d is everywhere, including in the table, and that He is creating the table every moment, preventing it from going back to nothingness, as it was before the world was created, then you “see” beyond a physical table. You understand and appreciate G-dliness.

“Where is G-d?” asked a young man who had been immersed in the world of the hippies some fifty years ago. “Everywhere,” answered the Lubavitcher Rebbe. “I know, but where,” he persisted. “Everywhere,” said the Rebbe, “in a tree, in a stone.” “I know, but where?” The Rebbe answered, “In your heart, if that is how you are asking.”

Chassidus lights up everything, even our hearts. Chassidus reveals the hidden light of the Torah, G-d’s wisdom. “G-d looked in the Torah, and created the world,” our sages tell us. So by seeing the inner light of the Torah, we can see the innerness of everything.

So that when we fulfill G-d’s commandments, we appreciate so much more what we are accomplishing, shining His light, preparing and ushering in the Redemption, when all nations will know G-d and “will serve Him with one shoulder.” (Tzefaniah 3; 9) Because when we understand what we are achieving, we put our shoulder to it, with energy and exuberance.

And then we will welcome a peaceful world, where G-d’s glory will be seen by all.

May it happen very soon.