The Lesson of Light from Volcanic Summit in Guatemala

My family recently traveled to Guatemala for a short getaway. We were invited to join our Belz Chassidim friends, Ari and Gitty to visit this beautiful country, located in Central America, known for black volcanic sand beaches, gorgeous Atitlan Lake and breathtaking overlooks of Volcanic mountains. Guatemala is famous for one of the tallest volcanoes in Central America called Acatenango. With its last eruption in 1972, this volcano is now considered safe for hiking. We decided to sign up for an ambitious overnight experience to hike to the summit of Acatenango in hopes to witness eruptions of the nearby active volcano, called Fuego. Since the trip was organized through the Chabad House of Antigua, we were joined by other Jewish travelers from across the world for this extraordinary adventure. In the morning of the trip, all of us mat at the Chabad House and were greeted by Rabbi Chaim Silber, who together with his wife Daria Dalia create a home away from home for thousands of Jewish visitors that come through Antigua.

We boarded the vans and for the first two hours ascended steep roards until it was not possible to drive. We then walked up the volcano for the final 45 minutes of the journey. This was a long way up, but we were up for the challenge eager to witness an awe-inspiring nighttime view of flowing lava.

When we finally got to our campsite, each person was given a sleeping bag and a place in large communal tents. We settled in and unpacked our sandwiches. It was starting to get dark and very cold. Our guide lit a fire, and we hovered over it, trying to get warm. The guide, who did not speak any language that we understood, tried to gesture, and explain that we needed a clear sky to see the summit of Fuego. We nodded in hopes that this would happen soon. Time went by slowly and some people went to their tents. We continued to wait, gazing into the dark night. Sitting by the campfire, people were talking about life, their travel experiences and shared thoughts about faith and connection to Jewish heritage.

Born in the former Soviet Union under the Communist regime, my husband and I have slowly embraced our Jewish identity, taking upon ourselves one mitzvah at a time. Our son Ellie, returned from a gap year in Israel and a Torah observant lifestyle felt natural to him. This was a victory of light over darkness after 70 years of Communism reign. Our Belz Chassidim friends grew up with strong Chassidic values and unlike our families had always been connected to Jewish ideals.

On a high bench near the fire sat three girls, all named ‘Leeba’ after their communal great-grandmother. Leebas’ families serve as Chabad emissaries in different parts of the world, and they planned this trip in order to meet and share this experience. A young Israeli couple, Racheli and Eyal were on their honeymoon. They wanted to build a traditional Jewish home. The newlyweds shared how grateful they felt for Rabbi Silber’s help with Shabath arrangements because they didn’t want to compromise their values while traveling.

I gazed into the night, listening to each story. It was a surreal experience sitting at the top of the summit, patiently waiting to see the fiery lava spill over from under the surface. Suddenly, the parallel between our individual journeys and this yearning to witness the eruption of the lava became apparent. Just like the semifluid rock eventually erupts from a volcano; our soul’s voice finds its moment of triumph. 

The Lubavitcher Rebbe taught that fighting evil is a very noble activity when it must be done. But it is not our mission in life. Our job is to bring in more light.
It was a visual reminder that just as a volcano is infused by the flow of lava from within, our bodies are animated by a Gdly spark that embodies the meaning and purpose of our existence. As the cooling process of the volcano’s lava creates a solid rock, we too experience ‘hardening’ of the heart when we detach from the Divine purpose. 

It was after 2 a.m., when we suddenly heard an earth-shattering sound, and the summit of Fuego became illuminated by a glowing orange flow. The eruptions shook the horizon as rivers of lava made their way to the surface. We all stood in awe, gazing at the light. Those who were sleeping ran outside, but the volcano was calming down. As suddenly as it came alive, Fuego became quiet once again. Yet, those who witnessed the transformation would never again be fooled by its outward appearance. This journey was a visual reminder that it’s just a matter of time until the light beneath the surface erupts from within. By fueling our soul with Torah and mitzvahs, we illuminate the essence of the physical world and transform it into a space of revealed essence of Gdly purpose.

The next morning, while climbing down from Acatenango, I glanced behind at a dormant Fuego. I felt that I was let in on its profound lesson to look beneath the surface and recognize the explosive potential hidden within. In the words of a legendary Chassidic master, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Kotzk, “People tend to look upwards, contemplating the mysteries of the heavens. They would do well to look inward and examine what’s happening within themselves.”

Every one of us, at any moment, has a capacity to transform a seemingly dispirited nature into a fiery blaze. Every individual soul is a spark, innately waiting to ignite a powerful fire of its unique light.

The time has come to do just that.