To be a light

What does it mean – to be a light?

To illuminate the world.

The spiritual and metaphysical meaning : Acting as a beacon of hope, kindness, and truth to dispel darkness, often by reflecting love, positivity, and service to others.

Core aspects:

Actionable- kindness

reflecting positivity

spiritual purpose

providing hope

Practical ways to shine:

show compassion

share positivity = be a source of joy

live authentically = maintaining INTEGRITY in daily life

The literal meaning of illuminate: to supply with light, light up, make brighter.

figurative ; explaining, clarifying, increasing knowledge, make known.

spiritual: to enlighten and or bring understanding.

Antonyms to light : darken, confuse, obscure.

To be a light is packed with power, motivation, and inspiration.

We are to be a light onto all nations- to prompt us to take action, to make a difference, and to shine within.

Yes, within also means that we need to work on ourselves as a nation, as individuals, and as a true Am Yisrael. We need to behave as true role models , with honesty , not search out loopholes and schemes. To be a proper light we must reflect from within. There is much work  to do on our unity, clarity, behavior, honesty, and observance of Torah and Torah divine life.

Shavuot is upon us. Ruth saw a light that she knew she had to follow. From this we learn that being a light is also making a REAL commitment.

G-d, Hashem’s light shines through you and me; we are to keep this in mind.

When you share light in the world you make a difference.

In Israel and amongst our entire Jewish Nation – we have this great responsibility to be this special beacon of light to reflect G-d, hope, and truth.

The challenge is to grow this light and keep it going even during  difficult times, , rabid antisemitism, hatred, and evil enemies that target us and want to destroy us.

The world began with light.

The  first heavenly command in creation : “Let there be light” – an eternal command.

In the Torah – “Ohr- Light” signifies divine presence. It represents spiritual enlightenment, truth, and sanctity.

Light is represented so many times:

creation – light

Sun and the moon

Adam & Chava- were  pure light  until they sinned

Mishkan, Menorah,Ner Tamid- the eternal light.

The Holy Shabbat, and all of the Chagim- festivals.

When Moses- Moshe Rabeinu descended from Har Sinai at the time that we were receiving the Torah, his face was described as RADIATING LIGHT.

Light sustains us, it drives our biological rhythms, and supports growth of all kinds. It helps us see.

Light is also described as : “ G-ds white shawl” that filled the world.

Our souls, our neshamot are  divine light. We are the candles of Hashem of  G-d.

All of the lights mentioned remind us of G-D’s presence.

These lights illuminate our lives, our homes.

“Ki Rotzeh Hashem B’Amo” G-d wants his nation. So be that light.

With each  good deed,  with each mitzvah that we perform, each Torah text that we learn- we partner with G-d in shining light through out the world. We transmit the light.

Psalms, tehillim 119;105

”Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path”

We are standing in difficult times, there is so much chaos, much darkness surrounding us, yet we can see and be the light.

”In a time of increasing darkness we must respond with an increasing of light”- Lubavitcher Rebbe tzl

”A little bit of light dispels a lot of darkness” – Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi tzl

The Sefat Emmet teaches us that we must find the inner light within ourselves in order to illuminate the world, especially in challenging times.

So remember, we are all part of a divine light.

So be the light that helps others to  see. Be a beacon, be a gamma ray ,illuminate within and without with  great kindness, love, divine connections ,mitzvot and contributions.

Being a light is a responsibility , a hard and beautiful one.

We can start with one candle and then ..

One candle lights another

Chag Sameach, Shabbat Shalom