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Blessing the Light, Blessing the Darkness
Posted on Dec 04, 2009 by Rabbi Yitzhak MillerBlessing the Light or Blessing the Darkness?
Rabbi Yitzhak Miller--Hanukah 5770/2009
Jewish commentators through the years (e.g. the Sfat Emet Chanukah drash 5632) have linked the lights of Chanukah in the midst of the darkest time of the year to the personal and psychological strength required to search our darkest innermost places. Many-the Sfat Emet included-have anchored the Jewish demand for this search in Proverbs 20:27: "...the light of G-d-the soul of the human: searching the deepest places of the innards..."
Many commentators have noted the enhanced power of even a morsel of light in a state of darkness (a single candle has more effect in a dark room than in a room already brightly lit).
A famous poem from Rainer Maria Rilke offers a different perspective on dark moments-the perspective that darkness itself is worthy of blessing:
Rilke's poem reflects the reality that it is darkness-not light-that embraces our physical universe: that it is the points of light in our universe that are held within the sachet of darkness. Is Rilke reflecting a physical reality while the Sfat Emet is guiding us spiritually? Are the concepts opposites?...two sides of the same coin?
I tend to think that Rilke is also guiding us spiritually (yes, I know-"You're both right" is a stereotypical Rabbinic answer-that doesn't make it less true!)...that both Rilke and the Sfat Emet are guiding us to draw strength from the realities around us.
I remember as a child being fascinated with the lighting of the Hanukah candles. But I remember being even more fascinated with watching them burn to their last moment and witnessing the flame disappear into nothingness. Apparently I'm not the only one-there is a famous Jewish children's story of the time when all 8 Chanukah candles went out at precisely the same moment.
We recite blessings when we kindle the Chanukah lights. This Chanukah, I offer you the possibility of also blessing the moment they go out-metaphorically blessing not only the light in your life but also blessing the darkness-knowing that both are part of our physical reality and both are gifts of the Divine.
May your Chanukah, your year, and your life be blessed with miracles in all forms.
B'shalom,
Rabbi Yitzi
Rabbi Yitzhak Miller--Hanukah 5770/2009
Jewish commentators through the years (e.g. the Sfat Emet Chanukah drash 5632) have linked the lights of Chanukah in the midst of the darkest time of the year to the personal and psychological strength required to search our darkest innermost places. Many-the Sfat Emet included-have anchored the Jewish demand for this search in Proverbs 20:27: "...the light of G-d-the soul of the human: searching the deepest places of the innards..."
Many commentators have noted the enhanced power of even a morsel of light in a state of darkness (a single candle has more effect in a dark room than in a room already brightly lit).
A famous poem from Rainer Maria Rilke offers a different perspective on dark moments-the perspective that darkness itself is worthy of blessing:
You, darkness, of whom I am born-
I love you more than the flame
that limits the world
to the circle it illumines
and excludes all the rest.
But the darkness embarces everything:
shapes and shadows, creatures and me,
people, nations-just as they are.
It lets me imagine
a great presence stirring beside me.
I believe in the night.
I love you more than the flame
that limits the world
to the circle it illumines
and excludes all the rest.
But the darkness embarces everything:
shapes and shadows, creatures and me,
people, nations-just as they are.
It lets me imagine
a great presence stirring beside me.
I believe in the night.
Rilke's poem reflects the reality that it is darkness-not light-that embraces our physical universe: that it is the points of light in our universe that are held within the sachet of darkness. Is Rilke reflecting a physical reality while the Sfat Emet is guiding us spiritually? Are the concepts opposites?...two sides of the same coin?
I tend to think that Rilke is also guiding us spiritually (yes, I know-"You're both right" is a stereotypical Rabbinic answer-that doesn't make it less true!)...that both Rilke and the Sfat Emet are guiding us to draw strength from the realities around us.
I remember as a child being fascinated with the lighting of the Hanukah candles. But I remember being even more fascinated with watching them burn to their last moment and witnessing the flame disappear into nothingness. Apparently I'm not the only one-there is a famous Jewish children's story of the time when all 8 Chanukah candles went out at precisely the same moment.
We recite blessings when we kindle the Chanukah lights. This Chanukah, I offer you the possibility of also blessing the moment they go out-metaphorically blessing not only the light in your life but also blessing the darkness-knowing that both are part of our physical reality and both are gifts of the Divine.
May your Chanukah, your year, and your life be blessed with miracles in all forms.
B'shalom,
Rabbi Yitzi
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