Eternal Light

 Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

 

February 11-12, 2022 / 11 Adar I 5782

Shabbat Tetzaveh

Torah: Exodus 27:20-30:10       Haftarah: Ezekiel 43:10 - 43:27

 

“Eternal Light”

 

Dear Friends,

 

Why do we have an eternal light constantly lit in our sanctuary?  Night and day, whether we are there or not, it burns on and on.  In this week’s Torah portion, Moses was told to create a seven branched candelabrum, called the menorah, the ner tamid, that was to burn continually in the Tent of Meeting, the mishkan.  It symbolized God’s presence within the shrine and throughout all existence.

 

Likewise, our eternal light, reminds us that God is everywhere.  Moreover, the eternal light is often placed very close to the Ark containing the Torah scrolls. This teaches us that for Jews, God’s presence, worship, learning, law, and performing good deeds are all linked into one.  Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan taught:

 

God is the creative flame

That transfigures lifeless substance,

Leaping into ever higher realms of being,

Brightening into the radiant glow of feeling,

Till it runs into the white fire of thought.

 

Zye a Mentsch – Be a Good Person!

 

Shabbat Shalom,

 

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow