Spirituality
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Torah Portion
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Let Our Chanukah Light Inspire
A Brighter Future For The World
protect what we have, they say, build
defensive walls around ourselves, insu-
late our families and communities,
shield ourselves from any negative and
destructive influences.
Others are bolder and tackle the
darkness head-on. We have no choice,
they say, but to head out into the
darkness and deal with immorality
and insanity at its own level.
The little flames of the menorah
oseph, abandoned by his
suggest another way.
brothers, ends up in the
Chanukah lights are more than 'a
mightiest place in the world,
commemoration of a miracle in a far-
alone in a country steeped in
away land in a distant past.
idolatry and immorality.
Their pure little flames carry
Despite endless tempta-
an illuminating message:
tion, he preserves his identity
The Chanukah candles
as a proud son of the House
teach us the quality of light
of Jacob and protects his
and how to battle darkness.
moral integrity. The very
In Jewish tradition, we
rulers and people considered
kindle Chanukah lights in
to be unwelcome to his mes-
the early evening, when
sage recognize him as the
darkness begins to set in.
shining light of Egypt.
We place the candles at the
Until today we call him
RABBI KAS RIEL doorpost or windows,
reverentially, Yosef HaTzadik
toward the outside. On the
SHEMTOV
— Joseph the Righteous.
first night we light one can-
Special to the
Every year with the
dle, on the second night,
Jewish News
approach of Chanukah, I,
two — until the eighth day,
remember my seventh-grade
when we light all eight.
teacher. He used to tell about
There is tremendous significance in
two boys who decided to battle dark- ,
detail. When darkness — phys-
ness. Putting fear aside and swinging
ical or spiritual -- sets in, we must
baseball bats with all their might, they
kindle a light. We kindle it toward the
descended into the dark basement to
outside because we must not keep this
get rid of that darkness once and for
light for ourselves, but rather must
all. Needless to say, they came out
provide a shining example and inspi-
black and blue — sadly resigned to
ration to others on the outside as well.
the fact that they'd never overcome
And each night we add more light.
the darkness.
Though yesterday we fulfilled our
If only they had one little flash-
obligation by kindling one light, today
light. Had they only learned the les-
we must kindle two. We must contin-
son of Joseph.
uously strive to increase and generate
The root of the word Chanukah is
more light so that it spreads even fur-
chinuch, which also means "educa-
ther. This is how we overcome dark-
tion." As parents, teachers and leaders,
ness.
we carry the challenging responsibility
So this Chanukah, kindle a flame.
to not only teach but to educate our
Allow your own soul's light to glow
youth. Unfortunately, the ethics and
brightly so others are inspired by your
values of today's common culture mir-
shining example. If we each bring just
ror yesteryear's subculture. Forms of
a bit of light to the world, how much
self-expression once considered abom-
brighter a future it will hold for all of
inable have become accepted as the
us. This Chanukah, light up your life
norm. Daily, we face realities of ram-
and the world around you. El
pant drug use, teen-age pregnancy,
alcoholism, suicide and other dangers
that threaten the sacredness of the
family and the security of a healthy
community.
How can one candle light up the
So what to do? How shall we deal
darkness? Give some examples
with moral and spiritual darkness?
from our history of how one
Some people are inclined to ignore
"Joseph" illuminated a "dark coun-
the outside and focus inward. Let's
try" with light and a righteous
example, and tell how this one Jew
made a difference.
Kasriel Shemtov is the spiritual leader
of the Shul-Chabad Lubavitch.
•••
Shab bat Vayeshev
(first day Chanukah):
Genesis 37:1-40:23;
Numbers 7•1-17•
Zachariah 2:14-4:7.
J
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