The great educator, John Dewey, on his 90thBirthday, was asked by a reporter, “What is good of all your thinking? Where does it get you?” Mr. Dewey replied, “The good is that you climb mountains”. “Climb mountains?” questioned the reporter, “What is the good of doing that?”
Mr. Dewey replied, “To see other mountains.” He then placed his hands on the young reporter’s shoulders and said, “When you are no longer interested in climbing mountains to see other mountains to climb, then life is over”.
Think of what this great educator was saying; Indeed life is to continue to move forward. At every stage in life when faced with a new challenge, man is encouraged to grasp hold of that opportunity and to use all of his G-D given qualities to succeed and not to say it can’t be done. All that is needed is to exert as much energy as possible to bring that opportunity into reality.
We learn in Pirkey Avot;
“It is not your duty to complete your task, but you are not free to desist from it”.
Our Torah reading this Shabbat is B’haloscha, wherein we read about the lighting of the Menorah in the Mishkan and eventually in the Bet Hamikdash. The use of the word בהעלותך rather than the usual word להדליק to light is used to suggest that שצריך להדליק עד שתהא שלהבת עולה מאילה One of the requirements of lighting the menorah is that when it is lit by the Kohen the fire is to continue on its own.
This suggests that the essence of Judaism, the essence of this spiritual light, is to nurture in such a way that the Jewish Flame, the enthusiasm of Judaism will burn brightly by itself. The glow is to be so strong and energetic that it will continue for everlasting time. To accomplish this eternal burning of the Jewish flame it needs the ingredient of warmth, compassion and most assuredly patience.
Our sages have compared the light of the Menorah to the light of knowledge, especially the study and the knowledge of Torah. For our Light of Judaism to burn continually into our next generation, we must assure that our children receive the best Jewish Education, whatever the cost may be.
At the same time, we are to encourage more Judaic studies from our adult population. As our children see us study, they will get the message and realize the importance of their Jewish Education.
I would like to share the following story with you; When James A. Garfield, later president of the
“Oh, yes,” said Mr. Garfield. “He can take a short course. But that depends on what you want to make of him. When G-d wants to make an oak, He takes a hundred years, but He only takes two months to make a squash.”
Human fulfillment occurs when our education teaches us how to live to be of value to others and to continue to eternalize the essence of Judaism. Our symbol must be our Ner Tamid, which hangs gloriously in front of the Aron Hakodesh reminded us to live as an eternal flame of inspiration.
The message is clear and must reach the hearts and minds of all Jewry. Every Jew must, by his way of life, contribute to its glowing force. The light of Torah and Judaism will, with our help and efforts, dispel the darkness that so often envelops our society.
כי נר מצוה ותורה אור
שבת שלום
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