LIGHTS OF LIFE

    Whenever I reflect upon G-D and how He rules the world, I automatically turn to the 'beginning' when The Almighty created the world. My  focus is on Hashem, when the  Torah states ויהי אור and 'Let There Be Light, and G-D saw כי טוב that it was good.  Light for G-D, and eventually for man, is seen as 'Good'.  It is seen as a source of energy that permits our world to function. Even more so, light permits us to see one another. If we lived in a world of darkness, life would not only be lonely but depressing, as well.  Light permits us to see each other and permits us to interact with one another. We can then actualize what Hashem said to Adam in a  general human interactive way,

                                            לא טוב היות אדם לבדו. 

Light, in a more philosophical way, is a story of the truth verses illusion, of the spirit of Hashem verses  anarchy, and of the service of Hashem verses slavery and confinement. 

   How meaningful is this lesson as we read this Shabbat, Parshat Bo, and are introduced to the ninth plague brought upon by the demagogue Pharoah, who refused vehemently to free the Jewish people from bondage. This was the plague of darkness. The Torah describes this darkness as so "thick", that the result was לא ראו איש את אחיו that one was not able to see the other.

 This darkness goes beyond the physical, it reflects upon a social, and a humane blindness which occurs when one person is so involved in himself, that even when another stands in front of him, he cannot see the 'other'. This was a darkness, that affected the hearts of man. Physically, they were able to see, but lacked feelings for others.  They didn't care about their neighbor, and were blind to each other's needs. 

That is the most terrible plague that can ever be visited upon a person and a nation.  Our Judaic way of life requires that we should see each person as a human being who has needs, feelings, fears and  hopes, just as we do. We are all children of G-D and are entitled to be treated with dignity, justice, and compassion that we claim for ourselves. 

  Our  basic challenge that confronts each of us is to keep aglow the light of understanding and caring which enables us to see one another. It is only when we see the humanity in the other, that we can preserve it within ourselves. 

  Martin Buber said it well,"Men become what they are, sons of G-D, by becoming what they are, brothers of their brothers". 

    May we always walk hand in hand in the midst of the light of humanity, and utter the words of Hashem וירא אלוקים את האור כי טוב. The Rav wrote, "Each person is endowed with some degree of this special metaphysical illumination which, inherently, resides in the human personality,and that this clear light will dispel the darkness of inhumanity, and all the hidden potential within the heart of each person will emerge." 

   May we be blessed  with the light of brotherly love always seeing each other in a glorious way.