Dear Friends,
When I visit a congregant or someone in their home, perhaps for a social visit or to meet in preparation for a funeral – personal encounters which we have suspended due to COVID – and I enter their home, I let my eyes wander. I notice the art and books – are there Jewish themes and Jewish books on the walls and shelves? And, is there Judaica sitting on the shelves or cabinets?
Over the years the Judaica which I have observed most commonly is a menorah – more than kiddush cups or Passover plates. Admittedly, most persons had nine-branched Chanukah menorahs – not seven- branched Shabbat candelabra – but they are still menorahs, Jewish candleholders first mentioned in the Torah. In this week’s portion, we read the command to erect and light the lampstand in ancient days. “When you mount the lamps, let the seven lamps give light at the front of the lampstand.” (Num. 8:2)
Why is this the most common article found in Jewish homes?
Arguably, the menorah may be the most recognized Jewish symbol – as much as the Star of David. In fact, the original and official symbol for the city of Jerusalem was, and is, the seven-branched menorah. Today, a massive Menorah stands just outside the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. It harkens back to the days of King Solomon when an even larger Menorah, made of hammered gold like the one from this week’s Torah portion, stood atop the highest peak in Jerusalem in the courtyard of the ancient Temple. That menorah reflected sunlight all over the beautiful city, which earned the moniker, “City of Gold.”
And today, in most synagogue sanctuaries across the globe, a seven-branched Shabbat menorah may be found, including gracing our ark in our large sanctuary. It is truly the ubiquitous symbol of who we are.
But why?
My thought is that, whether it is a 9-branched Chanukiah or a 7-branched Shabbat menorah, the common theme is that the menorah allows light to shine and penetrate the dark. Nothing more essentially conveys the central teaching of Jewish ethics than this charge; whether expressed in studying or teaching, doing social justice, or offering words of prayer: make light! Do not accept the darkness – crate new light.
Today, when racism and brutality are being protested across America and the globe, the whole world is reflecting this ethos: shed light where there has been darkness! Nothing makes us more sacred and more righteous, than when we shine God’s light of goodness and dispel the blindness of narrowness, hostility or hate.
Our task is to emulate God, whose first command was, “Let there be light!”
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
When I visit a congregant or someone in their home, perhaps for a social visit or to meet in preparation for a funeral – personal encounters which we have suspended due to COVID – and I enter their home, I let my eyes wander. I notice the art and books – are there Jewish themes and Jewish books on the walls and shelves? And, is there Judaica sitting on the shelves or cabinets?
Over the years the Judaica which I have observed most commonly is a menorah – more than kiddush cups or Passover plates. Admittedly, most persons had nine-branched Chanukah menorahs – not seven- branched Shabbat candelabra – but they are still menorahs, Jewish candleholders first mentioned in the Torah. In this week’s portion, we read the command to erect and light the lampstand in ancient days. “When you mount the lamps, let the seven lamps give light at the front of the lampstand.” (Num. 8:2)
Why is this the most common article found in Jewish homes?
Arguably, the menorah may be the most recognized Jewish symbol – as much as the Star of David. In fact, the original and official symbol for the city of Jerusalem was, and is, the seven-branched menorah. Today, a massive Menorah stands just outside the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. It harkens back to the days of King Solomon when an even larger Menorah, made of hammered gold like the one from this week’s Torah portion, stood atop the highest peak in Jerusalem in the courtyard of the ancient Temple. That menorah reflected sunlight all over the beautiful city, which earned the moniker, “City of Gold.”
And today, in most synagogue sanctuaries across the globe, a seven-branched Shabbat menorah may be found, including gracing our ark in our large sanctuary. It is truly the ubiquitous symbol of who we are.
But why?
My thought is that, whether it is a 9-branched Chanukiah or a 7-branched Shabbat menorah, the common theme is that the menorah allows light to shine and penetrate the dark. Nothing more essentially conveys the central teaching of Jewish ethics than this charge; whether expressed in studying or teaching, doing social justice, or offering words of prayer: make light! Do not accept the darkness – crate new light.
Today, when racism and brutality are being protested across America and the globe, the whole world is reflecting this ethos: shed light where there has been darkness! Nothing makes us more sacred and more righteous, than when we shine God’s light of goodness and dispel the blindness of narrowness, hostility or hate.
Our task is to emulate God, whose first command was, “Let there be light!”
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
