This week's parasha, Bo, introduces us to the 9th plague visited on the Egyptians as the Israelites prepare to depart from Egypt. Summoned by Moses's outstretched arm, a darkness so thick it could be touched descends upon the land. Lo ra'u ish et achiv v'lo kamu ish mitachtav shloshet yamim/people could not see one another and no one could get up from where they were for three days (Ex.10:23). Can you imagine such darkness where one could not see another, not just getting out of bed in the middle of the
night but for three whole days?! As the Ramban (13thc.Spain/Israel) explained, the darkness extinguished their fires the way the air of deep excavation does. That is why no man could see his fellow. Had this been an ordinary darkness they would have simply kindled lamps. This was the state of Egypt in the climate Pharaoh cultivated and maintained, a place where humanity treated one another with disdain and cruelty, a place of hardened hearts and sullied souls with no place for light.
Yet the Torah reminds us, u'l'chol b'nai yisrael haya or b'mosh'votam/but all the Israelites enjoyed light in their dwellings (sic). Despite hundreds of years of slavery and lives filled with pain and suffereing, the Israelites saw one another, looking past their own needs into the eyes and hearts of their brotheres and sisters. Noticing one another brought light into their homes, perhaps even the light of the holy one, as the psalmist reminds us, ner adonai nishmat adam/the divine's light is the soul of humanity (Proverbs 20:27).
This is the time to be like the Israelites and lift up the light in our homes and lives by connecting with one another. At a time of inherent isolation due to the omicron variant, we must be intentional about stretching past the walls of our homes to reach our neighbors. Each week, call two people to check in and see how they are doing in body, mind and spirit. Share a joke or funny story to lift their spirits. Take a few moments to listen to the other and share the light between you. Make use of zoom, skype and google meet to cross time zones and bring zip codes closer together.
Intentional connection of this type bolstered me and my family recently as we mourned my mother following her death. Phone calls, texts, shiva visits on zoom, donations to organizations important to my parents, and an abundance of cards (which we are still opening!) served as a warm hug. People with whom we are in contact every day "sat" next to people we had not seen in years, decades even. Each zoom box contained a story or connection, direct or indirect that helped us feel seen and cared for. Every word was like a candle in the darkness.
As we move most fully into this new Hebrew month of Sh'vat, let us continue to plant seeds of memory, community and connection. May we reach through perceived barriers and keep the lights burning in our homes and our hearts. For this month's blessing, I call your attention to the first bracha/blessing before the morning sh'ma,
בָּרוךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵנוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם יוֹצֵר אוֹר וּבוֹרֵא חשֶׁךְ עֹשֶֹה שָׁלוֹם וּבוֹרֵא אֶת הַכֹּל You are blessed, our holy one, enthroned in the universe, who forms light and creates darkness, who makes peace and creates all things. (Siddur Lev Shalem, p.150)
May this month move us to partner with the divine to bring more light, planting and watering seeds of blessing and love. May the seeds we sow light our way through 2022.
