Tonight, as we kindle the 6th candle of the chanukiah, I am reminded of a teaching of Rabbi Yehudah Leib Alter of Ger, the Hasidic master known by the title of his most famous work, the Sefat Emet.
We read in the book of Proverbs (20:27), “The soul of a human being is the candle of Adonai, revealing one’s innermost parts.” The candle of one’s soul is the primary source of illumination on the path towards self-actualization. Each one of us must seek wholeness by the light of our own soul, otherwise we might only grasp at shadows in the darkness of life’s narrow places.
The Ba’al Shem Tov taught that the one who reaches for another’s rung in life’s latter not only fails to attain it, but their own rung in the process. We often reach for another’s rung when we fail to see the opportunity granted to us by our own circumstances. Instead of looking out we must learn to look in.
The Sefat Emet says, “sanctuary and temple are found within every one of Israel…[t]hese are present insofar as a person makes it clear to [oneself] that all of life-energy comes from the soul.” Too often we seek fulfillment in that which is external. But, according to the Sefat Emet, in this season of rededication we can each renew our commitment to honoring that which is inherently holy in every one of us. By doing so, we are consecrated as a dwelling place for God. Just as the Temple was rededicated, so too we must endeavor to purify those parts of ourselves which are not in service of our ultimate goal as articulated by the unique song each soul longs to sing. We bring light into the world by cultivating each soul’s uniqueness and giving everyone the chance to shine.
IN-PERSON or LIVESTREAM HERE Services are in the sanctuary, masked & socially distant. Tonight's oneg is sponsored by the Matouk Family in honor of Virginia's Bat Mitzvah.
