| January 2, 209
6 Tevet, 5768 In the midst of such troubling times, it is especially nice to share a heart-warming story. The adult daughter of an Israeli artist was sitting at the beach a few months ago, reading a book, when the most extraordinary encounter took place. A four-year old girl came over and stood for a few moments just peering at her. That a child so young would approach a complete stranger in such a way should be troubling, but somehow it seemed perfectly natural. After a moment, their eyes locked on one another. The little girl approached the woman and gently took the woman’s face into her hands, all the while continuing to look as if into her soul. What followed is still more incredible. The child’s father came over and met the young woman. Though he had to run an errand with his daughter, he told the woman he would return – and return he did. It turns out that both the man and the child were in need of healing. The child had lost her mother very early on. The darkness of this loss was manifest in her seeming inability to connect through speech. Despite this, she successfully communicated through her eyes and hands the light of her desire for connection. Fast forward: the man and woman fell in love and the child now speaks. Possibilities never imagined abound every single moment of our lives. What matters is our ability to open ourselves to the experience without resistance. It is during such times that healing can take place. Consider this week’s parasha, where we read about Joseph’s reconciliation with his brothers. In the darkness of his fear of losing both Benjamin and his father, who would surely die upon hearing of what transpired concerning his beloved youngest son, Judah approaches Joseph with an impassioned plea. He begs that Benjamin be allowed to return to Jacob and have Judah remain behind as a slave until the brothers’ return. In the intensity of the moment, Joseph opens himself completely to the possibility of the moment, his entire being welling up in release of repressed thoughts and emotions from a dark past. The text continues, Vayitein et kolo biv’chi – and he, Joseph, gives voice to the intensity of his feelings, with sobbing so profound and deep that it touches the darkness in the souls of his brothers, making possible this long awaited reconciliation. We, too, as individuals and as a community, may find ourselves in what Thomas Moore calls the “dark night of the soul.” Moore describes this place in Dante’s words, “In the middle of our life journey I found myself in a dark wood. I had wandered from the straight path. It isn’t easy to talk about it: it was such a thick, wild, and rough forest that when I think of it my fear returns…(Inferno, Canto I). Do not despair or give in to fear. Engaging in this darkness with all of our heart, soul and strength can move us into the light of a new vision and a deeper sense of self and others. We cannot retreat to the darkness, nor can we ignore the darkness of those in need. These times compel us to use the darkness for good and for the benefit of all who are in need – emotionally, spiritually and financially. Perhaps this is why two foundational Jewish values are gemilut chasadim, acts of loving kindness, and tzedakah, righteous acts which preserve our dignity and the dignity of others. Both reveal the healing light of M'kor Or, the Source of all forms of light. Together, let us approach 2009 with renewed determination to break through the darkness of our times, our deeds emanating rays of hope, kindness and healing acts of righteousness. Shabbat shalom!,Rabbi Nina J. Mizrahi |
