This week's parasha, Tetzaveh, begins with the commandment to keep a lamp lit always. The wording for this lamp is the ner tamid – perhaps translated as an “always candle/lamp” and is to be fueled by olive oil.
Questions arise about whether or not this ner tamid means a lamp that is always burning or a lamp that is regularly being fueled. The difference being the agency: is there a flame that never goes out or is there a community that is always collectively fueling a flame? Many synagogues have an ornate electric powered light attached to a switch. Perhaps one could say it is literally a community's job to “keep the lights on.”
Similar to last week as the Israelites were asked to pool their resources to construct a communal sanctuary, this week they are asked to ensure a fire always has fuel to stay lit.
One could say Kadima has been similar to the Israelites at this part in the story. Decades of keeping fuel in the tank to ensure there is a flame – a symbol of not giving up on one another and our collective purpose.
In this moment of history it makes me ask: what flames need to die? What flames do we need to stop fueling? And, what are the flames that we need to see burning bright? How can we get more oil to them?
As we light shabbat candles tonight, let us ask: what flames must we ensure continue and which ones must we extinguish? Let this shabbat be one of refueling the fire inside such that should shabbat end, we are rejuvenated in our work to fuel the flames of our collective needs and dreams.
Shabbat shalom,
R’ David
Questions arise about whether or not this ner tamid means a lamp that is always burning or a lamp that is regularly being fueled. The difference being the agency: is there a flame that never goes out or is there a community that is always collectively fueling a flame? Many synagogues have an ornate electric powered light attached to a switch. Perhaps one could say it is literally a community's job to “keep the lights on.”
Similar to last week as the Israelites were asked to pool their resources to construct a communal sanctuary, this week they are asked to ensure a fire always has fuel to stay lit.
One could say Kadima has been similar to the Israelites at this part in the story. Decades of keeping fuel in the tank to ensure there is a flame – a symbol of not giving up on one another and our collective purpose.
In this moment of history it makes me ask: what flames need to die? What flames do we need to stop fueling? And, what are the flames that we need to see burning bright? How can we get more oil to them?
As we light shabbat candles tonight, let us ask: what flames must we ensure continue and which ones must we extinguish? Let this shabbat be one of refueling the fire inside such that should shabbat end, we are rejuvenated in our work to fuel the flames of our collective needs and dreams.
Shabbat shalom,
R’ David
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