Spiritual Global Warming...
There is a beautiful story of the famous Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov, the founder of the Chassidic movement some 300 years ago. He was once walking with his students on a cold, wintery day when his students noticed that in the snow beside them, an image of an idol had been engraved.
“Our master”, the students began, “you have taught us that everything we encounter in life is to be alesson. If G‑d caused us to notice this site, there must certainly be a message here for us. What can we possibly learn from this site?”
The Baal Shem Tov responded: “There is nothing more pure than water. It is the basis of all life and existence. Nonetheless, even this most pristine substance - when it becomes cold - can be tainted and can be used to express a message that is antithetical to the source of all life – G‑d.
This week’s Torah portion opens with the description of the way Aaron would light the fire on the menorah in the temple. Kindling these flames in the Temple is meant to act as a wake up call for the Jewish People to ignite their internal flames - the passion and fire or our Jewish souls.
The secret to maintaining our purity as Jews lies in the way we preserve our warmth, energy, and enthusiasm about being Jewish. Feelings of apathy, cynicism, or coldness are fertile breeding grounds for sin and assimilation.
So on this Shabbat, when we read about this spiritual global warming, let us add more fuel to our Jewish passion and drive. In this way, we can continue to grow and flourish – both on a micro and macrocosmic scale - adding new life and energy to the world.
Let’s do a mitzvah today!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Raleigh Resnick
