“A constant fire shall burn upon the Altar” (Leviticus 6:6). - No, the reggae star Matisyahu did not write these lyrics, they are the words of G‑d. In fact - one of the 613 commandments. For thousands of years a flame burnt without interruption in our holy temple.
Living today, without a temple or altar, we cannot physically fulfill this special instruction. And yet these words, “a constant fire shall burn . . .” resonate more powerfully today than ever before.
Not merely a tangible flame, the burning inborn desire and steadfastness of our people to cling to the Torah and its mitzvoth, is palpable everywhere. Daily, I meet with my Jewish brothers and sisters who have had nearly no formal Jewish education or exposure, and yet their feeling of Jewish identity and belonging burn so strongly. They express concern about their children’s Jewish future, inquire as to how to bring Shabbat into their homes, and are all too eager to do another mitzvah. After the encounter I find myself asking, “Where does he/she get it from?” “Where does this passion for a way of life foreign to that of his/her upbringing originate?”
The answer lies in this timeless verse, “A constant fire shall burn upon the Alter”. The Jewish soul can, and will, never cease from burning brightly. It can express itself in the strangest of ways and pop up in the most unusual of times – but it’s always there.
Throughout generations Jews have given up their lives for a faith they almost knew nothing about. The logic went something like this: “I am born a Jew and I will die as one” Why? Because the flame can never be extinguished.
It is today, in spite of the extraordinary assimilation, that we witness the true power of this flame. Let us express this fire in our lives, infusing our daily activities with its warmth and reflecting its radiance in our deeds – Let us do another mitzvah toady - Am Yisrael Chai!
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Raleigh Resnick