It’s Time for the Majesty of Our Light to Shatter the Darkness
The darkness of the whole world cannot swallow the glowing of a candle — Robert Altinger
My son does things that eliminates the grimness of life, even if just for that moment. He is excited today. It is Hanukkah. He will light the first candle and over the next week, ensure that my bed consists of him and his chanukiah. There is something glorious about him lighting the candle against the winter darkness. The way he ignites the lighter feels like he is summoning his Black and Jewish ancestors and using their spiritual power to draw attention to a light that will navigate and empower him, us, the world to do better.
The writings about light within Judaism tend to focus on everlasting flames during periods of darkness. A flame, or lamp as a perpetual and visual reminder of the divine presence in our lives. A presence to feel during times of joy and darkness, it is always there. Guiding, even at times that could plunge us into obscurity.
There is also a focus on the rekindling of the flame. A flame is the visible part of fire; fire being a process which also gives off light for sight and heat for warmth. A dynamic form of energy and passion. To continue to exist, it must be rekindled regularly. This is about us. There is a light placed in the heart of every one of us that must be rekindled regularly where we strive to be the best version of ourselves and in matters related to others. Continually igniting the desire to experience the divine presence so that, as beacons of light for clear vision, we too radiate with energy, warmth, compassion and love.
Calling together an alliance of everyone as a leader of light
Right now, the challenges for the Black community, that my child and I are part of, are immense. A divisive election and events leading up to today threaten our humanity, to tear down our spirit and culture even more than has happened in recent years. This too goes for other communities such as the Asian, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities who are or will be facing tremendous challenges as we move forward with a new Government and weakened political and social opposition. Both in Black and Jewish histories, light in the form of hope and leadership has helped to guide us through the darkness of oppression and suffering.
In the Torah, Aaron, as the High Priest, was required to wear amongst other garments, a breastplate with twelve different gemstones representing the twelve tribes and set in gold. Its placement was over the heart and secured by gold chains to an apron. The weight of the breastplate can be seen as a heavy burden or, as a leader, wearing the responsibility of guidance and hope where a lasting impact ripples beyond your presence.
Moses, Aaron and Miriam shared the responsibility as leaders at a pivotal time. The diversity that they brought strengthened the guidance and hope needed to lead the children of Israel from the oppression of Egypt, wander the desert for 40 years and arrive in the Promised Land. One lesson from this is how we share the leadership that brings us together. In most movements to achieve inclusion, liberty, equality and social justice for humanity, the leadership is never one person. It is the collective leadership wearing their breastplate over their heart.
We have an individual role to inspire and encourage, in unique ways, the compassion, love, understanding, kindness, patience, growth and happiness required for our community and humanity to be better. We need the individual lights to come together to shatter a darkness that threatens to consume our spirit, our culture, our lives and our futures.
So many things have happened to both of my communities — black and Jewish. We fall, we fear, yet we keep renewing ourselves and igniting each other with the hope and guidance to grow as we move forward. We survive and recover. This is leadership. We all have a special responsibility to be a light during bleak but also joyful times.
Sometimes the darkness threatens to consume us but humanity and the eternal presence within each of us can continue to light a way forward, if we want it. Wearing our family, our friends and the community over our hearts is a responsibility entwined in a light that we must keep kindling in small and large ways, as leaders.
All we have is each other. The light in every one of us and how, individually, together or drawing on the things that give us hope, each little bit of light can shatter the darkness. A new alliance is needed. We are ready.
Chag Sameach.
