Rabbi Freedman
March 30, 2020
In Jewish tradition, we begin each day by reciting a series of blessings that are designed to make us aware of the daily miracles of daily life. The first of these blessings is:
Praise to You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, who has given the mind the ability to distinguish day from night.
This blessing in commonly understood as thanking God for wisdom, primarily the wisdom to tell the difference between light and darkness. At this critical time, this prayer reminds us that we have the ability to see light even when we have the feeling of being surrounded by darkness.
We sense light in our interactions with one another and among those with whom we are sheltered in place. We see light in the actions of those individuals who are on the front lines of fighting this disease and who are continuing to make essential services available to us. We see light in our reactions to these challenging times as a way to dispel the darkness of the times themselves.
May we be blessed not only to see light but, as ones created in God's image, create light for others as well.