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G‑d was murdered yesterday. Twenty-seven times over.
This isn’t just creative license on my part. It's something Jewish sages wrote in a commentary on the Bible over two thousand years ago.
They pointed out that the Ten Commandments were inscribed by the Almighty on two stone tablets: the first half inscribed on one and the second half inscribed on the other. Viewed in this order, the first commandment, "I am the Lord your G‑d" corresponds to the sixth commandment, "You shall not murder."
But how does this “murder” the Almighty? Genesis tells us mankind was made in His image. It tells us that Man became a "living soul" (nefesh), and G-d "breathed" into him (ruach), the "breath of life."
So in a very real way, we each have a spark of the Divine in us. And that spark was snuffed out over and over and over again yesterday.
Rabbi Yanki Tauber, content editor for Chabad.org, first wrote about this in an article after the Virginia Tech massacre in 2007. His words resonated deeply with me.
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| May we bring light back into the world in their memory (image: Creative Commons) |
“G‑d was banished from our world yesterday. And then banished again and again….
It's now our job to bring Him back.
With every good deed, with every kind word, with every positive thought, we bring a bit of G‑dliness into our G‑d depleted world.
And if we do it for the sake of those whose lives were snuffed out yesterday, we resurrect something of the divine spark that was their life, in a small but deeply significant way.
It's the least we can do for them.”
Amen.
As we light the menorah candles on this eighth and final night of Chanukah, we pray that a great miracle may happen to us in this day - May it be G-d's will that from this moment on, may we only know of peace.
Mom says this has moved her very deeply. Feeling that there was nothing we could do, you have pointed out that there IS something very important for people to do. And she will do her best to follow this: "With every good deed, with every kind word, with every positive thought, we bring a bit of G‑dliness into our G‑d depleted world." And we will pray for a Miracle.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this. You have touched us in a very deep and significant way today. You are right, we CAN make a difference. From a simple kindness shown to a stranger to holding your loved ones close, we can invite G-d back.
ReplyDeleteblessings,
GG
Lighting candles tonight will be extra meaningful.
ReplyDeleteWez done a post too guy'z, so sad and we can't even imagine how the families must be grieving. xx00xx
ReplyDeleteMollie and Alfie
Thank you for this post. Joining in your wishes. Peaceful Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrs.
ReplyDeleteVery moving.
ReplyDeleteYour post touched my heart, as did Rabbi Tauber's...On a day like this one tries to make sense of the senseless...an impossibility...To heal we must begin with ourselves and, as you suggest, try to bring some G-dliness back into our daily lives
ReplyDeletePerfect *lowering head*. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you. Hugs
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post pals. Saying a prayer as I leave.
ReplyDeleteAmen. Thank you, dear friends, for this sage post.
ReplyDeletePeaceful purrs ... thank you
ReplyDeleteWE choose to say no more but Bravo to your words.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes Molly
Hey FaRaDaY, Hey Maxwell, Hey Allie, Jet here. Hi Miss Lisa.
ReplyDeleteYour words touched all of us deeply. Well chosen. We here at Casa Jet choose to live as you shared:
With every good deed, with every kind word, with every positive thought, we bring a bit of G‑dliness into our G‑d depleted world.
And if we do it for the sake of those whose lives were snuffed out yesterday, we resurrect something of the divine spark that was their life, in a small but deeply significant way.
Shalom.
A beautifully written post which reflects what we have in our hearts but sometimes lack the eloquence to express adequately....this says it all and Rabbi Tauber's words in 2007 are perfect reflections of our feelings today. Thank you for this post - it's RIGHT in every way.
ReplyDeletePam (and Sam)
Very nice post.
ReplyDelete