Let us be Light: A brief Interfaith Reflection
The writer of the Book of Genesis (Bereshyt) included a beautiful song on the Creation. The author wrote like he or she was witnessing it. The details and logical order make the two first chapters some of the best Hebrew Poetry found in the Torah. Through centuries scholars have debated if these songs can be understood literally, instead of enjoying the sublime experience of reading it.
The description of ELOHIM amazed by what was created reflects the love of GOD for everything on this perfect and beautiful Creation. Planet Earth, the perfect home for humanity. A man and a woman, the perfect friendship. Without light nothing could be seen and enjoyed. Therefore early in the song (1:5) it is written:
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֖ים יְהִ֣י א֑וֹר וַֽיְהִי־אֽוֹר׃
Let there be light and the light just brighten the Creation. Adam and his wife Hava are commanded to be good administrators of this beautiful world. They themselves, therefore humanity, were the image of the Eternal Light, ELOHIM. It is written in the Qur'an (24:35):
اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ
In chapter 3 that light is almost overcome by darkness. This light is renewed in the call of the nation of Israel. In the second Book of Isaiah (49:6 cf. 42) it is written:
וּנְתַתִּ֙יךָ֙ לְא֣וֹר גּוֹיִ֔ם לִֽהְי֥וֹת יְשׁוּעָתִ֖י עַד־קְצֵ֥ה הָאָֽרֶץ׃
The Prophet proclaims that Israel is chosen to be a light to all the nations. The nations will know the Eternal Light. These words(Matthew 5:14-16) are attributed to the preacher Jesus of Nazareth: υμεις εστε το φως του κοσμου ... ουτως λαμψατω το φως υμων εμπροσθεν των ανθρωπων οπως ιδωσιν υμων τα καλα εργα και δοξασωσιν τον πατερα υμων τον εν τοις ουρανοις (cf. Isaiah 58).
Each one of us are called to be a light to each other. People of faith, of any faith tradition, are called to overcome evil with acts of righteousness, overcome hatred with acts of love and mercy. Overcome the darkness of greed, lies, and selfishness with compassion, justice and truth. Overcome violence and wars with love. Be instruments of peace. Be a light in a world full of darkness. Bring the light of the Torah to humanity. It is the light in our journey of faith. The song (Psalm 119:105 cf. Proverb 6:23 ) says:
נֵר־לְרַגְלִ֥י דְבָרֶ֑ךָ וְ֝א֗וֹר לִנְתִיבָתִֽי׃
Let us celebrate Hanukkah, let us be a light! Let our words and actions brighten this world. Bahá’u’lláh taught: "A kindly tongue is the lodestone of the hearts of humans... it is the fountain of the light of wisdom and understanding."
Happy Hanukkah! חג חנוכה שמח
כִּֽי־עִ֭מְּךָ מְק֣וֹר חַיִּ֑ים בְּ֝אוֹרְךָ֗ נִרְאֶה־אֽוֹר׃
Psalm 36:10
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