Shabbos Schmooze: Illumination

I read the most beautiful pearl of wisdom this morning based on the writings and words of the Lubavitcher Rebbe:

"In truth, there is no need to change the world, but only to illuminate it. For each thing has a place, and in that place it is good.

There is only one problem: It is dark. In the dark, there is no way to find the place for each thing. No way to know what belongs in your closet, ready for use, and what belongs in the laundry, waiting to be cleaned. And so, that which could be washed and used for good is despised as hateful, and that which is wholly good is used for evil.

Torah is light: it tells us the place of each thing. Shine it bright, and heal the world."

As Thursdays go, this was, as usual, a busy one! I powered through the workday, ran some errands on my way home to pick up a few items for Shabbos and rushed back. I slowed down to light my Chanukah menorah and ponder how truly grateful I am for  G-d's many miracles even (and especially) in this time of darkness. I caught up on calls and correspondence and picked up the pace to prepare my home so I can return after another workday tomorrow and enter the Holy Shabbos b'simcha (i.e. with joy, specifically in relation to serving G-d). One thought kept returning to the forefront of my mind tonight, the 6th night of Chanukah--as much in the moments of slow contemplation as in hours of hustle and bustle: 

Sure, when it's Chanukah, it's easy to feel and express the light of Yiddishkeit (i.e. Jewishness). Of course, on the Holy Shabbos, it comes naturally! But what of the hours of the week we are lost in the monotony of the mundane? What of the moments between the hours that we are immersed in the physicality of this material world? And it came to me that the real journey toward illumination begins when we can maintain and express the light of Torah in any environment at any time, regardless of where we are or whom we are with.

When we feel holy, we act holy. When we feel on fire, we shed the light and spread the warmth. At times, for better or for worse, the feeling isn't there or we just can't tap into it. We get caught up in the  human fear and angst of what that might imply and we forget, we are no different on Tuesday than we are on Saturday. We are the same on the streets of the city as we are in the solace of the woods. We are as complete and whole on a public bus as we are in the sanctuary of the synagogue. We are holy through and through because this is how Hashem made us! We are always capable of feeling, seeing, and spreading the light because this is our Divine mission. So as we savor the remaining nights of Chanukah...as we briefly get a glimpse of a world with more light than darkness...and especially as we light the Shabbos candles tomorrow evening, let us remember and take comfort in the light within and around us all. This G-dly light is what illuminates our darkest hour and that is what will truly heal this world.

A Freylechen Chanukah and Gut Shabbos!