Dear Friend,
There is one word that comes to mind and that I am craving to see more of: light.
The Bible tells us that the first thing that was created by G-d was light. “And the Lord said let there be light, and there was light."
Why is light so important that it was created before anything else?
In recent weeks and months the answer has become clearer to me: In a world that sometimes feels so dark and depressing, the greatest antidote is bringing light into it. “Let there be a light!” is an eternal mandate given to each of us to bring light into our hearts, homes and community.
There is darkness in your heart? Let there be light! There is darkness in your home? Let there be light! There is darkness in your community? Guess what…let there be light!
When dark forces wreak havoc on those we love, we can feel powerless to stop them. And while we may not be able to prevent darkness from occurring, we are far from powerless to keep it from spreading.
There is an old Hasidic expression that you don’t fight darkness with sticks and stones; you fight darkness by lighting a match. Of course, the IDF needs to take up arms and defend themselves, and fight for Israel and for the Jewish people and for the world, and eradicate evil. But what can those of us who are thousands of miles away do? How do we ignite the light that dispels pervasive darkness?
Light is relevant every day of the year, as we always need to add brightness to our world. Indeed, we have the mitzvah to light Shabbat candles every Friday night, but let’s be honest; there’s no better time to focus on light than during the holiday of lights: Chanukah. We start off by lighting one solitary candle and then each day we add another, thus flooding more light into the darkness of winter.
And there is another powerful reason that light is coming to mind:
Very soon after the horrific events of October 7th, my colleagues and I travelled to our Holy Land of Israel for a mission to support the families who suffered loss and displacement due to the inhumane actions of Hamas. We brought with us 25 duffle bags full of bullet proof vests, iPads, toys, and other essential items to aid in their time of crisis. We also deployed much-needed funds raised from our community.
During our time there, we saw a tremendous amount of darkness. My heart breaks just from thinking about the unimaginable loss and devastation we came face to face with. Parents who lost children, children who lost parents. We met people who witnessed the greatest evils imaginable and were now grieving their loss.
At the same time, we witnessed so much light; so much goodness. People who lost so much were full of hope and optimism for the future. They were determined to live and honor the lives and loss of their loved ones. I saw heroes with unbelievable inner strength, and we met people who can never be defeated because their fire and light can never be extinguished.
I came with the intention to bring light and I returned brighter than ever. Even my own sadness and heaviness was melted and warmed in the brightness of the light I witnessed.
Yes friends, that is why light was created first––because it is the most potent force on earth. Nothing can get in the way of the light.
Nothing can get in the way of goodness, of justice, of our beloved Israel and our incredible nation. Light will always win.
Yet, there is much darkness, despair and despondency out there in our world now. The hypocrisy of so many people in the face of the loss of Jewish life is maddening. The evil hate of Jews and their state is terrifying.
So what do we do about it?
You know the answer: “let there be light!” The powers of darkness have nothing on the light of a menorah, the light of Shabbat candles, the light of a kind deed and a loving word.
So here’s a loving suggestion: Light your own menorah this Chanukah and witness the magic of light over darkness for yourself.
Come to our public menorah lighting and Chanukah festival and celebrate Jewish pride. Chabad of Naples will be bringing talented Hassdic Rapper Nissim Black to our community. For those who haven't had the pleasure of listening to Nissim, he's truly one of a kind. Nisim is a pure source of joy and light and through hip-hop he raps about love of Israel, Judaism and how both can be a source of strength.
His story of resilience and overcoming obstacles will resonate with everyone regardless of your religion. With thought-provoking, evocative and family-friendly lyrics his music will uplift everyone's spirits.
So please, come, enjoy, bring your friends and family. Reserve your spot now and be part of this special celebration.
chabadnaples.com/festival
For nearly 4,000 years the Jewish people have strived to be a light unto the nations. We have banded together when times were tough and when the darkness threatened to swallow us. Yet we have shined our light and that light has sustained us until today.
Do not underestimate the power of your own light. Now is the time to shine it stronger than ever.
Let there be light in our world! Amen.
Rabbi Fishel Zaklos
