You Don't Chase Away Darkness With a Stick

“A little bit of light dispels a lot of darkness.”
– Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi

There is a story told of some chasidim who were making a farbrengin. They must have been downstairs, because, it started to grow dark. Because they had been in the room as it grew dark, they didn't even realize. Soon another came, and asked why they were sitting in the dark. They told him, "Come join us. Soon enough you will become accustomed to the darkness."

This chasid replied to them that they were being foolish. All they had to do was to light a candle, and there would be light!

This moshel teaches us that we shouldn't become complacent. Rather, we should always strive to fill the world with light.

In Judaism, we have some mitzvos that are connected to light. Each week we light candles to usher in shabbos. Every holiday is ushered in the same way, by lighting candles. We light Chanukah candles, starting with one and adding another every night until there are eight. The lesson from this is to add to the light. 

The world was created through Torah. Although we can't see it, there is a parallel spiritual universe as well. Our physical act of lighting candles brings much spiritual light into the physical world, even though we can't see it.

If you strike a match, it's very relative to how bright the light is. If you light it out a bright room, you aren't going to notice the light. However, that same match lit in a pitch dark room gives off a ton of light. 

This weekend we saw the darkness of pure evil. 11 souls were lost simply because they are Jewish  No other reason. As a Jew, I've been raised on stories of mesiras nefesh, giving up your life for G-d. It's not something that usually happens though. The story of Chanukah features a heroine whose 7 sons died for Judaism. The Crusades, the Inquisition, the Holocaust, the terrorism in Israel, the list sadly goes on. The stories get more horrific than the previous ones. It's something you just learn to accept. There are people in this world who hate me for no other reason than I'm a Jew. There was one an antisemite on a forum who told me he hopes my son suffered terribly before he died. In the early 80s, we were flying cross country, with a stop in the mid-West. The flight attendant had never seen a Jew before. She asked us, where are your horns? (We told her we left them at home and walked on the plane.)

There is the famous question  ... Are Jews a race or a religion? The answer is, we are both and more. We are family. All Jews are connected, like one huge body. When you have an ingrown toe nail, your whole body hurts. You don't say, Eh, it's only a toe, it doesn't cause so much pain. Yes, it does!!! And since we Jews are all connected, when one hurts, we all hurt. The tears I've cried for people I've never met! I still do things in memory of the kidoshim who died in Mumbai, all these years later.

So evil raised its ugly head, and surprisingly, light is prevailing. The acts of goodness that are being performed are heartwarming. Yesterday, in our ladies group, they posted comments neighbors and coworkers made, expressing their sorrow over what happened. Today, a dear cyber friend reached out to me to let me she loves me and she so sorry. Flowers were left by our synagogue. A go fund me account was set up, by people who are not Jewish. Why? They want us to know we are not alone. Originally, their plan was to sponsor kiddush this shabbos. This goal was quickly met and surpassed. The organizer spoke with the rabbi. They decided to use the money towards extra security now needed. As of today, October 31, they met THAT goal of $1, 500!!! Driving back to VA from NJ, we passed so many buildings with their flags at half staff. To me, it was like a little hug. The entire country is mourning with us.

Years ago, a total stranger on Facebook told me that as long as he is alive, something like the Holocaust will never happen again. He would not allow it. He would give up his life trying to stop it. In some ways, this world seems so dark and scary. It's a world where people sometimes die while in the House of Worship. It's a world where some people feel safer knowing they have a gun near by (like me, never again means NEVER AGAIN). In other ways, this world is very different from the generation of the Holocaust. There are too many good people who understand the ramifications of sitting back and doing nothing. It's a world where we instantly know what is going on, whether it's near us or on the other side of the world. It's a world where there are a lot of people who will NOT allow us to be slaughtered again. And that fills me with hope. Because goodness will always prevail.

May the memories of these 11 kidoshim always be a blessing, and may Hashem speedily avenge their spilled blood. May there be no more sorrow, and we should witness the rebuilding of the 3rd Holy Temple speedily in our days, right now!

Edited to add:
The day after I wrote this, a picture is circulating around on what's app. 

KTT (khal tiferes tefilah) in monsey:

Last night, an African American man walked up to a guy in front of the shul and asked " are you part of the group?" The fellow answered affirmatively. He then handed him an envelope and said "there are more good people than bad people out there " and walked away. Here is the card:

My classmate, Nami Friedman, who is a shlucha in Pittsburgh wrote to our class  about some heartwarming things going on there now:

"This beautiful Pittsburgh community has responded with strength, love and unity. We are devastated but fighting darkness with light.

Our kids have not stopped with acts of goodness and kindness, we are busy with projects for the families, challah bakes in classes to give out to someone who may not have etc. 

The out pouring of love from the general community and whole of USA has been phenomenal."