Words From Rabbi White

The title of this parasha refers to the lighting of the menorah.

I am fortunate to live in a very nice neighbourhood. There are many minyanim and Jewish schools within a 10-minute walk from my house.  Indeed, when a niece from Israel who was living then in New Hampshire came to visit several years ago, she commented correctly “Uncle Menachem, there are more synagogues in your neighborhood than in the entire State of New Hampshire.”

Why do I mention this?  You see, last Shabbat, most of these minyanim waited until 9:21 pm before starting ma`ariv (aka `arbit.) This meant that all of the participants would be walking home after curfew. (And none of them was accompanied by a dog!)  It would have been possible, according to Jewish law, to have prayed a few minutes earlier, and just to announce to the participants not to make havdalah and not to do work until 9:21.  

People have to understand that the restrictions, such as curfew, masks, distancing, washing hands, and quarantine, are not anti-Semitic decrees, but, to the contrary, are rules that are meant to protect us from a powerful enemy: namely Covid. As some of you know, I personally experienced great difficulties when I returned home to Montreal after sitting shiva with my children in New Jersey.  Nevertheless, I followed all of the rules, because I understood their purpose.

On the Shabbat when we read of menorah lighting, we are reminded of the words of the prophet Isaiah (49:6) that the task of the Jewish people is to be a “light unto the nations.” As our Torah states (Deuteronomy 4:15) ve-nishmartem me'od le-nafshoteikhem we must look out for our health.

Shabbat shalom