Standing on the border of Light

One of my favorite prayers we recite during our Shabbat service is entitled:  “This is the hour of change.” For those who are unfamiliar with this prayer it is a poetic interpretation of the traditional Hebrew prayer known as “Ma’ariv Aravim”.  It reads as follows:

This is the hour of change

Within it we stand uncertain on the border of light

Shall we draw back or cross over? 

Where shall our hearts turn?

Shall we draw back or cross over?

This is the hour of change, and within it we stand quietly

On the border of light

What lies before us?

Shall we draw back, my brother, my sister, or cross over?

For me, this prayer beautifully speaks to the anxiety I feel at the wondrous moment when day becomes night. Its questions are my questions and I find myself wrapped up in its monologue as if it’s speaking for me.  Like the one who wrote these words, I am also aware of the changes taking place before my very eyes and wonder what the future brings.  As I reflect on theses words I realize that metaphorically, on so many levels, we are living in an hour (a time/a season) of change.

For Jews around the world this month’s celebration of Chanukah marks seasonal change. Always observed when the days are their shortest and the nights seem to never end, Chanukah is appropriately known as the festival of lights.  We add a candle to the Chanukiah (the special nine candle candelabrum used on Chanukiah) each of the eight nights to ritualize our desire to draw out the sunlight.

Emotionally, this is the darkest time of the year.  Waking up in darkness and knowing that evening will come all too soon can be depressing.  I look outside and everything in nature seems dead, even though I know its not.  The winter cold holds us hostage inside our homes. The gray of the day and bitter cold of winter makes many, like me, lethargic. I long for the dog days of summer. The Chanukah candles spark hope in me – for warmth, for light, for the revival of nature, as I know it will. Chanukah becomes the holiday that assures me that in this hour of change I can safely cross over into the future, knowing that the darkness will subside and light’s presence will increase each day.

Also, for Reform Judaism this is an hour of change, as later this month in Washington DC’, at the movements biennial convention Rabbi Eric Yoffie will retire after sixteen years as the movement’s President and Rabbi Richard (Rick) Jacobs’ succeeds him.  It’s an historic time, but not just for the change in leadership.  Our movement faces many challenges that need to be address in the near future.  Most significant among them is declining synagogue affiliation as most congregations struggle to maintain old and neglected buildings, built for membership now twice their current size. Another issues the new leadership will need to address are the question of how to engage our youth and how to remain relevant in an ever-growing society that values independence over affiliation and personal expression over sharing in a communal experience. For the Reform movement this is an hour of change, and the question of whether or not we will draw back or cross over is a very relevant one. 

The Biennial already promises to be very exciting. Registration is at an all time high. President Obama is scheduled to speak to the plenary, as are such dignitaries as: Natan Shiransky, William Kristal and Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists.  I am excited to be attending.  In addition to the speakers I will be attending workshops that will focus on both issues facing small congregations such as ours, and workshops that focus on ways to improve communication through the Internet and use of social networks.

 This is an hour of change and we will cross over. 

May the light of the chanukiah bring you and your loved ones warmth and blessing.