Kislev.

This month of Kislev is the darkest month of the Hebrew calendar. The days are getting shorter, and the nights are longer as we approach the winter solstice at the end of Kislev. The darkest weeks are difficult for many people. Just as these seemingly darkening times have been difficult and heavy. However, in the darkest times, HaShem, in His great kindness and compassion, gives us rays of hope.

The sign of HaShem’s promise to never flood the earth again, the rainbow, was given in the month of Kislev. The rainbow is formed when pure white light hits a prism, or raindrops, and is refracted in its separate colors. All those colors, when combined, form pure white light. In the books of Ezekiel and Revelations, HaShem is described as being on His heavenly throne enshrined in light like a rainbow.

“Like the appearance of the rainbow in the cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the radiance. It was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of ADONAI. I saw it, fell upon my face, and heard the voice of the One who was speaking.” Ezekiel 1:28 TLV).

“Immediately I was in the Ruach; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One seated on the throne. And the One who was seated was like jasper and carnelian in appearance, and a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.” (Revelation 4:2-3 TLV).

HaShem’s glory and many attributes radiate as light like a rainbow.

Light.

Kislev is also the month in which we celebrate Hanukkah, sometimes known as the Festival of Lights. For eight days, at sunset, we light candles to remember the miracle of the Jewish people's victory over the Grecian army. Also, we remember the miraculous event of the menorah light oil lasting eight days during the rededication of the Holy Temple.

We are now in another dark time in history; between the blatant wickedness of society at large, and Israel again being at war against a growing enemy. How is HaShem going to provide light in this season?

Mitzvot.

The answer seems quite simple, yet it has many layers. He will provide His light through you and me, the Jewish people and us believers in Yeshua HaMashiach. We will be the light bearers, but what does this look like in a practical sense?

We do so through performing mitzvot and following G-d’s commandments. A mitzvah at its basic level is a commandment given by HaShem in His Torah and can be thought of as a good deed. But it goes deeper than that. The word “mitzvah” is related to the Aramaic word “tzavta” which means to attach or join to something or someone. Each time we do a mitzvah or good deed, we attach ourselves to our Creator in a small way. This is how we build a relationship with El Shaddai, G-d Almighty.

But what do mitzvot have to do with light? Each time we do a mitzvah and make a connection with HaShem, we bring a piece of G-d’s light into the world, healing and redeeming it. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, of blessed memory, says it well, “Mitzvot teach us that faith is active, not passive. It is a matter of what we do, not just what happens to us. Performing a mitzvah, we come closer to G-d, becoming His “partner in the work of creation.” Every mitzvah is a window in the wall separating us from G-d. Each mitzvah lets G-d’s light flow into the world.” [1]

Believers who are grafted into the root of Israel through the Jewish Messiah Yeshua, feel what Israel feels, their pain and joy, the good and bad. We stand with Israel through Yeshua. Yeshua, in his Sermon on the Mount gives us a parable that encourages us in these dark times.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on a lampstand so it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men so they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16 TLV, emphasis is mine).

Yeshua tells us plainly that we should be bold and not ashamed of showing our good works (the mitzvot and the commandments of G-d). We perform mitzvot so that others may be drawn to the light and glorify G-d.

Be strengthened.

As times darken it will be even more dangerous for the Jewish people and others who live according to Torah principles. It is during this dark time that our light will shine even greater, and we will stand out. Hanukkah's first night’s light is small and seemingly alone. But, by the last night all the lights are lit and it shines brightly filling our houses. So to, our efforts for performing mitzvot begin slowly but grow with diligence, persistence and time. Each mitzvah brings down another small ray of G-dly light, and the next mitzvah brings yet another small ray. And as we all stand together, with all our small deeds we have done, we can help illuminate the world, all for the glory of HaShem!

“For once you were darkness, but now in union with the Lord you are light. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:8-10TLV).

We can see that during the darkest month of the year, and in the dark times of history, HaShem provides us with His light of hope. Be encouraged and strengthened each day. You are not alone, there are many other lights shining in the dark with you.

[1]Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Ten Paths to God; The Way of Mitzvot: Responding toGod, 2018 (Koren Publishers, Jerusalem Ltd.), 4, https://www.rabbisacks.org/curriculum-resources/ten-paths-to-god/unit-4-mitzvot/