Rabbi's Teachings

Divine Sparks

The next two weeks of June are jam-packed with events to kick off the summer. All of them are different–from a Wilmington Premiere performance of The First Jew in Canada to our first day of Shavuot hike, have a similar core purpose. All of them bring us closer to the task of fixing a world that often feels so broken, by helping us find our own Divine sparks. As we struggle with the news, both local and national, we turn to our synagogue home for life-affirming moments. I encourage all of you to show up to something that might surprise even you. To show up to an event you would usually not dream of showing up to. Not only that, but bring a friend. By diversifying things in your personal life, you open yourself up a little more to the diversity of others. You open yourself up a little more to recognizing the Divine in others. 

As we exit May, Jewish Heritage Month, and enter June, Pride Month, think of all of the ways you are proud of the many identities that make up you. Recognize those Divine sparks in others. Finally, work towards creating a world where all of our Divine sparks can truly sparkle bright enough to cut back darkness from the four corners of the world.

She’asanu Betzelem Elohim
Adapted from a speech by Rabbi Adam Rosenwasser

One of the most important teachings of the torah is v’ahavta l’reacha kamocha, love your neighbor as yourself.  There are no ifs, ands, or buts.  We are commanded to love all members of the fabulous human family. In the creation account of the Book of Genesis, God creates us betzelem elohim, in God’s image.  That means that all of us—no matter our race, religion, gender, gender identity, nationality, economic status, disability, or sexual orientation—are reflections of the Divine Being who created us all. Therefore, when we act with love and compassion toward one another, we become holy.  But holiness is not enough.  Being holy means we become aware of our task, to fix this broken world.  The biblical prophets urge us on with their words, “Justice, justice shall you pursue.” Pursuing justice means that we will keep working until our objectives are achieved, until we gain full civil rights for all.

Each one of us carries the divine spark within, and when these sparks come together, be they two sparks in marriage, or many more sparks in community, there is that much more godliness in the world.  Bigotry prevents the sparks from uniting, from joining with other sparks. Bigotry and hatred keep people in their shells, afraid.  Bigotry is the absence of justice.  So pursuing justice means dealing with bigotry head-on.  It means educating others about the diversity and beauty of God's creation.  It means not being afraid of ourselves.  It means letting our sparks shine as bright as they can, for where there is light, there is hope, and justice penetrates the dark. 

Baruch atah adonai, elohaynu melech haolam, she’asanu betzelem elohim. 

Praised are you our God, ruler of the universe, who has made all of us in your image, as amazing, awesome, and wonderful creations.