This Shabbat we read the first chapter of the Torah describing the order of creation.
The Torah tells us that the first thing that G-d created was light.
At first glance this makes no sense; why create light when there was nothing to illuminate? Light is only useful if it illuminates something.
Even more, Rashi points out (1:4) that immediately after G-d created this light He concealed it so only the righteous people would use it! If so, why create it at all?
Finally, we see that the sun was created on the fourth day so this first-day light wasn’t sunlight. If so, what does it have to do with creation?
To understand this, here are two stories. The first is about the Baal Shem Tov. (Chadashot HaP'elot #17)
In a small village somewhere in Poland almost 300 years ago lived an old Jew a widower by the name of Reb Yosef who taught the children Torah. He was well over 60, but his quick mind and positive spirit made him an excellent teacher. Although he was usually quiet and kept to himself, when he was teaching Torah or telling the children stories he was a bundle of energy; encouraging, helping, singing even dancing with his young pupils.
No one knew exactly where he was from or who he was; family, home, birthplace. No one knew and no one really cared; just to see him for an instant left the immediate impression that he was truthful through and through.
One day another interesting Jew came to the town by the name of Rabbi Yisroel Baal Shem who would be known as the Baal Shem Tov (Besh’t for short).
He was much younger than Reb Yosef but they met, went off to a side room, closed the door and began to talk.
Unbeknownst to anyone Reb Yosef was what the Talmud calls a 'Tzadik Nistar'; a secret holy-man and he had been waiting for this visit from the Besh't, he needed advice.
"I have been teaching in this town for almost ten years" said Reb Yosef to the Besh't, "but I feel that I would accomplish much more in a bigger city. Here I have five pupils, and there I could have ten times more. But I don't want to move until I know it's the right thing to do."
The Baal Shem answered with some shocking news. "A terrible heavenly decree is hanging over the Jews of this town and only you; Reb Yosef the teacher, will be able to save them! You must remain here."
Reb Yosef took the Besht's advice seriously. When the decree would occur and how he could possibly avert it was totally beyond him, but forgot about leaving and resumed devoting himself totally to his students.
Several years passed and life went on quietly as normal. Almost.
The local baron was ambivalent to the Jews. He was more interested in hunting and partying with his cronies than ruling with an iron hand, raising taxes or converting the Jews like the other land owners. So he left the Jews alone.
But his son was a different story. He lacked all signs of decency and lived a life of drunken debauchery with no goal other than doing and getting what he wanted.
It just so happened that on one of his drunken sprees, galloping his horse recklessly through the streets of the Jewish quarter, a young, attractive girl caught his eye. He jumped from his horse, asked her name and if she was married. The poor girl was so shocked and frozen with fright she couldn't speak.
But as far as he was concerned it was settled; she was his choice and he was sure she would agree! Who wouldn't want to marry the son of the Baron! The girl tried say that she was Jewish, that she was too young, but the young 'prince' had made up his mind; she was to be his.
When he told his father, the Baron, the news, the Baron sent a message to the girl's parents that in a day or so he would visit them personally to see if their daughter (her name was Sarah) was all his son said she was and, if so, to arrange the wedding.
An emergency meeting was called at Sarah's parents' home with all the town elders including Reb Yosef. But no one had a solution. It was clear she couldn't marry the ‘prince’ but on the other hand if she refused the Baron would certainly take revenge it was a terrible predicament.
Everyone sat in sad silence. Suddenly Sarah spoke. "The solution is obvious. If I am married, the Baron's son will leave me alone. His Priests won't let him marry me.
"Married?" The Rabbi said incredulously. "But there is no time. The Baron will be here tomorrow. If you get married after that he will be blazing mad; he'll burn down all our houses. You have to get married tonight! Where will you find a groom tonight?! It's impossible!"
"And it will have to be a proper husband." Her mother and father added. "We want you to marry a G-d fearing Torah scholar. Or at least someone normal! Sarah blushed, looked down at the floor and said quietly "There is someone here that is a fitting husband." "Here? Who?" Her parents and the Elders said almost in unison.
“Him” She replied pointing to Reb Yosef. “I'm sure that in order to save a Jewish girl from marrying a gentile, Reb Yosef would agree."
When Reb Yosef heard her strange request, he realized that this is what the Baal Shem Tov meant when he told him not to leave. Even more; when the Baron's son would see that she was married to a man fifty years her senior he wouldn't need the Priest to tell him no, he would think she was crazy.
On the spot the strange wedding took place and the next morning it was exactly as they thought; when the Baron arrived, heard she was married and saw Reb Yosef he shook his head in disbelief and left without a word.
A bit more than a year later a child was born to them who, when he got older, became famous for his love and self-sacrifice for other Jews. He was named after his mother and became known as Rabbi Leib Sarah's.
The second story is about him (From Rabbi Manis Friedman's Parsha Sheets, Ki Tisa)
Reb Aryeh Leib Sara’s, (1730-1791) became a student of the Ba'al Shem Tov. He traveled throughout the countryside helping Jews in need.
One Erev Yom Kippur, just a few hours before the Day of Atonement, he found himself stuck in an obscure village in a small Synagogue with eight other Jews. With him as the ninth, they were still lacking one Jew for a 'Minyan' (Many prayers can only be said with ten Jews called a 'Minyan') but everyone insisted there were no Jews to be found.
Reb Leib Sarah’s asked them again and again; “Are you sure there are no other Jews in the village? Maybe someone who converted out of Judaism?”
Suddenly one of the men recalled that it was rumored that the local “Poritz” (Land Baron) had been a Jew. But he left Judaism many years ago in order to marry the daughter of the previous Poritz. But since then he became a violent, rabid anti-Semite with a sadistic streak that he often put to action. He would never agree to come to a minyan and could be that even asking him to do so was dangerous. And in any case ... he wasn't a Jew anymore!
Despite the discouraging words, Reb Leib Sara’s set out in the direction of the Poretz's castle. And knocked on the door. The moment the Poritz opened his door and saw the Rebbe in his white Yom Kippur attire he was neutralized speechless and actually listened as Reb Leib said the following words.
“My mother Sarah, was a beautiful young woman. The son of a Baron offered her riches, power and comfort to marry him but she refused to leave Judaism and rather married my father; a poor, old G-d fearing Jew. She passed her test! You did not!"
The Poritz stood frozen as the Rebbe continued, “Nevertheless, It is not too late to do T'shuvah (return to Judaism). The gates of heaven are open. Today is Yom Kippur, come and complete our Minyan. We need you for the tenth man."
The Poritz followed Reb Leib as though in a trance and when he entered the Shul (synagogue) the others gasped with disbelief. He was given a Machzor (Yom Kippur prayer book) and a Tallis (prayer shawl) in which he wrapped himself and stood in the corner.
Two Torah Scrolls were taken out and the prayers began. Reb Leib led the prayers and when he got to the part about asking permission of G-d and the congregation to pray with evil sinners the Poritz groaned so loud the people thought he would collapse.
But he didn't. He remained in place, crying desperate tears of regret and moaning from the depth of his heart, bringing frightful shivers to all those present.
When the prayers resumed the next morning, he was still there in his place wrapped in his Tallit which was soaked with tears and sweat.
Finally in “Neila,” the holiest and last prayer of the day, he approached the Ark, embraced the Torah and with a scream that pierced the heavens proclaimed, "SHEMA YISROEL HASHEM ELOKEINU, HASHEM ECHOD!!!!!”
Then, “HASHEM HU HAELOKIM!!!!” (Hashem- He is our G-d). Six times louder and louder, ‘till he reached the final time and with superhuman strength he screamed; “HASHEM HU HAELOKIM” and fell to the ground.
Everyone rushed to him but when they opened his Tallis they discovered that he was dead.
Reb Leib said, “Fortunate is the one who died with the name of Hashem on his lips."
It is known that Reb Leib Sara's said Kaddish for the Poritz - become-Tzaddik every Yom Kippur for the rest of his life.
This answers our questions about light.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains the reason G-d created light first was, just as before building a house one must first have a reason for building it, so here G-d wanted to show that the REASON He is creating the world is to make 'light'.
And that is why He hid it; to teach that the only way to reveal this light is by transforming darkness and overcoming obstacles.
As we saw in the above stories; First Reb Yosef in the first story when he followed the Besht’s orders not to leave. And Leib Sara’s in the second story. Both revealed this 'light' through transforming darkness and difficulties into meaning and blessing.
This is a very important message to us; anytime we have obstacles or disappointments in life just remember that they are only challenges and opportunities to deepen our appreciation of G-d and reveal new light and blessing.
This will be the job of Moshiach, the "spirit of G-d on the water", who will teach us to transform the entire world to reveal true G-dly light.
That is why, according to Chassidic teaching, this coming Shabbat; Shabbat B'reshis, is the foundation of the year; because it teaches us this vitally important message: the world (olom) has no real existence until we transform it to 'light'.
And as the Lubavitcher Rebbe says; this should happen at any moment. We are standing on the merits of thousands of years of Jewish hopes, prayers and suffering. Now it could be that just one more good deed, word or even thought if done with JOY can bring Moshiach and the Geula ..... NOW!!
Rabbi Tuvia Bolton
Yeshiva Ohr Tmimim
Kfar Chabad, Israel
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