Appreciate Lights
Now, let’s imagine the day is almost over and the sun is going down. All good things have to come to an end and our walking club has to break up for the night. We have to go home; our wives and children are waiting for us and so our laboratory work of enjoying the gifts of Hashem must end now. Tomorrow morning we can meet again.
Oh no! It’s not over yet. When you walk into the hallway in your home and put on the switch, you’re suddenly bathed in light. Do you thank Him for electric lights? Electric light is a very good thing. I remember when I was a little boy, we didn’t have electric lights—only gas lights; no electric lights! I remember that! The house didn’t have electricity. And then electricity came—it’s mamish like sunshine in the middle of the night.
Do you ever thank Hashem for the electric lights? How can you live without thanking Him? The answer is, every week you thank Him. Every Motzoei Shabbos you say, ׁ ̆≈‡ָה י≈רֹו‡¿מ ‡≈רֹו ב – you thank Hashem for artificial light. People don’t know what that bracha is all about. They think it’s just a ceremony. No, ׁ ̆≈‡ָה י≈רֹו‡¿מ ‡≈רֹו ב means you’re thanking Hashem for artificial light. If you spend a little time thinking about how much you benefit from artificial light, you’ll love Hashem for that. “I’m thanking You Hashem for all forms of artificial light; fire, incandescent, fluorescent, everything.”
