* Translation by Yehoshua Siskin
Chodesh tov! Today and tomorrow mark the beginning of the month of Cheshvan.
Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook composed a special message for each month, and this is what he wrote about the month that begins today:
“When the soul shines, even skies blurred by clouds radiate a pleasant light.”
This message is especially pertinent for Cheshvan when winter begins. This month follows Tishrei with its glut of holidays. Suddenly there are no holidays at all. It gets dark earlier, the skies are grayer, and the gloominess is reflected in our return to a daily routine.
But, Rabbi Kook writes, if our inner soul shines, its glow will dispel gray skies. The soul’s radiance causes the cloud-covered heavens to glow.
This message beautifully describes the past two years. We have discovered how, even in a state of heavy fog, the soul of the Jewish people continues to shine with a radiant light that affects reality itself.
These days we are hearing the incredible stories of some of the hostages. They are returning after two terrible years in Hamas’s tunnels, yet their souls shone even there as they radiated light filled with faith and hope.
And this is true also on a personal level for each and every one of us. We don’t have to let what happens around us affect our mood. We have our own inner joy. Our soul gives light, and if we look upon reality with a brightly shining countenance, it will shine back on us.
Have a good and blessed month.
