Torah Portion:   T’tzaveh;  Exodus 27:20-30:10

Every time you enter our sanctuary, you see the Ner Tamid, the Eternal Flame.  This light is a constant reminder of God’s presence amongst us.  We all know what the Ner Tamid is, but we may not know that the law dictating its existence comes from this week’s Torah portion, Tetzave.  The Torah says, “You shall instruct the Israelites to bring you clear oil of beaten olives for lighting, for kindling lamps.  [They shall burn] from evening to morning before the Lord.  This shall be a due from the Israelites for all time, throughout the ages” (Ex. 27:20-21).  We follow this pact today, quite literally.  However, I think we also follow it in a more figurative way—by always renewing our search for God.

As I was studying this week’s Torah portion, I came across a poem by Shifra Alon in the book Day By Day, edited by Rabbi Chaim Stern.  Alon’s poem illuminated how our spiritual searches bring us to the light of God.  I hope it inspires you as it did me.  God’s presence is here, if we only look for it:

Not every day do we encounter God,
not every time is opportune for prayer,
not every hour one of grace.
We fail and fail again till journey’s end.
We turn back only to lose our way once more,
and grope in search of long
forgotten paths.
But God, holding a candle,
looks for all who wander,
all who search.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Annie