Parashat Beha’alotcha 5783

by Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields

Parashat Beha’alotcha begins with the lighting of the menorah, the seven lamps which provided light in the Tabernacle. The priests, kohanim, tended to the menorah twice daily. Our Torah reading provides information about how to light the menorah and where to position the menorah. How do you bring light into your life ? Who brings light into your life ?How do you bring light into someone else’s?One of the forms of light which often gets deprived is the light we provide ourselves. This week, think about how you can do more self care, to bring internal light into your life daily. It is often very hard to be our very own menorah, shining brightness into the person we look at it in the mirror. Self love, self care, may we all do it with strength! Chazak v’Ematz – Be Strong and Courageous!