Get the Ricochet app
Ricochet will work fine in a browser on your mobile devices, but for the best experience please download our app.
Tonight at sunset, the Jewish Sabbath begins. It will be a Sabbath like no other. In Israel, I suspect many people who are not observant may still light candles as a way to reach out to G-d, hoping He will bring light into the darkness of the past week.
For me, lighting the candles is about connecting with G-d; about illuminating our relationship, to shine a light on those who are suffering, on those who feel alone and abandoned. I will be lighting candles this Shabbat as a way to connect with Israel and its people, too, not only with my friends and acquaintances there, but with special blessings for the Israel Defense Forces, for those who have lost friends and relatives, and for those who may be hostages and are living in the path of destruction.
For those of you who are not Jewish, I ask you to consider lighting a candle, too. It needn’t be a Shabbat candle or lit precisely at sunset. Or simply say a prayer. But I truly believe that if a candle is lit with intention and hope, it will, in its small way, light up the world.
My thanks to all my friends, Jewish and gentile, whose hearts are with Israel and its people.
Shabbat Shalom
Discussion (9)
To read this bio, please join Ricochet.
Please light a candle for me too Susan and God bless you - I'll light a candle here too and say more prayers (which are constant)
To read this bio, please join Ricochet.
Thanks so much, FSC.
MODERATOR
To read this bio, please join Ricochet.
Psalm 122: 6-9 KJV
To read this bio, please join Ricochet.
Beautiful, Rodin. I was going to mention that people could pray Psalms; so many of them seem especially relevant for this time.
To read this bio, please join Ricochet.
I recall as a child lighting a candle in the living room window for the solidarity movement in Poland. Now Poland is a bright light in a dark Europe. Our home will light a candle for Israel as well.
You're seeing five of nine comments. Sign in, or join for just $5 per month, to read them all and add your own.