Choose your words wisely

Words are such a powerful tool. We create reality with words. We can build as well as destroy with a single word. Words can evoke emotions, it can make you happy, sad, angry, confused and much more. Words can move you to take action, words also have the power to disable you.  Depends on the words you choose to use.  You can choose to bring light or you can choose to bring darkness. Words truly are magic. As if when something is first spoken, it only then becomes real. The words you think, the words you write, the words you sing, the words you dream, become YOU. Choose your words wisely.

Pearls of wisdom

As a songwriter and a singer, I pay attention to written words, to spoken words, as well as to the words I think, the lyrics I write and sing. I feel drawn to positive words, high frequency words like LOVE, as I try to shy away from low frequency words like HATE. Positive words move me in a profound way,  like pearls of wisdom transforming into Light, into music to my ears.  When an intelligent writer finds a way to express complex thoughts and ideas in simple, engaging, positive ways, I can see words as white pearls and literally hear a beautiful melody.  Every once in a while I come across a story teller who magically turns words into Light.

Music to my ears

Rav Ahud Sela’s writings and sermons are music to my ears, as I love the simple, yet sophisticated ways he communicates his extensive knowledge, thoughts and ideas.  A while ago I’ve asked Rav Sela if he’ll be willing to collaborate with me on my new blog.  So generously he trusted me with his own 573 sermons!!!  Some are dated over a decade ago, giving me the permission to edit, interlace with my writings and share it with you guys. I’m beyond grateful for this treasure (”Otzar milim”), as I will take the time to read every word and publish some relevant pearls of wisdom !!! So awesome!!! Beyond Words 🙂

The Light of Hope / By Rav Ahud Sela

In a small village in Eastern Europe a Jewish family lived on the outskirts of the village.  Man lights a candle in the window every night of winter, his kid’s ask why, he tells the story, parents died, went off into the world, trapped by a snow storm, about to die when sees small light in the distance, gets into home, nursed back to health, works for family, falls in love with daughter and gets married, told that HE WAS SAVED.  On the first night of Chanukah he always lights a candle to give hope to someone.

The Maccabees

In this story, the light of the Channukiyah had been transformed from a sign of the miracle, to the light of hope. But as I thought about this more and more I realized that they were one and the same. Think about what the Maccabees did. As King Antiochus was promulgating his anti-Jewish laws and trying to impose pagan worship on Jews there is no doubt that many Jews were upset by this, but were unsure what to do. For this was not just a list of suggestions, to stop studying Torah or observing Shabbat, these were now laws with punishments enforced by soldiers.

Be the Light

It was not until Matitiyahu decided to stand up for what he believed in and resist the Syrian-Greeks, that the rest of the Jews rallied around him. But I imagine, that at the moment that Matityahu decided to resist, he did not know what would come from his defiance. Maybe he knew that he could count on the support of his family, but he could not have known for sure that other Jews would support him. But he had the courage and faith to light the light of hope. To show the other Israelites that it was possible to resist the Syrian-Greeks. Without his courage all of the Jews who agreed with him, but were unsure what to do, or were too scared to act, might never have stood up for their beliefs.

Are we just supposed to look at the light?

Yes.  When we look at a Channukiyah we are just supposed to look at and enjoy the light. We are not allowed to use the light for any practical purpose. And it made me wonder, that if someone derives hope from the Channukah candles, is that a prohibited use of them? And then I realized what the most important candle is on the Channukiyah-the Shamash. We use the Shamash to light the other candles, and we leave the Shamash burning so that we can say that we aren’t using the Chanukkah candles for a practical purpose, but rather if we use the light, we are using the light of the Shamash.

What is a Shammash?

A Shammash is a servant, someone who helps others. We use the Shammash to serve the other candles, and we can be a Shammash to light the light of hope within others.

How can you be a Shammash?

Like the man in the story who lit a lamp every day throughout the winter to give hope to someone out in the cold. We need sustained acts of kindness that help pull people out of their doldrums, not just one act that gives them a small boost for one day. Hopefully, as you light your Channukiyot this Channukah you find ways to be a Shammash, to light the light of hope for someone in need, in an enduring and sustaining way.

Check out YedidYah collaboration with Rav Ahud Sela “Ahavat Olam” prayer son