Light Your Candle of Truth!
Left: Netanyahu receiving a blessing from the Rebbe | Right: Netanyahu speaking in front of the UN
On September 23, 2011, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a powerful speech at the United Nations General Assembly. During his address, he recalled a conversation he had with the Rebbe in 1984. Netanyahu shared the Rebbe’s words when he became Israel's ambassador to the UN:
"Remember, you are going to the UN. You will be serving in a house of many lies. But remember, that even in the darkest place, the smallest candle can be seen far and wide. Your mission is to light a candle for truth and the Jewish people."
Netanyahu concluded, "That is what I try to do here—to present the truth clearly and with confidence. Today I hope that the light of truth will shine -- if only for a few minutes -- in a hall that for too long has been a place of darkness for my country. This is what we are all asked to do.”
As Israel and the Jewish people face tremendous challenges today, there are various ways people respond. Some choose to despair or ignore the situation and continue their lives as usual. Others cautiously engage with their Judaism while living in fear and keeping a low profile. A third group opts for resistance, engaging in self-defense, protests, or social media activism. Still, others rely solely on prayer, trusting G-d to resolve the situation.
These responses are not limited to confronting anti-Semitism; they also apply to various life challenges, including careers and relationships. The question remains: What is the correct approach?
There are generally four responses people tend to adopt when facing obstacles:
Giving up when the problem seems overwhelming.
Compromising in the face of challenges.
Aggressively fighting back.
Passively waiting, hoping things will work out on their own.
In this week's Torah portion, Beshalach, we learn about the beginning of the Jewish people's journey in the desert after their exodus from Egypt. Confronted by the sea in front of them and the Egyptians behind, they split into four groups, each advocating a different response.
The Midrash recounts: "As they stood at the shore of the sea, the people of Israel split into four factions. One said, 'Let us cast ourselves into the sea.' A second said, 'Let us return to Egypt.' A third said, 'Let us wage war against the Egyptians.' A fourth said, 'Let us cry out to G‑d.'”
When Moses sought G-d's guidance on which approach to follow, G-d instructed them to take none of these paths. Instead, He commanded them to move forward and fulfill their divine mission: "The Lord said to Moses, 'Why do you cry out to Me? Speak to the children of Israel and let them travel.'" (Exodus 14:15)
According to the Midrash, the sea had not yet split when G-d told the Jews to enter it. The people hesitated, until the prince of the tribe of Judah, Nachshon ben Aminadav, jumped in. Only then did G-d tell Moses to raise his hand and split the sea. Nachshon knew that G-d had instructed the people to travel to Mount Sinai to receive the Torah. He was therefore singularly unimpressed with the obstacles that stood in the way. The fact that a sea stood between the people and their final goal did not faze him. If he had to jump into the sea and keep going until he would reach Mount Sinai, so be it. This episode serves as a powerful lesson for us both as a community and as individuals.
This episode offers a powerful lesson for both our community and individual lives. Facing today's challenges, we must avoid the mistaken reactions of the four groups and instead follow Nachshon's proactive example.
Our divine mission is to positively transform the world. We must not align ourselves with the following attitudes:
Jumping into the sea: Giving up by assimilating or abandoning our divine mission.
Returning to Egypt: Observing Judaism out of fear and viewing it as a burden.
Waging war: Wasting energy on endless debates or arguments with opponents.
Crying out to G-d: Relying solely on prayer without taking personal responsibility.
While defending ourselves and trusting in G-d is essential, we must remain focused on our mission to transform the world by illuminating it through Torah study and mitzvot.
Our role is to light the candle of truth, revealing the world’s beauty and making it a home for G-d. By staying focused on our goals, we will experience our own "splitting of the sea," revealing the hidden potential within ourselves and the world around us.
Let us learn from Nachshon not to be daunted by obstacles and lead by example, bringing ultimate redemption to the world. As Maimonides taught: “A person should always see himself as evenly balanced between merit and sin, and the world as evenly balanced between merit and sin. If he performs one mitzvah, he tips the balance for himself and the entire world to the side of merit, bringing deliverance and salvation.”
This Shabbat, the tenth day of the Hebrew month of Shevat, we commemorate the Rebbe’s inaugural address and the moment he accepted the mantle of Chabad leadership in 1951. Leading a generation that had just survived the Holocaust, one of the greatest evils in modern history, the Rebbe inspired us never to lose hope in the face of darkness. He urged us to light our candles of truth and goodness, revealing the true beauty of the world and the people around us.
The Rebbe declared that our generation is tasked with completing the mission that began with Abraham and Sarah over four thousand years ago: to bring Moshiach and redemption to the world. He encouraged individuals from all affiliations, demographics, and careers to use their talents and abilities to positively influence their surroundings through the teachings of the Torah and the performance of mitzvot.
Together, let us continue our journey with resilience, unity, and a commitment to performing another mitzvah and bringing redemption to the world!
