Sharing our Light During Crisis- Elisha & the Widow

During a time of uncertainty such as this, we might believe we have nothing to give. Hopelessness, uncertainty, and concern about the war between Israel and Hamas abound, along with concerns of anti-Semitism.

But a short yet powerful story from the second book of Kings tells us we do have something to give. This Shabbat, we read the following shortpiece in the Haftarah, the Prophets.*

A widow comes to Elisha, a healer.   The widow, having lost her husband, explains to Elisha that a creditor has come to collect on a debt, and since she has no way to pay, her two children are going to be taken as slaves. Elisha asks her, "What do you have in the house? The widow answers "I have nothing… except for a small pot of oil."  Elisha says, "Go, borrow vessels from all of your neighbors. Don't just ask for a few (ask for a lot.)"  So she and her children go to the neighbor's and they gather as many vessels and pots as they can. Then she follows the rest of Elisha's directions:  She pours the oil from her pot  into all the other pots.  As she does so, each of the other pots is miraculously filled!  Elisha then tells her that she can sell the olive oil to pay the debt, and she and her sons can live on the remainder.  

What a powerful lesson! and what a time for is to focus on this gem from the Prophets. 

The symbolism is exquisite: pouring the original meager pot of oil the into other vessels was the solution to their crisis.    My friends, that pot of oil represents the light in each one of us.! As humans, we are each given Divine light.  All humans are given this light.  It might look like a slightly different color or shape in different people, religions and cultures, but we are each born with that light.  In some, it is unfortunately covered deeply. But we all have that light.  As Jews, we are each given our own particular light. During these last four weeks, after the horrifying attacks and the aftermath of war and the rise of anti-Semitic speech and actions, it can be very scary to shine our light.   But Elisha the Healer is telling us pour out our light, to share it.  Don't be tempted to hold on to your light out of fear that it will be extinguished. We are never called to flaunt our particular light, but rather to pour it in the way that the widow did - with gratitude and with humility.  We must share our light and pour it into the vessels of our neighbors. Right now? Yes, especially right now!

That oil the widow poured miraculously multiplied so that she and her sons could be sustained. The same is true for us: The inner light that we have will sustain us , too, but we have to have the courage to give it away. Additionally, the olive branch is associated with peace. With that s our goal, we must look for ways to share our light in the darkness of hatred. It is up to each of us….

We rise for the Aleynu prayer, which hopes for a time when all evilness will turn towards the Holy Oneness of Blessing.

May that time come soon.

Notes 

* II Kings 4:1-7  4 מְלָכִים ב

**Aleynu prayer