One night, on the new moon, the Ari led a group of his students out into the darkness. They carried no torch, and had only the stars to light the way. They walked until they came to a place and there they prayed. And as they swayed, it was as if they were rocked in a cradle of stars. Then there was silence, as profound as if it was the first day of creation. At midnight, the Ari spoke, revealing the mystery.
Long before the sun cast a shadow, before the Word was spoken that brought the heaven and earth into being, a flame emerged from an unseen point. Sparks of light sprang forth from the center of that flame, concealed in vessels. The vessels set sail everywhere, above and below, like a fleet of ships. The fragile vessels broke open, shattering, and all the sparks were scattered, like sand, like seeds, like stars. Humans were created, and scattered to all corners of the earth, to search for the sparks, no matter how hidden.
So that is why we are each called upon to do our part. When we tell our stories, when we listen and have empathy for one another, when we plant trees and take care of the environment, when we are kind and generous, when we create strong relationships and work together, these are ways of searching for the holy sparks. When we each find ways, no matter how small, to do what we can, we gather the scattered sparks, restore them and repair the world, tikkun olam.
The wonderful folklorist and author Howard Schwartz traces the Jewish tradition of tikkun olam – the teaching that every person must play a role in helping to repair the world – back to 16th century Palestine. There, Rabbi Isaac Luria, known as the Ari, taught the Kabbalah, or Jewish mysticism, and they say that he told this tale. I retell the legend here, using much of Howard Schwartz’s poetic language.*
At this time of year as people from many traditions seek to illuminate the darkness of winter, and especially this year, with uncertainty and discord in the air, I hope you may find solace and inspiration in this legend and this directive.
With wishes for peace and light,
Cindy
*Used with permission. See Howard Schwartz, “Gathering Sparks” in Leaves From the Garden of Eden, Oxford University Press, 2009 and in Gathering Sparks (picture book version) Roaring Brook Press, 2010.