Kiddush Levanah: Under the Light of the Silvery Moon (Part 18)
“My walk on the moon lasted three days. My walk with
(Charles Duke – Lunar Module Pilot, Apollo 16)
Kiddush Levanah then continues: May it be Your will, Hashem, my
Rabbi Uziel Milevsky, a senior lecturer at Ohr Somayach in Jerusalem, and one of the most erudite, insightful and humble people that I have merited knowing, would humorously point out: While it is true that the Jewish nation is identified through the three traits of being merciful, bashful and doing kind deeds (Yevamot 79a) nevertheless, it would seem that being preoccupied with the size of the moon is taking our sense of benevolence and compassion a little too far! He would smile and add, “After all, there are more than enough things happening within the Jewish nation that require our attention and concern. Why, then, are we so disturbed about the size of the moon, of all things?”
And then, with his customary unassuming brilliance, he explained that our Tefillah is actually what he coined a “Tefillah of Transference.” Under normal circumstances, the size of the moon really shouldn’t cause anyone to lose any sleep. And, whether the moon is larger or smaller, certainly does not sound like a very compelling reason to compose special prayers in its honor. But it is not only for the moon’s size that we are praying.
As we have discussed, the sun, in all of its unchanging fiery glory, is analogous to Hashem, and the moon is used as a metaphor for the Jewish nation. The function of the moon, with no source of light of its own, is to reflect the luminosity of the sun and to light up the dark night sky. In the same way, we, the “chosen nation,” are commanded to be a “light unto the nations” (Yeshayah 42:6). Not an independent source of light, but rather to serve as the conduit to draw the pure and incomparable light of the Torah into the world. As the very next verse states, “To open blind eyes…” Because, as Rashi explains, the difficulties of life and the seductive nature of this physical world stop people from understanding that the only true path is to serve Hashem.
When we pray that the moon will return to the size it was prior to its being diminished, Rabbi Milevsky explained, we are actually praying for ourselves. One day, may it be very, very soon, with the arrival of the Mashiach, we, the Jewish nation, will return to our full glory. And then the world will be bathed in the most vivid light imaginable. Light that will fill every crack and crevice. Light that will brighten the darkest and most impenetrable places. Light that will illuminate the night sky. What will be the source of this incredible light? The dazzling light of Hashem’s Majesty, reflected into His world through us, His chosen nation.
An American writer, Edith Wharton (1862-1937), wrote, “There are two ways of spreading the light: To be the candle. Or to be the mirror that reflects it.” Unwittingly, she described the unique relationship that exists between ourselves and our Father in Heaven. Hashem is the “candle,” and we – the chosen nation – are His “mirror.”
This is why our Tefillah concludes with the uplifting verse from Hoshea, “They shall seek Hashem, their
To be continued…
