This week, in parshat Bo, we read about the plague of darkness. It is written:
“Moses held out his arm toward the sky and thick darkness descended upon all the land of Egypt for three days. People could not see one another, and for three days no one could move about; but all the Israelites had light in their dwellings.” (Exodus 10:22-23)
What does it mean that people could not see one another? Even without physical darkness, as we walk down the street who do we really see? How can we convince ourselves to move about when the world seems full of darkness, when all we want is to stay at home and hide? How is it possible that the Israelites had light in their dwellings? Did it not seem hopeless to them when they had been refused over and over?
Maybe the way out of darkness is to see, to really see, another person. Maybe that is why the Israelites had light, they had a common goal and culture. Maybe the way out of darkness is to keep showing up for our family, our friends, and all of our neighbors.
As Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that"
May we continue to look, to see, and may our light be enough to bring each other out of darkness.