Mourning ~

It is a Jewish tradition, upon leaving a house of mourning, to offer the following words of prayer: "May God comfort you among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem." Today, as we prepare to light our Shabbat candles, we offer this ancient prayer to those who lost loved ones and to all who were affected by the unspeakable tragedy this week in Newtown, Connecticut. Sometimes, the heavy quality of darkness makes it feel more tangible, more true. It's hard to imagine how even just a little light is more resilient, how it can conquer and turn everything around. When lighting Shabbat candles today, let us imagine our candle joining a global flame that can truly uplift you, your family and indeed the whole world. Even if it's hard to imagine, just do it. It's something we have to experience to believe.