Weekly Sidra: Ki Tavo (When you come)
Torah Portion: Devarim / Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8
Haftorah: Yeshayahu / Isaiah 60:1-60:22

1 Arise, shine, for your light has dawned; The Presence of Hashem has shone upon you! 2 Behold! Darkness shall cover the earth, And thick clouds the peoples; But upon you Hashem will shine And His Presence be seen over you. 3 And nations shall walk by your light, Kings, by your shining radiance. (Isaiah 60:1-3)

The other day the news came that the Israeli Embassy in Egypt had been bombed. This week there will be remembrances of the attack on the World Trade Centre. These are indeed very dark times in this world.

This week’s Haftarah reminds us that darkness shall indeed cover the earth and thick clouds the peoples. However, we are encouraged to rise up because our light has come. In glowing terms the prophet recounts descriptions of what will unfold during the Redemption. Beginning with the resurrection of the dead and the ingathering of the exiles, continuing with the joy and abundance the Jewish people will then experience, as well as the gifts that will be brought to Hashem from all of the nations of the world.

Indeed our Redemption has already come. Our Rabbi Maran Yeshua, not only died for our sins, but resurrected to be with Hashem. We can proclaim with the prophet: Arise, shine for your light has dawned!

The promise of Hashem is that nations will walk by our light and kings by the shining radiance. Maran Yeshua reminds us that we are the light. Matt. 5:14-16: "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; now it gives light to all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

My hope and prayer is that all peoples, especially the Jewish nation will no longer be despised and derided, there will no longer be violence or mourning, and Hashem will shine His everlasting light on His people.