Israel's Guardian Never Sleeps
How beautiful are HaShem’s works! If and when G-d’s light is received from on high and carefully reflected into the world, it dispels much darkness. When the spiritual domain (namely G-d’s teachings of upright conduct) merge with the physical domain (as Jews live lives according to Torah) then the world becomes a better place.
A Jewish wedding is such a beautiful and joyful celebration, filled with meaning. The way two lives and their families come together reflects how deeply Torah influences every aspect of life—even something as personal as marriage. That kind of joy is so powerful that it’s not just felt by those involved; it can even inspire others, drawing them closer to a sense of G-dliness. For me, living far from a shul, moments like these remind me of what’s possible and inspire me to think about the changes I want to make in my own life.
Take, for instance, the event seen in this video from a musician named The Kiffness. The video incorporates clips from weddings, and from a singing group called The Shira Choir. The song is based on Tehilim, framing it with a techno-electronic beat. The song is available via iTunes. The lyrics are simple:
אם השם לא יבנה בית שוא עמלו בוניו אם השם לא ישמר עיר שוא שקד שומר "If G-d does not build a home, in vain do its builders toil; If G-d does not watch over a city, in vain does the watch-stander keep vigil." Tehilim 127:1 הנה לא ינום ולא יישן שומר ישראל "The Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps." Tehilim 121:4
One of the seven Noahide laws is to live a moral life in the domain of intimate relations. This is exemplified by the weddings shown here. Emotions around intimacy can be difficult to sort out. Certainly there are bad behaviors that one should avoid. The struggle is real, as is all too easy to see from this past week’s headlines that are too horrible and triggering to even mention. I sympathize with those who work hard to heal the wounds inflicted by a cruel and uncaring world. I’m reassured that there is hope, that there is a living ideal.
Please understand that the ethics of our fathers don’t get automatically transferred from one generation to the next — especially when, like in the case of my father and grandfather, one is orphaned. I’m not qualified to teach, as I’ve mentioned before, although I want to reach that level. I’m encouraging you, my dear reader, to verify what I’m sharing with you and consult with a competent rabbi who is a halachic authority. So, I will let others speak for me. In this case a simple music video will suffice as an example of bringing light into the world.