As a young child, I remember staring up at the ornamental light bulb suspended above the ark in the synagogue. Known as the Ner Tamid, often translated as "Eternal Light," I remember looking at the light with awe and amazement. Did it really stay lit all the time? Who lit it for the first time? And who made sure it didn't go out?  

As I got older, I looked at the Ner Tamid differently. What is so special about a little dim light bulb that stays on all the time? For us, light is cheap.  A person likely makes enough money in a few hours of work to illuminate the light bulb for an entire year. And the process of kindling it, requires nothing more than the flip of a switch.   

But in this week's Torah reading, we read about the original Ner Tamid and the communal responsibility to light it. Unlike our modern adaptions, the original Ner Tamid used olive oil and required significant work to keep lit. They had to grow and harvest the olives. They had to press and refine the oil. The Ner Tamid represented labor, time and precious resources.   

The Ner Tamid didn't happen by accident. It required communal commitment - it required tending, upkeep and regular maintenance.  

Our eternal light isn't just hanging from the ceilings of our sanctuaries, but extends to how we foster a vibrant and evolving community where everyone feels belonging and connection. 

Like the Ner Tamid, our community isn't miraculous. It wasn't switched on by those who came before us with the promise to last forever. Rather, it is something that requires each and everyone of us.  

Shabbat Shalom, 

Eric Maurer
Executive Director
emaurer@ujcvp.org