This is Arthur, like the palm tree that takes many years to grow, tall like the cedar in body and spirit that keeps celebrating life.

Dear members and friends,

It was nice to take a break from the snow on the East End to travel to Florida for Arthur Levin’s 100th birthday. Mazel Tov again, Arthur, and as we say in Hebrew, “ken yirbu” — may there be many more! It was also wonderful to be with many of our Florida contingency and, of course, the rest of the Levin family.

Since the party occurred on a Friday night, it was appropriate to sing the last lines of Psalm 92 from Kabalat Shabbat — the welcoming of Shabbat: “…The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree; they shall grow tall like a cedar in Lebanon. They shall bear fruit even in old age; they shall be ever fresh and fragrant…” This is Arthur, like the palm tree that takes many years to grow, tall like the cedar in body and spirit that keeps celebrating life. And then he danced, beautifully and gracefully. Arthur, you are an inspiration to me and to all who know you.

It was also nice to take a break from the news, especially now, in the beginning of the month of Adar, the month of Purim. This is the month we are encouraged to increase in happiness. Happiness in Judaism many times is parallel with light and the closeness to God. For the next three weeks in the synagogue, we will read about the building of the Mishkan — the sanctuary for God’s name. We see that both concepts are bundled together. In the place that should bring us closest to God on earth, there are many references to light. First, the Ark — Aron in Hebrew is the container of the Or — light — a reference to the spiritual light of Torah.

Then we have the Menorah that holds the physical light. And as the Midrash tells us, the gold that all the vessels are made of is a material that was brought to the world in order to mimic light. It’s a sign of comfort that God’s presence is in the light.

The shape of the Menorah is half a circle, as if to complete a full circle with the rainbow after the flood of Noah — the Menorah and the rainbow completing a circle of light. Like the seven colors of the rainbow that make a unified light, the Menorah with its seven candleholders needs to be of one block of gold, shaped as an opposite rainbow, like the mirror image of heaven on earth.

But what makes the Mishkan really shine, I believe, is a concept the commentator Keli Yakar brings out. He says of the measurements of the vessels of the Mishkan that some have whole cubit feet and most are with halves. When it comes to the earthly matters, we need to remember that we need each other and that we are never complete alone. The Altar, however, is whole cubit feet measurement. When it comes to our sacrifices, like our prayers, we are alone with God. As we continue to pray for peace and harmony in this world, to bring the real light to earth is to know how to be alone with God and together with people.

Happy Adar,

—Rabbi Gadi