I Can See Clearly Now
- Jan 7, 2020
- 3 min read
Welcome to 2020!
I have, in my lifetime, occasionally counted down tomidnight on Dec. 31st at large and small parties and toasted thearrival of a new secular (Christian calendar, really) year with bubblybeverages and cheers. That said, itprobably doesn’t surprise you that the New Year I resonate with most as richlyalive with personal and shared significance is the Jewish calendar’s marking ofa year ending and a new year beginning, along with the modes of reflection,celebration and resolutions that it invites. But being the rabbi that I am, I can’t pass up commenting on 2020, adate that calls out for commentary the way that our Sages tell us that thick,layered phrases in the Torah yell out off the page, “Darsheni!/ Interpretme!” So here are some thoughts on thesignificance of 2020.
We use “20/20” to refer to vision that is clear andaccurate, 20 feet from the object you’re looking at. As a young adult, I realized I no longer had20/20 vision when I walked past the sign at the park swimming pool that said“No Fishing”, stopped short, walked back, squinted at it and realized itactually said, “No Pushing.” We use thisphysical trait as a metaphor when we say, usually with regret and resignation,that “hindsight is 20/20”. Weacknowledge that now that all the factors that were uncertain, unknown andcould have gone any number of ways have unfolded, we can see the choice wecould have made and how things could have turned out differently. It’s a statement of wishing we knew then whatwe know and see now.
With Chanukah just a couple weeks past us, its teachings arestill with me, continuing to shape the ways I think about and experienceseeing, literally and metaphorically. According to the Talmud, the time for lighting Chanukah candles isbetween sunset and when the last person has left the marketplace. The Talmud’s poetic language for the latertime is “when regel/feet have ceased in the marketplace.” (TalmudShabbat 21b) – late enough that the flames can be seen in the dark, and for aslong as there are people walking around outside who can see them in yourwindow.
Kedushat Levi, the 18th century Polish Hasidicmaster, interprets this halacha/Jewish law about timing as spirituallyand morally significant. He notes thatthe central practice of Chanukah is seeing. We are not permitted to make any ordinary use of the light of thecandles (for reading or other functional tasks). We may only look at them. But this is no ordinary action of theeyes. Kedushat Levi interprets the word‘regel/foot’ to direct us toward a deeper practice, looking at thecandles until our her’gel/habit “leaves the marketplace.” In looking at the Chanukah candles, we arepracticing looking, seeing, until our habits of perception cease from viewingeverything as an object for our use or our ownership. We keep looking until we can see the inherentvalue in everything and everyone around us. We keep looking until our habits of only seeing surfaces shift and wecan see sacred and unitive Life animating whatever we turn your gazetoward.
This practice of seeing deeply and of observing our habitsof perception is not limited to Chanukah. I’ve just returned from a week-longmeditation retreat, spending hours and days without the usual distractions andstimuli to be able to practice observing with greater sensitivity, to watch thehabits of my mind, and to be more attuned to what is unfolding around me andwithin me so that I can respond to it all with greater wisdom, sympathy andcare. I like the intention of the year2020 being a year of conscious vision and mindful observing. We will have to slow down enough, get quietand still enough to observe with attention and care. We will need to practice noticing when theworld makes us afraid, angry or despairing, observing our habitual reactionsand discerning effective responses. Wewill have to be deliberate in turning our gaze toward manifestations ofgenerosity, courage and beauty, ensuring that our picture of reality includesall this goodness too. We will need tokeep looking until we can see the ripples of impact that our choices willcreate down the road. In other words, wecan’t wait for 20/20 vision to appear in the rearview mirror of our lives. This year, let’s train ourselves to see thepresent with clarity so that we can act in the present with greater foresightand greater insight (pun intended).
Opportunities for 20/20 practice: Join us for the Jewish Meditation series on Shabbat mornings this winter. I also want to encourage you to consider spending the summer with me in NYC at Romemu Yeshiva, spending 6 weeks integrating meditation and other Jewish spiritual practices, text study and arts workshops.