{"id":23971,"date":"2026-01-23T18:00:24","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T17:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sukkatshalom-bneinoach.com\/?p=23971"},"modified":"2026-01-25T07:52:39","modified_gmt":"2026-01-25T06:52:39","slug":"reflections-on-parshat-bo-5786-darkness-that-can-be-felt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sukkatshalom-bneinoach.com\/ko\/reflections-on-parshat-bo-5786-darkness-that-can-be-felt\/","title":{"rendered":"REFLECTIONS ON PARSHAT – BO 5786 – DARKNESS THAT CAN BE FELT"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u05d1\u05e1”\u05d3<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Integrating Torah into one’s life through reflection and conversation can be an incredibly fun and engaging experience. It’s a journey of discovery, where ancient wisdom and timeless teachings come to life in our daily experiences. Through reflection, we have the opportunity to dive deep into the rich tapestry of Torah, extracting profound insights and lessons that resonate with our modern lives. The joy lies in the ‘aha’ moments, those instances when a Torah verse or story suddenly connects with our personal challenges, aspirations, and values. And when we engage in conversations about Torah with others, it becomes an interactive exploration, where diverse perspectives and interpretations enhance our understanding. These dialogues often spark excitement and intellectual curiosity, making the learning process both enjoyable and fulfilling. Torah becomes a vibrant and dynamic part of our lives, offering not just guidance but also a source of endless fascination, connection, and growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NOTE: Don\u2019t feel obligated to go through every source or answer all the questions\u2014unless you want to. Even one source, or one question will give you plenty of material for discussion and meditation. Enjoy this!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some thoughts about Parshat Bo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd the L-RD said to Moses: Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt\u2014darkness that may be felt.\u201d (Exodus 10:21)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Torah draws a striking distinction in this verse between ordinary darkness and a darkness that can be felt. This was not simply the absence of light. According to the Midrash, the darkness was \u201cdoubled and redoubled\u201d to such a degree that a person who was standing could not sit, and one who was sitting could not stand. Movement itself became impossible. Darkness was no longer a condition of sight, it became a condition of existence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our Sages explain that this darkness corresponds to the primordial darkness described at the dawn of Creation: \u201cDarkness was upon the face of the deep.\u201d This was not nighttime. It was a thick, compressive blackness that obscured light even during the day. In effect, the world was momentarily returned to a pre-creation state, before order, before clarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Midrash describes this darkness as being like a coin, solid, heavy, tangible. This metaphor is arresting. Why compare darkness to money?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Money, like all forces in the world, has two states. In its elevated state, it facilitates life, generosity, stability, and blessing. In its fallen state, it becomes rigid, dominating, and idolatrous\u2014no longer a means, but an end. When wealth, power, or systems are treated as ultimate sources of security, they cease to flow and instead harden. What should move becomes fixed. What should serve begins to rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Egypt was the most advanced civilization of its time, technologically, economically, administratively. Its mastery of the Nile gave it independence, abundance, and confidence. But that same mastery became the foundation of moral blindness. Power was absolutized. Human beings were reduced to tools. The divine Source behind nature was forgotten, replaced by nature itself, by wealth, by control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plague of darkness forced Egypt to experience the inner truth of its own worldview. A civilization that turns power into an idol eventually loses orientation. When authority is disconnected from moral accountability, society becomes immobilized. People can no longer \u201cstand\u201d or \u201csit\u201d, they cannot move ethically, relationally, or spiritually. Darkness becomes something that can be felt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is not a message addressed only to ancient Egypt. The Torah states repeatedly that these events occurred \u201cso that Egypt will know that I am the L-RD.\u201d This is revelation directed outward, to the nations of the world. It is a timeless instruction about civilization itself: progress without moral grounding does not lead to light, but to paralysis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In contrast, the Torah states: \u201cBut the children of Israel had light in all their dwellings.\u201d Light here does not mean privilege or exemption from suffering. It means coherence. Where G-d is acknowledged as One, the ultimate Source of justice and meaning, unity remains possible. People can still see one another. Responsibility remains intact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Light unifies; darkness isolates. When societies look elsewhere for salvation, whether to wealth, ideology, technology, or power, they lose not only G-d, but each other. When G-d is acknowledged, even imperfectly, light persists in the midst of darkness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plague of darkness teaches that moral vision is not guaranteed by advancement. It must be chosen. For Israel and for the nations alike, the lesson endures: acknowledge the One who stands above power, or power itself will become the darkness that can be felt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

May we be blessed to live with clarity, humility, and light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, reflect on the following questions:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  1. What are the sources of security and power that my society trusts most, and how would I recognize if one of them has quietly taken the place of G-d?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Can a civilization be highly advanced and still be morally \u201cimmobile\u201d? What signs would indicate that progress has outpaced responsibility?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. What does \u201cdarkness that can be felt\u201d look like in human life today, psychologically, socially, or ethically, and how might it arise without people noticing at first?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. In what ways does acknowledging a single moral Source above power, wealth, or nature help people remain connected to one another rather than isolated?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Where, in my own life or community, is there still light in the dwelling, and what practices help preserve it when the surrounding world feels dark?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Shabbat Shalom!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/div>\n\n\n\n

    By Rabbi Tani Burton<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    More shiurim of Rabbi Tani Burton <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \u00a9 Copyright, all rights reserved. If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Our blogs may contain text\/quotes\/references\/links that include copyright material of Mechon-Mamre.org<\/a>, Aish.com<\/a>, Sefaria.org<\/a>, Chabad.org<\/a>, and\/or AskNoah.org<\/a>, which we use in accordance with their policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    \u05d1\u05e1”\u05d3 Integrating Torah into one’s life through reflection and conversation can be an incredibly fun and engaging experience. It’s a journey of discovery, where ancient wisdom and timeless teachings come to life in our daily experiences. Through reflection, we have the opportunity to dive deep into the rich tapestry of Torah, extracting profound insights and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":23981,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23971","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-parshot-of-the-rabbis"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nREFLECTIONS ON PARSHAT - BO 5786 - DARKNESS THAT CAN BE FELT - Sukkat Shalom B'nei Noach<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The plague of darkness teaches that moral vision is not guaranteed by advancement. 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