Regarding Jacob’s difficulties feeling separate from God during his long life – his deathbed address occurs in this week’s Torah reading – Maimonides wrote:
Because of Jacob’s sorrow and anxiety during all the days of his mourning for Joseph, the holy presence departed from him until he was brought tidings that Joseph was alive, then, “the spirit of Jacob revived” which is also translated as, “The spirit of prophecy rested upon Jacob”. The Sages make the point in this way, “Prophecy does not come to rest in the midst of lethargy, or of melancholy…but only in the midst of joy”. (Eight Chapters, 7)
Insight and connection rely on our ability to stir our spirits from out of difficulties. We celebrate family and friends and light and warmth during the darkest times of the year so that we can overcome “sorrow and anxiety” and emerge from “lethargy and melancholy”.
May we all find joy in this season – the joy of celebrations and the joys of the simple pleasures that the occasions of a Sabbatical minute or hour might afford us.
Wishing everyone a good week, and many moments of joy,