There's a beautiful idea that just before the solemnity of Kol Nidrei, the service that begins Yom Kippur, a tremendous light descends from the heavens. Imagine it: a cascade of pure, divine radiance flooding all the worlds, washing over the angels, and filling our very souls to overflowing. That's the image the mystics paint for us.
Where does this light come from? What sparks such a powerful illumination?
Psalm 97:11 gives us a clue: "Light is sown for the righteous." But what does it mean for light to be "sown"? It suggests an act of planting, of cultivation. Like a farmer carefully placing seeds in the earth, something is done to bring this light into being.
And what is that "something"?
The answer, poignantly, is tears. Specifically, the tears shed before God's Name. The Zohar, that foundational text of Jewish mysticism, hints at this connection. Think about the emotional intensity of the Days of Awe, the soul-searching, the repentance. All that raw vulnerability, all that yearning for connection and forgiveness… It's a potent force. It's a form of spiritual labor.
These aren't just any tears, though. They're tears offered in sincerity, in a genuine attempt to turn back to God. They represent a breaking down of the barriers we've built between ourselves and the Divine. They are, in a sense, the seeds that sprout into this extraordinary light.
So, as you stand in the synagogue, or wherever you find yourself as Kol Nidrei approaches, remember this image. Remember the light pouring down. Remember that even in our moments of deepest remorse and vulnerability, we have the power to cultivate something beautiful, something transformative. Remember that our tears, offered with a sincere heart, can actually help to illuminate the world.
What a powerful and comforting thought as we embark on this holiest of days.