Venue: Young Israel of Oceanside Young Israel of Oceanside

Parsha:

Noach 

Collections: R' Jonathan Muskat Drashot

Description

This drasha compares Noach’s command to make a tzohar for the teivah—interpreted as either a window bringing in external light or a gem shining from within—to the challenge of living with faith and hope in dark times. Just as Noach needed both inner and outer sources of light, so too must we cultivate spiritual resilience and openness: the “gem” of inner strength that sustains us through darkness, and the “window” of courage that allows us to reengage and rebuild when light returns. Drawing inspiration from freed hostages like Rom Braslavski, who clung to his Jewish identity in captivity, and Eliya Cohen, who found the courage to love again, the drasha teaches that every Jew is called to create tzohar—to bring light into a world flooded by chaos and despair, shining both inwardly and outwardly through faith, community, and hope.