The Jewish Way of Telling Time While the secular date changes at midnight, in Judaism the new date begins at sunset. Therefore, for example, Shabbat begins on Friday evening. The biblical source for considering the evening to be the beginning of the new day, is right at the beginning of Genesis, on the very first day of creation, when the Torah says “and there was evening, and there was morning, one day”, implying that the evening precedes the morning. This pattern, “first darkness and then light”, mirrors creation itself. The world in its natural state, is in a state of spiritual darkness; the natural tendency is for each creature to seek self-preservation above all, and the fittest are the ones who will survive. G-d places the human being into a world of spiritual darkness in order for the human being to create spiritual light and refinement; to introduce morality, ethics, goodness and kindness. The way we count a new day reminds man of his purpose, to help the world transition from darkness to light. There is, however, a notable exception to the way we think about time. The Talmud states that “regarding the holy {temple offerings}, the night follows the day”. As described in this week’s portion, the portion of Tzav, the portions of the offerings that were burned on the altar could be burned the night following the day. The pattern of “night following the day” offers a profound lesson for our relationship with “holiness”, our spiritual life. When we are engaged in connection to G-d, we are in a state of spiritual light and “day”. But the danger of being in the “holy” space is that one can become complacent and satisfied with their spiritual circumstance. The Torah reminds us that the “night”, the darkness which represents the distance, the yearning and the longing follows the “day”. Because the closer we come to holiness, the more we yearn and long to draw nearer. The closer we come the more we sense the infinity of G-d, and how we can always continue to rise higher and higher in our spiritual journey. Adapted from Ohr Hatorah, Tzav page 13
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