Light is essential to Jewish living. We proclaim that we are a light unto the nations. We often remark that God’s light fills the soul of each human being. But a question remains: for whom are we providing the light?

The Torah purposefully uses the word, tamid. The fire on the altar is continuously burning – fire from the past providing for the present and fire from the present providing for the future. Midrash Tanhuma shares the story in which God gives the Torah to the people of Israel. To show a sign of commitment, God asks for guarantors. The people offer the Patriarchs. A pretty good gift. God says no. The people offer the Prophets. Even better. God says no. Finally, the people offer their children. Their children will be the guarantors. And God says yes. In other words, the Torah belongs to our future. Torah is taught for tomorrow.

While the light we provide may be useful for ourselves and others, the continuity of the spark isn’t really for our own benefit. As a good friend reminded me: we build not for ourselves and not even for our children. We invest perhaps for our grandchildren and great-grandchildren and most certainly for the great-great-grandchildren, the ones we will never physically meet.

Yes, light is sown for the righteous but truly, light is sown so there will be righteousness in generations to come.