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Moshiach Matters
by Rabbi Eli Friedman
At 10:40 pm on Wednesday, January 17, 1951, labels for Jews ceased to exist.
At that moment, at 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, New York, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson consented to become the seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe.
And at that moment, the destructive life of "labels" came to a swift end. Labels like "Reform," "Conservative," and "Orthodox" were rendered useless when the new Rebbe quietly took his seat at the head of table of Chabad.
"In America you're expected to make an official statement - preferably something sensational - when you take a new position," the Rebbe said during that historic gathering. And then he declared his "official statement."
"There are three loves that are joined as one and cannot exist without each other: Love for G-d, love for His Torah, and our love for each other."
As the Rebbe elaborated on this beautiful vision, the theme of the evening started coming into focus. The Rebbe was committing himself - along with those who had insisted on his leadership - to a whole new level of uncompromising love for his fellow Jews.
As Chasidim spent more time with their new Rebbe, they discovered a pattern: the Rebbe spoke about "the essence of the soul," the "untainted core of every Jew," the "unchanged truth of the Jewish spirit," and other similar ideas. These ideas made the labels sound silly and obsolete. Slowly the Rebbe taught the world that there aren't "kinds of Jews" any more than there are "kinds of G-d." G-d is One and so are His People.
"No two Jews are alike; each of us is unique and brings an irreplaceable presence to the world," the Rebbe taught. "But our incredible diversity is evidence of one Divine, infinite soul we all share."
The Rebbe embraced those differences that bring out our unity. When we disagree on how to best serve G-d, we are celebrating our common goal of serving G-d. When communities have different customs in how to best perform a particular mitzva (commandment), it highlights their common love for the mitzva.
Titles that highlight our unity are sacred. Labels that emphasize our disunity from each other are not! They distract us from our genuine and authentic unity, which is as true as G-d Himself, and as timeless as the Torah He gave us.
When Moshiach comes, everyone will see this, plain as day. But in the brief moment until then, and especially as we celebrate the 70th year of that mission, everyone who has learned from the Rebbe knows this, plain as day.
While there may be different degrees to which a person knows or observes the Torah and its mitzvot, these are not degrees that need to become careers. We shouldn't identify by them. Some Jews are doing more, some are doing less. We should all step it up a notch. But we ARE ALL JEWS.
Rabbi Friedman, together with his wife Shaini, directs Chabad of Calabasas, CA.
In this week's Torah portion Bo, we are given the first mitzva (commandment), to sanctify the new month on the testimony of two witnesses who saw the birth of the new moon.
The words in the Torah that teach us this mitzva are, "This month, for you, will be the first month." G-d showed Moses the sliver of the new moon and said "this" is how the moon should look.
At the same time, with the same words, we are taught: "This month" the month of Nissan, "for you" for the Jewish people, "will be the first month" or literally "the head of months."
Why is it so important for G-d to tell us, at the time of giving us our very first commandment as a nation, that Nissan will be our "head month"?
In the month of Nissan we became a people, in the month of Nissan we were redeemed. Asking us to consider Nissan as our head month tells us that there is something about this month that defines us as a people.
"This month" has several names. It is called Nissan, which comes from the word "nes," which means miracle. This teaches us that we are a miraculous nation, with miraculous abilities. We have the ability to change the world, to make the mundane holy by doing mitzvot. This is because though we have physical bodies we have been infused with a neshama, a soul, that is literally a piece of G-d. This makes us a G-dly people, above nature, enabling us to take two opposites - holy and mundane - and fuse them together, thereby making the physical world G-dly.
The month is also called the month of "Aviv," - spring. Spring is the time when trees grow anew and bud. This teaches us that we cannot be comfortable with our past accomplishments, we must be constantly growing, adding in Torah, service, and good deeds.
It is also the month of Geula, redemption. This teaches us that we are a truly free people. We must never feel that we need to be like "them." We have our way, the Jewish way, which is by far superior, and by far more humane.
This is why it is told to us at the first mitzva, because first you need to know who you are. You are imbued with these traits, specifically to do these mitzvot.
This is who we are, this is what we are, it is OK to be proud of who you are.
Adapted by Rabbi Yitzi Hurwitz from the teachings of the Rebbe, yitzihurwitz.blogspot.com. Rabbi Hurwitz, who is battling ALS, and his wife Dina, are emissaries of the Rebbe in Temecula, Ca.
One Essence
At the first gathering when the Rebbe officially accepted the leadership of Chabad-Lubavitch in 1951, one year after the passing of his father-in-law the Previous Rebbe, he said:
"When the [Previous] Rebbe arrived in America he quoted the counsel of the Sages: 'When you come to a town, follow its customs.' Here in America people like to hear a statement, a declaration that is novel and preferably sensational. I don't know whether there is a need for things to be done in this way, but 'when you come to a town, follow its customs.'
"The three loves - the love of G-d, the love of the Torah and love toward a fellow Jew - are all one. They are by definition indivisible, like one essence
"If a person has a love of G-d, but is without a love of the Torah or a love of his fellow Jew, this indicates that there is something lacking in his love of G-d, too. On the other hand, when there is love of a fellow Jew, then even though this is merely a mitzva which is supported by man's understanding, it does ultimately lead to a love of the Torah and a love of G-d.
"When all three loves are present together, this will indeed be 'a threefold cord that will not... be broken.'
"Through this, moreover, the Redemption will come about, for it is precisely through love of a fellow Jew that the Redemption will come speedily, quite literally in our own days."
In 1942, the Previous Rebbe began the writing of a special Torah scroll, to be known as "Moshiach's Torah Scroll." For reasons unknown to the general public, the Previous Rebbe never had the Torah scroll completed.
Twenty-eight years after the writing had begun, on 3 Shevat, 1970, the Rebbe announced that Moshiach's Torah Scroll would be completed that week. The following Friday, on the 20 year anniversary of the Previous Rebbe's passing and 20 year anniversary of the Rebbe's leadership - Moshiach's Torah Scroll was completed amidst great celebration.
The entire crowd looked on in awe as the Rebbe placed a majestic silver crown that he had personally atop the Torah Scroll. As the Rebbe set the crown in its place, the crowd sang, "Ani Maamin" (I believe in perfect faith in the coming of Moshiach). In the course of the brief talk with which the occasion closed, the Rebbe said: "We have just completed something that had been lacking. All that now remains is for every individual to attend to the particular details in his divine service that are still outstanding. And thereby we will nullify the exile, and will be found worthy of going out with joyous and gladsome hearts to greet our righteous Moshiach."
The gathering on the Rebbe's 70th birthday, 11 Nissan, 1972
On his 70th birthday, the Rebbe explained: "I have been asked: 'Now that you have attained the age of 70, what are your plans? It would seem that this is an appropriate time to rest a bit....'
"We shouldn't look at a person's age on their passport but at how he feels. And more importantly, we must look at how many of one's years were productive. What matters is to live a lifetime of 'full years,' as the Zohar says of Abraham, he arrived in the next world with every day of his years utilized to the fullest.
"So what do we need to do now? The answer is given in the verse, 'If with strength, 80 years.' If there was any weakness in the years until now (and upon honest introspection every individual knows that he could have done more), now is the time to begin to work with even greater strength.
The first Kinus HaShluchim - Convention of Emissaries of the Rebbe from the United States and Canada took place in 1984 with 65 participants. By 1987 the Rebbe urged that this convention become an international convention, bringing together his emissaries from throughout the world. This year's International Kinus HaShluchim Men's Convention 2019 had nearly 5,000 emissaries in attendance. Since 1991 there has also been an International Kinus HaShluchos Women's Convention. The convention coincides with the anniversary of the passing of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, the Rebbe's wife. This year's Women's Convention takes place next week and is expected to have nearly 3,000 women emissaries in attendance. At the first Kinus HaShluchos when the Rebbe addressed the women he said: "Whenever Jews meet together, and it makes no difference if it is a meeting of men or of women, 'G-d is glorified by a large crowd.' And when G-d sees closeness among His children - for each Jew is G-d's only child - it adds to "the glory of the King." Since 1995 there has also been a children's convention, as the Rebbe considers the children of the emissaries to be emissaries in their own right.
On October 20, 1991, a reporter for CNN asked the Rebbe what is his message to the world regarding Moshiach. The Rebbe said:
"Moshiach is ready to come now. It is only from our part to do something additional in realm of goodness and kindness."
Last year, more than 2,500 teens representing 400 cities around the world attended the 11th annual CTeen International Leadership Conference in New York City. The conference theme: iMatter. They gathered in Times Square following the conclusion of Shabbat for a Havdala service and an unforgettable experience of Jewish joy, pride and unity. That evening, the opening of the 500th CTeen chapter in Prague, Czech Republic was announced.
As part of the event they watched an excerpt of a talk of the Rebbe with a message timely and pertinent to teens and to everyone today. "How does one receive G-d's true blessings, true fulfillment and true freedom? When one doesn't imitate another. Rather G-d ensures that whatever G-d gave him or her, is developed in the fullest measure. These are the true rights and true strength and privilege granted by G-d to every person and certainly to every Jew.
12th of Shevat, 5734 [1974]
Greeting and Blessing:
I just received your letter of January 30th, which arrived in close proximity to Yud Shevat, the Yahrzeit of my father-in-law of saintly memory. To be answered later.
Everything is, of course, by Divine Providence. However, sometimes this is not on the surface, and requires deep introspection, but at other times it may be right on the surface and even conspicuous. Such is the case in regard to your letter and its timely arrival on Yud Shevat. The immediate connection is, of course, the subject matter of your letter, which is Chinuch [Jewish education], and which, as you know, was the object of my father-in-law's greatest interest, to which he had dedicated all his life, to the point of actual Mesiras Nefesh [self-sacrifice]. And, as my father-in-law often pointed out, the matter of Chinuch - education does not refer merely to children, but also to those who are "children" in regard to knowledge and experience of Torah and Mitzvoth [commandments]. In other words, Chinuch must be directed to Jews of all ages, to bring them closer to their Father in Heaven. I emphasize the word closer, because basically every Jew is really close to G-d, by virtue of his Divine soul which is part of G-dliness Above, and as the Alter Rebbe [Rabbi Shneur Zalman, founder of Chabad Chasidism] underscored it Mamash ["actually]. And even if by reason of external circumstances, the soul may be in a state of "sleep," or suspended animation, it is written, "Though I am asleep, my heart is awake." There is no need for me to elaborate this to you, since this is something which you have personally experienced in your own life long ago and in helping awaken others, and have shown that you could do this with real Mesiras Nefesh.
I might add, however, that in evaluating the Mesiras Nefesh of my father-in-law of saintly memory, we can appreciate it better if we realize what it meant for a person like him to tear himself away from his own profound studies of Torah and spiritual matters, in order to give of his time, energy and attention so that one more Jew should be able to learn aleph-beis, in the plain sense, as well as aleph-beis of Yiddishkeit [Judaism] which many an adult Jew had to begin. I dare say that this kind of Mesiras Nefesh was perhaps even harder than placing his physical life in jeopardy for the sake of Yiddishkeit. For, surely, in the case of the Baal HaHilulo [one whose yartzeit is being commemorated], his soul-life and constant striving for spiritual perfection was uppermost. Herein too we can find something which is of practical instruction to each and every one of us. For, as has been mentioned on previous occasions, although none of us can compare to his stature and spiritual qualities and powers, we have the advantage that he has already trodden the path for us, and made it so much easier to follow in his footsteps.
With blessing,
Freely translated letter
3 Tamuz, 5710 [1950]
...Many are seeking an explanation of the characteristic greatness of the Chabad leaders in general, and the leader of our generation, my father-in-law, of blessed memory, in particular, in terms of the following designations: A man of great self-sacrifice, a great Torah scholar, a man of integrity, a tzadik [righteous person], a possessor of Divine inspiration, able to perform miracles etc. etc.
These praises are even more significant as they are defined by the teachings of Chasidut.
Yet in all this, the main point is absent.
Furthermore (and this is essentially the main point), the Rebbe's special greatness is by virtue of his unique relationship with us, his congregation of Chasidim, and with those who are connected to him. And this is because he is the Nasi [prince, leader] - the leader of Chabad.
For in general, the Nasi is called "the head of the community of Israel": in relation to them, he is their head and brain; it is through him that they derive their vitality. By cleaving to the Nasi, they connect and unite themselves with their source Above.
...Each and every one of us should know, that is, he should study and fix in his mind, that the Rebbe is the Nasi and the head, it is from him and through him that everything both physical and spiritual flows, and it is through connecting one self with him ([the Rebbe] has already indicated in his letters how to do this) that one connects and unites oneself with one's source, and the source of sources, ever higher and higher.
The name of our publication has special meaning.
It stands for the name of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson (obm), wife of the Rebbe.
Rabbi Shmuel M. Butman
In 1970, to mark 50 years since the beginning of the Previous Rebbe's leadership, the Rebbe said: "When a yovel (jubilee) arrives, we should mark it. We should mark it, in order to act upon it."
Decade, jubilee and century anniversary milestones have always been remembered, marked, celebrated and "acted upon" by the Rebbe. And the Rebbe's requested action is to increase in activities that fill the world with G-dly knowledge and the performance of mitzvot to prepare for and hasten Moshiach's arrival.
Just as the Rebbe celebrated these milestones in the lives of his predecessors - the Baal Shem Tov and the Maggid of Mezritch, founders of Chasidism as well as the six Rebbes of Chabad-Lubavitch who preceding him - so too do the Rebbe's Chasidim, admirers, supporters, and all those whose lives have been touched by the Rebbe, his emissaries and his Chasidim, mark the special years of the Rebbe's life and leadership.
In marking each milestone, the Rebbe taught us that with the new decade comes a new strength to do more and reach higher.
This year, on Yud Shevat (February 5) we will mark 70 years of the Rebbe's leadership. And, now that we are moving into the decade of the 80s - which in terms of a person's allotted number of years is referred to as the years of "strength" - surely we are all strengthened.
May we use this additional strength to complete the mission that the Rebbe spoke about unceasingly in his most recent talks to date - to prepare ourselves and the entire world to Greet Moshiach, may we Greet him NOW!
And let them ask every man of his neighbor and every woman of her neighbor...and G-d gave the people favor in the eyes of the Egyptians (Ex. 11:2-3)
When Jews are helpful to one another - offering assistance in times of need, acting kindly and loaning things to each other - G-d grants them favor even in the eyes of their enemies, and showers them with abundance and good fortune.
(Toldot Adam)
This month shall be unto you the beginning of months (Ex. 12:2)
Each month when we sanctify the new moon we say, "David, King of Israel, is living and enduring." Every month, when the moon diminishes and seems to disappear for a short time, there is no doubt in our minds that it still exists and that it will eventually reappear. Similarly, although its reign is now in a period of dormancy, we have faith that the House of King David will rule in all its glory with the coming of Moshiach.
(Rama)
Remember this day, on which you went out from Egypt (Ex. 13:3)
Why is the Exodus from Egypt so central to Judaism, considering that the Jewish people were later subjugated to other nations at other times in history? The answer is that the Exodus forever changed the nature of the Jew's soul. By virtue of the Exodus, every Jew became "free" on the ultimate, objective level, making it impossible to enslave his essence.
(The Maharal of Prague)
What do people mean when they say that the Rebbe is still with us, guiding, leading, helping, praying on our behalf? These two recent stories illustrate this idea.
Mr. and Mrs. Moishe and Nechama Szusterman of Buenos Aires, Argentina, had been married for 14 years ago but still were not blessed with children.
Because of their ages, he was already 54 and she was already 50, doctors were hesitant to continue with fertility treatments. Family members and friends would continuously mention them in their prayers and encourage them not to give up hope. One friend even went to pray at the Rebbe's Ohel on the auspicious day of Lag B'Omer on their behalf. Rabbi Moshe Freedman obm, the Rebbe's emissary in Bahia Blanca, would especially encourage Moishe to rejoice heartily every Simchat Torah in keeping with the teaching that joy breaks through all boundaries.
Mrs. Baila Baumgarten, an emissary of the Rebbe in Buenos Aires was well aware of their anguish. Baila heard that Mrs. Chana Lipskar, a fellow emissary in Bal Harbour, Florida, had wine that had been given out by the Rebbe at the conclusion of a farbrengen (Chasidic gathering).
Mrs. Lipskar and her husband Rabbi Sholom Ber Lipskar had asked the Rebbe for a blessing for more children after having a single child, their daughter Devorah Leah.
"The Rebbe blessed us that there would be sons and daughters," Mrs. Lipskar recalled. "After several years, we were thank G-d blessed with a son Schneur Zalman. Years later, I received wine from the Rebbe through a friend and created a protocol with specific instructions approved by the Rebbe's office."
Mrs. Lipskar believed that the Rebbe's blessing for sons and daughters - plural - meant that she should share the special blessed wine with other and that they would be blessed with children.
After hearing about the wine, the Baumgartens contacted the Lipskars and arranged for some of the wine to be brought to Argentina. The Baumgartens then presented it to the Szustermans.
This past September, the Szustermans were blessed with a son. Mrs. Lipskar said that together with the Szustermans baby, "To date there are 76 children (as far as I'm aware of) hopefully more, that were born after drinking the wine that contains a special blessing from the Rebbe."
by Rabbi Akiva Wagner
A group of nine Lubavitcher yeshiva students were traveling through the former Soviet Union. They were visiting various villages and towns, to do what they could to spread and strengthen Judaism. At the time of our story, they were together on a train, en route to their next destination.
Russia has always been notorious for its sorely lacking public services, and the students on that particular trip were to experience firsthand the quality of the Russian public transportation system. In the middle of their journey their train broke down, and they were informed that it would be hours until it was up and running again.
Although they were now stranded, these boys were resourceful, and set out to look for a place where they could wait out the delay. In the former Soviet Union there is a Federation of the Jewish Communities of the CIS, and there is a representative who is the leader of the Jewish community in each region. So the boys searched for the contact information for the FJC representative in the area in which they were now stranded, and promptly called him. They explained their predicament and asked if they could come over to rest, say the evening prayers and perhaps get something to eat, while the authorities worked on repairing the railroad. The gentleman was pleased to oblige, and gave them directions to his home. A short while later, the nine young men knocked on his door.
To their great surprise, as they began filing into the house, their host burst into heart wrenching sobs. For a few awkward moments he was crying hysterically, while the puzzled students could not calm him down. Finally he relaxed a bit, and he sat them down and shared his story.
"My father," the man related, "was in Auschwitz. While there he risked his own life to ease the plight of his fellow Jews. Miraculously, he survived the war. At some point he had a private audience with the Lubavitcher Rebbe. During that audience, the Rebbe stood up for my father, saying that he was deserving of that honor, as someone who risked his own life to help others.
The man continued, "During the meeting the Rebbe made two promises to my father. The Rebbe assured him that he would live a long life, and the Rebbe furthered assured him that 'men vet dir nit fargessen' - (You won't be forgotten).
"What can I tell you," the man concluded emotionally to the amazed students, "the first blessing was fulfilled very literally. My father passed away last year at the ripe old age of 104. But for the life of me, I didn't see any way that the second promise could be realized. You see, tonight is my father's first yahrtzeit, and I didn't see any possibility of gathering a minyan in this remote area of Russia. I wouldn't be able to say kaddish for him on his first yahrtzeit, how can that be considered not forgotten?!
"You understand now why I was gripped by uncontrollable emotion when exactly nine men needed to complete the minyan walked through my door, inexplicably, on the eve of his yahrtzeit!"
In our portion we read: "For all the Children of Israel there was light in their dwellings" (Ex. 10:23) This unique light not only illuminated their own homes, but accompanied the Jews wherever they went - even when visiting their neighboring Egyptians. Exile is a time of spiritual darkness that intensifies the closer we get to Moshiach's revelation. Nonetheless, just as our ancestors enjoyed "light in their dwellings" even before their redemption from exile, so too does every Jew possess an aura of holiness now, just prior to the Final Redemption, which accompanies him wherever he goes.
(The Rebbe, Parshat Korach, 5751)
