LIVING WITH MOSHIACH, Parshat Beha'alotecha, 5755 B"H LIVING WITH MOSHIACH Weekly Digest About Moshiach PARSHAT BEHA'ALOTECHA Sivan 18, 5755 June 16, 1995 * Published Weekly By Lubavitch Shluchim Conferences On The Moshiach Campaign, Committee For The Blind * * * 5755 "Year of Hakhel" ********************************************* * TO RECEIVE THIS PUBLICATION VIA INTERNET: * * E-Mail: yys@dorsai.org * * FOR CHABAD-LUBAVITCH IN CYBERSPACE: * * E-Mail: info@chabad.org * ********************************************* THIS PUBLICATION IS DEDICATED TO THE REBBE, RABBI MENACHEM M. SCHNEERSON OF LUBAVITCH "I BELIEVE WITH COMPLETE FAITH IN THE ARRIVAL OF THE MOSHIACH. AND THOUGH HE MAY TARRY, I SHALL WAIT EACH DAY, ANTICIPATING HIS ARRIVAL." Maimonides, Principles of the Faith, No. 12 ********************* * TABLE OF CONTENTS * ********************* Introduction The Weekly Torah Portion The Rebbe's Prophecy Graduation Time A Call To Action **************** * INTRODUCTION * **************** We are pleased to present, to the visually impaired and the blind, our weekly publication, Living with Moshiach. * We'd like to hear from you. Tell us your comments, suggestions, etc. Write to us, or E-Mail via Internet. * Our sincere appreciation to L'Chaim weekly publication, published by the Lubavitch Youth Organization, for allowing us to use their material. Also, many thanks to our copy editor, Reb Mordechai Staiman, for his tireless efforts. * It is our fervent hope that our learning about Moshiach and the Redemption will hasten the coming of Moshiach, NOW! Rabbi Yosef Y. Shagalov Administrator Committee for the Blind E-Mail: yys@dorsai.org 9 Sivan, 5755, Year of Hakhel Brooklyn, New York *************************************** * THE WEEKLY TORAH PORTION * * Adapted from the Works of the Rebbe * *************************************** Parshat Beha'alotecha = 1 = In the beginning of this week's Torah portion, Beha'alotecha, Aaron is directed by G-d concerning the lighting of the seven- branched menorah. From this directive there is a clear instruction to every Jew that he has to "kindle lights"--to illuminate his surroundings. The essence of a candle (in the ordinary sense) is that it gives forth light and illuminates its surroundings. An unlit or extinguished candle brings no benefit and has no meaning in that state, per se. Only when it gives light and shines does it fulfill its purpose. And its purpose is to serve man, by enabling him to see by its light what is happening around him, by illuminating his way so that he will not stumble in darkness, and generally to help him to do and accomplish what he must. The nature of a candle is that when one puts a flame to its wick--even a small flame--so long as he does it effectively, the flame catches on, and then it continues to give off light on its own. This, too, is indicated in the portion, as our Sages comment on the verse, "When you light the lamps"--light them so that the flame goes up on its own. How can we relate this instruction to our lives today? G-d has endowed the human being with a soul, a Divine "lamp," as it is written, "The soul of man is the lamp of G-d." The purpose of this lamp is to illuminate his (or her) path in life, and to illuminate the world with G-dliness. But this soul--lamp-- has first to be ignited with the flame of Torah in order that it should shine forth with its true light, the light of "Mitzvot which are candles and the Torah is light." The task and purpose of every Jew is to be a brightly shining lamp and to kindle, or add brightness to, every Divine "lamp" --Jewish soul--with which he or she comes in contact. One must, however, do this to completeness, in a way that the lamps they light should likewise continue to shine brightly on their own, and should also become "lamp-lighters," kindling other souls, in a continuous chain. Needless to say, though the instruction to light the lamps was given to Aaron, it applies to all Jews, in their spiritual life, since every Jew is a member of the "Kingdom of G-d's priests." Moreover, there is the exhortation: "Be of the disciples of Aaron . . . loving the creatures and bringing them closer to Torah." To be a disciple of Aaron one must be permeated with love for every single Jew. If the above pertains to each and every Jew, it is even more emphatically relevant to the Jewish woman, for she is the actual candle-lighter, who was given the special Divine assignment, extraordinary privilege, and bright mitzvah of lighting the candles for the holy Shabbat and Yom Tov. = 2 = In 1943, the previous Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Y. Schneersohn, of blessed memory, issued an urgent call to chasidim to begin a massive campaign establishing additional religious institutions around the world. Many people could not understand why the Rebbe was initiating such a large-scale operation if, as the Rebbe had stated, we could hear the approaching footsteps of Moshiach. Would not such an undertaking constitute an enormous waste of effort if the Jewish people are to return to Israel with the coming of Moshiach? By way of explanation, the Previous Rebbe referred to a teaching derived from this week's Torah portion, Beha'alotecha. "At times, the cloud remained from evening till morning; and when the cloud was taken up in the morning, they journeyed forward . . . at the order of G-d they remained in the camp, and at the order of G-d they journeyed forward." For forty years, the encampments of the Jewish people, as they journeyed through the wilderness towards the land of Israel, were of varying duration. They ranged from a short overnight stay to a 19-year period in the same location. Yet, at each site, the Sanctuary was erected and offerings were brought. Why was it necessary to expend such massive effort even for those encampments that were destined to last only a few hours? Erecting the Sanctuary, just like the journeys themselves, was done solely according to G-d's command. It therefore matters little whether the Sanctuary stood for many years on the same spot, or whether it was erected for just a few minutes. The physical object used in the performance of a mitzvah is significant solely because such is the will of G-d. In this case, the mitzvah to erect the Sanctuary, for whatever length of time G-d desired, is what imbued the labor involved in its erection with meaning. The Jewish people, "believers, the children of believers," have faith in the coming of Moshiach and await his arrival each and every day. Yet this fundamental belief in no way contradicts our efforts to build up and strengthen Jewish life and institutions while we are waiting. G-d wants us to take an active role in imbuing our surroundings with holiness no matter where the exile takes us, for this is His will and an integral part of His Divine Plan. We needn't worry that Moshiach's arrival will interrupt us in the first stages of whatever worthy project we are currently involved in; when Moshiach comes, we will fully understand the significance of all our service throughout the thousands of years of exile, even those that have not yet been completed. ************************ * THE REBBE'S PROPHECY * ************************ The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson of Lubavitch, issued a call that "THE TIME OF OUR REDEMPTION HAS ARRIVED!" and "MOSHIACH IS ON HIS WAY!" The Rebbe stressed that he is saying this AS A PROPHECY, and asks us all to prepare ourselves for the Redemption, through increasing acts of goodness and kindness. LET US ALL HEED THE REBBE'S CALL. ********************************************* * IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY DEAR GRANDPARENTS, * * * * Reb Shmuel Pesach Ben Reb Yaakov Dovid * * Passed away on 3 Tishrei, 5755 * * * * Mrs. Fraidel Chedvah Bas Reb Zev Wolf * * Passed away on 4 Adar II, 5755 * * Pais * ********************************************* ******************* * GRADUATION TIME * ******************* Graduation ceremonies are taking place all over. From kindergarten students to those receiving their doctorates, commencement ceremonies are usually a high-point of the school year. These ceremonies are called "commencement" because, truly, the person is now beginning a new stage in his or her life. And, as the word commencement or even graduation implies, the person is hopefully going to proceed on to a newer and higher level. The above certainly applies to Jewish students in particular and all Jews in general. Each year we should be striving to graduate to a new and higher level of Jewish observance. Whatever level we have currently reached is adequate for today, but for tomorrow it is not enough. For, as we all must certainly know, if we stay in one place we stagnate; if we are not going up, inevitably we are going down. For those who have not had the opportunity to graduate even from the "kindergarten" of Judaism, one must never think that it is too late to start. As we learn from one of our greatest sages and teachers, Rabbi Akiva (who did not even learn the Hebrew alphabet until the age of 40), it is never too late to start. Though long overdue, it is incumbent upon each of us to start the educational process that will undoubtedly keep us growing and reaching up, for all our days. ******************** * A CALL TO ACTION * ******************** The Rebbe's slogan is: "The main thing is the deed." Hence, we present suggestions from the Rebbe's talks of what we can do to complete the Rebbe's work of bringing the Redemption. Enroll Your Child In A Torah Summer Camp The Rebbe spoke many times about the unique learning opportunity for Jewish children afforded by the months of summer vacation. Without the pressures of tests, homework, etc., children enrolled in camps permeated with a Torah atmosphere eagerly learn about their heritage and are instilled with pride in being Jewish. Creative methods are used to make Judaism come alive. The soul is nourished as the body and mind are strengthened through sports, crafts, etc. If you don't have camp-age children, help sponsor a child in a Torah camp. Call your local Chabad-Lubavitch Center for more information. ================================================================== = End of Text: Living With Moshiach, Parshat Beha'alotecha, 5755 = ==================================================================