LIVING WITH MOSHIACH, Parshat Mishpatim, 5756 B"H LIVING WITH MOSHIACH Weekly Digest About Moshiach PARSHAT MISHPATIM Shevat 26, 5756 Feb. 16, 1996 * Published Weekly By Lubavitch Shluchim Conferences On The Moshiach Campaign, Committee For The Blind * * * 5756 *********************************************** * 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 Chof Bais Shevat Worldwide Impact Parshat Shekalim Please Tell Me What the Rebbe Said ****************** * INTRODUCTION * ****************** We are pleased to present, to the visually impaired and the blind, our weekly publication, Living With Moshiach. * In this week's issue we once again focus on Chof Bais Shevat. On Chof Bais (the 22nd day of) Shevat, Monday, Feb. 12, we commemorate the 8th yahrtzeit of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson, wife of the Rebbe. * Our sincere appreciation to L'Chaim weekly publication, published by the Lubavitch Youth Organization, and to the publishers of Sichos In English, 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 15 Shevat, 5756 Brooklyn, New York ***************************************** * THE WEEKLY TORAH PORTION * * Adapted from the Works of the Rebbe * ***************************************** Parshat Mishpatim How does a person become a Jew? This week's Torah portion, Mishpatim, indirectly touches upon this question. Historically, the Jewish people entered into the covenant of the Torah by performing three actions: brit mila (circumcision); immersion in a mikvah (ritual bath); and the bringing of offerings, as it states, "And they offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto G-d." Ever since the Torah was given, a potential convert to Judaism had to undergo a conversion process consisting of these three steps. After the Holy Temple was destroyed and offerings could no longer be brought, a person became Jewish after brit mila and immersion alone. When Moshiach is revealed and the sacrifices are reinstated, converts will again be required to bring an offering to the Holy Temple. A question is raised: If, for the past 2,000 years of the exile, one of the necessary requirements for conversion has been absent, how can converts be considered fully Jewish? The answer lies in the fundamental difference between the acts of brit mila and immersion, and the act of bringing an offering. The first two actions effect an essential change in the person and transform him into a Jew, severing him from his past and imbuing him with a Jewish holiness. Bringing a sacrifice, on the other hand, merely enhances his relationship with G-d, rather than causing an essential change in his being. As we learn from the Hebrew word for sacrifice, "korban," which implies "closeness" and "affinity," a sacrifice is a gift to G-d that strengthens the Jew's inner bond with his Father in Heaven. Thus, in the times of the Holy Temple, a convert brought his offering only after he had already become a Jew. When the Holy Temple stood and the Divine Presence dwelt in a physical structure, the special relationship between the Jewish people and G-d was openly revealed. During the exile, however, with the physical Temple no longer in existence, it is much more difficult for the Jew to perceive the true magnitude of his bond with G-d. In such an atmosphere of concealment it is therefore possible to become a Jew even without the enhancement of a sacrifice. The fact that converts will be required to bring a sacrifice when the Third Holy Temple is built does not mean that their conversions have been deficient in any way. The coming of Moshiach and the building of the Temple will in no way lessen the holiness of any Jew. Moreover, converts will be able to partake of the various sacrifices like any other Jew, even before their own individual offerings are brought. ************************ * 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 * ********************************************* ******************** * CHOF BAIS SHEVAT * ******************** The Rebbetzin, whose eighth yahrtzeit we commemorate on Monday, Feb. 12, was a true queen. Not merely by virtue of her noble ancestry (descending from all the first six Rebbes of Chabad) nor even of her exalted position as the wife of the Rebbe. She was a true queen in her own right, too. She was a queen in her exalted qualities of character. The Rebbetzin was sensitive and compassionate to others without being in any way condescending. For every person she met, every visitor to her home, even young children, she always had the right words to suit the situation. The Rebbetzin was a queen intellectually as well. Coming from a long line of great Torah scholars, she was, not surprisingly, a true intellectual. Those who knew her well and remembered her father, the Previous Rebbe, considered her to have inherited his penetrating intellect and analytic mind. She was learned and erudite, fluent in seven languages, with well-founded opinions on a variety of subjects. When the Previous Rebbe passed on in 1950, the chassidim called upon her husband, the present Rebbe, as the obvious successor. The Rebbe refused to even consider it. It was the Rebbetzin who finally convinced the Rebbe, though she knew what it would mean to her own personal life and how she would have to forfeit everything a spouse takes for granted. And through all this, the Rebbetzin remained a queen. As much as she tried, even succeeded, in concealing her great qualities, her entire demeanor in all her deeds and words bespoke royality. But it was utterly effortless on her part, an inborn, integral part of her personality. As we mark the Rebbetzin's eighth yahrtzeit, we pray that her merit protects us and that she remains a shining example to all of us until the revelation of all that is truly royal with the ultimate Redemption. ******************** * WORLDWIDE IMPACT * ******************** Eight plus ten plus five is 23. Add to that 40, 6, 300, 100 and 1 and you have the number 470. But 470 isn't just the sum of a random set of numbers. In Hebrew, each letter has a numerical value. And the numbers listed above are the numerical values of the Hebrew letters that spell the name of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, the Rebbe's wife, whose eighth yahrtzeit we commemorate this Monday. One of the very first activities initiated in memory of the Rebbetzin was "Project 470," a division of the Lubavitch Women's Organization Candle Lighting Campaign. Esther Sternberg, coordinator of the campaign since its inception at the Rebbe's behest in 1974, tells about the background of Project 470. "We had scheduled our annual fund-raising event for the 26th of Shevat that year (5748/1988). We sent the invitation to the Rebbe and received the Rebbe's blessing. When the Rebbetzin passed away just days before the event, which meant that it would take place during the shivah (the week of mourning), we thought to postpone it. But, as we had already received the Rebbe's blessing we decided to go ahead. "At the evening itself," remembers Mrs. Sternberg, "we announced that we were establishing a special fund in the Rebbetzin's memory that would be devoted exclusively to publicizing, through newspaper and radio ads, the special mitzvah of Shabbat candles." At that point, the project did not yet have a name. It was through a comment made by the Rebbe that this far-reaching project received its name. Explains Mrs. Sternberg, "Right after the Rebbe got up from shivah, we were told that the Rebbe wanted to see my father (Rabbi Shneur Zalman Gurary, shlita) and me. My father and I were both with the Rebbetzin in her last moments, and we thought that maybe the Rebbe wanted to ask us some questions. When we arrived in the Rebbe's office he was holding the invitation to our evening. Someone had informed the Rebbe about the fund. The Rebbe wanted to give $470 'al shem hanifteres'--in the name of the departed--and another dollar that the project should be a success." Animatedly, Mrs. Sternberg describes the rest of the audience with the Rebbe: "The Rebbe gave many, many blessings for the Candle Lighting Campaign and said that anyone who inspires others to light Shabbat candles, as well as those who begin to light Shabbat candles, 'yair mazalon--their fortune will shine.' The Rebbe showered blessings on anyone who would be involved." The main undertaking of Project 470 has been a classified ad on the front page of the New York Times every Friday, reminding Jewish women and girls to light Shabbat candles. The ad includes the correct time for candle lighting that week in New York City as well as the computerized telephone system (718-774-3000) that gives the candle lighting time for any location in the United States, including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. This classified ad has run consecutively for the last 8 years. Mrs. Sternberg notes that she constantly receives calls for candle lighting times around the world, which is not surprising, as the front page of the New York Times is duplicated in all foreign editions as well. A system to allow callers to receive computerized information for the entire world is currently being created for Project 470. Although there are hundreds of stories connected to the Candle Lighting Campaign in general, Mrs. Sternberg retells one unique incident: "Exactly 18 years ago, I was going to Israel. I saw many Jewish college students who were also on their way to Israel in the El Al area at the airport. Always eager to encourage more Jewish girls and women to light Shabbat candles, I approached the young women and asked them if they light Shabbat candles. They all answered affirmatively. They were very proud and excitedly told me about their interaction with Chabad on their college campuses around the country. I was elated by their positive responses." Continues Mrs. Sternberg: "In those days the El Al security system included booths that were electronically monitored. As I was planning on going to a few European countries after Israel to talk about the Candle Lighting Campaign, I had an entire suitcase full of candlesticks with me. I was afraid the metal detectors would be set off by the candlesticks, so when I was about to enter the cubicle, I told the security guard in Hebrew, 'I'm afraid to go in.' He told me not to be afraid. He saw I was in a very good mood and commented on it. 'You can't imagine how happy I am,' I told the officer, truly exuberant over my conversations with the college students and my trip to Israel. "'So, Madam, maybe you have neshek?' the officer asked me with a twinkle in his eyes. I was sure that he had seen me talking with the students and had seen me pull out some candlesticks from my suitcase." In Israel, the Candle Lighting Campaign is well known as Mivtza Neshek. Neshek, which literally means 'weapons' is an acronym for Neirot Shabbat Kodesh--Holy Shabbat Candles. "We consider 'Neshek' as one of the 'weapons' in the Rebbe's war against assimilation and apathy. "I said proudly, 'Of course I have Neshek, a whole suitcase full!' Instantly an alarm was sounded and within seconds five police came running to the little cubicle to arrest me." With a chuckle, Mrs. Sternberg remembers, "I opened the suitcase and showed them what was inside. 'I am talking about a different kind of Neshek altogether,' I told them innocently." May the Shabbat candles of the millions of Jewish women and girls around the world illuminate our way until we very soon see the fulfillment of G-d's promise, "If you guard the lighting of Shabbat candles, I will show you the lights of the Redemption." ******************** * PARSHAT SHEKALIM * ******************** There are four special Torah readings read on the Sabbaths before the month of Nissan--Shekalim, Zachor, Parah and HaChodesh. This week we read the additional portion of Shekalim. As Shekalim is the first of the four, it has special significance over the other three. Its lesson is of general significance and conveys the fundamental and primary principles that should guide our G-dly service. The half-shekel was a donation by every Jew to help pay for the communal sacrifice. Regardless of one's financial status, whether rich or poor, each person gave no more and no less than a half-shekel toward this sacrifice. Thus, the basic idea of giving half-shekels is that of tzedakah (charity). This is particularly true today after the Holy Temple has been destroyed, and the mitzvah of giving shekalim in its original form is no longer possible. Today this mitzvah is commemorated through giving a coin worth half of the standard currency to charity on the Fast of Esther--the day preceding Purim. Tzedakah represents all the mitzvot--"outweighs" them all--and is called the mitzvah by the Jerusalem Talmud. In addition, tzedakah must be done constantly, for two reasons: 1) G-d created a world order in which there is giving and receiving. This is the reason that "need" and "want" are present in the world--in order that there be the possibility of performing tzedakah and kindness. Tzedakah, therefore, is an intrinsic part of creation. Since tzedakah is an essential feature of the nature of the world, it is present as long as the world exists, i.e., constantly. 2) Everything G-d gives to the world is similar to His "tzedakah." His gracious endowment of our very life and sustenance is clear proof of His great kindness. Nevertheless, this kindness is granted midda k'neged midda (measure for measure)--commensurate to our actions. We must therefore involve ourselves in charitable acts in order to merit G-d's tzedakah. And since we are constantly dependent upon His tzedakah, our charitable acts must also be constant. This explains the fundamental importance of the portion of Shekalim over the other three special portions. It is connected with charity, which is constant, and applies in all places and situations. **************************************** * PLEASE TELL ME WHAT THE REBBE SAID * * Weekly Torah Insights For Children, * * Adapted from the Works of the Rebbe * **************************************** Parshat Mishpatim During lunch break, an exciting game of baseball was going on in the field. Heshy's team was up at bat and the score was close. But Ari didn't join the game. He got up late that morning; he rushed through breakfast so that he wouldn't miss the bus; he forgot his lunch at home, and he didn't have any money to buy food. He was really hungry by now. Ari wandered around the school yard hesitantly, until he finally decided to approach Heshy, who was cheering the team's player at bat. "Heshy," Ari asked bashfully, "would you lend me some money so I could buy a bagel at the canteen? I forgot my lunch." "Sure, Ari, but my wallet is in my briefcase. As soon as the game is over I'll get the money from the classroom." Ari was embarrassed to tell Heshy that recess would also be over by the time the game finished, and the canteen would be closed. He needed the money now. Perhaps Heshy would have acted differently if he had thought about one of the mitzvot in Parshat Mishpatim, "When you shall lend money to My people, to a needy person." It also might have helped if he had remembered a story about the Tzemach Tzedek. He was on his way to shul when a chassid, Reb Pinchas, asked him for a loan. "I'll be happy to lend you the money," the Tzemach Tzedek told him. "Please come to my house right after davening." The Tzemach Tzedek continued walking to shul and prepared for davening, but as he wrapped himself in his tallit, he remembered that it was market day. "Reb Pinchas probably needs the loan for business today. The sooner he gets it, the more profitable his business will be. I must give him the money right away," thought the Tzemach Tzedek. He put away his tallit and rushed home to get the money. Then he hurried to the market, found Reb Pinchas, gave him the loan, and rushed back to shul. As he washed his hands before davening, his grandfather, the Alter Rebbe, suddenly appeared to him. The Tzemach Tzedek had been waiting for such a vision for a long time. It was because of the mitzvah that he performed that the Alter Rebbe appeared to him. ============================================================== = End of Text: Living With Moshiach, Parshat Mishpatim, 5756 = ==============================================================