LIVING WITH MOSHIACH, Acharei-Kedoshim, 5756 B"H LIVING WITH MOSHIACH Weekly Digest About Moshiach PARSHAT ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM Iyar 7, 5756 April 26, 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 Beis Iyar Yud Gimel Iyar A Pesach Sheni Message from the Rebbe Pesach Sheni A Call to Action ****************** * 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 focus on: 1) Beis Iyar, the 2nd of Iyar. 2) Yud Gimel Iyar, the 13th of Iyar. 3) Pesach Sheni, the 14th of Iyar. * 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 2 Iyar, 5756 Brooklyn, New York ***************************************** * THE WEEKLY TORAH PORTION * * Adapted from the Works of the Rebbe * ***************************************** Parshat Kedoshim In the second of this week's two Torah portions, Kedoshim, the Torah records G-d's command: "Sanctify yourselves and be holy, because I am the L-rd your G-d." Our Rabbis taught that this injunction refers to the realm of the permissible, those which the Torah neither specifically forbids nor allows. The Torah asks us to exercise self-restraint in every aspect of our lives, counseling us to forego even permissible pleasures, if they are not truly vital to our service of G-d. For example, we must restrain ourselves from partaking of a particular food (kosher, of course), if our craving to eat it arises solely from a desire to satiate our animal appetites and not for the sake of nourishing our bodies. The first Chabad-Lubavitch Rebbe, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, originated a wise saying on the subject: "That which is forbidden is forbidden; that which is permissible is unnecessary." In this manner, constantly exercising good judgment and restraint, the Jew sanctifies every minute detail of his life and imbues his entire being with holiness. This process of sanctification plays a pivotal role in preparing the world for Moshiach, for the messianic era will be characterized by the open revelation of G-dliness throughout the entire creation. At that time, G-d will allow His very essence to be revealed within the physical world, which will have been totally transformed into a fitting dwelling place for the Divine Presence. This complete transformation of the material world into a place in which G-dliness is readily apparent may be explained by the following analogy: When a person is at home, he permits himself to express his true personality. His manner is relaxed and open, for he feels free, unencumbered by the constraints of society. When, however, a person goes out into the street or his friend's home, his behavior is more circumspect. Not only are his actions necessarily circumscribed, but his ability to express himself is also limited to a great degree. When Moshiach comes and ushers in the Final Redemption, G-d will finally be "at home" in the physical world, and the holiness that exists within all of creation will be revealed in its entirety. Torah and mitzvot are therefore insufficient, by themselves, to transform the world and ourselves into a proper vessel for such a revelation of G-dliness. For it is possible for one to adhere to the letter of the law and still perceive himself as an entity separate from G-d. When a Jew extends and broadens his service of G-d to include those areas beyond the realm of ritual law, he elevates both himself and his surroundings to unparalleled spiritual heights. By removing his own ego from the equation, he leaves room for only G-dliness and sanctity to fill the void. ************************ * 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 * ********************************************* ************* * BEIS IYAR * ************* On Sunday, the 2nd of Iyar (April 21), we commemorated the birthday of the fourth Chabad-Lubavitch Rebbe, Rabbi Shmuel, known as the Rebbe Maharash. One of the most memorable and pithy maxims that we have from the Rebbe Maharash is the saying, "L'Chatchila Ariber"--which means, "In the first place, go over." The Rebbe Maharash mentioned this concept--which has been the constant battle cry of Lubavitch outreach workers all over the world--in reference to one who finds himself faced with an obstacle. "The whole world says, first try to go under or around an obstacle. If this doesn't work, then go over it," the Rebbe Maharash noted. "But I say, 'In the first place, go over,'" he declared. What does it mean to go over an obstacle right away rather than trying another method to pass an obstruction? In confronting obstacles to all good endeavors, one should take the most ambitious and aggressive approach. One cannot remain passive, hoping that the situation will change by itself or that the obstruction will magically disappear. It must be approached as a challenge. And, as such, it should be afforded one's utmost attention and energy. In addition, when working at overcoming obstacles, we have to keep uppermost in our mind only positive thoughts and the image of the endeavor successfully accomplished. For this, too, will aid in our ultimate triumph and success. ****************** * YUD GIMEL IYAR * ****************** Next Thursday, Iyar 13 (May 2), is the 44th yahrtzeit of the Rebbe's youngest brother, Rabbi Yisroel Aryeh Leib. The following is a brief biography, written by Rabbi Shimon Silman. Rabbi Yisroel Aryeh Leib (known affectionately as "Reb Leibel") was a Torah scholar of the highest caliber. He was a fascinating personality, totally devoted to the study of Chasidut, which he learned with legendary diligence. As a young man, Reb Leibel was a member of the household of the Previous Rebbe in Petersburg for several years. He was very popular among the chasidim, who approached him with difficult questions in Talmud and Chasidut. At this time he began studying mathematics in the academies of Petersburg where he organized groups of Jewish youth to learn Torah and observe mitzvot. In the 1940's, Reb Leibel moved to Israel where he married. He continued his research of mathematics and spent long nights studying Chasidut. In 1948 he accepted a position in the Department of Theoretical Physics of the University of Liverpool in England. In this position he continued his research in mathematics and theoretical physics until he passed away on 13 Iyar, 5712/1952. He is buried in Safed, Israel. ***************************************** * A PESACH SHENI MESSAGE FROM THE REBBE * * Adapted from the Works of the Rebbe * ***************************************** Pesach Sheni, means the "Second Passover," and is observed one month after the first Passover. Until the destruction of the Holy Temple, any Jew unable to bring the Passover sacrifice on the 14th of Nissan--either because he was ritually impure, in a distant place, was prevented by unavoidable circumstances, or even if he intentionally did not bring it--could bring it on the 14th of Iyar. Pesach Sheni was instituted the year after the Jews left Egypt while they were still in the desert. Before Passover of that year, G-d again commanded our ancestors to bring the special Pascal sacrifice. However, some of the Jews had become ritually impure in their desert travels and thus were not permitted to bring the offering. They protested and posed a question to Moses and Aaron, crying: "Why are we kept back, that we may not offer the offering of the L-rd in its appointed season among the children of Israel?" And G-d told Moses that all those who were unable to bring the offering on Passover could bring it one month later. This date became known as the Second Passover. They could have left well enough alone. After all, our Sages have taught, "If a person intended to perform a mitzvah and circumstances prevented him from it, it is regarded as if he had performed it!" Since they were forcibly kept from performing the mitzvah, they were still rightfully entitled to its reward. But that wasn't enough for them. And due to their protest and great desire to fulfill this mitzvah to its fullest potential, they and all future generations were rewarded with "Pesach Sheni." The complaint of the Jews to Moses and Aaron, "Why are we kept back..." teaches us an important lesson in how we are to approach those mitzvot that we can currently not perform because we are still in exile. Why, G-d, are we kept back from offering the sacrifices in their right time? Why are we kept back from seeing Your glory revealed? Why are we kept back from performing each mitzvah to its optimum, as each mitzvah is incomplete while we are in exile? Let us also not be content with the words of our Sages, that if we desire to perform these mitzvot it is enough. Like the Jews in the desert, let us rally together and cry out to G-d, "Why are we kept back...bring the true and ultimate Redemption which You promised us!" And may G-d immediately heed our heartfelt cries as He did those of our ancestors. **************** * PESACH SHENI * **************** Next Friday, May 3, is Pesach Sheni, the "Second Passover." It is customary on Pesach Sheni to eat matzah (together with bread), in commemoration of the day. * The Previous Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn, wrote: "The theme of Pesach Sheni is that IT IS NEVER TOO LATE! It is always possible to put things right. Even if one was ritually impure, or far away, and even in a case when this impurity or distance was deliberate--nonetheless it can be corrected." IT IS NEVER TOO LATE! We can always make up for a past misdeed, omission or failing through sincere desire and making amends. IT'S NEVER TOO LATE! What an inspiring and optimistic thought! There's always a chance to improve, to become better, to learn and do. This is truly a motto worth memorizing (and hanging on the refrigerator). Rather than muttering about yourself or another person, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks," realize that it's never too late. You didn't put on Teffilin yesterday? Today's a new day and it's never too late. You didn't light candles for Shabbat last Friday night? Do it this week; it's never too late. You never went to Hebrew school, so you can't read Hebrew? Enroll in an adult education course; it's never too late. You never knew that Judaism had so much to offer? Now that you know, do something about it, because it's never too late! ******************** * A CALL TO ACTION * ******************** The Rebbe's slogan is: "The main thing is the deed." In this column 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 Acharei-Kedoshim, 5756 =================================================================