LIVING WITH MOSHIACH, Parshat Chukat-Balak, 5756 B"H LIVING WITH MOSHIACH Weekly Digest About Moshiach PARSHAT CHUKAT-BALAK TAMUZ 11, 5756 JUNE 28, 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 History-Making Events The Rebbe's Prophecy A Lesson In Survival Please Tell Me What The Rebbe Said 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 Yud-Beis Tamuz, the 12th day of Tamuz, Saturday, June 29. * 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 3 Tamuz, 5756 Brooklyn, New York ************************************** * HISTORY-MAKING EVENTS * * Adapted from a Letter of the Rebbe * ************************************** . . . At this time, in proximity to the anniversary of the geulah--deliverance--of my father-in-law, the Rebbe, of saintly memory, from the tyranny of the Soviet regime on the 12th-13th of Tamuz, it behooves us to reflect again on those history-making events and how they relate to every one of us here and now. For, as he indicated in his first letter on the occasion of the first anniversary of his geulah, and as we see it clearly now, his deliverance was more than a personal one; it was a turning point in the survival of Russian Jewry, and is of lasting significance for every Jew everywhere. This timely reflection should make every one of us all the more deeply appreciative of the blessing of freedom [which enables us] to live a full life of Torah and mitzvot. In addition, it should heighten our awareness of the sacred obligation to do one's utmost to spread and strengthen Yiddishkeit, with enthusiasm and love-- love of G-d, love of the Torah, and love of our Jewish brethren, which are inseparable. By his total mesiras nefesh [self-sacrifice], even in the face of overwhelming odds, and by his ultimate triumph, with G-d's help, the Previous Rebbe has shown the way, and, in fact, trodden the path, so that every Jew can follow in his footsteps, with complete assurance that when he is firmly resolved to work for Torah and Yiddishkeit, he will overcome whatever difficulties there may be, and be successful, with G-d's help. I hope and pray that the inspiration of the Previous Rebbe and the holiday of his Redemption will stimulate you and yours to redouble your efforts in the said direction in the days ahead, which will also widen the channels to receive G-d's blessings for you and yours, in all your needs, both material and spiritual. ************************ * 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 * ********************************************* ************************ * A LESSON IN SURVIVAL * ************************ The Russian Revolution had come to a close. Communism was the law of the land. Slowly but surely, the promised freedom and equality were disappearing. Rather than a society in which all men lived as brothers, a totalitarian regime emerged. Whoever did not conform was removed. In addition, the new government tried to stamp out all religion. It undertook the cruelest means to do so. Disappearances and executions abounded. All too quickly, living Judaism became scarce. The penalties for providing Jewish education or for merely living as a Jew were just too frightening. But one man rebelled. He was the Previous Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn. The Previous Rebbe set up an underground network spanning thousands of miles. Throughout the length and breadth of Russia, his followers established underground shuls, schools and mikvehs (ritual baths). In the still of the night, in the dark of a cellar, adults and children gathered to learn and share the words of their holy tradition--under the threat of arrest, even of death. The government soon caught on. They knew that one man was behind it all. As long as the Previous Rebbe was on the scene, they realized that the mighty Russian government would have to wait for its desires to be carried out. The government started sending spies to the Rebbe's talks to hear what he said. But fearless, in front of these spies, the Previous Rebbe continued to call upon his followers to defy the government, however dangerous it was, and to ensure that Judaism survived. And his followers listened. Though the dangers were worsening from day to day, they opened new schools, new shuls and new mikvehs. Eventually the government decided to do away with their opponent. On the night of the 15th of Sivan, 5687/1927, KGB agents called on the Previous Rebbe and led him away. They took him to the most feared jail in the city from which hardly anyone returned. They subjected him to the greatest disgrace and torture, but he continued to defy them. One day, while in prison, the Previous Rebbe was called in for an interrogation. He refused to reply to his tormentor's liking. The inquisitor took a gun in his hands, played around with it and said: "This little toy has made many people speak." "Yes," said the Previous Rebbe, "It has made many people speak. That is, people with many gods and but only one world. But for me, who has one G-d and two worlds--this toy is meaningless." Jews throughout the world prayed for the Previous Rebbe's release. International governments applied great pressure on the Russians. Slowly the Previous Rebbe's sentence was made easier. The death sentence was revoked, and instead came ten years of forced labor. Then, this too was challenged. Eventually, the Previous Rebbe was freed from jail to proceed to a distant town where he would remain in exile for a period of three years. On the 3rd day of Tamuz, 5687/1927, the Previous Rebbe was exiled to the city of Kostrama. Before leaving to Kostrama, the Previous Rebbe was permitted to stop in his home for a few hours. The Rebbe then proceeded to the train station where a large group of chasidim awaited him. Before boarding the train, the Rebbe made strong statements to the assemblage, among them: "This, all nations on earth should know: Only our bodies were put in exile and subservience to kingdoms, but our souls were not driven into exile nor subservience to kingdoms. We must openly proclaim to all, that with regard to that which relates to our religion, Torah, mitzvot and Jewish customs, no one is going to impose his views on us, and no force has the right to subjugate us." After just a few days in exile, on the 12th of Tamuz, the day of his birthday, the Previous Rebbe was informed that this punishment, too, had been commuted, but being a local holiday, he received his official release papers the next day, on the 13th of Tamuz. The Previous Rebbe and his followers continued to adhere to Judaism and spread its message far and wide in defiance of the Russian government. To this very day, the underground network that the Previous Rebbe established in Russia still exists, though, thank G-d, now it can finally operate more openly. About three months later, the Previous Rebbe left Russia a broken man physically, having been tortured in jail. But they were not able to touch him spiritually in the least. * A further stage in the Previous Rebbe's redemption was his coming to America, which brought about an increase in the work of spreading the teachings of Chasidut throughout the world. [1] And this increase in the spreading of the teachings of Chasidut continues even to this day. It serves to hasten the Redemption, as exemplified by the famous quote of Moshiach to the Baal Shem Tov [2] that Moshiach would come when "your [the Baal Shem Tov's] teachings are spread outward." _______________ 1. See Living With Moshiach, Vol. 20. 2. See Living With Moshiach, Vol. 30. **************************************** * PLEASE TELL ME WHAT THE REBBE SAID * * Weekly Torah Insights For Children, * * Adapted from the Works of the Rebbe * **************************************** YUD-BEIS TAMUZ On Yud-Beis Yud-Gimel Tamuz, the Previous Rebbe was released from prison in Soviet Russia. We are so grateful to G-d that we call the month of Tamuz--Chodesh HaGeulah, the month of redemption. The Previous Rebbe himself explained that his release was not just a private matter. One year after he was released, he wrote a letter to the chasidim about the celebration of these days. In the letter, the Previous Rebbe writes: "It was not myself alone that G-d redeemed on Yud-Beis Tamuz, but also all those who love the Torah and fulfill its commandments, and also all those who bear the name 'Jew.'" What did the Previous Rebbe mean by "all those who bear the name 'Jew'"? Three boys in fourth grade might help us understand. One is Yosef Yitzchok Cohen whom everyone calls Yossi. The second is Yosef Yitzchok Levin, whom everyone calls Yitzi. And the third is Yosef Yitzchok Stein, whom everyone calls Itchie. These boys were all given the name Yosef Yitzchok and that is their real name, but everyone calls them by their nicknames. Every member of our people bears the name Jew. Many of us bear this name proudly. We are proud to be Jews and we do our best to behave in a way that lives up to our special name. There are some people who have not been taught that the name Jew is important, that it is an honor and a responsibility. Although they know that they are called Jews, they don't mind when they themselves or others ignore this name. And there are people who have not even learned that they are called Jews. Other people may call them by this name, but they themselves do not even consider it their name. The Previous Rebbe was thinking about all Jews in his letter! He is saying that the redemption of Yud-Beis Tamuz is important not only to the lives of chasidim, not even only to others who keep the Torah and its mitzvot. It affects all the Jewish people, even those who are merely called "Jew" by others. And this is exactly what has taken place ever since the first Yud-Beis Tamuz. Immediately after his release, the Previous Rebbe began spreading Torah with increased energy, reaching out to all Jews throughout the world, and making them proud to be called Jews. ******************** * 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. MAKE YUD-BEIS TAMUZ GATHERINGS: In connection with the 12th of Tamuz, the Rebbe explained that it is customary to organize chasidic gatherings that will inspire people to study and spread the teachings of Chasidut. Furthermore, the Rebbe related: "This will generate the potential of the transformation of the Three Weeks [of mourning for the destruction of the Holy Temple] into a positive period, with the coming of the ultimate Redemption. Even before that Redemption comes, we will merit a succession of Divine miracles. When one Jew will ask another, "What was the last miracle that happened?" He will be unable to answer because the miracles are taking place in such rapid succession. And these miracles will lead to the ultimate miracles, those which accompany the Redemption from exile." * For a 12th of Tamuz gathering in your area, contact your local Chabad-Lubavitch Center. For a listing of the Centers in your area, call: 1-800-Lubavitch (1-800-582-2848). ================================================================= = End of Text: Living With Moshiach, Parshat Chukat-Balak, 5756 = =================================================================