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Maimonides, Principles of the Faith, No. 12
Click here, to see pictures of the Rebbe
We are pleased to present, to the visually impaired and the blind, our weekly publication, Living With Moshiach.
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This week's issue focuses on Chof Ches Sivan, the 28th of Sivan.
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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
12 Sivan, 5757
Brooklyn, New York
Parshat Shelach
This week's Torah portion, Shelach (literally "Send"), narrates the story of the Twelve Spies who were sent on a special shlichus (mission) to the land of Israel.
The Spies had been instructed to scout out the land in order to determine the optimal strategy the Jews should employ to conquer it. Indeed, when they returned from their mission they gave their report on the land and its inhabitants.
Their sin, however, consisted in going one step further. In addition to providing the information they were requested to obtain, the Spies insisted on venturing their own opinion about the mission itself: "We will not be able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than us!" they declared.
G-d hadn't asked the Spies whether or not they thought conquering the land was possible. Their shlichus was solely a fact-finding mission; thus, adding their own opinion and discouraging the Jewish people from fulfilling G-d's request was a grave transgression.
In principle, a shaliach (emissary) is required to carry out his mission to the best of his ability, no more and no less. Altering that mission to accommodate his own thoughts and feelings is a distortion of the very shlichus with which he was entrusted.
In truth, every Jew is an emissary of G-d, Who brought him into this world in order to fulfill a unique mission. For the mission of every Jew is to transform his surroundings into the "land of Israel"--a "dwelling place for G-d" --through observing Torah and mitzvot.
As G-d's emissary, the Jew is required to "scout out the land"--to determine the best possible method of fulfilling his assignment. Each individual's circumstances in life will determine the answer, whether by strengthening one's observance of Shabbat, keeping the laws of kashrut more carefully, lighting Shabbat candles or putting on tefillin, etc.
G-d doesn't ask the Jew if it's possible to attain his goal; the very fact that he's been sent on his mission to bring G-dliness into the world indicates that the "land" can indeed be conquered. Furthermore, no matter how difficult the mission may seem, a Jew must never come to the same conclusion as the Spies and despair of ever being victorious.
Yes, a Jew is entrusted with a special shlichus, but G-d has given him the power and capacity to fulfill his mission. Keeping this in mind is the key to being successful.
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.
The 28th of the Hebrew month of Sivan (Thursday, July 3), is the 56th anniversary of the arrival in the United States of the Rebbe and Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka.
The Rebbe and the Rebbetzin were in France during the early years of World War II. In 5701/1941, after tremendous effort on the part of the Previous Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn--who was already in the United States--the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin were able to travel to Portugal, from where they boarded a ship to the United States.
The trip itself was quite dangerous, with the ship being stopped numerous times en route by the Nazis.
On the 28th of Sivan 5701 (June 23 1941), the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin arrived in New York.
The Previous Rebbe, because of ill health, was unable to greet his daughter and son-in-law personally. Instead, he sent four of his most eminent Chasidim to greet them.
The Previous Rebbe informed them, "I am selecting you as my representatives to welcome my son-in-law, who is arriving tomorrow. I will reveal to you who he is: Every night he says the Tikkun Chatzot prayer over the destruction of the Holy Temple. He knows by heart both the entire Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmuds with their commentaries, and Maimonides' great Mishne Torah (code of Jewish law), and is expert in the works of Chabad philosophy. . .!"
The 28th of Sivan became established as a day of rejoicing and thanksgiving for the rescue of the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin from the fires that raged in Europe.
It also marks the beginning of a new era in Chabad outreach with the establishment by the Previous Rebbe of the central Lubavitch educational and publishing departments, which he placed under the directorship of the Rebbe.
May the 28th of Sivan this year be the ultimate day of rejoicing and thanksgiving for the rescue of the Rebbe and the entire Jewish people from these last moments of exile, may G-d send the redemption NOW!
Jewish Women and Girls Light Shabbat Candles
For local candle lighting times:
consult your local Rabbi, Chabad-Lubavitch Center, or call: (718) 774-3000.
or:
http://www.havienu.org/resrcs/hebcal.html
For a free candle lighting kit:
contact your local Chabad-Lubavitch Center.
For a listing of the Centers in your area:
http://www.chabad.org/chabadir-access.html.
In the USA, call: 1-800-Lubavitch (1-800-582-2848).
Friday, June 27, Erev Shabbat Parshat Shelach:
Saturday, June 28, Shabbat Parshat Shelach:
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1. The Shabbat candles must be lit 18 minutes before sunset. It is prohibited and is a desecration of the Shabbat to light the candles after sunset.
2. Rosh Chodesh Tamuz is on Saturday, July 5, and Sunday, July 6.
Laws of Shabbat Candle Lighting for the Blind
Shabbat Candle Lighting Blessing
"Let There Be Light" - The Jewish Women's Guide to Lighting Shabbat Candles.