"LIVING WITH MOSHIACH,"
Parshat Shemini, 5760
24 Adar II, 5760
March 31, 2000
Please pray for the immediate and complete recovery of
Horav Chaim Yehuda Kalman Ben Rochel Marlow Shlita,
head of the Bet-Din (Rabbinical Court) of Crown Heights
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
NOTE:
The Table of Contents contains links to the text. Click on an entry
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"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
THIS PUBLICATION IS DEDICATED
TO THE REBBE,
RABBI MENACHEM M. SCHNEERSON
OF LUBAVITCH
Click here, to see pictures
of the Rebbe
The Daily Sicha (in Real Audio)
- Listen to selected excerpts of the Rebbe's Sichos
[talks] which are relevant to the particular day.
We are pleased to present, to the visually impaired and the blind, our weekly
publication, Living With Moshiach.
*
In this week's issue, we highlight one of the Rebbe's Mitzvah
Campaigns, "Mivtzah Kashrut--The Jewish Dietary Laws."
Making sure her home and family keep Kosher, is one of the
three special mitzvot entrusted to the Jewish
Woman.(1)
*
This Jewish year, is the year 5760 since Creation. The Hebrew letters are
Hei-Tav-Shin-Samech. Over a decade ago, in the year 5742, the Rebbe
stated that the Hebrew letters for that year were an acronym for "This should
be the year of the coming of Moshiach."
Since that time, the Rebbe has publicized a phrase describing the year according
to the acrostic of its Hebrew letters. This year has been designated by the
Rebbe's followers as "Hoyo T'hei Shnas Segulah," meaning "It will
surely be an auspicious year."
*
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
22 Adar II, 5760
Brooklyn, New York
_______________
1. The other two are
"Lighting
Shabbat Candles," and "Family Purity," (which will be discussed,
G-d willing, in a future issue).
Parshat Shemini
A large part of this week's Torah portion, Shemini, discusses the
Jewish dietary laws, kashrut. We read about the kosher animals a Jew
may eat and the non-kosher ones that are forbidden. The Torah gives us two
signs to distinguish a kosher animal: it must chew its cud and have split
hooves.
One of the reasons certain foods are prohibited is that the food we eat becomes
part of our physical bodies, transformed into our flesh and blood. The Torah
prohibits us from ingesting certain foods to protect our bodies from their
negative influence. Keeping kosher enables a Jew to avoid the spiritually
harmful effect of these non-kosher substances.
We must also "chew our cud" and have "split hooves."
The hoof is the lowest part of the animal's body, coming in direct contact
with the earth and separating it from the ground. Even an animal, whose head
is closer to the ground than man's, must maintain a certain distance and
separation from the earth to be considered kosher.
A Jew must also guard this distinction between the "earth"--his corporeal
nature--and his higher spiritual faculties. Even the lowest levels of his
soul, analogous to the foot, must not come into direct contact with the ground.
We should never become completely involved in our material affairs, but maintain
a certain detachment in the way we relate to them.
The hoof of a kosher animal is cloven, consisting of two parts. So too must
the Jew's involvement in worldly affairs--analogous to the "hoof" that connects
him with the ground--consist of two simultaneous but opposite thrusts: his
"right hand draws near" while his "left hand pushes [negative influences]
away." With the "right hand" the Jew learns Torah, performs mitzvot
and draws his fellow Jews closer to Judaism. The "left hand" helps him to
avoid negative influences.
The distinction between "right" and "left" is very important. One cannot
hope to obtain goodness without shunning evil. Good and evil must never be
confused, just as the kosher animal's hooves are split into two distinct
halves.
The second characteristic of a kosher animal is that it chews its cud. Likewise,
a Jew must "chew over" his every step and consider it carefully before acting.
When we subject our behavior to this scrutiny, all our actions will be pure.
The Torah gives us several signs by which we can recognize kosher birds,
but in this instance we are not allowed to rely only on these characteristics.
Only birds explicitly regarded as kosher by our holy tradition are permissible.
From this we learn that a Jew must never rely solely on his own intellect,
as his guidelines in life must be derived from our holy tradition. In addition
to his own intellectual achievements, the Jew must connect himself to the
leader of the generation in order for his service to be pure.
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.
This Shabbat is Shabbat Mevorchim, the Shabbat before
the new Jewish month. Literally translated, it means a Shabbat in
which we bless the upcoming Jewish month. This Shabbat Mevorchim is
special because it is the Shabbat before the month of Nissan,
which is often referred to as "the month of Redemption."
On the surface, calling Nissan the month of Redemption is explained
by the fact that Nissan is the month in which we celebrate
Passover,(2) the holiday that commemorates the Jews' redemption
from Egyptian slavery. But the month of Nissan is also connected to
the Final Redemption, as our Sages say, "In Nissan, our people were
redeemed, and in Nissan, they will be redeemed in the future."
This Shabbat represents the transition from the month of Adar
II to the month of Nissan. Both months contain within them commemorations
of miraculous events. In Adar II we celebrate the downfall of Haman
and the victory of the Jewish people, and in Nissan we celebrate our
freedom from slavery.
The difference between the events is that the miracles of Purim occurred
within the natural order of the world, while the miracles of Passover transcended
the natural order. The story of Purim can be traced through a natural sequence
of events. But by cloaking miracles in the natural order of the world, we
are actually elevating the natural order.
That is our true purpose on this earth, to elevate the physical to the spiritual
and have G-dliness revealed on this plane.
Another concept that the two months have in common is redemption. Adar
II celebrates redemption from Haman's wicked decree, and Nissan celebrates
the redemption from Egypt. Shabbat is also a kind of redemption, a
weekly redemption from mundane cares and worries to a place of light, joy,
song and Torah-study.
May all of these redemption's be stepping-stones to our complete, final,
and ultimate Redemption, the coming of Moshiach.
_______________
2. This year, Passover begins on Wednesday night, April 19.
Ed.
This Shabbat is one of the four special Shabbats preceding
the Yom Tov of Pesach. It is called Shabbat Parshat
HaChodesh. We read a special Torah portion from the book of Exodus which
states: "This month shall be the head month for you. It shall be the first
month of the year."
Shabbat Parshat HaChodesh always falls either on the Sabbath when
we bless the month of Nissan or on the first day of Nissan
itself.
The month of Nissan is special in that it is a month of miracles--not
the everyday miracles of human existence, or hidden miracles such as those
that took place on Purim. But, rather, Nissan contains revealed miracles
that are higher than nature itself.
With the command that the month of Nissan, a month of revealed miracles,
be designated as the first and "head" of the months, the Torah emphasizes
that in all the months of the year, whether we see open miracles, miracles
in the cloak of natural events, unusual success or a seemingly unchangeable
cycle of nature, we must realize that G-d is the Creator of the Universe,
the sole Master of the world, who directs and cares about even the smallest
detail of the world and each individual person.
If each and everyone of us would sit down for only a brief few moments and
pay close attention to what has happened to us personally, we will detect
minor and major miracles that happen in our personal lives.
Many times we are just too busy to stop for a moment and take stock of what
has happened. But we shouldn't pass it off as another "natural" happening.
It is a miracle of G-d, whether it has occurred in the month of miracles,
or in an average day.
In this week's Torah portion, Shemini, we aren't just told what
constitutes a kosher animal--e.g., split hooves and chewing its cud
--we also learn that these animals and birds are specifically mentioned in
the Torah.
Although thousands of years have passed since the Torah was given, and many
new species of animal have been "discovered" by man since then, not one animal
or bird has been found possessing the kosher characteristics besides
those enumerated in our Torah portion.
There was a time when people used to brush aside the laws of keeping
kosher as outdated, food storage and production being much more sanitary
than in former years. But the G-d-given commandment to keep kosher
was never dependent upon sanitary conditions. At one period in history, the
extra cleanliness of kosher food might have been an added
benefit of observing this important mitzvah, but it was never
the reason for keeping kosher.
In fact, keeping kosher is in the category of mitzvot known
as chukim--decrees. We are given no explanation by the Torah or our
rabbis as to why we were given these "decrees." But, since our Creator knows
what's best for us--which oils, fluids, fuels, etc. make the mechanics of
our soul run the smoothest--it is prudent and wise to follow His operating
instructions assiduously.
Give keeping kosher a chance. You might want to start out slowly,
but once you get your engine revved up, you won't be able to imagine any
other way to keep your soul fine-tuned.
Good luck!
*
To change a non-kosher home to kosher is, admittedly, a major
undertaking. Any worthwhile change is bound to be difficult. In recognition
of this fact, Chabad-Lubavitch has formed a Kashrut Committee to assist
anyone sincerely interested in converting hers/his to a kosher kitchen.
For more information, please call 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).
"And just as the Redemption was brought about in the days of Mordechai and
Esther (through the meticulous observance of Kashrut), so too, the
Redemption will be brought about in our days through the meticulous observance
of Kashrut."
(The Midrash)
The Rebbe's slogan is: "The main thing is the deed." We therefore present
from the Rebbe's talks suggestions what we can do to complete his work of
bringing the Redemption.
Make Others Happy:
As we are now in the 60 days of happiness comprised of the two months of
Adar, we should endeavor to make others
happy.(3)
The Rebbe explained, "We should proceed to spread joy and happiness in the
most literal sense, making efforts to assure that the members of one's household
and similarly, all of those with whom one comes in contact, experience great
joy. And this will lead to the ultimate joy, the coming of the Redemption.
May it take place in the immediate future."
_______________
3. See Living
With Moshiach, Adar 5760.
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.chabad.org/shabbos
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).
Times shown are for Metro NY - NJ
Friday, March 31, Erev Shabbat Parshat Shemini:
-
Light Shabbat Candles,(4) by 6:01 p.m.
Saturday, April 1, Shabbat Parshat Shemini:
-
Blessing of the New Month,
Nissan.(5)
-
Parshat HaChodesh
-
Shabbat ends at nightfall, at 7:03 p.m.
_______________
4. 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.
5. Rosh Chodesh Nissan is on Thursday, April 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. |
