LIVING WITH MOSHIACH, Parshat Shemot, 5755 B"H LIVING WITH MOSHIACH Weekly Digest About Moshiach PARSHAT SHEMOT Tevet 20, 5755 Dec. 23, 1994 * Published Weekly By Lubavitch Shluchim Conferences On The Moshiach Campaign, Committee For The Blind * * * 5755 "Year of Hakhel" ********************************************* * 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 Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi Moshiach Matters **************** * INTRODUCTION * **************** We are pleased to present, to the visually impaired and the blind, the tenth issue of our weekly publication, Living with Moshiach. * In this week's issue, our feature presentation focuses on Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the first Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch, whose yahrtzeit is next Tuesday, 24 Tevet, December 27. * 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 3 Tevet, 5755, Year of Hakhel Brooklyn, New York *************************************** * THE WEEKLY TORAH PORTION * * Adapted from the Works of the Rebbe * *************************************** Parshat Shemot "These are the names of the Children of Israel who came to Egypt," begins this week's Torah portion, Shemot. The Midrash explains that the names of the Twelve Tribes that follow, enumerated when they made their descent into the land of Egypt, are mentioned in connection to the Jewish people's eventual redemption from that land. We see that the narrative that follows tells of the beginning of the Jews' servitude, seemingly the direct opposite of their liberation and redemption. What is the meaning of this apparent contradiction? Secondly, another opinion in the Midrash states that the names of the Twelve Tribes are mentioned to emphasize that they descended into Egypt with the names Reuven, Shimon ... and ascended after the redemption with these very same names. The emphasis is on the merit of the Jewish people, that throughout the Egyptian exile, they did not change their names. The implication of both these passages is that one must understand the descent into Egypt as a phase in the redemption of the Jewish people, and indeed, as connected with the ultimate redemption that will take place with the coming of Moshiach. In that context, the obligation to recall--and relive--the exodus from Egypt every day serves as a catalyst to bring about Moshiach's arrival. The Jews' redemption from Egypt, the first of their four exiles, "is a great fundamental principle ... of our Torah and faith," according to our Sages. That first redemption represents the opening of the potential for all future redemptions. The freedom which was granted at that time continues at all times. In a spiritual sense, the exodus from Egypt represents the liberation of the G-dly soul from the limitations of the body, and in general, of the triumph of the spirit over the limitations inherent in the material world. Our obligation to remember the Exodus every day therefore consists of the following: 1. Every day, each of us must strive to go beyond his own personal boundaries and limitations; 2. Our obligation to recall the Exodus at night, refers to carrying out our service of G-d during the long "night" of our exile; and 3. We will also be obligated to recall the exodus from Egypt after Moshiach comes, even though the final redemption will far surpass the one that took place in Egypt. The potential for evil will be totally eradicated, and the Jewish people will never again be exiled. In fact, the entire period of time from the Egyptian Exodus until the Future Redemption is described as "the days of your exodus from Egypt," for the exodus which began in Egypt will not be complete until the ultimate redemption is realized. In practical terms, one must therefore anticipate the redemption and experience a foretaste of it in our daily lives, by bringing a consciousness of Moshiach into all our actions, for doing so will act as a catalyst and hasten the actual coming of the redemption. ************************ * 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 GRANDFATHER * * * * Reb Shmuel Pesach Ben Reb Yaakov Dovid * * Passed away on 3 Tishrei, 5755 * * Pais * ******************************************* ******************************** * RABBI SHNEUR ZALMAN OF LIADI * ******************************** Next Tuesday, 24 Tevet, December 27, is the yahrtzeit of the first Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi. We would like to share with you just a few of the hundreds of references to and explanations about Moshiach, the exile and redemption, that Rabbi Shneur Zalman made in his numerous scholarly works. * "In the days of the Holy Temple, the Children of Israel were by their very nature drawn by a genuine yearning towards the service of G-d; for them the demands of this world were a matter of necessity, to be dispensed with off-handedly, and without ardor. In the time of exile the opposite is true: A man is drawn by nature to his bodily needs and to this-worldly matters, while his divine service and his love of G-d are earned at the expense of considerable toil." (Likutei Torah) * The time of exile has been likened to a dream. For so it is written, "When G-d will return the exiles of Zion, we will have been like dreamers." A dream can fuse two opposites. In the present time of exile likewise, a person can be a paradox. While he is at prayer he is aroused to a love of G-d; when his prayers are over, this love has vanished: he is preoccupied all day with his business affairs, and gives priority to his bodily needs." (Torah Or) * Fulfilling mitzvot during the time of exile is like sowing seeds. A seed planted in the ground sprouts into a harvest that far exceeds its beginnings. So, too, by fulfilling mitzvot, one "sows" and increases the lights Above, in the Supernal "Land," and the harvest will "sprout" in future time. Moreover, the longer a seed remains in the ground, the richer will be the yield. So, too, the longer this exile is extended, the more intense will be the revelation in time to come. (Likutei Torah) * It is well known that the Messianic Era, and especially the time of the Resurrection of the Dead, is the fulfillment and culmination of the creation of the world, for which purpose it was originally created.... This culminating fulfillment of the Messianic Era and of the Resurrection of the Dead, depends on our actions and service throughout the duration of the exile. (Tanya) ******************** * MOSHIACH MATTERS * ******************** The Talmud associates the moon's periodic rebirth with the ultimate renewal the Jewish people will experience in the Era of the Redemption, for the Jews "calculate their calendar according to the moon and resemble the moon." Just as the moon wanes and becomes concealed, for a certain time the Jewish people must endure the darkness of exile. The shining of the moon anew each month, however, reassures us of the coming of the ultimate rebirth--the Redemption. (From Sound the Great Shofar) =========================================================== = End of Text: Living With Moshiach, Parshat Shemot, 5755 = ===========================================================