LIVING WITH MOSHIACH, Parshat Vayikra, 5755 B"H LIVING WITH MOSHIACH Weekly Digest About Moshiach PARSHAT VAYIKRA 8 Adar II, 5755 March 10, 1995 SPECIAL FEATURE: Your Purim Guide * 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 Purim Message From The Rebbe Your Purim Guide Purim - Then And Now The Mitzvot Of Purim Hamentaschen Recipe **************** * INTRODUCTION * **************** We are pleased to present, to the visually impaired and the blind, the 21st issue of our weekly publication, Living with Moshiach. * In this week's issue, our feature presentation focuses on the festive holiday of Purim, which begins Wednesday night, March 15. Therefore, we present here "Your Purim Guide," [*] and other related material about Purim. * 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 5 Adar II, 5755, Year of Hakhel Brooklyn, New York _______________ *. Published by Prestige Litho. Special thanks to Rabbi M. Borisute for his help. *************************************** * THE WEEKLY TORAH PORTION * * Adapted from the Works of the Rebbe * *************************************** Parshat Vayikra This week's Torah portion, Vayikra, which begins the book of Leviticus, details the laws pertaining to the offerings that were brought in the Sanctuary and Holy Temples. It begins with the words, "And He called to Moses." Rashi, the great Torah commentator, explains that G-d called out to Moses with a special and unique love. Chasidic philosophy further elaborates on the significance of the fact that G-d's name is not directly mentioned. This great love, it explains, emanates from an attribute of G-d so lofty and elevated that it exists beyond the limitations imposed by a name. G-d's very essence, as it were, was calling out to Moses. Chasidut also teaches that every Jew has a spark of the soul of Moses within his own. G-d's calling out to Moses with special love is therefore a call to every Jew, no matter who he/she is. The directives that followed, the details of the korbanot (from the Hebrew, meaning "to draw near"), are the instructions by which man may draw closer to G-d, and apply to every Jew, in every time and in every place. This concept is also reflected in the haftarah (from the Book of Isaiah), which is usually read in conjunction with the Torah portion: "This people have I formed for Myself; they shall tell My praise." The first part of the verse seems to indicate G-d's great love of the Jewish people; the second half seems to refer to their prayers, good deeds and Torah study, through which G-d's name is made great. Yet, studying the verse in depth, we find that the type of praise G-d refers to here is of an entirely different sort, one which is totally independent of a Jew's actions. "This people have I formed for Myself," G-d states. The Jewish people belongs to G-d; it is only through them that His sovereignty over the world is established, for a king cannot rule without subjects. A Jew, by his very nature and not by virtue of his actions, is created special. "They shall tell My praise," G-d continues. The continued existence of the Jewish people in itself reveals the glory of G-d. The fact that the Jewish nation, "one sheep among seventy wolves," is still flourishing after thousands of years testifies to the greatness of G-d. Every Jew bears witness to the existence of G-d and causes His name to be praised. This is especially relevant for our generation, following, as it does, the terrible decimation of our brethren during the Holocaust. The fact that Jews exist today, proudly continuing our holy tradition and raising a new generation of Jews to further imbue the world with holiness is in itself miraculous, bearing witness to G-d's greatness. This tremendous love that G-d feels for every Jew, regardless of his deeds, indicates just how important it is for us to love our fellow Jew and to always judge others favorably, for each of us is G-d's special treasure. ************************ * 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 * ********************************************* ******************************** * PURIM MESSAGE FROM THE REBBE * ******************************** Dear Friend, On the festival of Purim, when we all listen carefully to the reading of the Megillah and ponder upon the story it tells us, let us all remember a few important details and facts that took place in those days at this time: There arose a Haman, who issued a decree to murder and destroy all Jews at a fixed date. Queen Esther then calls upon Mordechai to "gather all the Jews and fast" and then she would go and plead with the King to rescind the terrible decree. Mordechai thereupon goes and gathers tens of thousands of Jewish children and teaches them the Torah; he teaches them the procedure of offering the Omer when the Bet-Hamikdosh would be rebuilt. All the children are so enchanted by the new spirit that Mordechai had inculcated into them, that even facing the danger of death, they exclaim: We stick with Mordechai and the Torah - for life or death! In that very same day the decree becomes null and void. Haman's downfall is already assured and the Jews are saved, even though they learn of it only after a number of months. The experience of our fathers is a lesson to us all. Let us remember that one of the chief means of frustrating the Hamans of our time, bring about their downfall, and bring light and joy to our people is: TO GATHER JEWISH CHILDREN AND TEACH THEM TORAH AND YIDDISHKEIT! To tell them that the true and complete redemption really lies in our own hands, for as soon as we Jews return to G-d in complete repentance - we are redeemed immediately, by our Righteous Messiah. To tell them further, that our Holy Bet-Hamikdosh will be rebuilt soon, and we must all be worthy and prepared to serve our G-d in the Holy Sanctuary. On the day when the Jewish children are imbued with this spirit, and are ready to exclaim - "We remain with thee, our Torah, for life or death" - on that very day, our Torah assures us, all the Hamans will be defeated, and all Jews will have 'light, gladness, joy, and respect,' speedily in our time. Wishing you a Happy Purim, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson ******************** * YOUR PURIM GUIDE * *------------------* * 14 Adar II, 5755 * * March 15-16 1995 * ******************** THE HISTORY OF PURIM Danger In Exile Jewish morale was at an all-time low. The Temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed, the nation conquered, and for almost 70 years, had been dispersed in foreign lands. The prophesied end of Exile had not materialized, and the blight of assimilation had set in. Just then, the enemy arose to carry out his evil plans. This time it was Haman. Descended from the Jew-hating tribe of Amalek, Haman devised his scheme to solve 'the Jewish problem' once and for all, by annihilating every Jew, men, women and children, throughout the world, in a single day. RALLYING THE JEWS And it almost worked. Were it not for Mordechai. A descendent of King Saul, and advisor to King Achashverosh, Mordechai sensed the danger. Donning sackcloth and ashes, he went to the gate of the palace, crying aloud, rallying the Jews to return to Torah. His niece, Queen Esther, called for him. He told her that she must go to the King and plead for her people. Officially in disfavor, she feared to go, but saw that she had no choice. She undertook a three-day fast of penitence, and called upon the whole Jewish people to do likewise. Then she went to the King . . . VICTORY It is a story of great courage and self-sacrifice--first and foremost by Queen Esther and Mordechai, and ultimately by the whole Jewish nation. For throughout the duration of the whole year, not one single Jew chose to convert, even to save his life. The nation was awakened to a whole-hearted return to Torah and mitzvot, and throughout the year strengthened their faith and observance. And in the merit of this, they were able to rise up against their enemies and destroy them, on the 13th of Adar, the very day destined for the "final solution." The Jewish people had shown their true character. They had earned the right to leave Exile, to return to the Holy Land, and rebuild the Temple. As it was in those days, so may it be with us today. Each year in fulfilling the special mitzvot of the Purim festival, we reaffirm our commitment to the eternal values of the Torah . . . and we share in the very same merit that redeemed the Jewish people in the days of Mordechi and Esther. *********************************** * PURIM - THEN AND NOW * * Based on the Works of the Rebbe * *********************************** REMEMBERED AND REENACTED One of the Purim mitzvot is the reading of the Megillah-the Scroll of Esther, in which the miracle of Purim is recounted. The Talmud tells us that "whoever reads the Megillah backwards does not fulfill his obligation." Our Sages explain that "backwards" does not only mean in reverse order; it also means that whoever reads the Megillah merely as ancient history has missed the point. The Purim story is directly relevant to our contemporary world. As the Megillah itself tells us, that when we celebrate Purim each year, the miraculous events of Purim are "remembered and reenacted" in our lives. HAMAN, THEN AND NOW One does not have to look far to find Haman's modern-day heirs. Now, as then, there are evil schemers who seek to scapegoat the Jewish people and--Heaven forfend--to erase us from the face of the earth. Each time they rise up to destroy us, their schemes are foiled by the miraculous Hand of G-d. The most striking example in recent times was the Persian Gulf War that ended victoriously on Purim, 5751 (1991). FROM REDEMPTION TO REDEMPTION Throughout our history, we have seen miracles. Despite centuries upon centuries of persecution, we have survived and flourished, by the Grace of G-d. Yet we have remained in exile for nearly 2,000 years, hoping and praying for the final and complete Redemption--the Redemption that will end suffering and exile forever. May the observance of Purim be a precursor to the coming of Moshiach, our Righteous Redeemer, whose imminent arrival will bring about a better life for all the nations of the world. ************************ * THE MITZVOT OF PURIM * ************************ Purim is the festival that commemorates the breathtaking victory over the murderous designs of Haman. Observed on the fourteenth of Adar II, this joyous festival reveals the hidden Hand of G-d in the events of man. It is a day to be celebrated by the entire family --not only adults and boys and girls past Bar/Bas Mitzvah, but youngsters too should be encouraged to fulfill the mitzvot of Purim. LISTEN TO THE MEGILLAH To relive the miraculous events of Purim, we listen to the reading of the Megillah (the Scroll of Esther) on Wednesday night, March 15, and again on Thursday, March l6, during the daytime. When Haman's name is mentioned, we twirl graggers and stamp our feet to "drown out" his evil name. Tell the children Purim is the only time when it's a mitzvah to make noise! SEND GIFTS OF FOOD On Purim we emphasize the importance of Jewish unity and friendship by sending gifts of food to friends. Send a gift of at least two kinds of ready-to-eat foods (for example, pastry, fruit, beverage), to at least one friend on Thursday, March 16, during the daytime. It is proper that men send to men and women to women. Sending these gifts should be done through a third party. Children, in addition to sending their own gifts of food, make enthusiastic messengers. GIVE GIFTS TO THE NEEDY Concern for the needy is a year-round responsibility for the Jew. On Purim, particularly, it is a special mitzvah to remember the poor. Give charity to at least two, but preferably more, needy individuals on Thursday, March 16, during the daytime. The mitzvah is best fulfilled by giving directly to the needy. If, however, you cannot find poor people, place at least several coins into pushkas (charity boxes). Even small children should fulfill this mitzvah. EAT THE FESTIVE MEAL As on all festivals, we celebrate Purim with a special festive meal on Thursday, March 16, during the daytime, when family and friends gather together to rejoice in the Purim spirit. ****************************** * OTHER OBSERVANCES OF PURIM * ****************************** THE FAST OF ESTHER To commemorate the day of prayer and fasting that the Jews held before their victory, we fast on the day before Purim, Wednesday, March 15, from approximately 72 minutes before sunrise until 40 minutes after sunset. MACHATZIT HASHEKEL It is a tradition to give 3 half-dollar coins to charity to commemorate the half-shekel given by each Jew in the time of the Holy Temple. This mitzvah, usually performed in the synagogue, should be done on Wednesday, March 15, or Thursday, March l6, according to your custom. SPECIAL PRAYERS On Purim we recite the Al HaNissim liturgy in the Amidah (Silent Prayer) for evening, morning and afternoon, as well as in the Grace After Meals. In the morning service there is a special reading from the Torah Scroll in the synagogue. *********************** * HAMENTASCHEN RECIPE * *********************** Hamentaschen, a traditional Purim delight, is a three-cornered pastry filled with mohn (poppy seed) or other sweet filling. 1 cup sugar 1/3 cup oil 1/2 cup margarine 3 eggs 4 cups flour 1/2 cup orange juice 3 tsps. baking powder 1 tsp. salt 1 egg, beaten 2 lbs. mohn filling Cream sugar, oil and margarine. Add eggs and juice and mix well. Blend with dry ingredients and roll into a ball. Divide into four parts. Roll out each piece very thin (approximately 1/8 inch) on a floured board. With the rim of a cup or glass (depending on desired size) cut into the dough to make circles. Place 1/2 to 2/3 teaspoon of filling in the middle of each circle. To shape into triangle, lift up right and left sides, leaving the bottom side down, and bring both sides to meet at center, above the filling. Lift bottom side up to center to meet other two sides. Preheat oven to 350o. Brush dough with beaten egg before baking. Place on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350o for approximately 20 minutes. Yields 4 dozen Hamentaschen. ********************************************** * HAPPY PURIM * * May this Most Joyous of Jewish Festivals * * Bring Joy to You and All Your Loved Ones. * * * * May the Miracle of Purim be Reenacted * * in Your Life, Your Family's Life * * and in All Our Lives. * * * * And May We Rejoice Together in the * * Culmination of the Miracle of Purim-- * * the Imminent Arrival of Moshiach, * * and a Better World for All Humankind. * ********************************************** ============================================================ = End of Text: Living With Moshiach, Parshat Vayikra, 5755 = ============================================================