LIVING WITH MOSHIACH, Parshat Beha'alotecha, 5756 B"H LIVING WITH MOSHIACH Weekly Digest About Moshiach PARSHAT BEHA'ALOTECHA Sivan 20, 5756 June 7, 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 The Weekly Torah Portion The Rebbe's Prophecy Moshiach Matters A Summer Message From The Rebbe Torah Summer Camps ****************** * 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 feature a summer message from the Rebbe. * 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 12 Sivan, 5756 Brooklyn, New York ***************************************** * THE WEEKLY TORAH PORTION * * Adapted from the Works of the Rebbe * ***************************************** Parshat Beha'alotecha In the beginning of this week's Torah portion, Beha'alotecha, Aaron the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) is directed by G-d concerning the lighting of the seven-branched menorah. From this directive there is a clear instruction to every Jew that he has to "kindle lights"--to illuminate his surroundings. The essence of a candle (in the ordinary sense) is that it gives light and illuminates its surroundings. An unlit or extinguished candle brings no benefit and has no meaning in that state, per se. Only when it gives light and shines does it fulfill its purpose--to serve man, by enabling him to see by its light, by illuminating his way so that he will not stumble in darkness, and generally to help him accomplish what he must. The nature of a candle is that when one puts a flame to its wick--even a small flame--so long as he does it effectively, the flame catches on, and then continues to give off light on its own. This, too, is indicated in this week's Torah portion, as our Sages comment on the verse, "When you light the lamps"--light them so that the flame goes up on its own. How can we relate this instruction to our lives today? G-d has endowed a human being with a soul, a Divine "lamp," as it is written, "The soul of man is the lamp of G-d." The purpose of this lamp is to illuminate his (or her) path in life, and to illuminate the world with G-dliness. But this soul--lamp--has first to be ignited with the flame of Torah in order that it should shine forth with its true light, the light of "mitzvot which are candles, and the Torah is light." The task and purpose of every Jew is to be a brightly shining lamp and to kindle, or add brightness to, every Divine "lamp" --Jewish soul--with which he or she comes in contact. One must, do this completely, so that the lamps they light should likewise continue to shine brightly on their own, and should also become "lamp lighters," kindling other souls, in a continuous chain. Needless to say, though the instruction to light the lamps was given to Aaron, it applies to all Jews, in their spiritual lives, as every Jew is a member of the "Kingdom of G-d's priests." Moreover, there is the exhortation: "Be of the disciples of Aaron...loving the creatures and bringing them closer to Torah." To be a disciple of Aaron one must be permeated with love for every single Jew. If the above pertains to each and every Jew, it is even more emphatically relevant to the Jewish woman, for she is the actual candle-lighter who was given the special Divine assignment, extraordinary privilege, and bright mitzvah of lighting the candles for the holy Shabbat and Yom Tov. ************************ * 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 * ********************************************* ******************** * MOSHIACH MATTERS * ******************** In the Era of the Redemption, according to Maimonides, "the occupation of the entire world will be solely to know G-d." From the expression, "the entire world," it appears that this phrase includes Gentiles as well. We will ultimately witness the fulfillment of the prophecy (Zephaniah 3:9), that "I will make the people pure of speech so that they will all call upon the Name of G-d," and even non-Jews will be devoted solely to seeking "the knowledge of G-d." ************************************** * A SUMMER MESSAGE FROM THE REBBE * * Adapted from a Letter of the Rebbe * ************************************** Shavuot eve, 5734/1974 To All Boy Students and To All Girl Students Summer vacation is approaching, and no doubt you are all looking forward to making the most of it. I would like to make a suggestion to you in this connection. The summer recess is meant to give you an opportunity to strengthen your health of body and soul, which, of course, go hand in hand together. For Jewish boys and girls to be truly healthy means, first of all, to have a healthy neshama (soul). And a Jewish soul derives its health from the Torah and mitzvot, which are "our life and the length of our days," as we say in our prayers. Needless to say, life and health must be continuous, and one cannot take a "vacation" from them. The Torah and mitzvot are to the Jewish soul what breathing and nourishment are to the body. A healthy person seldom thinks about the vital necessity of breathing and food. However, on certain occasions one becomes acutely aware of these things. For example, when one swims under water and holds his breath, then comes up and feels the urge to fill his lungs with fresh air. Or, after a fast-day, when the body has been temporarily weakened from lack of food and drink, one immediately feels the invigorating effect of food and drink. Now, during the school year, when a great deal of time that could be spent in studying the Torah and doing mitzvot is taken up with other unavoidable occupations, such as the study of English and arithmetic, etc., the soul gets somewhat undernourished. At such times, your soul "holds its breath," so to speak, which makes it more eager to get back to Torah and mitzvot whenever time is available. Comes the summer recess, and your soul can now breathe more freely and more fully, for you are then released from those other unavoidable studies and occupations. Thus, the summer vacation gives you an opportunity to apply yourselves to Torah study and Torah activities with the utmost eagerness and enthusiasm--not only to make good use of your free time, but also to make up for lost time during the past school period, and, what is not less important, to give your soul a chance to fortify herself and "take a deep breath" for the school period ahead. As a matter of fact, the summer vacation seems to be so well planned for this purpose, for it is a time when you can devote yourselves to Torah study and Torah activities in particularly agreeable circumstances: in a relaxed frame of mind and in pleasant natural surrounding of sunshine and fresh air. Moreover, it comes soon after the Festival of Shavuot, the Season of Receiving Our Torah at Mt. Sinai. As you know, this Festival comes after the many days and weeks of counting the Omer, in memory of the eager anticipation of our ancestors, from the day after they left Egypt until receiving this greatest Divine gift --the Torah and mitzvot--seven weeks later. This should provide an added measure of inspiration to last through each and every day of the summer vacation and, indeed, through the year. I urge you, dear children, to make the most of your summer vacation in light of all that has been said above. Think about it, and put it into effect--in the fullest measure, and G-d will surely bless you with a happy and healthy summer, happy and healthy both spiritually and physically. ********************** * TORAH SUMMER CAMPS * ********************** Vacation time is drawing near. Will you opt for a relaxing summer in a quiet cabin in a secluded spot, or something more exotic and interesting? Whatever our vacation plans might include, most of us put much time and thought into making sure that the "time off" will be a success. We consider which clothing to take, what food to bring along (and what can be purchased locally), cost, accommodations, and much, much more. While you're making your vacation plans, consider the following: Summertime brings with it a more relaxed, laid-back atmosphere. This special ambiance creates the perfect opportunity to give children and young people, in particular, a positive Jewish experience. The huge network of day and overnight camps sponsored by Chabad-Lubavitch centers around the world are expert in creating just such a positive, warm, authentic Jewish environment. Undoubtedly, in nearly every city where you might find yourself this summer, there will be a Chabad camp to which you can send your child(ren). Whether for a week or an entire summer, the Jewish experience the children will have cannot be duplicated. So, when you're writing to the Chamber of Commerce in city X, or telephoning the visitors' information center in city Y, make sure to get in touch with the Chabad-Lubavitch representative in city X or Y and find out about their camp program. It's one part of your summer plans you'll never regret. ================================================================== = End of Text: Living With Moshiach, Parshat Beha'alotecha, 5756 = ==================================================================