LIVING WITH MOSHIACH, Parshat Korach, 5756 B"H LIVING WITH MOSHIACH Weekly Digest About Moshiach PARSHAT KORACH Tamuz 4, 5756 June 21 1996 SPECIAL FEATURE: The Third of Tamuz * 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 Rebbe's Prophecy Moshiach Matters The Rebbe Is The Head Gimel Tamuz Nothing By Chance Living With The Rebbe Today! Miracles and Mathematics ****************** * 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 focus on Gimel Tamuz, the 3rd of Tamuz, Thursday, June 20. * 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 18 Sivan, 5756 Brooklyn, New York **************************** * 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. ******************** * MOSHIACH MATTERS * ******************** "Do not be amazed by the fact that Moshiach will be one of those who arise in the Resurrection [of the Dead]. For this possibility was already considered by our Sages in Gemara Sanhedrin: Said Rav Asi, 'If he is among the living he is like Rabbeinu HaKadosh. If he is among the dead, he is like Daniel Ish Chamudot.'" (Yeshuot Meshicho, p. 104) ***************************************** * THE REBBE IS THE HEAD * * Translated From a Letter of the Rebbe * ***************************************** Gimel Tamuz, 5710/1950 . . . Many are seeking an explanation of the characteristic greatness of the Chabad leaders in general, and the leader of our generation, my father-in-law, of blessed memory, in particular, in terms of the following designations: A man of great self-sacrifice, a gaon [great Torah scholar], a baal midot [man of sterling character], a tzaddik, a possessor of ruach hakodesh [divine inspiration], able to perform miracles, etc., etc. These praises gain even greater significance as they are defined by the teachings of chasidic philosophy. Yet in all this, the main point is absent. Furthermore (and this is essentially the main point), the Rebbe's special greatness is by virtue of his unique relationship with us, his congregation of chasidim, and with those who are connected to him. And this is because he is the nasi--the leader of Chabad. For in general, the nasi is called "the head of the community of Israel": in relation to them, he is their head and brain; it is through him that they derive their vitality. By cleaving to the nasi, they connect and unite themselves with their Source above. There are several types of nesi'im: those whose influence is in the sphere of penimiyut [inwardness], and those whose influence is in the realm of makif [surrounding]. Within these distinctions are further divisions: those whose primary effect was in the realm of the revealed Torah, or the esoteric part of the Torah, or in both together; those who taught a path in Divine service and in Chasidut; those whose influence extended into the material realm, etc. There are also those who combined several of the above attributes, or even all of them. Chabad leaders up until the present time, from the Alter Rebbe to my father-in-law, have included all of the above characteristics and distinctions: Their influence was both internal and external, in Torah, Divine service and good deeds, in both the spiritual and material realms. Consequently, their connection to those who belonged to them extended to all 613 limbs of the body and soul. Each and every one of us should know, that is, he should study and fix in his mind, that the Rebbe is the nasi and the head, it is from him and through him that everything both physical and spiritual flows, and it is through connecting oneself with him ([the Rebbe] has already indicated in his letters how to do this) [1] that one connects and unites oneself with one's source, and the Source of Sources, ever higher and higher. _______________ 1. By studying his talks and by following his directives, - Living With Moshiach, Vol. 12, "Yud Shevat." See also below, "Living With the Rebbe, Today!." - Editor. ************************************************* * 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 * ************************************************* *************** * GIMEL TAMUZ * *************** This date itself, while ingrained in the minds of Lubavitcher chasidim around the globe, has significance for all Jews and, indeed the entire world population. Although we have not seen the Rebbe with our physical eyes since Gimel Tamuz two years ago, his presence in the lives of his hundreds of thousands of chasidim and millions of admirers is evident. And the Rebbe's involvement in the thousands of institutions he established, and the hundreds of institutions set up since Gimel Tamuz two years ago, is palpable. Gimel Tamuz, Thurs., June 20, is the third day in the Hebrew month of Tamuz. The number three has much significance in Jewish teachings. Our Sages teach that the world stands on three pillars: Torah study, prayer, and acts of kindness. In addition, they teach that the tzaddik is the foundation of the entire world. What has been the thrust of the Rebbe, the foundation of the world, in his over four decades of leadership? As is well known to our readers, since the Rebbe's acceptance of the mantle of leadership HE STATED CLEARLY THE PURPOSE OF OUR GENERATION, the seventh generation (since the inception of Chabad Chasidism), IS TO BRING THE REDEMPTION. And since then, the Rebbe has elucidated how we can accomplish this in a threefold campaign: through Torah study, prayer, and acts of kindness: Our Torah study should be increased in all areas of Jewish knowledge in general, chasidic philosophy in particular, and specifically those matters found everywhere in Jewish teachings that deal with Moshiach and the Redemption. Our prayers should be suffused with heartfelt requests of G-d to bring the Redemption, crying out "How much longer?" and even to the point of demanding the Redemption (as explained by the Chofetz Chaim). Lastly, through love of our fellow Jew in general and even simple acts of kindness and good deeds, we can prepare ourselves for the Redemption and hasten its inception. May we be together with the Rebbe this year on Gimel Tamuz, not just "feeling" his presence but actually seeing the Rebbe, a soul in a physical body, leading us to the Holy Land and ushering in the complete and eternal Redemption. ********************* * NOTHING BY CHANCE * ********************* According to Jewish thought, especially as elucidated in the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov, nothing in this world happens by chance, everything--even the movement of a blade of grass--is governed by Divine Providence. Additionally, a tzaddik, a wholly righteous person, has Divine powers of insight and far-reaching vision that allow him to see that which is unseen or not yet visible to the untrained eye. What can we glean from the Rebbe's very own thoughts on Gimel Tamuz? In the book Hayom Yom ("From Day To Day," which the Rebbe compiled at the behest of his father-in-law from the teachings of the previous Rebbes), the quote the Rebbe included for Gimel Tamuz, 5703/1943, reads: "A Jewish groan that, G-d forbid, arises from physical misfortune, is also a great repentance; how much more so, then, is a groan arising from spiritual distress, a lofty and effective repentance. The groan pulls him out of the depths of evil and places him on a firm footing in the realm of good." The Rebbe was assuring us, even then, that our groans resulting from that date, rather than paralyzing us, would ultimately point us in the right direction and inspire us to rededicate ourselves to the Rebbe's goal of bringing the revelation of Moshiach and the Redemption. In a letter dated Gimel Tamuz, 5710/1950, five months after the passing of the Previous Rebbe, the Rebbe described what a Rebbe is (see above article entitled "The Rebbe Is the Head," for a translation from the original Hebrew). On Gimel Tamuz, 5751/1991--the last time the Rebbe spoke on that date until we are once more reunited--the Rebbe discussed two historical events that occurred on Gimel Tamuz: The more recent event was in 5687/1927, when the Previous Rebbe was released from Soviet prison and exiled to Kostrama for three years. Before his release to internal exile he had been sentenced to death. Thousands of years earlier, Gimel Tamuz was the day on which Joshua beseeched G-d to allow the sun to stand still in the sky so as to be able to continue the Jewish people's battle against the enemy and be victorious. The Rebbe notes, in the talk of five years ago, that both of these events were miracles, but miracles that occurred within the realm of nature rather than totally outside of nature. The Rebbe connects these points to an event in the weekly Torah portion of that year, which was the portion of Korach. In Korach we read of G-d's command to Moses to take the staffs of princes of the 12 tribes, including that of Aaron the Kohen Gadol (High Priest), and to place them overnight in the Tent of Meeting. The staff that is rejuvenated, G-d informs Moses, will be the one belonging to the family that rightfully serves as priests. This miracle, G-d assures Moses, will surely end the complaints of the Jewish people against Moses and Aaron. Aaron's staff sprouted, blossomed and even bore fruit. And the staff became an eternal sign to the Jewish people of the validity of the priesthood being with Aaron and his descendants. As we imminently await the Rebbe's rejuvenation, may we all sincerely attempt to implement the Rebbe's call to ALL men, women and children of our generation to "DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO BRING MOSHIACH IN ACTUALITY!" and to fulfill our last communal mission in this pre-Redemption world, "TO PREPARE OURSELVES AND THE ENTIRE WORLD TO GREET OUR RIGHTEOUS MOSHIACH!" ******************************** * LIVING WITH THE REBBE TODAY! * ******************************** The Rebbe's followers, admirers, even people who have had only casual interaction with the Rebbe, are still "living with the Rebbe," following his directives, turning to him for advice, asking for his blessings. How is this being done? Studying the Rebbe's teachings is one of the most important and basic ways to live with the Rebbe. The Rebbe often quoted the Previous Rebbe's letters, which explain that a true connection with the Rebbe is attained only by studying the teachings of the Rebbe. The Rebbe clarified, though: "Most certainly the Rebbe is a tzaddik who bestows blessings; G-d surely fulfills his blessings to the utmost, to each and every individual, according to his need. Specifically, the Rebbe holds each person by the hand and guides him; one must only be careful not to involve his own will in the matter." Just two months after the Previous Rebbe's passing, the Rebbe wrote the following to someone: "You worry that now one cannot ask the Rebbe when he is in doubt how he should conduct himself. If you stand strong in your connection to him . . . and send your questions to the Rebbe's ohel [gravesite], the Rebbe will find a way to answer." Some people fax letters to the ohel (718 723-4444), some come from near or far to go personally. Others ask one of the Rebbe's secretaries to read the letter at the ohel. Another way people "live with the Rebbe" is by placing a letter to the Rebbe in any of the nearly 100 volumes of the Rebbe's Torah teachings or correspondence. This is, in fact, what chasidim of previous generations did when they were unable to correspond with their Rebbe in the conventional way. There's a modern twist, though. Today we have 24 volumes of Igros Kodesh--letters written by the Rebbe to private individuals over the past 50 years. As they are letters to private individuals --and the Rebbe "tailor- makes" the advice to fit the soul--there are different answers to similar questions. For instance, to one person who asks the Rebbe if he should move, the Rebbe answers "yes." To another person the Rebbe's answer is "no." After writing to the Rebbe, one opens the book "randomly" and the advice in that letter is one's answer. And we haven't heard of a case yet when one sincerely asks the Rebbe advice in this manner that there hasn't been an answer. How are these answers, blessings, and guidance possible? Again, let's turn to the Rebbe directly for an explanation: "In answer to your question, when people came to the Rebbe for a blessing they did so not because of the superiority of his physical body, but because of the superiority of his soul. Death only pertains to the physical body, for the soul is eternal, especially the soul of a tzaddik to whom purgatory and punishment have no relevance. The passing of a tzaddik is merely a departure, an ascent to a higher plane, and cannot therefore be termed 'death,' as is explained in the Zohar." **************************** * MIRACLES AND MATHEMATICS * **************************** We have seen, beyond a doubt, that the Rebbe, a true shepherd, continues to guide and direct in areas both large and small. In the two years since the Third of Tamuz, many people have written to the Rebbe. After "randomly" inserting the letter in to one of the many volumes of the Rebbe's letters ("Igros Kodesh"), they have read the letters on that page and found their answer--often startlingly to the point. * Dr. Yaakov Reich, a highly regarded university professor in the field of mathematics, who has published several articles in distinguished academic journals, seems an unusual person to talk of miracles. But Dr. Reich, who is also a chasid, cherishes his ongoing relationship with the Rebbe, which impacts not only his spiritual life, but also his day-to-day decisions. "During a short visit to Jerusalem last summer, my daughter and I were awakened suddenly by a frightening blast, followed by the sounds of ambulances and helicopters. A suicide bomber had just exploded two buses a few hundred yards from where we were staying. There were several dead and wounded. After we overcame our initial shock, I turned to my daughter, who had planned to stay in Israel for the upcoming school year. 'This is it. You are coming back home with me!' "'Abba,' my daughter reminded me, 'before coming here, I received very clear direction from the Rebbe to come. Why don't we ask the Rebbe again?' "I agreed and she wrote a letter which she randomly slipped into volume 18 of the Rebbe's letters (known as Igros Kodesh). She opened the book, where her note lay, and read: 'Do not fear. The eyes of G-d are on the Land of Israel from the beginning of the year until the end of the year.' "Needless to say, my daughter stayed in Israel. I appreciated the clarity of direction and thanked G-d for that. But this answer meant even more to me. It was an absolute assurance from the Rebbe that I had nothing to fear. So, in spite of the tragic events of this past year, I did not worry about my daughter's safety." Dr. Reich continues with another example of the Rebbe's continual involvement in his life. "A prior incident involves a business deal that I was unsure I should conclude. I wrote to the Rebbe. The letter to which I 'happened' to open was addressed to someone with the exact same first and last name as the person about whom I was writing! I immediately went ahead with the deal. "Recently a friend of ours called from Paris for advice. Should she come to New York to meet a young man who had been suggested to her as a possible match? I told her, 'Why don't you ask the Rebbe?' and I explained to her about receiving answers from the Rebbe through the Igros Kodesh. She asked me to write on her behalf as she does not have any of the Rebbe's letters and also does not know Hebrew. "Together we composed a letter to the Rebbe, after which I placed it into a volume of the Rebbe's letters. The letter was nestled in a page containing an answer from the Rebbe addressed to a woman in Paris. The Rebbe commenced the letter by giving his blessing to meet 'the young man.' Then the Rebbe gave specific instructions to the mother who had some marital problems. (Our friend acknowledged that her parents had been having problems in their relationship, and the Rebbe's advice was very much to the point.) At the end of the letter the Rebbe added a postscript: 'I did not hear from you for a while. Please know that I know French, though my secretaries do not.'" Dr. Reich's wife, Dr. Esther Reich, a dentist who is also professor in a New York university, tells another family story: "Last summer, one of our children did not know whether to return to Denver to work as head counselor in the Chabad day camp there or to work in a Chabad camp in Russia. Her school was encouraging her to go to Russia, as were we. But she really wanted to return to Denver where she had worked before and where she felt she had a rapport with some of the Russian children. She was being pressed for an answer. We suggested that she write to the Rebbe. "Initially she wrote just out of obedience. In the letter that she opened, the Rebbe was telling the person, 'You can do good for a Jew anywhere in the world.' "'You see,' she said to me excitedly, 'the Rebbe wants me to go to Denver!' "I read the letter and said, 'No!, the Rebbe wants you to go to Russia!' We were still at an impasse. I encouraged her to write another letter with all her heart and to ask the Rebbe for a clear answer, which she did. She then randomly opened to a page in one of the volumes of the Rebbe's letters. On that page was a list of names of cities in Russia! What is more to the point is that all the cities listed were ones that had been recommended to me as good cities for her to go to." * * * Many might be inclined to brush off these episodes as mere chance or coincidence. As a professor of mathematics whose specialty is probability, Dr. Yaakov Reich is well qualified to discuss the statistical probability of thousands of people receiving answers in this manner. "Fundamentally, what is happening here is that you have thousands of people who are independently doing this 'experiment,' known in mathematics as independent trials. The probability in independent trials is multiplied each time an additional trial is performed. For instance, if the probability of my trial coming up with the desired response is 50%, and the probability of your trial coming up with the desired response is 50%, then the probability of both of us coming up with the desired response is 25%," explains Dr. Reich. "Thus, if all of the letters any one person could have gotten which relate to their particular question is compared to the total number of letters, this kind of probability is less than 5%, even less than 1%. But let's be very conservative and say that one could somehow relate every tenth letter to his or her question. If there are thousands of people writing letters to the Rebbe to ask for his guidance and blessings, and only 50% get answers, the probability on such a large scale is extremely remote. And, of course, much more than 50% of the people who write to the Rebbe receive answers in this manner. One simply cannot attest this to a matter of interpretation anymore. Also, as happens often, specific details of the question such as a date, place or name appear in the answer. This reduces the probability of a chance many times. "We constantly hear of answers to specific questions, as has happened in our family in a most incredible way. These responses are not random and cannot be attributed to chance. One can only conclude that the Rebbe is truly here with us. "I would like to emphasize that the mathematical explanation given above, far from being a proof of the miraculous nature of the Rebbe's answers, is rather an illustration--for mathematics, though the most abstract field in science, is finite and limited and therefore in essence cannot prove G-d Who is unlimited and infinite." On a non-statistical note, Dr. Yaakov Reich comments, "Looking back through Jewish history, there were times when selected, righteous individuals were able to receive guidance by opening a Bible or other holy book. Now an amazing phenomenon is happening. The Rebbe is accessible to everyone, anywhere, any time. And the Rebbe answers immediately." In today's day of immediate gratification, an immediate answer is especially appreciated. Dr. Reich concludes: "As the Rambam explains, the occurrence of myriad of miracles 'while the world continues to operate in the usual manner' is a fundamental innovation of the Messianic Era, where the miracles will be the domain of everyone, not just a select few. As the Rebbe said in 5752/1992, 'Especially in these days, the days of Moshiach in which we find ourselves, all that is necessary is that we open our eyes.'" =========================================================== = End of Text: Living With Moshiach, Parshat Korach, 5756 = ===========================================================