"LIVING WITH MOSHIACH,"
Parshat Yitro, 5764
Shevat 21, 5764
Feb. 13, 2004
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TABLE OF CONTENTS:
NOTE:
The Table of Contents contains links to the text. Click on an entry
in the Table of Contents and you will move to the information selected.
"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, the 375th
issue of our weekly publication, Living With Moshiach.
*
In this week's issue, we focus on Chof Beis, the 22nd day of the Hebrew
month of Shevat, Shabbat Parshat Yitro (Saturday, Feb. 14),
commemorating the 16th yahrtzeit of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson,
wife of 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 of blessed
memory, 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
10-11 Shevat, 5764
Brooklyn, New York
Parshat Yitro
This week's Torah portion, Yitro, contains the narrative of one of
the greatest historical occurrences of all time: the giving of the Torah
to the Jewish people on Mount Sinai. Yet this is not readily evident by the
name of the portion, which is called by the name of Moses' father-in-law.
Every word, letter, and subtle grammatical nuance in the Torah teaches us
volumes; how much more so, the names of the portions themselves. What then,
is so significant about Yitro that the Torah portion containing the Ten
Commandments is given his name?
Yitro, described in the Torah as "a priest of Midian," was not merely a highly
respected official in his native land. Yitro was the high priest of idolatry,
who had explored every type of idolatrous worship and philosophy in the world.
The Zohar explains that the Torah could not be given to mankind until Yitro
had rejected each and every false god, and had publicly accepted G-d's
sovereignty. Yitro was the symbol of the power ancient man invested in gods
of wood and stone. It was only when Yitro declared "Now I know that the L-rd
is greater than all the gods," that truth prevailed, and the Torah could
be given.
The most dramatic contrast occurs when darkness itself is transformed into
light. In Hebrew this is called "the superiority (yitron) of light
over darkness," a light which shines forth from a place it had previously
been unable to reach. It is also interesting to note that Yitro's name is
linguistically related to this as well.
Yitro's acceptance of G-d also reflects the reason why the Torah was given
on Mount Sinai. Prior to that time, the Patriarchs were already following
the Torah's commandments, and Jews had studied Torah while in Egypt. What
was innovated at Mount Sinai was the power to infuse the physical world with
holiness, to combine the spiritual and the material simultaneously. The G-dliness
concealed within the physical world could now be uncovered and revealed,
according to G-d's plan.
When Yitro not only rejected his false idols, but joined the Jewish people
in their faith, it paved the way for future generations to transform darkness
into light and to build a dwelling place for G-d in this world. A Jew's task
is to sanctify his physical surroundings and imbue them with holiness.
Yitro therefore merited that an entire portion of the Torah bears his name,
for he personified the mission of every Jew and the reason for the giving
of the Torah.
*
To further understand the above concept, i.e., what was innovated at Mount
Sinai, was the power to infuse the physical world with holiness, to combine
the spiritual and the material simultaneously. We present the following talk
of the Rebbe:
The Torah describes the revelation on Mount Sinai in this week's Torah portion,
Yitro. G-d revealed Himself to the entire Jewish nation, giving the
Children of Israel the Torah and its commandments.
However, the concept of Torah and mitzvot existed long before the
Jews arrived at Mount Sinai. Our sages teach us that the Patriarchs and
Matriarchs certainly learned Torah and performed mitzvot. What, then,
was innovated by the Revelation on Sinai?
The Midrash explains this question by means of a parable: A king once
decreed that Romans were not allowed to go down to Syria and Syrians were
not permitted to ascend to Rome. After a while the decree was nullified,
with the king announcing that he himself would initiate the change.
This is similar to how it was before the Giving of the Torah. "The heavens
belong to G-d, and the earth He gave to mankind." There existed a separation
between the heavens and the earth. At the Revelation, this decree was nullified,
and a connection was formed between the heavens and the earth. G-d was the
king who initiated the change, as we read, "and G-d descended on Mount Sinai."
The "heavens" symbolize spirituality and G-dliness. The "earth" symbolizes
the physical and corporeal aspects of our lives. When we say that before
the Torah was given on Mount Sinai there was a division between the heavens
and earth, what is meant is that there was no possibility of connecting the
physical and spiritual realms. There was an unbridgeable gap between the
two. The greatness of the Revelation on Mount Sinai is that this gap was
actually bridged, opening for us the opportunity to unite the physical world
with G-d and G-dliness.
When we take the skin of a cow -- a physical object -- and write on this
parchment a mezuzah or tefillin or a Torah scroll, we transform
it into something holy. A union is formed between the spiritual holiness
of the words of Torah and the physical parchment, to the extent that the
parchment itself becomes holy through its association. Similarly, when a
Jew eats food in honor of Shabbat, he elevates the food from its physical
state and makes it holy. This is the power that was given to us at Mount
Sinai, the power to bring G-dliness and holiness down into this physical
world.
Before the Revelation, corporeality stood in contradiction to spirituality.
A person who wanted to become close to G-d had to distance himself, to some
extent, from the physical side of his nature. Physical actions could not
be imbued with holiness. The Giving of the Torah granted us the ability to
be connected and bound to G-d, while at the same time living a physical life.
We can worship G-d through our eating and drinking, our work, even our everyday
speech if we do these things properly. The physical needs not stand in the
way of the spiritual. We have the power to actually transform corporeality
into holiness.
This is our task here in this world -- to enlighten our surroundings with
the light of Torah, and to make a fitting "dwelling place" for G-d.
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 OUR DEAR FRIEND AND COPY EDITOR
Reb Mordechai ben Reb Shaul
Staiman
Passed away on 22 Tamuz, 5763
The righteous women who left Egypt were so confident that G-d would perform
miracles for the Jewish people that they took tambourines with them into
the desert. So, too, with the final Redemption. The righteous women must,
and certainly do trust so completely in the immediate Redemption, that they
will begin immediately -- in these last moments of exile -- to play music
and dance for the coming of the complete Redemption.
(The Rebbe)
AN ACTUAL PART OF G-D
Adapted from a Talk of the Rebbe
(on the 22nd of Shevat, 5752/1992,
forth yahrtzeit of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka)
The number twenty-two, written in Hebrew letters, is chof-beis. These
are the same letters making up the word bach that is found in the
verse, "Through you (bach), Israel will be blessed." This verse indicates
that "through you," blessing will be drawn down to each and every Jew, generating
positive activities, which, in turn, will lead to further activities of blessing
in a pattern that will continue endlessly.
Ultimately, these activities will lead to the fulfillment of the prophecy
"And G-d will wipe tears away from every face." "Tears" in Hebrew is numerically
equivalent to 119. G-d's positive activity of wiping away tears represents
an increase, causing the sum to reach 120, the complete sum of human life.
Therefore, when Moses reached 120 years old, he stated, "Today, my days and
my years are completed."
The above relates to every Jew, for every Jew possesses a spark of Moses
within him. This spark of Moses generates positive activity, which, as explained
above, initiates a pattern that continues to generate further positive activity
forever.
The Hebrew word for "forever," olam, also means "world." Olam
is related to the Hebrew word helem, meaning concealment. Our world
is characterized by hiddenness, the concealment of G-dliness. This concealment
allows for a soul -- an actual part of G-d -- to be concealed, that is, to
depart from this world after its "days and years are completed" -- after
they have been endowed with fullness and completion through good deeds. In
this context as well, the pattern mentioned above applies, as each good deed
leads to more good deeds, in a never-ending sequence.
The above also shares a connection to the Torah reading of this Shabbat
[Parshat Yitro], which describes the Giving of the Torah. Our Sages relate
that after each of the Ten Commandments, "the souls of the Jews departed,"
a phenomenon parallel to death, and G-d revived them with the dew that He
will use to resurrect the dead in the era of the Redemption.
Similarly, in the present context, four years ago
today,(1) an "actual part of G-d," a Jewish soul, ascended
from this world. Each year, on the day of the yahrtzeit, that soul
ascends to a higher level, indeed, a level immeasurably higher than the peaks
the soul had reached previously. This is reflected in the recitation of
Kaddish(2) on that day. Its recitation again on
the day of the yahrtzeit, after not being recited on a daily basis,
indicates a new ascent.
May the soul reach the ultimate level of ascent, the level to be reached
at the time of the Resurrection. And may this take place in the immediate
future. For ours is the last generation of the exile and the first generation
of the Redemption.
Together with all the Jews of the present generation who will proceed to
the Holy Land amidst health and joy, they will be joined by "those who lie
in the dust," the souls of the previous generations, who "will arise and
sing."
In particular, this applies to a soul who has merited that many Jewish girls
be named after her, and educated in the spirit in which she lived, which,
in turn, came as a result of the education she was given by her father, the
Previous Rebbe.
This will be hastened by the distribution of money to be given -- with each
person making an addition from his own funds -- to tzeddakah
[charity]. This will speed the coming of the Redemption when "the
Holy One, blessed be He, will make a dance for the righteous," a dance that
will be joined by each member of the Jewish people, man, woman, and child.
And they will point to G-d and say, "Behold this is the G-d in whom we put
our trust."
And this will take place in the immediate future. "With our youth and our
elders... with our sons and our daughters," we will proceed to the Holy Land
"on the clouds of heaven." And "those that lie in the dust will arise and
sing," with the righteous ones mentioned previously, at our head.
_______________
1. This was said on the 4th yahrtzeit of the Rebbetzin. This year
marks the Rebbetzin's 16th yahrtzeit. Ed.
2. The Kaddish is recited each day for eleven months only in the year
after the person's death. Ed.
Chof Beis, the 22nd day of the Hebrew month of Shevat, Shabbat
Parshat Yitro (Saturday, Feb. 14) is the 16th yahrtzeit of Rebbetzin
Chaya Mushka Schneerson, of blessed memory, wife of the Rebbe and daughter
of the Previous Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn.
Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka was born in the Russian village of Babinovitch (a
small shtetl near Lubavitch) on 25 Adar II, 5661/1901; she
played an integral role in both her father's and husband's affairs throughout
her life. And yet, she deliberately chose to function out of the limelight.
Extremely modest, royal in bearing, and, above all, kindly, Rebbetzin Chaya
Mushka was the embodiment of Jewish womanhood and an exceptional role model
for Jewish women and girls.
On the anniversary of her passing several years ago, the Rebbe spoke about
the special mission all Jewish woman have been entrusted with. The function
of every Jew -- man, woman and child -- is to "make a dwelling place for
G-d" on earth. But the goal of the Jewish woman is to take this one step
further, and adorn G-d's abode on the physical plane so that it is "lovely"
and appointed with "fine furnishings."
In particular, the Jewish woman fulfills her role of "spiritual decorator"
through the three special mitzvot G-d has given her to implement in
her private home: maintaining the kashrut(3) of
her kitchen, keeping the laws of Family Purity,(4) and
lighting candles for Shabbat and Yom
Tov,(5) together with her daughters. (The Rebbe specified
that young girls should light first, so that their mothers can assist them
if necessary.)
The Rebbe also called on women to renew their commitment to the Jewish education
of their children, from the earliest age on. When a Jewish mother sings a
lullaby to her baby about how the Torah is "the best, the sweetest, and the
most beautiful" thing in the world, it instills a deep love and appreciation
for Torah that lasts a lifetime.
The main point during these last few moments of exile, the Rebbe stressed,
is to recognize the great merit and power Jewish women and girls have to
bring about the Final Redemption.
May it happen at once!
_______________
3. See Living With Moshiach, Vol. 336.
4. See Living With Moshiach, Vol. 245.
5. See Living With Moshiach, Vol. 363.
A Brief Biography
Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka led a life which was remarkable in many ways, not
the least in its utter selflessness and extreme privacy.
She was born on 25 Adar II, 5661/1901, the daughter of the sixth
Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok. Her remarkable abilities and keen
intellect brought her father to entrust her with great responsibilities.
In fact, she was actively involved in many of his activities to keep Judaism
alive during the explosive years following the Russian Revolution and
establishment of the Soviet state.
In 5687/1927, when her father, the Previous Rebbe was arrested, it was Rebbetzin
Chaya Mushka who made sure that all possibly incriminating documents were
destroyed. Indeed, during his imprisonment, she was in the forefront of those
seeking to commute the death sentence to one of exile, and then, finally
to release.
A unique relationship existed between Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka and her father,
and he wrote many deep, philosophical letters to her, in which he expounded
his concepts of Chasidic thought and Divine service. Those who were privileged
to know the Rebbetzin described her as a refined, erudite woman of very extensive
knowledge and great intelligence and wit.
On the 14th of Kislev, 5689/1929, Warsaw was at the peak of its glory,
the "Jerusalem of Poland." On that day, Rebbes of numerous Chasidic dynasties,
world-renowned Rabbis and heads of yeshivas, illustrious Jews of many
walks of life gathered to celebrate the wedding of the daughter of the
Lubavitcher Rebbe and the son of the brilliant scholar and kabbalist, Rabbi
Levi Yitzchok Schneerson. The marriage of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka to Rabbi
Menachem M. Schneerson opened a new chapter in her life. Twenty-five years
later, the Rebbe described the union as a marriage which bound him to the
Chasidim.
The early days of their marriage were ones of onerous hardship and great
personal danger. First settling in Berlin, they were forced to flee to Paris
after the Nazis came to power. They fled Paris in 5700/1940 and through the
strenuous efforts of the Previous Rebbe they succeeded in boarding the last
ship to leave Europe. From the day they arrived in the United States, for
the next 47 years, the Rebbetzin's life was dedicated to only one thing --
the well-being of her husband and the success of his mission in life.
It was Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka who urged her husband to assume the leadership
of Chabad-Lubavitch after the passing of her illustrious father in 5710/1950.
From that moment on, the Rebbetzin embarked on perhaps the most difficult
mission of her life, for she spent the next four decades supporting every
action and move the Rebbe took on behalf of the Jewish people.
Although she was entirely absent from the public eye, she took an avid interest
in the work of the many thousands of emissaries, keeping abreast of their
activities. The Rebbetzin took deep personal satisfaction in their
accomplishments, and commiserated in their hardships.
For the Rebbetzin, her husband's will became her own. She was his greatest
Chasid. And yet, she had the wifely wisdom to look out for his health.
Knowing that the Rebbe usually refused to see a doctor, she would make her
own medical treatment contingent on his agreeing to a check-up. In order
to assure her well-being, he would, of course, comply.
In her last years, when the Rebbetzin was ill, she suffered in silence, and
to her last day, no complaint escaped her lips. Even to her husband she did
not reveal all her suffering, in order to spare him distress.
On the unanimous advice of several doctors the Rebbetzin was hospitalized.
Soon after she arrived at the hospital she suddenly requested a glass of
water. Shortly after midnight of Wednesday, the 22nd day of Shevat
5748/1988, the pure neshama of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka left this world.
The Rebbetzin's forebearers, Rebbetzin Rivka and Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah,
her great-grandmother and grandmother, had asked for a glass of water minutes
before their passing.
It is recorded in many holy books that tzaddikim often ask for water
before their passing. One explanation that is given is that their souls thereby
leave this world after reciting the proper blessing before drinking water,
"...and everything is created through His word" and the blessing afterward
"...He who creates many souls." This same blessing will be said at the time
of the resurrection of the dead in the Messianic Era.
In the merit of the Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, may we follow the Rebbe's injunction
to take her life's accomplishments to heart, and with our many deeds of goodness
and kindness, may we see the coming of Moshiach now.
"And the living should take to heart." This verse, oft repeated by the Rebbe
during the year after the passing of his wife, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, means
that we should learn from the life of a person who has passed on attitudes
and modes of behavior we can incorporate into our own lives.
As we observe the 16th yahrtzeit of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka there are,
among many others, three significant lessons we can "take to heart" from
three of her exchanges.
Don't Cause Pain to Others
In her last years, the Rebbetzin had considerable difficulties with her eyes.
Once she was asked: "Jews from all over the world ask the Rebbe for a blessing.
Why do you hold yourself back from asking for a blessing?" In answer, she
said, "It is important for me not to cause the Rebbe pain."
It is improper for us, in order to relieve our own pain, to even inadvertently
cause another person pain.
Really Feel for the Other Person
The Friday night before her passing was a bitterly cold night. During a
conversation with her visitor, the Rebbetzin mentioned, "When I think that
you have to go out [to go home], I become cold."
We should care so much about other people that we feel for them and even
anticipate their discomfort. We can accomplish this by putting our own
considerations aside, as did the Rebbetzin on this evening when she was already
very ill, and focusing solely on the other person.
The Importance of Humility
One year, in honor of her birthday, the Lubavitch Women's Organization sent
the Rebbetzin a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Together with the bouquet was
an envelope that contained a list of names of people who were in need of
a blessing. The intention was that the list be given to the Rebbe.
The person who accepted the bouquet gave it to the Rebbetzin and submitted
the envelope to the Rebbe. The Rebbe looked at the envelope, upon which the
Rebbetzin's name had been written, and asked why it was not given to the
Rebbetzin. The person explained that it contained a list of names of people
who were in need of a blessing. The Rebbe responded, "Nu, she can also bless
them!"
But when the Rebbetzin communicated an answer from the Rebbe, she would always
convey it verbatim, saying, "This was the exact answer." She refused to ever
add an explanation but only repeated the Rebbe's words precisely.
No matter our own greatness or importance, our own abilities or position
of power, humility is an essential character trait.
In the merit of the Rebbetzin, may we immediately be privileged to see the
conclusion of the Midrashic prophecy when Moshiach will stand on the roof
of the Holy Temple and proclaim, "Humble ones, the time of your redemption
has arrived."
Though precious little is known of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, the few statements
of hers that are public,(6) convey her brilliance, wit
and personal insight:
A young bride-to-be from a distinguished chasidic family could not be convinced
by her grandfather to uphold a little-practiced custom, which was not the
vogue, at her wedding. The grandfather asked the Rebbetzin to speak with
the bride. When the young woman protested that none of her friends had acted
in accordance with the custom and that she would be looked upon as being
different, the Rebbetzin responded, "It's very modern to be different."
"It's very modern to be different." From safety pins in the ears to "earrings"
in other parts of the anatomy, from assertiveness training to personalized
trainers, we strive, and to some extent succeed, to be modern, i.e., different.
But how many of us have the courage to be "modern" when it comes to Judaism?
The next time a book about a new spiritual path tops the best-seller list,
be modern and buy a book about the Jewish spirit.
The next time a friend asks you to sign up for a lecture series at the local
university, be modern and sign up for a lecture series at the local
Chabad-Lubavitch Center.
The next time suggestions for restaurants are offered for that high-powered
lunch, be modern and suggest a kosher restaurant (most major cities nowadays
have at least one kosher restaurant).
And think of the Rebbetzin, who was so utterly modern that she cared not
a bit about what "modern" conventions say. She remained the Rebbe's most
ardent and devoted follower, so much so, that the Rebbetzin once stated,
"His [the Rebbe's] will is my will."
"G-d alone knows the full extent of her greatness," the Rebbe said during
the shiva for the Rebbetzin.
As the Rebbe stated in his first public discourse, all sevenths are precious
... we are the seventh generation ... the last generation of exile and the
first generation of the Redemption.
In the Redemption, when the G-dly essence of everything will be revealed,
we will surely appreciate the Rebbetzin's true greatness.
_______________
6. See Living With Moshiach,
Vol. 369.
"What am I doing here?" you ask yourself as you stop in the middle of the
room, trying to figure out why you came there in the first place.
Or perhaps you're waiting in the long line at the mega-supermarket. "What
am I doing here?" you mutter to no one in particular, as you weigh the few
cents you'll save against the time you're wasting.
Maybe your question is bigger, triggered by a mid-life crisis, a blow out
with your boss, or on a more positive note, achievement of a financial goal.
"What am I doing here? Where do I go from here?"
The soul, the spark of G-dliness within every person, could ask itself a
similar question. "What am I doing here? Why did I leave my holy, heavenly
environment and descend into a physical body in a very physical world?"
Jewish mystical teachings would answer the soul, "You descended from your
lofty place into this world for the purpose of an ascent." Regardless of
how lofty the soul was before, its sojourn in the physical body serves as
a springboard to attain ever higher heights, an aliya in Hebrew.
While the soul -- in its pre-birth state -- is exalted, it is also spiritually
immobile, fixed in its status. The soul yearns to enter the physical world,
though there it will be challenged with moral dilemmas and temptations. For
it is precisely these confrontations that provide an opportunity for spiritual
growth.
When the soul in this world overcomes the challenges and performs
mitzvot, it goes through a transformation and becomes elevated. At
the end of this physical journey, the soul will return to heaven at a higher
and more elevated level than before its incarnation.
The day of birth is a great opportunity for the yearning soul. However, the
day of passing after a lifetime of genuine fulfillment is even greater. For
on this day we celebrate the actual, not the potential; we rejoice in what
the soul has accomplished during its sojourn in this world.
On Shabbat Parshat Yitro (Saturday, Feb. 14) the 16th anniversary
of the passing of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, is surely a fitting time to ask
oneself the question, "What am I doing here?" Then listen to your soul, it
will give you some important answers.
The most important principle in the Torah is the protection of Jewish life.
It's more important than Shabbat, more important than holidays, even
fasting on Yom Kippur.
Right now, in Israel, and everywhere, Jews must stand together in unity and
do whatever possible to protect Jewish life.
The Rebbe taught that there are ten important
Mitzvot we can do to protect life. See what you can do:
1) Ahavat Yisroel: Behave with love towards another Jew.
2) Learn Torah: Join a Torah class.
3) Make sure that Jewish children get a Torah true education.
4) Affix kosher Mezuzot on all doorways of the house.
5) For men and boys over 13: Put on Tefillin every weekday.
6) Give Charity.
7) Buy Jewish holy books and learn them.
8) Light Shabbat & Yom Tov candles. A Mitzvah
for women and girls.
9) Eat and drink only Kosher Food.
10) Observe the laws of Jewish Family Purity.
In addition, the Rebbe also urged every man, woman and child to Purchase
a Letter in a Sefer Torah. There are several Torah scrolls
being written to unite Jewish people and protect Jewish life.
Letters for children can be purchased for only $1. Send your Hebrew name
and your mother's Hebrew name plus $1 to:
"Children's Sefer Torah,"
P. O. Box 8,
Kfar Chabad, 72915, Israel
or via the Internet, at:
http://www.kidstorah.org
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.
Positive Deeds:
"The yahrtzeit should, as is Jewish custom, be connected with deeds
undertaken in memory of the departed. The Hebrew expression for this intent,
l'ilui nishmat, means "for the ascent of the soul." Our deeds help
elevate the soul of the departed. Then, the higher levels that the soul reaches
are drawn down and influence this world.... Also, it is proper that gifts
be given to charity in multiples of 470, the numerical equivalent of the
Rebbetzin's name."
The Rebbe, 22 Shevat, 5750/1990
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.candlelightingtimes.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.candlelightingtimes.org/general/shluchim.html.
In the USA, call: 1-800-Lubavitch (1-800-582-2848).
Times shown are for Metro NY - NJ
Friday, Feb. 13, Erev Shabbat Parshat Yitro:
-
Light Shabbat Candles,(7) by 5:09 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 14, Shabbat Parshat Yitro:
-
Shabbat ends at nightfall, at 6:11 p.m.
_______________
7. 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.
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.
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