LIVING WITH MOSHIACH
Weekly Digest About Moshiach
Parshat Vayikra, 5766
2 Nissan, 5766
March 31, 2006
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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 468th
issue of our weekly publication, Living With Moshiach.
*
In this week's issue, we focus on Beis (the second day of the Hebrew
month of) Nissan (Friday, March 31), the Yahrtzeit of Rabbi
Sholom Dov Ber (1860-1920), the fifth Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch, known as
the Rebbe Rashab.
*
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
23 Adar, 5766
Los Angeles, California
Parshat Vayikra
This week's Torah portion is Vayikra, which begins the book of Leviticus.
The book of Leviticus, is also known as Torat Kohanim (the Laws of
the Priests) and the Book of Sacrifices.
Jews, as a people, and individually, are expected to behave like
kohanim (priests), as G-d has declared: "And you should be unto Me
a Kingdom of Kohanim." Just as the kohen has been selected
to dedicate himself to the Divine Service -- and not only for his own sake,
but also for the whole Jewish people -- so has every Jew been chosen to serve
G-d, with a responsibility also for his entire environment.
To serve G-d does not mean to withdraw from the world; it rather means to
serve G-d within this world and together with this world. The beginning of
this G-dly service is in one's own home-life, by conducting it in such a
way that G-d's Presence should dwell in it, as it is written: "They shall
make Me a Sanctuary that I may dwell among them."
This is accomplished by a way of life exemplified by the sacrifices of old.
The service of the sacrifices consisted in taking things from one's possession
-- a lamb, flour, oil, wine, salt, etc. -- and consecrating them.
This is the way a Jewish home should be conducted; every detail of one's
life should be consecrated to G-d. How is this accomplished? By bringing
spirituality into our daily lives and our homes through charity and good
deeds, communicating with G-d, and Jewish education. And then the Divine
Presence dwells there, and it is a home blessed by G-d, materially and
spiritually.
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
56 years ago, on Shabbat Parshat Vayakhel-Pekudei, 5710/1950, the
Rebbe said the following:
"In the last series of Chasidic discourses that the [Previous] Rebbe wrote,
he anticipated everything and hinted at everything. [According to the
unauthenticated notes of a listener, the Rebbe said: "I search among the
subjects explained in these discourses for the answers to all the questions
beings asked."]...
"The [Previous] Rebbe says this of our present time -- the final era before
the Redemption, the era in which the task of separating the sparks of G-dliness
in this world and returning them to their source comes to an end. As the
Rebbe wrote, now is the era preceding the Redemption, and the mode of spiritual
service now required is a mode of victory, with an unquestioning acceptance
of the yoke of heaven.
"In order that victory be secured in the current battle, 'secret treasures,
which have been locked away for generations,' have been squandered -- i.e.,
all the teachings and episodes which the Rebbe revealed in recent times,
and which had been hidden and sealed from generation to generation, until
the generation of the Baal Shem Tov and his mentor.
"Because no one adequately took all these treasures to heart, their revelation
is a veritable squandering, all for the sake of victory."
In another of his earliest talks, the Rebbe suggests that we pour over the
latter talks of the Previous Rebbe from his final years in order to find
guidance and our orders on how to proceed.
Jewish teachings explain that when a great Sage makes a statement about another
great teacher he is, in reality, saying the same about himself. Thus, we
must take the Rebbe's advice and pour over his most recent teachings, those
from the years of 5750, 5751 and 5752 (1990-1992). In these most recent talks,
the Rebbe's declaration that "The time of our Redemption has arrived," shows
clearly that we have entered a new stage in the pre-Redemption era. And the
Rebbe's instructions to publicize this and other statements and messages
are also contained in these talks.
May we very soon no longer have to review the Rebbe's talks, but hear Torah
from the Rebbe himself.
Last Shabbat was Shabbat Mevorchim, the Shabbat before
the new Jewish month. Literally translated, it means a Shabbat in
which we bless the upcoming Jewish month. This Shabbat Mevorchim is
special because it is the Shabbat before the month of
Nissan(1), which is often referred to as "the month
of Redemption."
On the surface, calling Nissan the month of Redemption is explained
by the fact that Nissan is the month in which we celebrate
Passover,(2) the holiday that commemorates the Jews' redemption
from Egyptian slavery. But the month of Nissan is also connected to
the Final Redemption, as our Sages say, "In Nissan, our people were
redeemed, and in Nissan, they will be redeemed in the future."
This Shabbat represents the transition from the month of Adar
to the month of Nissan. Both months contain within them commemorations
of miraculous events. In Adar we celebrate the downfall of Haman and
the victory of the Jewish people, and in Nissan we celebrate our freedom
from slavery.
The difference between the events is that the miracles of Purim occurred
within the natural order of the world, while the miracles of Passover transcended
the natural order. The story of Purim can be traced through a natural sequence
of events. But by cloaking miracles in the natural order of the world, we
are actually elevating the natural order.
That is our true purpose on this earth, to elevate the physical to the spiritual
and have G-dliness revealed on this plane.
Another concept that the two months have in common is redemption. Adar
celebrates redemption from Haman's wicked decree, and Nissan celebrates
the redemption from Egypt. Shabbat is also a kind of redemption, a
weekly redemption from mundane cares and worries to a place of light, joy,
song and Torah-study.
May all of these redemption's be stepping-stones to our complete, final,
and ultimate Redemption, the coming of Moshiach.
_______________
1. Rosh Chodesh Nissan is celebrated on Thursday, March 30.
Ed.
2. This year, Passover begins on Wednesday night, April 12.
Ed.
Friday, Beis (the second day of) Nissan (March 31), is the
Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Sholom Dov Ber (1860-1920), the fifth Rebbe of
Chabad-Lubavitch, known as the Rebbe Rashab.
The Rebbe Rashab lived in the town of Lubavitch in White Russia, which had
been the center of the Chabad movement. However, in 1915 the Rebbe and his
chasidim were forced to leave the town of Lubavitch as the battles
of World War I were approaching. They settled in the town of Rostov, which
seemed to be a safe distance from the fighting. But in 1920, the Communists
tightened their control over Rostov. This, however, did not discourage the
Rebbe Rashab from continuing with his work of inspiring and encouraging his
fellow Jews in all areas of Torah and mitzvot.
*
Only hours before his passing, the Rebbe Rashab told his chasidim,
"I am going to heaven, but my writings I am leaving with you." Although he
wouldn't be physically present, the chasidim could connect to him
through his teachings.
A scant perusal of the Rebbe Rashab's writings brings to light the following
gems:
"A single act is better than a thousand groans. Our G-d lives, and Torah
and mitzvot are eternal; quit the groaning and work hard in actual
spiritual work, and G-d will be gracious to you."
"Cherish criticism, for it will place you on the true heights."
"When Moshiach will come, then we will really long for the days of exile.
Then we will truly feel distress at our having neglected our avoda
(spiritual work); then will we indeed feel the deep pain caused by our lack
of avoda. These days of exile are the days of avoda, to prepare
ourselves for the coming of Moshiach, speedily in our time, amen."
"And this is the main thing in these last moments before Moshiach, that we
don't go according to our intellect and our reasoning. Rather, we should
fulfill Torah and mitzvot above and beyond what reason dictates."
"The avoda of serving G-d according to Chasidus comprises all
kinds of levels... the level of 'corpse' does not need much elaboration;
but, thank G-d, there is also 'revival of the dead' in spiritual work. A
corpse is cold; there is nothing as frigid as natural intellect, human intellect.
When one's natural intelligence comprehends a G-dly concept, and the emotions
latent in intellect are enthused and moved by the pleasure-within-intellect
-- that is true revival of the dead."
May we immediately merit the Final Redemption, when all righteous Jews (and
all Jews are considered righteous!) will be resurrected with the Revival
of the Dead.
*
There is a beautiful story concerning the Rebbe Rashab, illustrating the
high esteem in which he held every Jew.
One of the Rebbe Rashab's followers, Reb Monye Monissohn, was a wealthy gem
dealer. Once, when they were sitting together, the Rebbe spoke very highly
about some simple, unlearned Jews.
"Why do you make such a fuss about them?" Reb Monye asked the Rebbe.
"Each one of them has many special and noble qualities," explained the Rebbe.
"I can't see any of these qualities," said Reb Monye.
The Rebbe remained silent. A while later, he asked Reb Monye if he had brought
his package of diamonds with him. Indeed, Reb Monye had brought the diamonds,
but asked the Rebbe if he could display them later, when they could be seen
to their best advantage.
Later, Reb Monye took the Rebbe into a different room and arranged the diamonds
for him to see. Reb Monye pointed to one gem in particular, extolling its
beautiful color and quality.
"I can't see anything special in it," the Rebbe said.
"That is because you have to be a "maven" to know how to look at
diamonds!" explained Reb Monye.
"Every Jew, too, is something beautiful and extra-ordinary," the Rebbe said.
"But you have to be a "maven" to know how to look at him."
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 teaches 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.
Thirty Days:
"Purim is thirty days before Passover.(3) As Rabbi Shneur
Zalman of Liadi writes in his Code of Jewish Law, thirty days before Passover,
we should begin studying the laws of the holiday.
"Similarly, since the celebration of the Passover holiday involves many expenses,
it is proper that efforts be made to provide everyone who lacks with their
Passover needs.
"Although there are organizations involved with these activities throughout
the entire year, there must be an increase in these efforts in connection
with the Passover holidays, providing them with both food and clothing so
that they can celebrate the holiday in an ample manner, as befits 'free people.'"
(The Rebbe, 16 Adar, 5751/1991)
_______________
3. This year, Passover begins on Wednesday night, April 12.
Ed.
Jewish Women and Girls Light Shabbat
Candles
For local candle lighting times:
consult your local Rabbi, Chabad-Lubavitch Center.
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, March 31, Erev Shabbat Parshat Vayikra:
-
Light Shabbat Candles,(4) by 6:01 p.m.
Saturday, April 1, Shabbat Parshat Vayikra:
-
Shabbat ends at nightfall, at 7:02 p.m.
_______________
4. 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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