“And so, now I’m on my way to Siberia. I thought that the Rebbe was dispensing business advice, but he must have seen that there is something there, in Siberia, that I must achieve, some part of my mission in life that must be played out in the frozen east. I could have gone in comfort, as a wealthy businessman and government contractor. Now I am going in chains…”
Zalman and Shaindy Berenshtein set out on shlichus to Kochi, India. Despite their previous experiences in India, they did not anticipate how difficult it would be to get started, but a letter from the Rebbe about shlichus helped them make their decision.
The fact that Pharaoh can force him into backbreaking labor – it is not Pharaoh King of Egypt who truly forces him! Rather, when G-d wants to test a Jew, He wields an axe, rod, or stick. But this is only “the axe in the hand of the woodchopper.” G-d checks whether he will stand up to the challenge and be strong in his Judaism. It is then that the exile is not real! * Part 2 of 2 (continued from last issue)
How is it possible to say that, prior to the exodus, when the Jewish people were still entrenched in exile, from the time of Rosh Chodesh Nissan (“This month shall be for you”), Nissan is referred to as the Month of Redemption? Security was so controlled at the Egyptian border, throughout the entire country, that the Torah testifies, “Not a single slave was able to escape Egypt.” So how is it possible to say that from the time of Rosh Chodesh it was the Month of Redemption?
Chazal have given a number of signs by which we can recognize the period before Moshiach comes. Among other things, they say that there will be inflation. • In recent times, those living in Eretz Yisroel are seeing this come true as the Ministry of the Treasury has started drastically raising prices on many products including basic food items and gasoline. • Beis Moshiach spoke with those involved in chesed organizations and heard how this is affecting their work.
If G-d had caused the Jewish people to remain exiled in Egypt a little while longer, they would have completed the ultimate purpose for which the world was created. Nevertheless, “Once the time of redemption had arrived, G-d did not delay even the blink of an eye.”
This column will focus on how to incorporate Moshiach into our daily activities, which is primarily achieved through Mivtzaim. Through the mivtzaim, we make our entire world a Moshiach’dike world and automatically bring Moshiach to all mankind.
There are those who question why it is necessary to have an intermediary interceding on our behalf before G-d. The person with this question is a learned man, a Torah scholar, etc. He is great enough – he claims – to negotiate his relationship with G-d without an intermediary. He doesn’t need a Rebbe! * Nadav and Avihu, of course, were extremely great, having attained the loftiest spiritual heights, but since “they taught Torah law in the presence of Moshe, their master,” they were severely punished –on account of their lack of proper deference to their master.
We are living presently in the transitional period—on the bridge—between galut/exile and geula/redemption. We are about to enter into a new relationship with the world. We are like the chattan in his transitional period. We too must learn the lesson of communicating with love. And while in earlier generations we could have afforded the luxury of being more stern in the way we tried to affect others, today, the method we must use is the method of Aaron.
Mordechai was a chassid. Indeed, it was he who established the “obligation to celebrate on Purim ad d’lo yada.” Who would come up with the idea of “ad d’lo yada,” for all future generations, if not a chassid?!
The ultimate manifestation of the korban ideal will be realized in the Messianic Age. First, the Temple offerings will be reinstated as the Torah states, and we make reference to it countless times in our liturgy. Second, all of existence will undergo the process of korban-elevation, not sacrifice.
February 24, 2012