LEARN IT TILL YOU LIVE IT

From Chapter Five of Rabbi Shloma Majeski’s Likkutei Mekoros Vol. 2. (Underlined text is the compiler’s emphasis)

Translated by Boruch Merkur

18. […] All that is lacking is that a Jew should properly open his eyes, and he will see how everything is already prepared for the redemption! We already have a “shulchan aruch (a set table; i.e., everything is prepared); we already have the Leviasan, the Shor HaBar, and the Yayin HaMeshumar. Jews are already sitting at the table – “their Father’s table” (the King, King of Kings, Alm-ghty G-d) – together with Moshiach Tzidkeinu (as stated in holy works that “In each generation there is born one from the descendants of Yehuda who is fit to be the Moshiach of the Jewish people”), and in our times it is the leader of the generation, my revered father in-law, the Rebbe. And after forty years since the histalkus of the Rebbe, we also have “a heart to know and eyes to see and ears to hear.”

As we have said above, all that is needed now is to open up our “heart to know,” our “eyes to see,” and our “ears to hear.” We must also utilize all 248 physical limbs and 365 sinews to study the inner dimension of the Torah as it has been revealed through the teachings of Chassidus, as well as to fulfill the directives of our Rebbes, our N’siim. That is, in addition to using all limbs and organs, etc., to study Torah and to fulfill Mitzvos in general. (The 248 positively stated Mitzvos correspond to the 248 limbs and the 365 prohibitive Mitzvos correspond to the 365 sinews.) There must also be the study of the subject of redemption, in a manner that it should open up the heart, eyes, and ears. That is, the subject matter – the true and complete redemption – must be properly understood; the redemption must literally be experienced, taking place within the physicality of the world, visually and audibly. Also, it is imperative to learn Moshiach’s Torah (the inner dimension of the Torah) in a manner of seeing.

All the above is already prepared. Were we to merely open up our eyes, we would see it all!

19. In simple terms, a call to action:

Since the union of the soul and the body – as well as spirituality and physicality – is already complete (as above), and everything is already prepared for the redemption, we must, therefore, do things that reveal this unprecedented state in the real, literal sense.

First and foremost, regarding a timely matter, the birthday (when “his mazal prevails”) and yom hilula of the Mitteler Rebbe: to add in the study of the Mitteler Rebbe’s teachings, specifically in the expansive manner of Bina, Understanding, “rechovos ha’nahar” (which connects spirituality with physicality, as discussed above at length).

This call to study is applicable to all Jews – both men and women (as discussed on several occasions that the study of Chassidus and the spreading of the wellsprings outward applies, in the simple sense, even to Jewish women and young ladies, especially insofar as spreading the wellsprings brings about the advent of Moshiach.)

And “Torah study is great[er than Mitzvos] as it leads to action”: it is vital to have Torah study brought into action and actual avoda. This message is learned from the Mitteler Rebbe, whose teachings of Chassidus were perfectly expressed in his physical body as well as his environment (in time and space) – “He fills their years from day to day.” To that end, everyone should make a special effort to express and reveal spirituality and Chassidishkait within the context of physicality – that in his physical concerns, within the psychical dimensions of time and space, the warmth and enthusiasm of his Judaism and Chassidishkait should be apparent, to the point that there is no distinction between them at all; they are literally one.

(From the address of Shabbos Parshas VaYeitzei, 9 Kislev 5752; Seifer HaSichos 5752, pg. 152-153)