Adding to the perfection of the number eleven that exists in terms of the month (the moon, the lesser luminary), this transition contributes the perfection of eleven in terms of the day (sun, the great luminary) as well – eleven in its purity. * The ascent begins with the leader of the generation (baal ha’hilula), and in virtue of him, the entire generation is uplifted (“the body follows the head”).
It’s a fascinating phenomenon that despite twenty years having passed without our seeing or hearing the Rebbe, thousands of Jews have become involved with Chabad and its teachings and particularly with the subjects of Moshiach and Geula. * We spoke with three young men from different backgrounds who told us about the major changes in their lives with their newfound connection to the Rebbe. * The Truth is mekarev and the Truth is Moshiach!
The question in the title is an existential question which pertains to everyone, at any age, in every situation, at all times. How do we really leave our personal galus and move even one step forward?
In the summer of 5733/1973, the Rebbe asked that summer camps be founded and that children be worked with in every way possible. For the first time in history, camps were established throughout Eretz Yisroel. * The story of one of those camps that was founded in Haifa-Krayot by R’ Zushe Partisan, R’ Reuven Dunin, and R’ Yigal Pizem.
A point from the weekly D’var Malchus with a relevant message.
It happened at the Purim farbrengen in 5730/1970. Numerous Chassidim filled 770. Their eyes were trained on center stage where the Rebbe sat for hours, farbrenging on Purim topics, quoting verses from Megillas Esther and connecting them to the daily avoda of every Jew.
The Torah places great emphasis on the words of our mouths. This manifests itself in many ways. Our mouths are to be used to speak and teach words of Torah as we say in the Shma “and you shall speak of them.” The manner of speech is also important. We are not to speak ill of others. We are not to curse. A Kohen is obligated to bless the Jewish people with the three priestly blessings. But nowhere is the extraordinary power of speech more pronounced than in the subject of vows, the subject of the beginning of this week’s parsha—Matos.
Rashi says that “rayach nichoach” means that Hashem has nachas “that I said and My will was done.” The Rebbe explains that Rashi is responding to the general question: why did Hashem command us to take animals and burn them on the altar? What purpose does this serve? It is the opposite of logic and good sense to burn our possessions! That is why Rashi explains that actually, there is no point to destroying animals; we do it in order to give nachas to Hashem who said to do something and whose will was carried out
Not a single government minister is prepared to wage all-out war and totally eliminate the terrorists. Someone said last week that the Cabinet was expected to hold an urgent meeting, during which they would decide to hold another Cabinet meeting. This reminds me of what the Rebbe said about the “askanim” who went in for a meeting and made the decision to have another meeting.
Rosh HaShana. Thousands of people from all over the world went to Beis Chayeinu to spend Yom Tov with the Rebbe. Slowly, as Yom Kippur and then Sukkos arrived, the men’s section continued to fill up until it seemed that there was absolutely no more space. And yet, more and more people came and 770 continued to fill up. How was there place for everyone? I guess it was like a miracle of the Beis HaMikdash.
July 18, 2014