We live in unpreceded times. The Rebbe’s broad shoulders that carried the world’s weight is now our load to bear. How can that possibly be? If the Rebbe did all he can to bring Moshiach, what more can we possibly do? * Now it’s clear why it is imperative to the Rebbe to make leaders, not followers.
A world-renowned lecturer at a prestigious University, a specialist on the subject of smoking, decided to give a lecture on the dangers of cigarette smoking. He began the talk with a threatening and thunderous voice. “Students, in your opinion, what is the #1 cause of death? What is the most dangerous threat to human life?”
We have discussed on many occasions the importance of learning the Sichos of the D’var Malchus (Nissan 5751 – Adar 5752), which are filled with the Rebbe’s instructions to us about living with Geula and Moshiach.
The Torah portion K’doshim-Holy not surprisingly emphasizes the idea of holiness several times. In one verse (11:44), after discussing some of the laws regarding idolatry, the Torah continues, “And you shall sanctify yourselves and you shall be holy.”
Ever since the first sin, when Adam and Chava partook of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, our world is a veritable mix of good and bad intertwined. Of course Torah and k’dusha are absolute in their goodness, but all worldly aspects which are not exclusively holy, but have a physical element, contain the potential for bad as well. As the well-known adage says, too much of a good thing is also not good. This applies not to Torah and Mitzvos, for of these one can never get enough. Anything worldly, on the other hand, as good as it may be, in excess, can be detrimental
One of the many commandments in this week’s parsha, which is replete with Mitzvos, is the prohibition against theft. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 86a), cited by Rashi, points out that the earlier commandment against theft contained within the so-called “Ten Commandments” (in the Book of Shmos) actually refers to kidnapping, which is a capital crime akin to murder. In this week’s version, the prohibition against theft refers specifically to theft of money or property.
As we stand now on the very threshold of the final Redemption, the message has been “updated.” Whereas in the past we had to recognize that our disabilities were challenges, today that does not suffice.
May 9, 2019