The Torah thus tells us in its coded blessing: “You will go meshuga-insane from the things your eyes will see.” A time will come when you will transform the negative form of insanity, which derives from being a slave to passion and allowing yourself to be driven beneath the path of decency and normalcy, into a positive form of insanity. You will become self-transcendent beings, who rise above the norm.
A compilation of stories about the Baal Shem Tov and the Geula of the Jewish people. * Presented for Chai Elul, the Baal Shem Tov’s birthday.
The connection between t’shuva and the advent of Moshiach is in the sense that the whole point of Moshiach is to bring about innovation, resulting in an entirely new existence. * Inspiration for t’shuva in the month of Elul.
Dovid HaMelech’s eternal state of life pertains to every single Jew who says, “Dovid Melech Yisroel chai v’kayam,” on a monthly basis, at the time of Kiddush Levana. * Through Dovid HaMelech, Dovid Malka Meshicha, one goes out of his own personal exile.
To underscore the role of gratitude as an identifying sign of Moshiach, the Talmud (Sanhedrin 94a) relates that G-d initially wanted to proclaim King Chizkiyahu as Moshiach. When Chizkiyahu failed to sing praise at the miraculous downfall of the Assyrian King Sancheriv, G-d changed His mind.
When Sergei came out of the meeting he called over a few people and told them that they have to organize an “army” that he—Sergei—would lead personally, to bring about the appointment of Rabbi Levi Yitzchok as the Rav. * “Atzmus defies all description—negation of the finite and negation of the infinite.”
On Shabbos Parshas Mishpatim 5752, the Rebbe revealed that the one behind all the global upheavals was the Rebbe himself, in his role as Moshiach. He is preparing the world for the new era of “grinding swords into plowshares.” * An extraordinary story, that I heard from my brother-in-law R’ Leibel Groner, sheds new light on how we Chassidim need to look at what is going on in the world. * My friends and brothers, the Rebbe is behind the headlines and he wants us to understand them as such.
In each generation, the soul of Moshe is manifest within … the nasi ha’dor, the leader of the generation. Indeed, “there is no generation within which there is not someone like Moshe.” There must be a “Moshe” in each generation within which the soul of Moshe is manifest, enclothed.
A compilation of stories on the topics of Galus and Geula, from the book “U’Meivi Goel.” * Presented for 9 Av, at which time the Sages say that Moshiach was born.
The king epitomized the role of each and every individual Jew. Every Jew is regarded as a king or queen because of the G-dly soul he or she possesses. The royal nature of a Jew was given to him or her as a way of conquering the material world and utilizing it to better serve the ultimate Divine King. The individual king was the inspiration and the source of power for all of us to be monarchs in our own lives.
As we stand on the very threshold of the Final Redemption, the Rebbe exhorted us to engage the mind in subjects that relate to Moshiach and Redemption. This way, the Rebbe explained, we reshape our way of thinking; we experience a paradigm shift. And this is how we begin the process of conquering, not only the Seven Lands which correspond to our emotions, but also the Three Lands which correspond to the way we think.
“Regarding the fact that “they embalmed” him – (this is because) it appeared to them that he had died, but he was actually alive.” That is to say that even his body did not die.
In times of darkness, which is the state of exile, it is difficult for a person to appreciate this unity. Even the simple meaning of G-d’s unity that negates other forces can be a challenge to some in exile due to the multitude of competing forces that vie for our allegiance.
August 19, 2013