LIVING WITH MOSHIACH, Parshat Chayei Sarah, 5755 B"H LIVING WITH MOSHIACH Weekly Digest About Moshiach PARSHAT CHAYEI SARAH Cheshvan 23, 5755 October 28, 1994 * Published Weekly By Lubavitch Shluchim Conferences On The Moshiach Campaign, Committee For The Blind * * * 5755 "Year of Hakhel" ********************************************* * TO RECEIVE THIS PUBLICATION VIA INTERNET: * * E-Mail: yys@dorsai.org * * FOR CHABAD-LUBAVITCH IN CYBERSPACE: * * E-Mail: info@chabad.org * ********************************************* THIS PUBLICATION IS DEDICATED TO THE REBBE, RABBI MENACHEM M. SCHNEERSON OF LUBAVITCH "I BELIEVE WITH COMPLETE FAITH IN THE ARRIVAL OF THE MOSHIACH. AND THOUGH HE MAY TARRY, I SHALL WAIT EACH DAY, ANTICIPATING HIS ARRIVAL." Maimonides, Principles of the Faith, No. 12 ********************* * TABLE OF CONTENTS * ********************* Introduction The Weekly Torah Portion The Rebbe's Prophecy Year of Hakhel Moshiach Matters **************** * INTRODUCTION * **************** We are pleased to present, to the visually impaired and the blind, the second issue of our weekly publication, Living with Moshiach. * Starting this week, we have added a new column, "Moshiach Matters." Also, an article explaining the meaning of "Year of Hakhel." * Our sincere appreciation to L'Chaim weekly publication, published by the Lubavitch Youth Organization, for allowing us to use their material. Also, many thanks to our copy editor, Reb Mordechai Staiman, for his tireless efforts. * It is our fervent hope that our learning about Moshiach and the Redemption will hasten the coming of Moshiach, NOW! Rabbi Yosef Y. Shagalov Administrator Committee for the Blind E-Mail: yys@dorsai.org 12 Cheshvan, 5755, Year of Hakhel Brooklyn, New York *************************************** * THE WEEKLY TORAH PORTION * * Adapted from the Works of the Rebbe * *************************************** PARSHAT CHAYEI SARAH The end of this week's Torah portion, Chayei Sara, tells of the passing of Abraham and the order of succession of his descendants: "And Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac." Isaac, Abraham's only son from his beloved wife Sara, was chosen to continue the new path he had forged in the service of G-d. The children of Abraham's concubines, however, received only a token of their father's wealth: "But to the sons of the concubines . . . Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son." Isaac was designated his father's heir, despite being younger than Ishmael and the others. This week's Haftarah contains a similar incident, which occurred toward the end of King David's life. When Adoniyahu, David's eldest son, sought to usurp his father's throne, Batsheva reminded David of the oath he had made, that Solomon, the younger son, would reign. King David agreed to honor the oath and Batsheva declared, "May my lord, the King David, live forever!" What is the significance of both these choices? When Abraham designated Isaac his heir, he thereby bestowed upon him the special relationship he enjoyed with G-d, the essential "chosenness" he would pass on to his children after him. Abraham's choice of Isaac allowed every Jew to acquire that same eternal bond with G-d as his birthright, an immutable bond which can never be severed. Similarly, Batsheva's declaration, "May my lord, the King David, live forever!" is an expression of G-d's promise that "the kingship will never be cut off from the progeny of David." Dominion over the Jewish people belongs solely to the descendants of King David through his son Solomon, ultimately one of whom is King Moshiach. The common thread between these two incidents is the underlying principle that the actions of an immutable G-d are eternal and unchanging. Just as G-d Himself experiences no change, so too are His choices fixed and immutable. Batsheva's declaration, "May my lord, the King David, live forever!" will find ultimate fulfillment when King Moshiach arises and ushers in the Final Redemption. Indeed, we find that the wholeness of the Jewish people is connected to the concept of kingship, for it was only after King David's descendants were chosen to rule, that the Jewish nation was at peace, the Holy Temple was built in Jerusalem and G-d's Divine Presence dwelt in the Holy Temple. Likewise, the Final Redemption of the Jewish people will only commence when the ultimate King of the House of David arises, to initiate the ingathering of the exiles and build the final and indestructive Third Holy Temple, speedily in our day. ************************ * THE REBBE'S PROPHECY * ************************ The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson of Lubavitch, issued a call that "THE TIME OF OUR REDEMPTION HAS ARRIVED!" and "MOSHIACH IS ON HIS WAY!" The Rebbe stressed that he is saying this AS A PROPHECY, and asks us all to prepare ourselves for the Redemption, through increasing acts of goodness and kindness. LET US ALL HEED THE REBBE'S CALL. ******************************************* * IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY DEAR GRANDFATHER * * * * Reb Shmuel Pesach Ben Reb Yaakov Dovid * * Passed away on 3 Tishrei, 5755 * * Pais * ******************************************* ****************** * YEAR OF HAKHEL * ****************** This year is a Hakhel year--the first year in the land of Israel's seven-year agricultural cycle (the seventh year being the Sabbatical or Shemita year). Hakhel means literally "assembly." During the Hakhel year in Temple times, the entire Jewish nation, from youngest to oldest, assembled in the Holy Temple to hear the king read from the Torah on the holiday of Sukkot. The occasion was unforgettable. The ceremony itself was announced dramatically by trumpet blasts. The king sat on a specially erected high wooden platform placed in the women's court, where he would be visible and audible to the vast throng below. The king read several passages of the Torah, including the Shema and passages containing the blessings of the Jewish people. The Jewish king was not only meant to be a political and military leader, but his role was also essentially that of G-d's delegate to promote the spiritual dimension of the national life of the people. His reading of the Torah following the observance of the Shemita year strengthened the people's adherence to G-d through keeping His commandments and studying His Torah. Although we do not have the benefit of the physical existence of the Holy Temple, nevertheless, the celebration of Hakhel is just as relevant and meaningful to the Jewish people today as it has been throughout the ages. As the Rebbe suggested repeatedly during previous Hakhel years and reemphasized during the last Hakhel year, in 1987-8, we too should make Hakhel gatherings. These gatherings, large or small, enable us to focus on the unity of the Jewish people, and the love of each Jew for every other Jew. This Hakhel year, may we merit to assemble in the Holy Temple with our King Moshiach, reading us the Torah, teaching and inspiring us, and leading us eternally. ******************** * MOSHIACH MATTERS * ******************** The Divine intention--that "the Holy One, Blessed be He, desired to have a dwelling-place among the nether creatures"--is now being realized by Jews in exile. Every year that passes brings us nearer to the time of the coming of Moshiach (may it be speedily in our own days, amen!) and to the revelation of the Divine light. We should therefore be exceedingly joyful. Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn ================================================================= = End of Text: Living With Moshiach, Parshat Chayei Sarah, 5755 = =================================================================