LIVING WITH MOSHIACH, Parshat Teruma, 5755 B"H LIVING WITH MOSHIACH Weekly Digest About Moshiach PARSHAT TERUMA 3 Adar I, 5755 Feb. 3, 1995 * 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 Moshiach Matters The Seventh of Adar **************** * INTRODUCTION * **************** We are pleased to present, to the visually impaired and the blind, the 16th issue of our weekly publication, Living with Moshiach. * In this week's issue, our feature presentation focuses on the Seventh of Adar. The Seventh of Adar (next Tuesday, February 7), is the birthday and yahrtzeit of Moshe Rabbeinu (Moshe our teacher). * 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 28 Shevat, 5755, Year of Hakhel Brooklyn, New York *************************************** * THE WEEKLY TORAH PORTION * * Adapted from the Works of the Rebbe * *************************************** Parshat Teruma This week's Torah portion, Teruma, tells of G-d's command to the Jewish People to erect for Him a Tabernacle. The purpose of the Tabernacle is alluded to in its name, "Mishkan," meaning a dwelling place, a place where G-dliness would be revealed. Indeed, G-d Himself stated openly, "They shall make Me a Holy Place and I shall dwell within them." The great value and significance of the Tabernacle (and after it, the Holy Temple in Jerusalem) lies in the fact that there was a constant revelation of the Holy Presence there. It was also there that G-d spoke to Moses, and that the Children of Israel saw wonderful revelations of G-dliness. Through the existence of the Tabernacle and Temple the Holy Presence was able to be felt by each and every Jew. This also explains why the Tabernacle--and the Holy Temple-- occupies such a central role in Judaism, so much so that we still pray three times each day for its rebuilding and restoration. We beseech G-d that He should return and cause His Presence to dwell and be revealed among us, and that we should be worthy of seeing the revelation of His strength and might through the means of the Holy Temple. G-d said, "They shall make Me a Holy Place, and I shall dwell within them," and not, as would seem more grammatically correct, "within it." The reason for this grammatical incongruity is, as our sages explained, that G-d dwells "within each and every Jew." By building the Tabernacle and the Holy Temple, G-dliness was revealed within each of us. Although the Tabernacle and Holy Temple do not exist today in the physical world, the function which they served--revealing G-dliness within every Jew--is eternal and timely for us in any era. How do we make ourselves a dwelling place for G-d? By following the same building plan that the Jews used for building the Tabernacle. By taking physical materials--gold, silver, copper, acacia wood, animal skins, etc.--and using them to make a house for G-d; the physical materials themselves were made holy and were transformed into the Tabernacle. This is what we must do today. We must take everything that we come in contact with in our physical world and use it for the sake of Heaven, and thus will we build a dwelling place for G-d in our midst. A true dwelling place for G-d is achieved by sanctifying everything we do. When we eat it should not be merely to satisfy our personal cravings; rather, we must make sure that the food we eat is kosher food. When we work, it should not be for the purpose of amassing a personal fortune and for the money itself. We should work with the intention of providing for our families, being able to give charity, and performing mitzvot in an exemplary fashion. When this attitude prevails in our lives, holiness can permeate every detail of our daily lives, transforming the world into a dwelling place for G-d. Our homes can also become small "tabernacles" by doing mitzvot in them--helping the needy, studying Torah, inviting guests, observing Shabbat, etc. By doing all of the above, we create a "tabernacle" whose holiness encompasses all our surroundings and deeds. May this serve as a preparation for the building of the biggest Tabernacle of them all--the Third Holy Temple, speedily in our days. ************************ * 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 * ******************************************* ******************** * MOSHIACH MATTERS * ******************** Nothing brings a father greater joy than seeing his children join together in harmony. Similarly, when Jews join together in unity, love, and joy, G-d derives great happiness, as it were, and grants them abundant blessings, including the ultimate blessing, which is of such fundamental importance at present, the coming of the Future Redemption. The Rebbe, 23 Adar, 5751 *************************************** * THE SEVENTH OF ADAR * * Adapted from the Works of the Rebbe * *************************************** The Seventh of Adar, (next Tuesday, Feb. 7), is the birthday and yahrtzeit of Moshe Rabbeinu (Moshe our teacher). The Rebbe has spoken numerous times about the significance of this date in our G-dly service. In one of the Rebbe's last public addresses, the Rebbe delved further into the significance of this date. In a leap year, such as our current year, there is a difference of opinion as to whether we commemorate this date in the first or second month of Adar. Since both opinions are "the words of the Living G-d" it is appropriate to commemorate the date in both months. On a person's birthday, "his mazal (source of influence) shines powerfully." If this concept applies to the birthday of any Jew, surely it applies with regard to the birthday of a nasi (leader) of the Jewish people. Nor is this relevant merely as an event in the past. Instead, each year, the positive influence associated with the Seventh of Adar is increased, reaching a level immeasurably higher than in previous years. The birthday of a nasi affects every member of the Jewish people, for the nasi is the source of influence through whom G-d's blessings are drawn down for the entire people. Seven is symbolic of a complete cycle. Thus, the Seventh of Adar should inspire every Jew to carry out his service in a complete manner. The positive influence of the month of Adar will facilitate the performance of this service. Similarly, these positive influences will hasten the coming of the Redemption. It is of utmost importance that the Redemption come sooner, even a moment sooner, for the Divine Presence and the Jewish people are in exile. Therefore, it is important to hasten the coming of the Redemption; every single moment its coming can be speeded is significant. The potential for this certainly exists: the very next moment can be the last moment of the exile, and the moment that follows, the first moment of Redemption. =========================================================== = End of Text: Living With Moshiach, Parshat Teruma, 5755 = ===========================================================