Living With Moshiach, Parshat Nitzavim, 5755 B"H LIVING WITH MOSHIACH Weekly Digest About Moshiach PARSHAT NITZAVIM Elul 27, 5755 Sept. 22, 1995 SPECIAL FEATURE: Your Rosh HaShanah Guide * 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 Rosh HaShanah Message From The Rebbe The Balance Sheet The Shofar's Message Your Rosh HaShanah Guide Rosh HaShanah Observances Ten Days Of Teshuvah The Fast of Gedaliah **************** * INTRODUCTION * **************** We are pleased to present, to the visually impaired and the blind, our weekly publication, Living with Moshiach. * In this week's issue we focus on the laws of the upcoming high holiday of Rosh HaShanah, "Your Rosh HaShanah Guide," [*] and other related material. * 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. * We take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very sweet, happy, healthy and successful new year. * 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 18 Elul, 5755, Year of Hakhel Brooklyn, New York ------------------ * Published by Prestige Litho. DEDICATED TO THE REBBE, In Honor Of Our Daughter CHAYA SARAH on the occasion of her seventh birthday, 25 Elul *************************************** * THE WEEKLY TORAH PORTION * * Adapted from the Works of the Rebbe * *************************************** Parshat Nitzavim The Torah portion of Nitzavim begins with a description of the covenant between G-d and the Jewish people before they entered the Land of Israel. The Torah stresses, "And not with you alone do I make this covenant...but with him who is here today...and with him who is not here with us today." One might think that the intention of these verses is to include those Jews who, for whatever reason, could not attend the covenant ceremony. But, then why would our Torah portion begin with the words, "You are standing this day, all of you"? If all of the Children of Israel were present, what is meant by "him who is not here with us today"? The commentator Rashi explains that the verse should be interpreted to include all the generations of Jews yet to be born. This is not the first instance in the Torah where a promise or covenant is made with future generations. It is, however, unique in that we learn from its strong wording that the covenant is to have the same strength and validity hundreds of generations hence as it did to the generation of Jews who were about to enter the Land of Israel. G-d makes His promise equally to "him who is here today" and "him who is not here." We will understand this better by examining the nature of the Jewish people. The distinctions that divide one Jew from another, even one who is not yet born, exist only externally. According to chasidic philosophy, the Jewish people is one body, one unified whole, which cannot be divided. From this standpoint there is no difference between a Jew who happens to be alive right now and one whose soul has not yet descended into this lower world. Accordingly, we are likewise connected to our ancestors who lived three thousand years ago. We are all part of the same reality and share the same essence. There are, unfortunately, many Jews who claim that they cannot be as strong as they would like in their commitment to Torah and a Jewish way of life, because it involves "swimming against the tide." Jews, they say, are "the fewest in number of all the nations," so how can they possibly go against the prevailing philosophies of the world? There are too few of us to fight such a battle! To this argument the Torah counters, "Quality--not quantity." Jews are only a minority when one measures them by the yardstick of the physical world, a world dependent upon the laws of time and place. The Jew, however, exists on a higher plane and does not depend on the laws of nature for his survival. It is his unique spirituality, not his existence in the world, that differentiates a Jew from the rest of the human race. From this standpoint, the Jewish people "cannot be counted because of their multitude." When a Jew connects himself to G-d by learning Torah and performing mitzvot, which derive from a spiritual level higher than time and space, he also connects himself to the eternal Jewish Nation that existed hundreds of generations ago and will always endure. When a Jew performs a Divine commandment, he has the power of the entire Jewish people behind him giving him the strength to prevail! ************************ * 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 GRANDPARENTS, * * * * Reb Shmuel Pesach Ben Reb Yaakov Dovid * * On the occasion of his first yahrtzeit, * * 3 Tishrei, 5756 * * * * Mrs. Fraidel Chedvah Bas Reb Zev Wolf * * Passed away on 4 Adar II, 5755 * * Pais * ********************************************* **************************************** * ROSH HASHANAH MESSAGE FROM THE REBBE * **************************************** Dear Friend: The month of Tishrei is very colorful. Every possible atmosphere of Jewish life finds expression in this month, in which we have Solemn Days, Fast Days, and Days of Rejoicing. It is not a coincidence that the first month of the year has "samples" of every shade and color of Jewish life, for these "samples" are intended to give us an introduction to, and practical guidance for the rest of the year. By observing the special days of Tishrei in their proper spirit, we are initiated into a truly Jewish life, in accordance with the spirit of the Torah, during the whole year following. What can we learn from the special days of Tishrei? a. To begin with we have Rosh HaShanah, the beginning of the New Year, the day when the first man just created proclaimed G-d's sovereignty over the whole Universe. When we are about to begin anything, we must always remember that G-d is the Creator of Heaven and Earth and the sole Ruler of the Universe, and that our action or venture must have Divine approval. This is further emphasized by-- b. The Ten Days of Repentance, which remind us that since we are the servants of the King of the Universe we must keep a check on our deeds to ensure that they comply with the wishes of the Master. However, since we are only human beings, we are liable to fail on occasion. This is why G-d gives us-- c. Yom-Kippur, to impress upon us the realization that it is never too late to turn back to the right path, provided we do it sincerely, completely repenting of, and casting away, our evil habits of the past, and solemnly undertaking to mend our ways in the future. If we make this firm resolution, G-d will forgive us, and "cleanse" us completely of our sins. Difficult though this path may appear to be-- d. Sukkot helps us not to despair in our days of trial, even if we find ourselves in the minority, for G-d is our protector, as He clearly showed us by the Clouds of Glory with which He surrounded us during the forty years' wandering through the desert after the Departure from Egypt. Finally, in order to know how to lead our lives so as to comply with G-d's wishes, we have-- e. Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, for in the Torah G-d has given us Divine laws of justice and righteousness and a true guide in life; by shaping our lives accordingly we are assured of true happiness, both in this world and in after-life. For the Torah is a "tree of life to them that take fast hold of it, and its supporters are happy." These, briefly, are some of the main lessons of Tishrei and there can be no doubt that by following them faithfully, the New Year will be a happy one, both spiritually and materially, and the blessing which we give each other "Lshana Tova Ticateiv Vtichatem" will surely be fulfilled. That is what I wish every one of you. Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson *************************************** * THE BALANCE SHEET * * Adapted from a Letter of the Rebbe * *************************************** 25 Elul, 5719/1959 These days at the end of the outgoing year, and on the eve of the New Year, may it bring blessings to us all, call for self-evaluation in respect to the year about to end, and-- in the light of this self-appraisal--for making the necessary resolutions for the coming year. Such a "balance sheet" can be valid only if the evaluation of the full extent of one's powers and opportunities was a correct one. Only then can one truly regret, in a commensurate degree, the missed opportunities, and resolve to utilize one's capacities to the fullest extent from now on. The period of time before and during Rosh HaShanah is not only the occasion that demands spiritual stock-taking in general, but it also begs for a profound inner appreciation of the tremendous capacities that one possesses as a man, the crown of Creation, and as a Jew whom the Creator has given His Divine Law of Life (Torat Chaim). For Rosh HaShanah is the day when Man was created. When Adam was created, the Creator immediately apprised him of his powers and told him what his purpose in life would be: "Replenish the earth, and conquer it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth." Man was given the power to conquer the whole world and to rule over it, on land, sea and in the air, and he was enjoined to so do; this was his task. How was this "world conquest" to be attained, and what is the purpose and true meaning of it? This is what our Sages tell us and teach us in this regard: When G-d created Adam, his soul--his Divine image--permeated and irradiated his whole being, by virtue of which he became the ruler over the entire creation. All the creatures gathered to serve him and to crown him as their creator. But Adam, pointing out their error, said to them: "Let us all come and worship G-d, our Maker!" The "world conquest" that was given to man as his task and mission in life, is to elevate the whole of nature, including the beasts and animals, to the service of true humanity, humanity permeated and illuminated by the Divine image, by the soul, which is veritably a part of G-d above, so that the whole of Creation will realize that G-d is our Maker. Needless to say, before a man sets out to conquer the world, he must first conquer himself, through the subjugation of the "earthly" and "beastly" in his own nature. This is attained through actions that strictly accord with the directives of the Torah, the Law of Life--the practical guide in everyday living, so that the material becomes permeated and illuminated with the light of the One G-d, our G-d. G-d created *one* person and on this single person on earth He imposed the said duty and task. Herein lies the profound, yet clear, directive, namely, that one person--each and every person--is potentially capable of "conquering the world." If a person does not fulfill his task, and does not utilize his inestimable divine powers--it is not merely a personal loss and failure, but something that affects the destiny of the whole world. In these days of introspection, we are duty-bound to reflect that each and every one of us --through carrying out the instructions of the Creator of the World that are contained in His Torah--has the capacity of conquering worlds. Everyone must, therefore, ask himself how much he has accomplished in this direction, and to what extent he has failed, so that he can make the proper resolutions for the coming year. G-d, Who looks into the heart, on seeing the determination behind these good resolutions, will send His blessing for their realization in the fullest measure--in joy and gladness of heart and affluence, materially and spiritually. ************************ * THE SHOFAR'S MESSAGE * ************************ "Our Father, Our King--Avinu Malkeinu." The theme of G-d as Parent and Ruler dominates Rosh HaShanah. The Baal Shem Tov taught that the love G-d has for each one of us is analogous to and surpasses the love a father has for an only child born in his old age. Rosh HaShanah is the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve. Thus, it corresponds to the rebirth of humanity and we reestablish our relationship as children of G-d on these days. The sounding of the shofar is connected to this central motif of Rosh HaShanah, that of G-d as our Divine Parent. To better understand this we look to another parable of the Baal Shem Tov: An errant prince, an only son, traveled far from the palace. After many years had passed, the prince yearned to be reunited with his father, the king. However, by the time he returned to his native land, he had forgotten his mother tongue. From deep within his soul a cry emerged, a cry that--no matter how estranged the child--a father could understand. This fervent, broken-hearted plea of "Father, it is I, your only son, help me!" broke through the barriers separating father and son more eloquently than any words the prince might have uttered. At this moment, the king embraced the errant son. For thousands of years the Jewish people have wandered in exile. At times, we even seem to have lost our means of communicating with our Father. We are very much like the proverbial prince, who when facing his father the king could only cry. We are in pain not only because our self-created barriers separate us from G-d. But also because even when we wish to return we encounter all sorts of seemingly insurmountable obstacles born of the national and spiritual exile of our people. The shofar represents the wordless cry of the only child within each of us. Chosen because of its simplicity, it symbolizes the incorruptible nature of the soul connected to the essence of G-d, Himself. Transcending the conventional modes of communication, the shofar's shattering wail arouses in us an awareness of the most powerful bond uniting Father and child. No matter how far we may feel we've strayed throughout the year, no matter how muted or inadequate our ability to communicate with G-d, the shofar of Rosh HaShanah enables us to reconnect in a more fundamental and powerful way than previously envisioned. The "Great Shofar," sounded by G-d signaling the messianic age, will pierce all barriers and penetrate beneath the surface of our very beings. When G-d sounds the Great Shofar we will be able to express, completely and openly, the fundamental child/parent relationship we intrinsically have with G-d. The shofar of Redemption will usher in a time when the love between G-d and the Jewish people--concealed throughout our trial-ridden exile--will be fully revealed. May we all be inscribed and sealed for a good and sweet year. But even before the New Year may we all find ourselves in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem with the revelation of our righteous Moshiach, and he will redeem us. **************************** * YOUR ROSH HASHANAH GUIDE * *--------------------------* * Tishrei 1-2, 5756 * * Sept. 25-26, 1995 * **************************** WHAT IS ROSH HASHANAH? Birthday of the World Rosh HaShanah is the day on which G-d completed the creation of this world, by creating Adam, the original man. Adam's very first act was to proclaim the Al-mighty as King of the Universe. He called upon all creatures: "Come, let us worship, bow down, and kneel before G-d, our maker." Each Rosh HaShanah, we too proclaim the Kingship of G-d, and reaffirm our commitment to serve Him well. Just as on the original Rosh HaShanah, G-d created the world for the first time, so each Rosh HaShanah He reconsiders and re-evaluates the quality of our relationship with Him, and creates our world anew. THE BOOK OF LIFE On the first evening of Rosh HaShanah, after services, we exchange the traditional blessing, "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year." Our sages explain that on Rosh HaShanah, we all stand in judgment before G-d--"like a flock of sheep before the shepherd." If we are worthy, we are "inscribed" in the "Book of Life." Ten days later, on Yom Kippur, the Book is sealed. Through repentance, prayer, and charity, we can sweeten the decree, and merit G-d's blessings for health, well-being, and prosperity for the coming year. ***************************** * ROSH HASHANAH OBSERVANCES * ***************************** THE SHOFAR On both days of Rosh HaShanah, Monday, Sept. 25, and Tuesday, Sept. 26, we hear during the daytime the sounding of at least the first thirty of the prescribed blasts of the shofar, the ram's horn. The shofar, the oldest and most soulful of wind instruments, has many meanings. Among them: * It proclaims the coronation of G-d as King of the Universe. * It "awakens" us to repent and return to G-d. * It reminds us of the shofar heard at Mount Sinai, when we accepted G-d's commandments for all time. * It represents the simple, primal outcry from the depth of the soul. * It presages the call of the "Great Shofar" which G-d will sound with the coming of Moshiach, who will lead us out of exile and into our Holy Land--speedily, in our days. Call your local Chabad-Lubavitch Center for the approximate time of the shofar service. TASHLICH On the first day of Rosh HaShanah, Monday, Sept. 25, following the afternoon prayer, we visit a body of water or pond containing live fish and recite the Tashlich prayers, in which we "cast away" our sins. As fish depend upon water, so do we depend upon G-d's providence. Also, a fish's eyes never close, symbolizing G-d's unceasing watchfulness over us. SPECIAL ROSH HASHANAH FOODS It is customary on Rosh HaShanah to eat foods symbolizing sweetness, blessings, and abundance. We dip the challah in honey; and afterwards, on the first night, Sunday Evening, Sept. 24, we eat a piece of apple dipped in honey. After the appropriate blessing on the apple, we add: "May it be Your will to renew for us a good and sweet year." Other customs include eating the head of a fish, pomegranates and carrots. ************************ * TEN DAYS OF TESHUVAH * ************************ A RETURN TO ESSENCE The first ten days of Tishrei--two days of Rosh HaShanah, the seven days following, and Yom Kippur--are an auspicious time in which to rectify our shortcomings and draw closer to G-d. They are therefore known as the "Ten days of Teshuvah." Teshuvah [1] --frequently translated as repentance--actually means returning. Judaism emphasizes that our essential nature--the divine spark of the soul--is good. True repentance is best achieved not through harsh self-condemnation, but through the realization that our deepest desire is to do good, in accordance with the will of G-d. _______________ 1. See Living With Moshiach, Vol. 42. THE FAST OF GEDALIAH Wednesday, Sept. 27, is a fast day. We neither eat nor drink, from approximately 72 minutes before sunrise until 40 minutes after sunset. It commemorates the tragic assassination of Gedaliah, a great Jewish leader during the Babylonian exile. ============================================================== = End of Text: "Living With Moshiach" Parshat Nitzavim, 5755 = ==============================================================