LIVING WITH MOSHIACH, Parshat Vayikra, 5756 B"H LIVING WITH MOSHIACH Weekly Digest About Moshiach PARSHAT VAYIKRA NISSAN 2, 5756 MARCH 22, 1996 * Published Weekly By Lubavitch Shluchim Conferences On The Moshiach Campaign, Committee For The Blind * * * 5756 *********************************************** * 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 The Month of Nissan ****************** * INTRODUCTION * ****************** We are pleased to present, to the visually impaired and the blind, our weekly publication, Living With Moshiach. * 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 27 Adar, 5756 Brooklyn, New York ***************************************** * THE WEEKLY TORAH PORTION * * Adapted from the Works of the Rebbe * ***************************************** Parshat Vayikra This week's Torah portion, Vayikra, which begins the book of Leviticus, details the laws pertaining to the offerings that were brought in the Sanctuary and Holy Temples. It begins with the words, "And He called to Moses." Rashi, the great Torah commentator, explains that G-d called out to Moses with a special and unique love. Chasidic philosophy further elaborates on the significance of the fact that G-d's name is not directly mentioned. This great love, it explains, emanates from an attribute of G-d so lofty and elevated that it exists beyond the limitations imposed by a name. G-d's very essence, as it were, was calling out to Moses. Chassidut also teaches that every Jew has a spark of the soul of Moses within his own. G-d's calling out to Moses with special love is therefore a call to every Jew, no matter who he/she is. The directives that followed, the details of the korbanot (from the Hebrew, meaning "to draw near"), are the instructions by which man may draw closer to G-d, and apply to every Jew, in every time and in every place. This concept is also reflected in the haftarah (from the Book of Isaiah), which is usually read in conjunction with the Torah portion: "This people have I formed for Myself; they shall tell My praise." The first part of the verse seems to indicate G-d's great love of the Jewish people; the second half seems to refer to their prayers, good deeds and Torah study, through which G-d's name is made great. Yet, studying the verse in depth, we find that the type of praise G-d refers to here is of an entirely different sort, one which is totally independent of a Jew's actions. "This people have I formed for Myself," G-d states. The Jewish people belongs to G-d; it is only through them that His sovereignty over the world is established, for a king cannot rule without subjects. A Jew, by his very nature and not by virtue of his actions, is created special. "They shall tell My praise," G-d continues. The continued existence of the Jewish people in itself reveals the glory of G-d. The fact that the Jewish nation, "one sheep among seventy wolves," is still flourishing after thousands of years testifies to the greatness of G-d. Every Jew bears witness to the existence of G-d and causes His name to be praised. This is especially relevant for our generation, following, as it does, the terrible decimation of our brethren during the Holocaust. The fact that Jews exist today, proudly continuing our holy tradition and raising a new generation of Jews to further imbue the world with holiness is in itself miraculous, bearing witness to G-d's greatness. This tremendous love that G-d feels for every Jew, regardless of his deeds, indicates just how important it is for us to love our fellow Jew and to always judge others favorably, for each of us is G-d's special treasure. ************************ * 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 * * Passed away on 3 Tishrei, 5755 * * * * Mrs. Fraidel Chedvah Bas Reb Zev Wolf * * Passed away on 4 Adar II, 5755 * * Pais * ********************************************* *********************** * THE MONTH OF NISSAN * *********************** In the letter that the Rebbe wrote six years ago this past week, addressed to all Jews everywhere, the Rebbe discussed the impact of our present month, Nissan, on the daily life of a Jew throughout the entire year. Nissan is referred to as the month of geula--Redemption: There are two dimensions of Divine intervention--G-d's governing of the world within the "natural" order and that of a supra-natural miraculous order which breaks through all natural barriers of the physical world. The latter form of Divine intervention is associated with the month of Nissan. For, it was in Nissan that we witnessed the miraculous deliverance from Egyptian bondage. The exodus from Egypt came about because of the revealed miracles that G-d wrought "for our ancestors and for us; He took us out from slavery to freedom." But these revealed miracles brought about not only the exodus from the physical Egypt, but also the exodus from non-physical restraints and limitations ("Egypt" in Hebrew is "mitzraim," which is similar to metzarim--restraints and limitations). What is true of the Jewish people as a whole is true of every individual in particular. G-d wrought these physical and non- physical miracles "for our ancestors and for us." Thus the exodus from Egypt--and the month of Nissan in which it took place-- effects in each of us a personal redemption from our own natural limitations. The Rebbe concluded the letter, "And we should all merit to see the most important miracle--the miracle of the true and complete Redemption through our Righteous Moshiach.' In Nissan came the first redemption, and in Nissan will come the final Redemption, at which time we will see miracles that will surpass the miracles that were wrought at the Exodus from Egypt, as our Sages interpret the prophecy, 'As in the days of your coming out of Egypt, I will show you wonders,' namely, miracles that compared even with the miracles of the Exodus will be outstanding wonders. May it come about very soon, indeed." ============================================================ = End of Text: Living With Moshiach, Parshat Vayikra, 5756 = ============================================================