"LIVING WITH MOSHIACH,"
Parshat Behar-Bechukotai, 5761
Iyar 25, 5761 * May 18, 2001
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"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
THIS PUBLICATION IS DEDICATED
TO THE REBBE,
RABBI MENACHEM M. SCHNEERSON
OF LUBAVITCH
Click here, to see pictures
of the Rebbe
The Daily Sicha (in Real Audio)
- Listen to selected excerpts of the Rebbe's Sichos
[talks] which are relevant to the particular day.
We are pleased to present, to the visually impaired and the blind, our weekly
publication, Living With Moshiach.
*
This Shabbat we bless the new Hebrew month of
Sivan,(1) therefore this week's issue focuses on
Sivan.
*
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
Lag B'Omer, 5761
Brooklyn, New York
_______________
1. Rosh Chodesh Sivan is on Wednesday, May 23.
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Reb Yoel ben Reb Yehoshua
Kreindler
Passed away on 14 Iyar, 5761
Parshat Behar-Bechukotai
This week we read two Torah portions, Behar and Bechukotai.
Parshat Behar contains the commandments of the Sabbatical and Jubilee
years: "Count for yourself seven Sabbaths of years, seven years seven times.
. .and you shall sanctify the fiftieth year." Every seventh year is a Sabbatical
year; the fiftieth is a Jubilee. Then the cycle begins anew.
Concerning the Jubilee year the Torah states, "Proclaim liberty throughout
the land for all its inhabitants." According to the Talmud, this means that
there can only be a Jubilee year "when all its inhabitants" are living in
the land. Thus, "When the tribes of Reuven and Gad and half of Menashe were
exiled, the Jubilee was abolished."
Nonetheless, the Talmud relates that in the times of the Second Holy Temple
the fiftieth year was still officially sanctified, even though the
mitzvah of the Jubilee was no longer in effect. This was done to maintain
the same cycle as before, i.e., with the counting commencing again in the
fifty-first year.
After the Second Temple was destroyed (and during the Babylonian exile),
the fiftieth year ceased to be sanctified. The cycle of counting Sabbatical
years began on the fiftieth year itself.
Thus, there have been three ways of relating to the Jubilee.
Chasidic philosophy explains that the Sabbatical and Jubilee years are symbolic
of spiritual levels in a Jew's service of G-d:
The Sabbatical year relates to the negation of the sense of self. The person
perceives himself as an individual, yet willingly nullifies himself before
G-d.
The Jubilee year relates to a higher level, of freedom from all limitations,
a level that will be fully realized in the Messianic era.
This also explains why the Sabbatical year applies today (by Rabbinic decree),
whereas the mitzvah of the Jubilee was only fully observed during
the First Temple period. The very highest level of spirituality could only
be attained at a time when the Divine Presence was manifested in the world
so strongly.
The Second Temple period was somewhere in the middle. G-dly revelation
illuminated the world, but in a less obvious manner. The Jubilee was therefore
counted and sanctified but not observed.
The lowest level occurred after the Destruction, when it was no longer possible
to even comprehend the intense spirituality of the Jubilee and it ceased
to be counted.
Today, our service consists of "only" accepting the yoke of heaven and nullifying
the ego, but in a sense this gives us the greatest advantage, as it enables
us to access the soul's essence. It also helps us prepare for the Sabbatical
of the Messianic era.
May it commence at once!
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.
This Shabbat we bless the new Hebrew month of Sivan. The theme
of the month of Sivan is intertwined with the main festival of the
month, Shavuot.
On the first day of Sivan the Children of Israel encamped in the
wilderness of Sinai ready to receive the Torah. Concerning this the Torah
states, "And Israel encamped there..." using the singular form of the verb
"encamped" regarding which our Sages teach us that this means that the people
were like one person with one heart.
Though many other times when the Jews made camp there was strife and contention,
when they encamped to receive the Torah they were totally united.
Thus, it is clear that one of the prerequisites for receiving the Torah --
and every year at this time we prepare to receive the Torah once again --
is to enhance and foster unity amongst the Jewish people.
The "easy way" to become more united with other Jews is to follow two essential
teachings of our Sages: "Love your fellow as yourself; Judge every person
favorably."
Where is the place to start? The place to start is with ourselves and our
own families. This, of course, doesn't mean that we have to perfect these
relationships before we can extend the teachings to others, but it is certainly
the correct place to start as "charity begins at home."
If we keep these fundamental teachings in mind we will certainly foster Jewish
unity in our own little world, which will ultimately impact on the entire
world.
On Wednesday, May 23, G-d willing, we will, be celebrating Rosh Chodesh
Sivan, starting the new Hebrew month of Sivan.
Rosh Chodesh is celebrated as a mini-holiday, with special prayers
and finer food and clothing. Jewish women, in particular, observe Rosh
Chodesh more meticulously.
What is the reason for Jewish women's stricter celebration of Rosh
Chodesh?
Rabbi Eliezer wrote: "When the men came to ask for their wives' gold earrings
for the Golden Calf, the women refused to hand them over. They said to their
husbands: 'We will not obey you in order to make an abomination that has
no power to save!' G-d rewarded them in this world, giving them a greater
degree of observance on Rosh Chodesh, and He rewards them in the World
to Come, giving them the power of constant renewal that characterizes [the
renewal of the moon on] Rosh Chodesh."
On a more general note, the Jewish calendar is a lunar one, and our people
are compared to the moon. Although our light is sometimes eclipsed by that
of other nations, like the moon we are always here -- both at night and by
day. Our nation's history has its share of growth and decline; like the moon
we wax and wane. But ultimately, these are just phases. For, although at
times we seem to be as unimportant or insignificant as the sliver of the
moon when it reappears, this is just a veneer.
May we sanctify the new moon this year and celebrate Rosh Chodesh
Sivan in the Holy Temple with Moshiach.
From letters of the Rebbe to participants at the annual
Lubavitch Women's Organization conventions
It is appropriate to reflect on the significance of Rosh Chodesh --
the new month -- in general, and Rosh Chodesh Sivan in particular,
insofar as Jewish women are concerned. For, in some respects, Rosh Chodesh
is even more significant for Jewish women than men, and that is why there
are certain customs on Rosh Chodesh which apply to women only.
Rosh Chodesh Sivan, the day when the children of Israel arrived at
Mt. Sinai to receive the Torah, recalls with special emphasis the particular
spiritual quality of Jewish women, and their particular merit and privilege
in connection with the receiving of the Torah and the first great trial soon
after.
As our Sages have emphasized, the Jewish women were approached first to accept
the Torah. Their consciousness of the responsibility for the preservation
of the Torah boldly expressed itself during the first test of loyalty to
G-d, soon after the Giving of the Torah. This took place when the women
categorically refused to have anything to do with the construction of the
Golden Calf, even through contributing any of their gold jewelry. For this
reason, the day of Rosh Chodesh is a day of forgiveness for the Jewish
women. On the other hand, when it came to the building of the Tabernacle
in the desert, the Jewish women were once again first in contributing generously
from their personal possessions toward the building of the Tabernacle.
Thus, both in the area of "Sur Meira -- Turn away from evil," as well
as in the area of "Aseh Tov -- Do good," the Jewish women have excelled
themselves, and they are the ones who are expected at all times to be first
and show an example to the men. This also means that Jewish women have been
endowed with special Divine gifts to be able to live up to these expectations.
* * *
The Torah tells us that on Rosh Chodesh Sivan the Jewish people finally
reached Mount Sinai, where they attained a state of complete unity, as indicated
in the words, "and Israel encamped there" (in the singular) -- all of them
as one, united and unified by the singular thought of receiving the Torah
and mitzvot.
The significance of that moment is pointed out by our Sages of blessed memory,
declaring that the unity of the Jewish people, was the condition for receiving
the Torah.
It has been often emphasized that there are crucial moments in the life of
our people, especially in the area of Torah and Judaism, where the Jewish
woman plays a most important role. One of such areas is the unity of the
family. Here the woman holds the main keys of harmony between the parents
and the children, the parents vis-a-vis each other, and the children in relation
to one another. In this area the wife and mother clearly has a decisive role,
and in most cases an even more decisive role than that of the husband and
father. This is one of the reasons why the Jewish woman holds the title of
"Akeret HaBayit -- Foundation of the Home."
It is likewise clear that Jewish unity in a broader sense -- unity between
one family and another, and unity on a national level -- is dependent upon
harmony within the family unit. Where harmony is lacking, G-d forbid, within
the family, surely no harmony can prevail between such a family and another.
However, even where there is complete harmony within the family, there still
remains the problem of achieving unity on the national level. Let us remember
that the basis for true Jewish unity is the Torah and mitzvot.
If throughout the ages it hasn't been easy to achieve unity, the problem
has become much more complicated in this age of "freedom" in the "free" countries
of the world, where people are not restricted in their choice of domicile,
occupation, educational facilities, free expression of opinions, ideas, etc.
All these diversities and dispersions -- geographic, social, cultural, etc.
-- are by-products of the contemporary "free" society in which we live. The
newly created conditions have produced new problems and difficulties, which,
however, must be viewed as challenges. With the proper approach and a determined
will, they can be resolved.
Wednesday, May 23, is Rosh Chodesh Sivan. On this day, 3,313 years
ago, the Jewish people came to the Sinai desert and encamped there, ready
to receive the Torah.
The Torah tells us, "In the third month after the departure of the Children
of Israel from the land of Egypt, on this day they came to the wilderness
of Sinai. They had departed from Refidim and had arrived in the Sinai desert,
camping in the wilderness. And Israel camped there opposite the mountain."
Interestingly, the use of the word camp the second time here is in the singular
form in Hebrew, though still speaking about all of the Jewish people.
The singular form of the verb is used because the Jewish people were united
as one -- "like one person with one heart" -- our Sages tell us. And it was
precisely this unity that prepared and allowed the Jewish people to receive
the Torah and experience the revelation of G-dliness on Mount Sinai.
The unity of the Jewish people preceded the revelation of the Torah. Uniting
and unifying our people today can and should be a preparation for the Final
Redemption when we will have the ultimate revelation of the goodness and
holiness of every single Jew.
The Rebbe expressed this concept in a talk, a number of years ago:
"The Redemption will unify all of Israel, from the greatest to the smallest.
For not a single Jew will remain in exile: 'You, the Children of Israel,
will be gathered in one by one.' Moreover, the multitudes who will then be
gathered in are referred to in the singular: 'A great congregation will return
-- in the singular -- here.'
"In preparation for this state, therefore, one should make every endeavor
to unify all Jews, in a spirit of the love of a fellow Jew, and of the unity
of all Israel."
There are times when arguments are waged for the sake of Heaven, and many
great things are thereby attained. But for the revelation of the Torah on
Mount Sinai, there had to be unity of the Jewish people. And as a preparation
for the revelation of the Torah Chadasha -- new and deeper Torah,
which will be revealed in the Messianic Era -- we would do well to heed the
Rebbe's words and work towards unity and love of all Jews.
Our Sages relate that "in the merit of the righteous women, the Jews were
redeemed from Egypt." Similarly, the Sages associated subsequent redemptions
with the merit of Jewish women. The Holy Ari, Rabbi Yitzchok Luria, emphasized
that the future Redemption will follow the pattern of the Exodus, and thus
will also come as a result of the merit of the righteous women of that
generation.
From "Women as Partners in the Dynamic of Creation"
Have you heard the one about how many Jewish mothers it takes to change a
light bulb? "That's O.K.," the Jewish mother says, "I'll sit in the dark."
This is our modern-day stereotype of the Jewish mother -- self-sacrificing,
a bit of a martyr and a little manipulative. And, your therapist might add,
responsible for all your problems.
Though martyrdom and manipulation are not traits that we might want to emulate,
what about self-sacrifice and selflessness -- two qualities that have been
getting a lot of bad press over the last couple of decades?
Most of us would not be where we are today had it not been for our mothers'
selflessness: waking up at all hours of the night, nursing us back to health
when we were sick, putting their own needs and desires on hold in order to
help fulfill ours. True, dear old mom might remind us of these things a little
more often than we'd like to hear, but are mothers deserving our recognition,
and more, for their self-sacrifice?
In fact, they deserve limitless appreciation and recognition! According to
Jewish tradition, our debt of acknowledgment toward our parents can never
be repaid. The commandment to show honor toward another is mentioned in the
Torah concerning our parents and G-d. The reason for the commandment to "Honor
your father and your mother" is the fact that our parents were partners with
G-d in giving life to us, though Mom probably had more sleepless nights from
us than either of the others two partners.
Where would the Jewish people be without the self-sacrifice of countless
Jewish women throughout the ages?
Jewish tradition teaches that it was because of the self-sacrifice and
righteousness of the women that the entire Jewish people were redeemed from
Egypt! When Pharaoh enslaved the Jewish people, the men refused to have more
children. "Why should we bring children into the world to be slaves and suffer
like us?" they asked.
The Jewish women, however, though shouldering the same burden of slavery
and suffering as their husbands, purposely sought out ways to endear themselves
to their spouses. They were responsible for the birth of a new generation,
a generation fit to be redeemed. The women reasoned, "True, our children
will suffer hardships like us, but, soon G-d will fulfill His promise to
them and deliver them out of the land of Egypt."
In every generation, whenever all seemed hopeless, it was the righteous,
self-sacrificing Jewish mothers who inspired their families and communities
to have faith and look toward better times.
We shouldn't just set aside one day a year to honor mothers. We should
remember them every day -- it's a mitzvah!
Her plan was clear. She would go every day to the House of Prayer and the
Houses of Study. Her child, though still unborn, would come to know the sounds
of the holy words of Torah.
To her friends, she would explain: "I am going to the House of Prayer, so
that my baby can hear the holy words."
On this particular cold, winter day, she sat immersed in her own prayer to
the One Above to bless her child with wisdom and the ability to toil in His
Torah. She sat until the scholars emerged. Shyly, she approached the first,
"Please, bless my child with wisdom." The elderly sage smiled at the young
woman whose presence no longer surprised him. "May your child shine with
the light of Torah," he replied. She continued on to the various Houses of
Study where she would sit beneath the open windows, the words of Torah permeating
her essence.
The months passed. The young woman still made her early morning rounds, but
now she was accompanied by her baby son, Yehoshua Ben Chananya.
She still visited both the Houses of Prayer and the Houses of Study, but
now she propped up the baby in a cradle. And from the early morning until
the heat of the day had passed, the tiny baby sat, dozed, ate, and dozed
again while the sacred melodies of Torah learning filled the air, enveloping
him and filtering into his consciousness.
* * *
Rabbi Yehoshua was tired. The road to Rome was long and difficult. But, praised
be G-d, his mission had met with success. His nerve-wracking debates with
the vicious Hadrian had yielded the hoped-for result -- the severe decrees
against the Jews had been rescinded. He could return home to Yavne in peace,
with good news for his colleagues in the Sanhedrin (the Supreme Court) and
all his fellow Jews. For now, at least, the Jews could breathe more easily.
Rabbi Yehoshua's tremendous scholarship and his generous, kindly nature made
him respected and beloved by all. As the years passed, he accumulated greatness
and honor.
* * *
One day, already an old man, Rabbi Yehoshua sat with his students exploring
a question in Jewish law. Was it incumbent upon the parents to bring their
small children to hear the reading of the Torah once every seven years during
the Hakhel year? Rabbi Yehoshua listened attentively to the discussion,
and then, as if seeing some far-off vision, related the story of how his
mother would rise before dawn to sit beneath the open windows and allow her
child to absorb the feel and essence of the holy words. All his life, Rabbi
Yehoshua continued, he recalled his mother with blessing, for it was she
who instilled in him the holiness to which his soul became attached.
Rabbi Yehoshua's comment sealed the discussion with his own beautiful truth.
* * *
To those familiar with the Jewish view of the age at which one's Jewish education
begins, a recent study, explored in Time magazine, comes as no surprise.
Research on the brain has "discovered" the importance of stimulating a child's
brain from birth, and that most of the growth and development of the brain
takes place from birth to age three.
In Jewish tradition, a child's formal education does not begin until the
age of three. Until that time a child's primary teacher, stimulator, nurturer,
is his/her mother. Only once a child reaches the age of three, after the
explosive development of the brain has slowed, does a child leave his mother's
pushing, prodding, preparing, prompting, and parenting to begin conventional
schooling.
Jewish continuity is Jewish motherhood. It is Jewish mothers instilling in
their children, from birth and even before, a love of G-d, a love of the
Torah, and a love of the Jewish people, which are all intricately connected
and one.
Happy Mother's Day!
Vacation time is drawing near. Will you opt for a relaxing summer in a quiet
cabin in a secluded spot, or something more exotic and interesting?
Whatever our vacation plans might include, most of us put much time and thought
into making sure that the "time off" will be a success. We consider which
clothing to take, what food to bring along (and what can be purchased locally),
cost, accommodations, and much, much more.
While you're making your vacation plans, consider the following: Summertime
brings with it a more relaxed, laid-back atmosphere. This special ambiance
creates the perfect opportunity to give children and young people, in particular,
a positive Jewish experience.
The huge network of day and overnight camps sponsored by Chabad-Lubavitch
centers around the world are expert in creating just such a positive, warm,
authentic Jewish environment.
Undoubtedly, in nearly every city where you might find yourself this summer,
there will be a Chabad camp to which you can send your child(ren). Whether
for a week or an entire summer, the Jewish experience the children will have
cannot be duplicated.
So, when you're writing to the Chamber of Commerce in city X, or telephoning
the visitors' information center in city Y, make sure to get in touch with
the Chabad-Lubavitch representative in city X or Y and find out about their
camp program. It's one part of your summer plans you'll never regret.
The Rebbe's slogan is: "The main thing is the deed." We therefore present
from the Rebbe's talks suggestions what we can do to complete his work of
bringing the Redemption.
Get Ready for Shavuot
"The coming days must be used in preparation for 'the season of the giving
of our Torah.'
"In particular, based on the concept that our children are the 'guarantors
of the Torah,' efforts should be made to bring all Jewish children, even
those of a very young age, to shul on
Shavuot(2) to hear the reading of the Ten Commandments.
Even though the children may not appreciate what they hear, their presence
has an influence on the source of their souls."
(The Rebbe, 24 Iyar, 5750/1990)
_______________
2. This year, on Monday morning, May 28. Ed.
Jewish Women and Girls Light Shabbat
Candles
For local candle lighting times:
consult your local Rabbi, Chabad-Lubavitch Center, or call: (718) 774-3000.
or:
http://www.candlelightingtimes.org/shabbos
For a free candle lighting kit:
contact your local Chabad-Lubavitch Center.
For a listing of the Centers in your area:
http://www.candlelightingtimes.org/general/shluchim.html.
In the USA, call: 1-800-Lubavitch (1-800-582-2848).
Times shown are for Metro NY - NJ
Friday, May 18, Erev Shabbat Parshat
Behar-Bechukotai:
-
Light Shabbat Candles,(3) by 7:49 p.m.
-
After nightfall, after reciting the Shabbat evening prayer, count
Omer 41.(4)
Saturday, May 19, Shabbat Parshat
Behar-Bechukotai:
-
Blessing of the New Month, Sivan.(5)
-
On Shabbat following the afternoon prayer, we read Chapter 5 of
Pirkei Avot -- Ethics of the Fathers.
-
Shabbat ends at nightfall, at 8:57 p.m.
-
After nightfall, after reciting the evening prayer, count Omer 42.
_______________
3. The Shabbat candles must be lit 18 minutes before
sunset. It is prohibited and is a desecration of the Shabbat
to light the candles after sunset.
4. For this year's S'firat Ha'omer Calendar - See our publication:
"Your S'firat Ha'omer Guide," 5761
5. Rosh Chodesh Sivan is on Wednesday, May 23.
Laws of Shabbat Candle
Lighting for the Blind
Shabbat Candle
Lighting Blessing
"Let There Be
Light" - The Jewish Women's Guide to Lighting Shabbat Candles.
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