COUNT TO ELEVEN

Shvat is the 11th month of the year. According to Kabbala (and elaborated upon in the sichos of winter 5752) the number 11 represents the supernatural revelation that will be in the times of Moshiach. The number 10 reflects the natural perfection that the world can attain on its own, while 11 represents the G-dly force that is hidden in creation being revealed and elevating the entire creation.

Dear reader sh’yichyeh,

This week we begin the special month of Shvat. For Chassidei Chabad, the very mention of the month of Shvat reminds us that we are in the proximity of 10 Shvat, the Yahrtzait of the Frierdike Rebbe and the day of the Kabbalas HaNesius of the Rebbe.

The month of Shvat is very connected to Moshiach. Firstly, the name of the month שבט reminds us of Moshiach, as the Pasuk (BaMidbar 24:17) מישראל שבט קם – and a staff (Moshiach) will arise from Israel which will crush the princes of Moab and uproot all the sons of Seth.” We find the word שבט in another pasuk relating to Moshiach (VaYechi 49:10): מיהודה ומחוקק מבין רגליו עד כי יבא שילה שבט לא יסור – The scepter shall not depart from Yehudah, nor the student of the law from between his feet, until Shiloh comes….”

Shvat is the 11th month of the year. According to Kabbala (and elaborated upon in the sichos of winter 5752) the number 11 represents the supernatural revelation that will be in the times of Moshiach. The number 10 reflects the natural perfection that the world can attain on its own, while 11 represents the G-dly force that is hidden in creation being revealed and elevating the entire creation.

In the month of Shvat we always read in the Torah the portions that deal with the Jewish people leaving Egypt. The beginning of the process of the final redemption – and indeed the source of the power that we have to bring the final redemption – is the Jewish people leaving Mitzrayim. Being that the month of Shvat is an auspicious month to bring Moshiach, we read – and get empowered by – the portions that deal with Geulas Mitzrayim.

During the month of Shvat we celebrate “Tu B’Shvat – the 15th of Shvat” the Rosh HaShana of the trees. While we thank Hashem for all fruits, the main celebration is to give thanks and appreciation for the 7 species of Eretz Yisroel. They are wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olive oil and honey (of dates). Aside for the spiritual messages and lessons that we learn from these 7 species (see sicha 15 Shvat 5752), it arouses within us the yearning to return to Eretz Yisroel with Moshiach. 

This is expressed in the “Al HaMichya” post-eating blessing, where we say the following: “Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, for the produce of the field, and for the precious, good, and spacious land which You have graciously given as a heritage to our ancestors, to eat of its fruit and to be satiated with its goodness. Have mercy, L-rd our G-d, on Israel Your people, on Jerusalem Your city, on Zion the abode of Your glory, on Your altar, and on Your Temple. Rebuild Jerusalem, the holy city, speedily in our days, and bring us up to it and make us rejoice in it, and we will bless You in holiness and purity. 

Let us finish with words of the Rebbe (Bo 5752): It has been mentioned many times that already ‘all the appointed times have passed’ and everything is concluded, and the Redemption should have come long ago. But for totally incomprehensible reasons, it has not yet come.

Therefore it follows, that now the Redemption must come imminently and immediately. To employ a colloquial expression: this is High time for the true and complete Redemption!

…In terms of spiritual matters (including the “highest” levels of spirituality) there already is perfection, including also the most complete state of Redemption. Thus the spiritual eyes of the Jew can already see it. We must open our physical eyes that they too should see the Redemption in a way that is clearly visible to eyes of flesh in our time…

Of practical relevance, everyone should resolve that his study of the previous Rebbe’s Torah should complete and compensate for that which was lacking in the dissemination and spreading of the wellsprings due to the speech impediment of my sainted father-in-law. One accomplishes this both through one’s own learning out loud as well as spreading of the wellsprings to others.

Rabbi Avtzon is the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Lubavitch Cincinnati and a well sought after speaker and lecturer. Recordings of his in-depth shiurim on Inyanei Geula u’Moshiach can be accessed at http://www.ylcrecording.com.