ISSUE 900 AND MOSHIACH

Dear Reader sh’yichyeh,

This Shabbos (Toldos 5774) is Shabbos Mevarchim Kislev. It is the Shabbos that ushers in the month that is filled with many days of Chassidic celebration and Geula.

In his Sichos, the Rebbe puts much emphasis on connecting every part of the month of Kislev with the theme of Geula and Moshiach. Let us go through a few of these points:

1) The name of the month, כסלו: The word Kislev is made up of two words, כס – Hidden and לו, whose numerical value is 36, equivalent to אלה – revelation. It is a month that all hidden things become revealed. That is why the Rosh HaShana of Chassidus falls out in Kislev, on the 19^th. For many years, Chassidus was hidden, and after the liberation of the Alter Rebbe it was permitted to reveal Chassidus Chabad.

This is also the theme of the times of Moshiach. The central idea of the times of Moshiach is that the truth of the creation will be revealed. The true reality is that not only did Hashem create the world, but the physical world expresses Hashem. In the days of Galus, this truth is concealed and we see only a physical world. In the days of Moshiach, the entire creation will recognize the existence and kingship of Hashem. 

The Navi Yeshaya (2:2) sums it up: “In the days to come, the Mount of the L-rd’s House shall stand firm above the mountains and tower above the hills; and all the nations shall gaze on it with joy. And the many peoples shall go and say: ‘Come, let us go up to the Mount of the L-rd, to the House of the G-d of Yaakov; that G-d may instruct us in G-d’s ways, and that we may walk in G-d’s paths.’ For instruction shall come forth from Zion, and the word of the L-rd from Jerusalem.”

2) It is the third month from Tishrei, in the winter months. The number three is the number of peace. When you just have two opinions, you have conflict. When you have a third mediating party, it brings peace. That is why the Torah was given in third Month of Sivan (counting from Nissan), for Torah is given to bring peace into the world.

That is why Chassidus was revealed in the third month of Kislev. Yet Hashem saved the revelation of Chassidus for the third month of the winter months specifically. Chassidus gives us the power to even bring the deepest lights of Moshiach to the darkest times of Galus (winter). (Sichos 5752)

It is important to mention that Kislev is the ninth month of the year. The month of Kislev is connected to the tribe of Benyamin, who brought his Korban on the ninth day. Benyamin was the only one of the sons of Yaakov who was born in Eretz Yisroel. He merited that the Beis HaMikdash be built in his portion of Eretz Yisroel. It is a month that we celebrate the Chanukas Beis HaMikdash that instills in us the Emuna in the rebuilding of the Beis HaMikdash HaShlishi.

The number nine is connected to מדת האמת. Furthermore, the number nine, in Hebrew תשע is the numerical value of 770! It should be noted that this week is the 900^th (the שלימות of the number 9) edition of the Beis Moshiach Magazine! The sole goal of this publication is to spread the truth that «Hinei Moshiach Ba» and to instill the light of Moshiach into the hearts and lives of every Jew. May the editors, contributors and readers of this special publication accomplish this goal with the revelation of Moshiach Now!

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.