KEYS TO THE TREASURE CHEST

Now is the time of reward. Hashem provides each Jew with all he or she needs - in abundance. * Your destiny reflects your origin, but where are you now?

By Rabbi Boruch Merkur

We must publicize everywhere that we are now finalizing and completing the longstanding era of “our efforts and service,”[1] and we are now entering the Era of Moshiach, the promised time of “the reward of the righteous,” when the Jewish people are compensated for their avoda, their efforts throughout history.[2]

Appropriate to this new era, our avoda must now pertain to the way things will be in the Messianic Era, beginning with the study of the topic of Moshiach and Geula, as well as the Beis HaMikdash.

Most importantly, these efforts should be done in a state of tranquility and composure, joy and good heartedness.

The call of the hour is also to host joyous gatherings … a preview of and preparation for the fulfillment of the promise, “Then (in the Future Era) He will fill our mouths with laughter” … (not in the future tense, “Then,” but) in the present tense.[3]

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The main thing is that this effort is approached with peace and tranquility, a peaceful soul and body, in the literal sense. Hashem acts as the catalyst for this tranquility by giving each Jew an abundance of all he or she needs - materially and spiritually - from Hashem’s full and open, holy and generous hand.

Affluence is required first and foremost for the sake of the avoda, the effort itself (independent of its reward), as Rambam writes on the Torah’s promise of material reward: “We have been promised … that He shall remove from us all obstacles, war and famine and the like, and shower us with all good things that empower us to live in accordance with the Torah, such as, satisfaction, peace, and plenty of silver and gold.”

This abundance is in addition to compensation, which the employer must provide the worker at the time of his labor, “today - to do them” - “On that day you shall give him compensation.”

The intent here is not just spiritual reward (including the experience of Ohr Ein Sof, Hashem’s Infinite Light), but worldly compensation, a preview of the material reward of the Messianic Era,* for “In that time, there will be no famine and no war … resources will be abundant, and all luxuries will be as common as dust.”[4] Here we are promised (also) material wealth and luxury (as a result of the revelation of Hashem’s Infinite Light in the world).[5]

*In the Era of Moshiach, Torah study and Mitzva observance will be fulfilled in the ultimate way. The state and quality of wellbeing in the Era of Moshiach is, therefore, something that is necessary (not just as compensation, but also) for the sake of the avoda itself. It is the inspiration or resources required to perfect one’s Divine service.[6]

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In a deeper sense, a preview experience of reward exists, in the avoda itself, immediately at the beginning of one’s spiritual journey.[7]

Avoda and reward are one and the same thing. Since the Jewish people are one with Hashem Himself,[8] through their efforts they bring about the recognition of G-d in the world. Reward is, therefore, present even prior to starting avoda - even prior to Creation, “for before the world was created, He alone existed, singular and united, filling all the space where He created the world …

This idea can and must be recognizable from the start of one’s spiritual journey. The avoda of the Jewish people in the world does not begin with the present state and condition - after the world was created and the soul descended to the world - but from the future state of things, the Future Era, which resembles the way things were in the past, prior to Creation (“it was for this end that it was originally created”[9]). That is, the true identity of a Jew - prior to descending to the material world, when the Jew’s soul was one with Atzmus - should be recognizable and apparent in each Jew …

In this manner, it is easier to complete the intent of Creation - through our efforts and service - to make for Hashem a home in the physical world.[10]

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The main thing is that even the reward that until now has been “closed in a chest” is already within the possession of the “worker” (each Jew). In fact, it is within his or her power and authority to open the treasure chest (and enjoy the reward) whenever he or she pleases.

This treasure is accessed simply by adding “one Mitzva,” “inclining oneself and the world to the side of favor, bringing to them the salvation and success” of the true and complete Redemption by Moshiach Tzidkeinu. Then the reward will be enjoyed[11] in this physical world, the revelation of the Ohr Ein Sof, as it says,[12] “Hashem’s glory will be revealed and all flesh will together see, etc.”[13]

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NOTES:

[1] That is, the soul’s mission of “When you shall go out to wage war upon your enemy.”

[2] as it says, “When you shall come into the land, etc., and inherit and settle in it,” referring to the eternal inheritance of the Holy Land, etc., the time to receive reward.

[3] Seifer HaSichos 5751, pg. 808

[4] Rambam’s conclusion of Mishneh Torah.

[5] Seifer HaSichos 5751, pg. 804

[6] Ibid FN 73

[7] prior to the time of obligatory compensation for one’s individual efforts, “On that day you shall give his compensation.”

[8] Atzmuso yisborach.

[9] as said of the beginning of Creation, “The spirit of the Lord hovered upon the face of the water” – “this refers to the spirit of Melech HaMoshiach” (B’Reishis Rabba 2:4; Seifer HaSichos 5751, pg. 802, FN 61).

[10] Seifer HaSichos 5751, pg. 802-803

[11] yisgaleh ha’s’char (b’Yemos HaMoshiach, u’b’frat k’sh’yichyu ha’meisim).

[12] Yeshaya 40:5, Tanya Ch. 36, beg.

[13] Seifer HaSichos 5751, pg. 802