All the while that Moshiach Tzidkeinu has still not arrived – tangibly and overtly – one’s days are incomplete, his life is truly lacking. Yaakov expresses this sentiment by saying that even the 130 years of his life were seen as but “few” [meaning lacking], for the redemption had not yet been realized in the world.
The message derived from this analogy, as it relates to Moshe Rabbeinu – as well as the “extension of Moshe in each generation,” including the Moshe of our generation, my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe – is that even now he is present and shines as before. Were we to go together with him, we would see that he shines in full force just as before. In fact, in an even more profound way.
What is the history behind the “one cruse of oil which lay with the seal of the High Priest?” The Sifsei Kohen Al HaTorah explains that this flask was the famous flask of the Shemen HaMishcha–anointing oil that was prepared by Moshe Rabbeinu. It was used to anoint Kings and High Priests as well as the vessels in the Mishkan. It was hidden during the time of the second Beis HaMikdash and was miraculously found and used to light the Menorah.
To our great regret, even some in the ideological right-wing are talking about granting autonomy to the “Palestinians.” Just recently, political novice Naftali Bennett, the newly elected head of the joint Jewish Home/National Union Party, presented his diplomatic platform, which gives Area A to the Palestinians. This didn’t seem to bother the moderates on the political right, who have entrusted Bennett with their renewed electoral hopes.
The Rebbe urges Anash to get involved with the yeshiva and makes it clear that this is for their material and spiritual good. * From the life of R’ Yehoshua Shneur Zalman Serebryanski a”h.
If the exile is likened to a dream, and that G-d appears to us to be in a “sleep state,” then we are now witnessing the transition described in the Biblical verse, from: “Awaken, why do you sleep O G-d” to: “and G-d awakened from His sleep.”
A treasury of stories and sayings from great Chabad Chassidim of the previous generation were recently discovered in R’ Chaim Ashkenazi’s archives. * His family gave Beis Moshiach the fascinating stories, some of which are being publicized for the first time. * In the coming weeks, we will present stories and sayings from R’ Chaim Shaul Brook.
It is ten years since the passing of the Chassid, R’ Zalman Levin a”h of Kfar Chabad. He walked among us but he belonged to the generation of giants, Chassidim who lived lives of mesirus nefesh. In a series of meetings with him, he recounted the story of his childhood in a Chassidishe home in the Soviet Union where children learned Torah and where kosher meat was secretly slaughtered.
I felt my mind unwinding out of control, like a fishing reel set loose by a wild catch too large to handle. Who do I think I am? How am I supposed to know if I am living the life that I am meant to live? Why can’t I see any sign?
Journalist Motti Tochfeld, political analyst for “Yisroel HaYom,” gave an electrifying speech at the banquet for the Kinus HaShluchim in 770. * “I believed the Rebbe is Moshiach before I became a Lubavitcher.” * The full speech.
A gaon and Chassid who was always learning, he completed Shas, Likkutei Torah, and the Rambam’s Yad HaChazaka every year. Along with his genius and outstanding diligence in learning he was modest and humble. * The mashpia, Rabbi Shimon Yakobovitz of Yerushalayim, of blessed memory.
There is indeed an appointed season for everything, and a time for every matter under the heavens – even a haircut for a three year-old boy. This is what happened as an entire family surprisingly became connected to the Rebbe MH”M through a totally unexpected answer in Igros Kodesh. Beis Moshiach presents two recent “Igros Kodesh” stories.
The story of an American girl from a Conservative home and her journey to Chabad and shlichus.
December 14, 2012