THE FIRST FRUITS OF THE FINAL ERA

A point from the weekly D’var Malchus with a relevant message. * How can we change perspective and see “bikkurim” in every Jew?

In the D’var Malchus in general and in recent weeks in particular, the Rebbe MH”M guides us in how to live appropriately as a “Jew in Yemos HaMoshiach,” and how to make a cheshbon ha’nefesh (spiritual accounting) in our special era.

“R’ei” – “R’ei Anochi” – see the Anochi within you. “Shoftim” – the judges and advisors within each of you. “Ki Seitzei” – we are one with and partners with Hashem. And this week, a new pinnacle – a Jew is bikkurim!

There is the story about the Chassid from another Chassidic group who lived near Crown Heights and visited 770 around Tishrei one year. In response to the Rebbe’s question, “What are they talking about by you?” he said that his Rebbe asked how can we say that “deliberate Jewish sinners are full of mitzvos like a pomegranate?” If they are deliberate sinners, how can they be full of mitzvos like a pomegranate?

In response to this, the Rebbe said (according to some versions, the Rebbe wiped away a tear and said): I also find this statement difficult. If they are full of mitzvos like a pomegranate, how can we call them deliberate sinners?

That is how the Rebbe views all Jews and that is how every Jew needs to view every Jew including himself. The secret to success lies in my perspective of myself. When I get used to looking at myself like bikkurim, my outlook on the other will improve so that I will think the same of him.

This is true all year, not just in Elul. Everything is brought to the Beis HaMikdash, “before Hashem your G-d.” The Rebbe is particular about every move I make. To him, nothing is a means toward something else; everything is the goal, every thought, word, action. When I live like that and I make sure that my actions are as they should be, and that everything that comes out of my mouth should be in accord with the divine purpose, and the same goes for thoughts too, then my outlook on my surroundings will be completely different.

A Jew is bikkurim. That is a fact, beyond all logic and conditions. It is a reality that cannot be changed.

The Rebbe sees everything, including our externalities. Nothing is hidden from him and you can’t hide. However, he is not taken in by what he sees. Our externalities don’t mean anything to him because every Jew is bikkurim. The Rebbe loves us unconditionally, so whoever wants can go out to greet him. Everyone, without exception.

And he receives everyone graciously and shows a smiling countenance to all. What does he want of us? That we look at others as he does, as he looks at us.

On a deeper level, the Rebbe also connects the topic of this D’var Malchus to the previous week’s D’var Malchus, the descent here below. True, there are levels within the state of concealment where it is not obvious that a Jew is bikkurim and you need the power of Torah to reveal it. But this is the idea, to reveal the essence, to the point that even here below, the quality of a Jew will be revealed in such a way that it will be apparent even without Torah, because in truth he is higher than the Torah.

This week’s D’var Malchus is an entire sicha full of essence-terms that are beyond the grasp of the ordinary human mind. The same point from every possible angle – I am bikkurim, you are bikkurim, we are all bikkurim! In the D’var Malchus for Ki Savo, the Rebbe provides us with “behavior modification” in relating to others, so that we exchange our bikores (with a kuf, criticism) for bikores (with a kof, like bikkurim). How? Because I myself am bikkurim!

In this era, the “and you shall respond and say” [instead of the recitation that is said over bringing bikkurim to the Beis HaMikdash] needs to be as the Rebbe puts it, “There needs to be especially the request (b’kol rom – in a loud voice) ‘ad masai!?’ … that the Geula actually come already.”

This is not an intricate explanation, a calculating of kitzim, or an incisive proof from the prophecies of Geula. This is a genuine cry of the bikkurim-Jew who demands what is coming to him because he is a partner. Because it’s his. Therefore, there is power in this cry to accomplish bringing the Geula.

Let us cry out loudly from our heart: Rebbe! Galus has nothing to do with a Jew at all! Your will is my will and my will is your will. Annul the galus and bring the true and complete Geula already! “And you shall respond and say” – immediately.