From
Miracles To Redemption
Sichos
in English
Yud-Alef
Nissan, 5751
1.
[The Chassidim conveyed a blessing upon the Rebbe Shlita which concluded
with the Priestly Blessings. The Rebbe responded:]
It
is Jewish custom to begin at the conclusion of the previous statement.
Thus, in continuation with the latter blessings, the Torah conveys G-d’s
words of assurance, “I will bless them.” The blessings that emanate
from G-d’s “full, open, holy, and ample hand,” are limitless in
nature. They are not restricted by time or space, and will be drawn down
immediately.
These
blessings are associated with the conclusion of Psalm 90, the first of
the 11 Psalms recited by Moshe our teacher. That Psalm concludes, “May
the pleasantness of G-d, our L-rd, be upon us. Establish for us the work
of our hands, establish the work of our hands.”
All
the qualities of Moshe are relevant to every Jew for every Jew possesses
a spark of Moshe in his heart. Therefore, this Psalm, “a prayer of
Moshe,” can bring him all possible blessings. This is particularly
true after forty years have passed and we have been granted, “eyes to
see, ears to hear, and a knowing heart.”
The
repetition of the request, “Establish for us the work of our hands,”
can refer to our activities during the week and to our activities on
Shabbos, which are different in nature and hence require a different
request. The Shabbos can be considered as miraculous when compared to
the days of the week. Thus we are requesting that G-d also “establish
for us” a miraculous framework of conduct.
G-d
will show the Jewish people open miracles. Although we have seen the
beginning of this process, we can be assured that G-d will increase and
intensify these wonders. Each Jew will see open miracles in his own
personal life. This will begin by the conduct of every Jew being
elevated to a miraculous plane, causing him to step beyond even the
upraised level of conduct appropriate to 5750, “a year of miracles,”
and to behave in a manner appropriate to the message of the present
year, “I will show you wonders.” This implies a twofold increase
because wonders are higher than miracles, and also these wonders will be
“shown,” openly revealed.
The
word “establish” has a connection to the concept of a foundation and
thus relates to the beginning of the Rambam’s classic text Mishneh
Torah, “The foundation of all foundations and the pillar of all
knowledge...” Through the study of the Rambam’s text we will bring
the Redemption closer, and we will leave the exile with happiness,
health, and good spirits.
This
will be enhanced and hastened by our efforts to make the world into a
vessel for G-dliness, carrying out this shlichus in every element
of our existence in this lowly material world. This is reflected in the
fact that shaliach plus ten (the ten powers of our soul) is
numerically equivalent to Moshiach.
May
speaking about these concepts lead to their being reflected in deed. May
we openly see how “the Divine Presence will rest in the works of your
hands” and may the Divine Presence dwell among us in a permanent and
fixed manner.
Since
“He fulfills the desire of those who fear Him,” and “You open Your
hand and satisfy the desire of every living being,” G-d will surely
fulfill the desire of every Jew. That desire is expressed at the
conclusion of the Book of Psalms, “Let every being that has a soul
praise G-d.” Each Jew has a soul, which is “a part of G-d from
above,” and thus, wherever a Jew is, he can “praise G-d.” This
activity, especially when it comes on the initiative of the person
himself (and not as “bread of shame”) will hasten Moshiach’s
coming.
This
is related to the tribe of Asher whose nasi is associated with
the present day. In regard to Asher, the Torah states, “He will grant
the delicacies of the king.” Implied is also that, at present, in the
conclusion of the exile, each Jew will be granted “the delicacies of
the king.”
This
is connected with the fact that “All your sons are students of G-d.”
The Rebbe Rayatz (in the wedding maamarim) explains that this
verse refers to every Jew. As the Baal Shem Tov explains, G-d cherishes
each Jew as parents cherish a child born to them in their old age. This
should be reflected in an increase in Torah study (and in particularly,
an increase in the study of the inner dimension of the Torah) and
indeed, a miraculous and wondrous increase as appropriate for a year
when “I will show you wonders.”
The
use of the phrase “arenu niflaos” (I will show you wonders)
as an acronym for the year reflects the contributions of the Jewish
people. The usual form of 5751 places the Nun before the Alef,
“niflaos arenu,” implying that first the wonders will take
place, and then, they will be revealed. Through their service, the Jews
cause that the nature of these wonders be revealed from the outset.
These wonders will be shown to each individual in his personal life. G-d
will point with His finger, as it were, and show each individual the
open and revealed miracles that are happening to him, and show him how
G-d cherishes him as parents cherish an only son born to them in their
old age.
May
speaking about these wonders lead to the immediate coming of the
Redemption when “Your eyes will behold Your Master;” G-d will reveal
Himself to every Jew. Thus we will begin by “proceeding from strength
to strength” now in the last days of exile. And immediately, we will
merit to “appear before G-d in Tziyon,” together with the entire
Jewish people, “with our youth and with our elders...with our sons and
with our daughters,” in Eretz Yisroel, and in “the Sanctuary of G-d
established by Your hands.”
|