In our previous article, we started going through the explanation process to some of the basic questions that our younger bachurim have. We finished off last lesson by quoting the Rambam that explains in great detail the greatness of Melech HaMoshiach. I would like to continue that discussion, by addressing the question that is most likely to follow:
Erev Rosh HaShana 5712/1951 was the start of the first Shmita since the Rebbe became Nasi of Chabad. Even before the Shmita year began, the Rebbe said that the Alter Rebbe’s view should be publicized, that one should make a Pruzbul Erev a Shmita year too.
The book of Shmos-Exodus begins with the story of our Egyptian bondage, followed by the description of our Exodus. The first parsha of this book, Shmos (which shares its name with the entire book), covers the period of our bondage. It discusses the bitter exile and enslavement, Pharaoh’s attempt to annihilate all newborn Hebrew males, Moses’ selection by G-d as the redeemer, followed by Moses’ failed attempt to have Pharaoh free the Jews from slavery. Moses proved unable then even to convince Pharaoh simply to ameliorate conditions for his brethren. Indeed, the parsha concludes with Moses’ complaint to G-d about how badly things had deteriorated since he was sent to demand liberation. Matters had come to the point where even Moses, the redeemer of Israel, could not see a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel.
Beis Moshiach presents a selection of letters from the Rebbe on a variety of relevant subjects in today’s challenging world.
“I consider myself the shliach of the building. Every holiday we go to each apartment, knock on the door, and give a gift – on Pesach it’s matza, on Chanuka it’s a menorah kit with candles, on Purim it’s mishloach manos, before Rosh HaShana it’s a jar of honey, and before Shavuos it’s something sweet and dairy.”
In a reshima written by R’ Menachem Zev Gringlass, mashpia in Tomchei T’mimim in Montreal, he describes practices and hiddurim that were performed by our Rebbeim and the senior Chassidim and mashpiim in the previous generation * From a t’shura distributed at the Rabinowitz-Yeruslavsky wedding. Some of the practices quoted here are apparently personal matters that some Chassidim did as part of their individual service of G-d and are not necessarily practices for one and all. With some of the practices, R’ Gringlass noted some possible explanations.
Every time Mrs. Dina Chadad passed by for dollars, the Rebbe added an unexpected bracha for her husband, and she didn’t understand its meaning. It later became clear that the Rebbe, sitting in New York, foresaw her husband’s unstable medical condition. When she realized that her husband’s kidneys had stopped functioning, there began a race against the clock to find an appropriate kidney donor. At the last minute, when it appeared that there was no hope, she received a telephone call from the Rebbe’s secretary with an amazing instruction that saved her husband’s life.
Large clouds flew through the air, bringing many Jews to the third Beis HaMikdash. “Finally, the sweet dream came true,” I thought to myself as I observed Yerushalayim from on top of a fluffy white cloud.
January 7, 2015