Wednesday, December 21, 2016

54. "Ayeka- Where are you?!"

Is it possible to be driving down the right road, to be making all the right turns, to even be arriving at the right destination, 
yet to still be completely lost?

Of course it is.

Too often, we are in the right place, at the right time, and doing the right thing...
Yet we're not in the right state of mind. 
We can be so close, yet so far, 
Cuz we're not facing the right way, 
Not realizing where we are.

That's why the Alter Rebbe taught that HaShem is constantly asking each of us, "Ayeka?! Where are you?!"
True, you are busy all day with very good, important, and holy things;
But is it possible that you are still lost?
Do you really know where you are going with all this? Do you constantly remember the ultimate purpose of every single positive action you take? 
Or are you just following the GPS mindlessly, by rote?

True, it's been a long and exhausting journey, and we're in a hurry, but HaShem is asking us to stop for a moment and meditate on where we are now and where we are heading.
And to stay focused on our one and only destiny at all times...
To remember that the sole purpose of the creation of the world, the sole purpose of the Alter Rebbe with Chabad Chassidus, the sole purpose of our generation -Dor Shvii, and the sole purpose of each and every one of our life's work.. is to complete Hashem's master plan of making this world a comfortable home for His presence.

Or, as we read tonight, in the words of the Frierdiker Rebbe : “At this time, when the world is quaking, when the entire world is shuddering with the birth pangs of Moshiach,and Hashem has set the walls of Golus afire…, every Jew — man and woman, old and young — is obligated to ask himself: ‘What have I done and what am I doing to ease the birth pangs of Moshiach and merit the ultimate Redemption that will come about through Moshiach?’”
Hayom Yom! Today is the day - to ask ourselves this question and to give our honest accounting to HaShem.. 
But at the same time, it's finally our turn to turn the tables and ask HaShem, 
"Ayeka?! Where are YOU?!" 
It's already been 5777 years since creation, 
It's already been so many years since Yud Tes Kislev,
It's already been so many years since the Rebbe's Nevuah of Geulah! 
So where are You? Where are You hiding?
Come reveal Yourself to Your children, in full glory, TODAY!
לע״נ ר׳ מנחם מאיר בן ר׳ חיים משה יהודה הכהן ע״

53. Round Trip Ticket

I recently met a woman who moved to Russia from Lakewood, in order to do Kiruv.
When I asked her if they planned to stay here, she said no way! 
"We only agreed to come because we knew it would only be for 2 years.. We could never even imagine moving here for "life"!
"We're not like you Chabad Shluchim who can just buy one way tickets.."

But the truth is, that we don't either believe in buying one way tickets! 

True, we cannot set the date for our return ticket, and there is no way we will leave our post until we fully complete our mission, but our plan is not to stay on Shlichus forever, Gd forbid!

Our goal is not to create an amazing army of Shluchim around the world.
Our goal is not to be on Shlichus our whole  life, or to make our city our permanent home.
Our goal is only to bring about the coming of Moshiach, and return to Eretz Yisroel!

And all of our Shlichus is only the means to that end.

This week we read about Yaakov's going on Shlichus to Charan, the lowest, most unholy place on earth.
We see how successful he was not only in keeping strong himself and raising a beautiful Yiddishe family there, but also in influencing and transforming the entire city.

But even though it took 20 years, and even though he was so successful, he never let himself feel comfortable there. 
He worked day and night with total devotion, but the second his mission was done and he had a chance to leave, he took everyone and everything that he acquired with him, and quickly headed back home to Eretz Yisroel.

We too are ready to run the moment our Shlichus is done!
And after all that we have accomplished collectively, throughout all these years, there is no doubt that that moment is really near!!

לע״נ ר׳ מנחם מאיר בן ר׳ חיים משה יהודה הכהן ע״ה

52. Fortunate Was The Eye


51. May He Bless Every Jew


51. Will 10 Jews Please Stand Up?!

_Today's Chitas reminded me of a thought I wrote a while back..._

WILL 10 JEWS PLEASE STAND UP?!

*3730 years ago:* 
Conversation between Avraham and Hashem

Avraham: "Please HaShem, don't destroy Sedom! Will you save them for the sake of 10 righteous people found there?"

Hashem: "I will not destroy for the sake of the 10."

But Avraham searched Sedom, and they were not found.

*3704 years later:* 

Conversation between our Rebbe and Hashem

Rebbe: "Please Hashem, end this bitter Golus already! Will you send Moshiach for the sake of 10 Jews who really want it?"

Hashem: "Yes, I will send Moshiach for the sake of the 10."

But the Rebbe searched the world, and they were not found.

So the Rebbe turned to us on 28 Nissan 5751, and pleaded,

"May it be G-d's will that 10 stubborn Jews will finally be found, who will decide that they must cause Hashem to bring Moshiach... and then it is certain that Hashem will send the true and complete Redemption immediately."

Will 10 Jews please stand up?

_There is no question that Uncle Meir A"H has truly answered the Rebbe's call, and is counted as one of the 10 stubborn Jews who deeply and stubbornly cried out for Moshiach to come. 
His tried his hardest to find 9 more chassidim to join him in his stubborn demand for Moshiach, and he is surely still searching and eagerly waiting for 9 more Jews to please stand up...

It's hard to be stubborn- to keep on trying, to keep on hoping, and to keep on demanding... 

But if not me, then who?
And if not now, then when?_

50. A Tiny Bit of Sweetness

How many times do we stop and wonder if our actions are really making enough of a difference?
We work so hard, invest SO much time and energy, and sacrifice so many of our comforts, yet we don't always see how it's really all worth it! 
We are each working tirelessly in our own little corner of the world but we don't always see the major payoffs and effects of our labor, and we can sometimes feel discouraged.

The other day someone sent me an amazing message about bees and how much honey they make in their whole lifetime.
You can google it and see for yourself that it takes 12 bees to make just one little teaspoon of honey! 

So what would happen if the bee would think to himself, "This is crazy! A whole life of labor and all I can show for it is a twelfth of a teaspoon of honey?!"
"In just one moment a Jew can come and dip his apple in my honey and there goes all my life work?!"
"Forget it, I'm discouraged, Let me instead just sit back and enjoy life. I quit!"

Word would get out to all the bee Whatsapp groups, and soon there would be no more honey in the world!

Just like the bees, our life work is to each add a tiny bit of sweetness to the world around us. 

And even if it would take a whole life time just to add one drop of sweetness to one Jewish soul- it would all be worth it! 

Like the Baal Shem Tov said, "for 70, 80 years, a Neshama wears and tears, just to do a favor for another!"

And the bees come to tell us that even if all our life work only serves to bring Moshiach a tiny bit sooner, making the world sweet for just a few extra moments, it is still worth all the sweat and toil!

And the good news is, that in our case, that extra moment of sweetness we contribute, will serve not only one person, but every single soul in the entire world!

Our honey will be spread out and multiplied throughout all of creation, to millions of souls, billions of people, our dear Rebbe, and the Shechina herself!

The entire universe will be grateful for that one extra minute of a completely pain free, sweet existence.

And more importantly, just like the bees, our integral contribution will add up together with everyone else's life work to create MILLIONS of extra doses of sweetness- not only in quantity but also in quality, since the level of pleasure of the future world is completely dependent on our deeds now!

So thanks to our efforts, Moshiach will come a whole _lot_ sooner, and His times will be a whole _lot_ sweeter, and together we will celebrate the global sweetening of the entire world - before this Rosh Hashana, and forever!

לע״נ ר׳ מנחם מאיר בן ר׳ חיים משה יהודה הכהן ע״ה

49. Time to go Home

There is a special energy that we feel on Selichos night.

It suddenly hits us that the year is almost over.
That we're about to start the cycle over yet again.

How did time fly so quickly?!

There is an excitement about the new year and new opportunities to come, but also a wonder, of where has this past year gone?

We have accomplished so much good!
Yet we still haven't reached our ultimate goal!

But there's still a few days left to make it happen _this_ year.
And now is the easiest time because the King is in the Field.

True, we are way too busy with all our work "in the field" to think about its ultimate purpose - "the King".
But if there's ever a time it's possible, it's now!
Because He's here, really close to us, so we don't need to search anywhere too far!
All we have to do is stop what we're doing, no matter how busy it is, and notice the King standing right near us, waiting for our attention.

Thank Gd, mostly,
our work is all just for Him!
And we love all we're doing!
And we're grateful for the opportunity to plant and sow and watch things grow!

We have the most wonderful job in the world!
And the King gets great pleasure from it all.

But He doesn't just want us to keep working like this forever!

Every job must have an end!
Every journey must have a destination!
Every race must have a finish line!

It's time to tell the King,
That we're ready to let go,
ready to put down the shovel,
ready to see Him in His full glory,
ready to receive our full payment-
for thousands of years of labor,
ready to enjoy the delicious fruits -
of all we've planted all these years!

Because we've grown enough to last us forever!

It's time to just stop and gather it in,
It's time to go home to His Palace, with Him
It's time to rejoice together as one
As we watch the field itself become
A peaceful extension of his Royal Palace.

לע״נ ר׳ מנחם מאיר בן ר׳ חיים משה יהודה הכהן ע״ה

48. Soldiers

Today is the anniversary of the founding of Tomchei Temimim, which we are told was established for a clear and specific goal:
To hasten the coming of Moshiach. 
To produce strong soldiers who will form the army of Moshiach.
Who will fight those who shame the "footsteps" of Moshiach. 
Those who can never be called "enemies of HaShem", because they spend all their time learning Torah and doing Mitzvos. 
Perhaps even teaching others to do the same. 
But those who can't handle hearing that Moshiach is near. 
Don't like to announce that "He's almost here."
Those who believe in HaShem with complete heart and soul. 
Yet believe in Moshiach with only half, if at all.
To produce strong soldiers who will go out with love and peace.
Yet fight for Moshiach with full confidence, no fear of what will be.
Who will face those who mock, those who shame, those who doubt, 
Who will embrace them each with love,
Yet with a faith so fiery 
That it will melt the cold and apathy.
And warm anyone in its way.
But today *every* Jew is being called upon to serve,
Not only students, but every father and mother.
Because Moshiach is counting on each of us to fight.
It's only through us, that He can light up this night.
And even if we think we're not strong enough ourselves. 
Even if we have our own doubts, and no time.
Even if we feel we don't know how to win.
Even if we recognize the enemy, within.  
Because the greatest battle lies inside our own hearts.
Because the greatest battle starts, and ends inside our minds. 
Because once we conquer ourselves, we can conquer the world. 
Because Moshiach is counting on us to win His war.
We can't leave the job to anyone else,
Because each of us was given all of the strength. 
And even if we fell, we can rise up once more
Until the job is done, we can't just ignore
If not me, then who? 
If not now, then when?
It's time to enter the Land of Israel, 
Again!

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

47. The Only Candidate

Yesterday, just a day after we read about the importance of Jewish leadership, the whole world watched the literal collapse of American leadership!
The top nominee for president proved how unfit she is to lead the country.

And unfortunately, she's not the only one who is unfit to be in a position of leadership!
Over the past years we have seen the collapse of tens of governments around the world! And those who took them over are no less corrupt.

For generations we've been praying  for the return of our judges and advisors, three times every day.
But never before has there been such an obvious and desperate global need for a true leader!

Someone who all nations can truly look up to, admire, and aspire to follow.

Today, we are living the Talmudic prophecy that in the days before Moshiach's coming, "The face (i.e., the leadership) of the generation will have the face of a dog.”

But we are not afraid of what will be.
Because we know that there is a perfect leader who is ready and waiting to lead the whole world to complete peace and goodness!

All we need to do is vote him in!

And the good news is that we don't need to wait until Tuesday, November 8, to vote for this One and Only worthy candidate!
We can choose to elect Him at any time...

So what are we waiting for?

Let's crown Him, TODAY!

לע״נ ר׳ מנחם מאיר בן ר׳ חיים משה יהודה הכהן ע״ה

46. Lights and Vessels

Don't know where I was in elementary school, but I just got my first lesson in how electricity works.
I recently ordered a Dessert Bullet because it looked really cool and was also quite cheap! I counted down for it to arrive to NY and then to Moscow, and when it finally did, I excitedly took my simple adapter that I use for little things around the house, and plugged it in.
I pressed the button once and heard a noise- it works!

So I quickly put in my frozen fruits and flavors and pushed again..
But this time nothing!
The fuse blew and I realized that my new dessertbullet was fried. Gone.

It took me a while to understand what that means, but my dear uncle patiently explained to me that just using a different plug didn't change anything.
I needed to use a large converter, that actually transforms the voltage.
I was taking an American device that can only accept 120 volts and giving it a powerful European 240!
That's way too much light for it to handle, and so it naturally just burst!
Or in other words-
Too many "oros" for the "keilim" = shviras hakeilim.
No going back.

If I would want to prevent that, I'd need to use a converter which would transform and condense the light in a way that it can now fit in the small vessel.

I finally got what the Rebbe meant when He said that we need to spread the message of Moshiach in a way of "great lights", but that can fit in "small vessels".

That when we're talking about lighter subjects, it's possible to use just a simple adapter, and the message is accepted.
But with such a powerful topic like Moshiach, just translating the message to another language doesn't help.
On the contrary, it can even turn the person "off" and make it really hard for them to accept the idea later, no matter how it's given!
To prevent that, we need to take the full original message, but then really transform it, convert it, and cater it to the specific audience in front of us, so that it can be fully received, appreciated, and enjoyed!

לע״נ ר׳ מנחם מאיר בן ר׳ חיים משה יהודה הכהן ע״ה

45. To be Desperately Desired


This morning I called a girl from our community to wish her Mazel tov and best wishes on her wedding day. 
Her wedding is in Florence tonight, but I wanted her to know that while I'm physically in Moscow, my heart and soul are fully with her! 

But as she spoke, I could hear how much she missed me and wished I was there with her! How upset she was that I didn't make it, what a difficult day it is for her, and how much she needed me to be by her side. 
My eyes welled up with tears as she told me about her 4 hour drive back and forth to Mikvah, how tired she was, and about all her emotions and concerns.

Immediately, I forgot any previous calculations of why I decided not to go, and within 5 minutes I had booked a ticket with a travel agent, packed my hand luggage, had my baby bundled, and had a car on the way to drive me to the air train.

A minute later though, we realized we had a problem. Our passports are at the embassy now and there was no way I could fly.

I understood it's Hashgacha protis and that I wasn't meant to go, but in that same moment, I realized something else. 

What changed from when I got the original invitation until now? 
Why didn't I let her book us tickets right away, and plan for the trip normally? 
Why did I suddenly feel such regret and intense desire to be there with her, when I knew about her wedding all along?

Because until that moment, I didn't realize how much she _really_ wanted and needed me to be there! That although she had other important guests, it was important to her for me to be there too.
I didn't realize that it wasn't just words or a nice invitation, but that it really made a difference.

And I realized what it would mean to Hashem if He saw that _our_ request for Moshiach wasn't just words or a nice invitation. 
What would happen if He saw that we _really_ wanted and needed Moshiach, that we _really_ cared, that it _really_ made a difference to us, today.
What He would do if He saw that we're not just understanding or forgiving of the delay, and that we can't just casually move on to Plan B..

There's no question that in that moment, He will instantly drop all calculations!

He will just stop, drop, and do everything in His power to reveal Himself with the complete Geulah now!
And with Hashem, nothing in the world could ever get in the way of making it reality!
His desire to fulfill our desire will materialize immediately! 

לע״נ ר׳ מנחם מאיר בן ר׳ חיים משה יהודה הכהן ע״ה

44. "They" are Never the Problem!

To be honest, Moshiach is a really hard and uncomfortable topic to talk about, especially to people who are not yet frum! 
It's easy to talk about ideas like goodness and kindness and making the world a better place. 
It's easy to talk about our tradition, our history, and about concern for our strong Jewish future..
It's also relatively easy these days to talk about the beauty and meaning of most of the Mitzvos, and to discuss most fundamental deep concepts of Torah..
It all seems to be received with so much respect and appreciation. 

But as soon as we say the word Moshiach, there seems to be a kind of block. A feeling that people can't relate or take us seriously. A feeling that not only are we talking about something "religious", but that we're talking about some fantasy, some unrealistic dream. 

And it's understandable.
Besides that it's something none of us have ever seen or experienced, it's something that the last generation has already been disillusioned by.
The communist concept of "utopia" failed them terribly and people don't want to hear or believe anything that sounds similar..

But today's hayom yom reminds us that "they" are never the problem!
Because every Jew truly does believe and know it deep inside their heart! 
The fact that we don't see it is only a reflection of ourselves, and of our own desire and power to reveal what's hidden. 

If it's not easy for us to uncover another's faith in Moshiach, it only means that we need to look deeper into our own hearts and strengthen our own faith.
Because once we find our own inner confidence, we'll naturally be able to reach deeper into the depths of our fellow Jew, and uncover the spark of Moshiach hidden within them. 

לע״נ ר׳ מנחם מאיר בן ר׳ חיים משה יהודה הכהן ע״ה


Monday, September 5, 2016

43. The Great Shofar

Today, as we once again listen to the call of the Shofar, we are reminded of our yearning for the sound of the Great Shofar, which will wake us all up from our spiritual sleep of Golus!
those who are cast away in the land of Mitzrayim (Egypt) shall come and bow down to G‑d on the holy “On that day a great shofar will be sounded, and those who are lost in the land of Ashur (Assyria) and mountain in Jerusalem.”(Isaiah 27:13)
The call will be so powerful that it will inspire every kind of Jew to return and bow to HaShem. 
Both, “Those who are lost in the land of Ashur”, - referring to the ones who are immersed in mundane pleasures and luxuries - reading Ashur as an expression of esher (bliss).
And also, "Those who are cast away in the land of Mitzrayim” - referring to the ones whose hearts and minds are not open to the knowledge of Hashem because of the pressures and hardships of Golus - reading Mitzrayim as an expression of meitzarim (straits; restraints). 

The Great Shofar will awaken the sensitivity of every "lost" soul in whichever situation, so that we'll all begin to feel the intense yearning to truly know and serve HaShem!

(Based on Living with Moshiach, R' Immanuel Shochat)

42. We're NOT Okay!

41, 43, 47, 13????!!!!

This is not normal!
It's not ok!
We're not ok!
Stories that just stopped in the middle.
Journeys that weren't completed.

Yes Hashem, you have our attention,
But now what?!
How does it help?
Is _this_ going to finally make Moshiach come?
Why are you hiding Your face?

Did You not see enough tears?
Did You not hear enough cries?
Cries of small children who just lost their fathers,
Cries of young wives who just lost their husbands,
Cries of loving parents who just lost their sweet bar mitzvah boy,
Cries of innocent children who just lost their brother,
Cries of grandparents, relatives, and friends...

And cries of the rest of us who have never even met them...
Yet can't rest!

Because no matter how ok things might seem for us now
No matter how blessed we might feel now
Our joy can never be complete

We always have that broken glass
We always have that undone space
We always have that hole in our hearts

Since we know that too many of our fellow brothers and sisters are suffering,
Right now, as we speak.

No, we can't just move on with our own lives,
Because we are all our brothers' keepers.

Yes HaShem,
We believe you are the True Judge
But we don't understand how this can ever be justified!
How many sacrifices must we make?
For how long can Moshiach be right at the door,
Unable to open it?
For how long can the plane keep going in circles,
Unable to land?

What's stopping You from ending it now?!
Even the Rebbe saw no explanation!

The time is NOW to end this Golus!
The time is NOW for Techiyas hameisim!
If not now, then when?
So what are You waiting for?

Send us Moshiach now!!!



41. Ad Mosai?!


40. Seeing What You Believe

The main challenge of serving Hashem in Golus is the terrible clash between what we _know_ and what we _see._

It is a constant, difficult, and painful battle to try to follow our minds instead of our hearts.
To try to choose what we know _is_ good, over what we see _looks_ so good.
To sincerely believe the reality we _know_ is true, over the reality we _see_ with our very own eyes.

As R' Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev put it, "If Hashem would have put all of the physical desires in black and white books on the shelf, and put all of the spiritual truths and desires in 5d in front of our eyes, of course everyone would choose what's right!"

And that's exactly what will happen when Moshiach comes.

Yiddishkeit will come jumping out of the bookshelf and suddenly be visible and tangible to all our senses, out on the streets!

At that time, we won't have to close our eyes and put effort not to look at exciting things that aren't kosher, because everything that isn't kosher will completely stop enticing us!

Instead, Hashem will be fully revealed, and we will see Him with our very own eyes!
We will witness open miracles every single day!
We will be able to see the Gdly energy that is the constant life force of the entire world!
We will see how being connected to Him is the only source of all possible blessings!
And we'll feel completely in love and in awe!

Learning and davening will be transformed from something we have to struggle to concentrate on, to the most interesting and exciting activity, because this time, we'll see our Father, our King, in front of us!

We'll all be elevated to the level of prophets who can see and hear HaShem directly!

We won't need to be _commanded_ to do Mitzvos because we will see the awesome effect each one has on ourselves and the entire world, and we'll _want_ to do all of them, on our own accord!

But if there is Gd forbid any time until then, the great test is to stop believing what we see and start seeing what we believe, even now in the dark!
Because once the lights are switched on,
the game is over.

Real life will begin!


39. 25 Years Later

Such an awesome feeling today!
So many of our husbands are away,
Yet nobody could question the importance of this trip!
There's something majorly different about it.
We all feel, we know, we are making history tonight!

We could sense that something big is happening now in heaven, 
As hundreds of Shluchim make this trip down on earth. 
We could sense that we needed to go back to the past, 
In order to somehow bring on the future!


True, it took 25 long years for the Rebbe's wish to come to fruition,
but it IS happening, right now!!
And it reminds us that the Rebbe's words, the Rebbe's vision, the Rebbe's requests, 
and the Rebbe's prophecies, 
will ALWAYS come to fruition!

True, it's been 25 long years since the Rebbe said, "The time of your Redemption has arrived!"
but it too WILL happen, now, as well!!


It was so emotional watching the videos. 
The simcha. The achdus. 
And most unique of all, the complete kabalos ol. 

This kinus is the first one in history that makes no sense, that is completely beyond logic. 
Nobody understands why we had to go back to Liozna. 
Nobody understands why we had to go back to Liadi. 
But the head said to go, 
And the feet just followed orders!
And with the greatest simcha in the knowledge that they are finally able to fulfill the Rebbe's ratzon.

It's amazing hashgacha protis that this trip is happening now, in Parshas Eikev!
Because the one great advantage of the heel, is it's kabalas ol. 
No need for logic. No need for emotions. 
Our generation of heels, just go. 
It's enough to know that this is what the Rebbe wants. 
No commentary necessary.


And as one Shliach wrote, 
In case there was any doubt on the importance of this trip, 
In case there was any doubt that it's accomplishing great things in heaven, 
And in case there was any doubt that it has the power to bring Moshiach, 
We were shown the greatest proof that this trip is a major breakthrough -
When the borders to Belarus were suddenly blocked, without any logic or reason! 


Just as we did our part to complete the circle today, and merited to celebrate one Didan Notzach
May Hashem immediately do His part to complete the final circle today, 
and let us celebrate the ultimate Didan Nitzach, with Moshiach TzidkeinuAmen!