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
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
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
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
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!
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!!!
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!!!
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