Sunday, August 21, 2016
32.The Global Hakhel Call
Until now only tzadikim
Could see across the globe
Today everyone could see
The whole world with their phone
Until now only prophets
Could predict the future
Today everyone knows
The traffic, directions, weather
Until now only geniuses
Could know everything under the sun
Today the answer to any question
Could be found by everyone
Until now only Sanhedrin
Could understand every language
Today there's no barriers
With google translate..
And Until now we were limited
by time and by space
We could only be in
one zone and one place
But yesterday we remembered
that we're way above,
That all limits can disappear
in the face of our love
That technology was created
so we'd have a choice
To listen all as one
to the Rebbe's holy voice
We did it in the morning, evening and noon
We were under the sun and under the moon
We were listening in
Hebrew, French, & English
Russian, Persian, Portuguese, & Spanish.
We were gathered in NY, LA, and Sydney,
A kind of kibutz goliyos,
A taste of what's coming
HaShem knew we needed
A way to unite
To figure out together,
How to end this long night
And very soon we'll see
How all technology
Was created to connect
To the Mikdash Hashlishi!
Could see across the globe
Today everyone could see
The whole world with their phone
Until now only prophets
Could predict the future
Today everyone knows
The traffic, directions, weather
Until now only geniuses
Could know everything under the sun
Today the answer to any question
Could be found by everyone
Until now only Sanhedrin
Could understand every language
Today there's no barriers
With google translate..
And Until now we were limited
by time and by space
We could only be in
one zone and one place
But yesterday we remembered
that we're way above,
That all limits can disappear
in the face of our love
That technology was created
so we'd have a choice
To listen all as one
to the Rebbe's holy voice
We did it in the morning, evening and noon
We were under the sun and under the moon
We were listening in
Hebrew, French, & English
Russian, Persian, Portuguese, & Spanish.
We were gathered in NY, LA, and Sydney,
A kind of kibutz goliyos,
A taste of what's coming
HaShem knew we needed
A way to unite
To figure out together,
How to end this long night
And very soon we'll see
How all technology
Was created to connect
To the Mikdash Hashlishi!
31. Not Extra Credit
If Moshiach is the whole purpose of creation, if Moshiach is so central to our lives, why are there so few and indirect references to it in the Torah?
You would think it would be the first thing HaShem would tell us! You would think belief in Moshiach would be the first mitzvah!
And according to R' Yitzchak of Kurbil, (Sefer Mitzvas Katan,) you're right!
How's that?
In today's Torah reading, we read a review of the 10 commandments.
While 9 of them are very clear and direct commands, the first one, "I am Gd your Gd who took you out of Egypt," is different.
It doesn't even sound like a command!
It sounds more like a statement, a declaration, a fact of life.
But according to the Rambam, it's the 1st of the 613 Mitzvos, and it's one of the only ones we heard directly from HaShem.
So what exactly is the mitzvah?
The mitzvah is to believe that just like you saw Me take you out of Egypt, even though it seemed impossible and you felt you didn't deserve it, so too you must believe that I will take you out in the future and bring Moshiach, even if you can't imagine it or don't think you earned it.
"I'm your Almighty Gd, I've done it before, and I can and will do it again!"
These are the very first words that Hashem chose to tell us as a nation because they are the basis for our whole relationship, for all our Torah and Mitzvos, and for our whole life!
Belief in Moshiach is not extra credit.
(Based on Jewish.tv, R' Ben Tzion Krasnianski)
You would think it would be the first thing HaShem would tell us! You would think belief in Moshiach would be the first mitzvah!
And according to R' Yitzchak of Kurbil, (Sefer Mitzvas Katan,) you're right!
How's that?
In today's Torah reading, we read a review of the 10 commandments.
While 9 of them are very clear and direct commands, the first one, "I am Gd your Gd who took you out of Egypt," is different.
It doesn't even sound like a command!
It sounds more like a statement, a declaration, a fact of life.
But according to the Rambam, it's the 1st of the 613 Mitzvos, and it's one of the only ones we heard directly from HaShem.
So what exactly is the mitzvah?
The mitzvah is to believe that just like you saw Me take you out of Egypt, even though it seemed impossible and you felt you didn't deserve it, so too you must believe that I will take you out in the future and bring Moshiach, even if you can't imagine it or don't think you earned it.
"I'm your Almighty Gd, I've done it before, and I can and will do it again!"
These are the very first words that Hashem chose to tell us as a nation because they are the basis for our whole relationship, for all our Torah and Mitzvos, and for our whole life!
Belief in Moshiach is not extra credit.
(Based on Jewish.tv, R' Ben Tzion Krasnianski)
30. The Final Straw
Sometimes we feel discouraged.
It's hard to keep believing that this time will be different.
We already pleaded and hoped for Moshiach countless times, but He still hasn't come.
How many times can we do the same thing and expect different results?
From where do we draw the faith that THIS time our prayers will really be answered?!
From the name of this week's Parsha.
We are taught that the numerical value of "Vaeschanan" is 515 because Moshe begged and pleaded with Hashem to enter Eretz Yisroel 515 times!
Until HaShem told him to please stop.
Because HaShem knew that if Moshe would ask even just ONE more time, He would be forced to give in.
Prayer #516 would have been the final straw to change Moshe's destiny!
This story is here to remind us that no matter how much we did until now to bring Moshiach, we must never give up!!
It's here to tell us that if we're stubborn enough in our demand, we *will* get what we want!
Because HaShem is listening and counting every single one of our prayers, and every single one of our tears.
And our next cry of "ad mosai" will very likely hit the lucky number that HaShem was waiting for, and bring salvation to the entire world!
29. Tears of Fear
Ironically, the first tears that were shed on tisha B'av were not tears of mourning the destruction of Yerushalayim, nor tears of longing to see it rebuilt.
They were the exact opposite.
They were tears of fear.
Fear of leaving behind the wonderful physical and spiritual comforts of the dessert.
Fear of being taken into the land of the unknown, Eretz Yisroel.
They begged to stay in Golus, and so HaShem said,"Okay, what can I do if you don't trust Me? I won't force you to enter the Promised Land against your will."
And their foolish tears became the source of all our bitter tears throughout history.
Had that generation wanted to enter the Promised Land, Moshe Rabbeinu would have been able to enter with them!
He would have been not only the first Redeemer, but the final Redeemer as well.
Our generation is lucky that, Baruch HaShem, we have also been blessed with a mostly comfortable life, both physically and spiritually.
But let's not, Gd forbid, repeat their terrible mistake!
This Tisha bav, let's decide to let go of any trace of fear of the coming of Moshiach, that may still remain hidden in our hearts.
This Tisha bav, let's have complete trust that HaShem has only great plans in store for us!
This Tisha bav, let's cry genuine tears that will completely counteract their foolish tears,
So that HaShem will joyfully lead us into the Promised Land, with the complete Geulah NOW!
They were the exact opposite.
They were tears of fear.
Fear of leaving behind the wonderful physical and spiritual comforts of the dessert.
Fear of being taken into the land of the unknown, Eretz Yisroel.
They begged to stay in Golus, and so HaShem said,"Okay, what can I do if you don't trust Me? I won't force you to enter the Promised Land against your will."
And their foolish tears became the source of all our bitter tears throughout history.
Had that generation wanted to enter the Promised Land, Moshe Rabbeinu would have been able to enter with them!
He would have been not only the first Redeemer, but the final Redeemer as well.
Our generation is lucky that, Baruch HaShem, we have also been blessed with a mostly comfortable life, both physically and spiritually.
But let's not, Gd forbid, repeat their terrible mistake!
This Tisha bav, let's decide to let go of any trace of fear of the coming of Moshiach, that may still remain hidden in our hearts.
This Tisha bav, let's have complete trust that HaShem has only great plans in store for us!
This Tisha bav, let's cry genuine tears that will completely counteract their foolish tears,
So that HaShem will joyfully lead us into the Promised Land, with the complete Geulah NOW!
Friday, August 12, 2016
28. Let Your Mind See Too
Tonight,
As we light the Shabbos candles,
A special light will enter our souls,
A vision of the 3rd Beis Hamikdash.
A vision of the perfect world that awaits us.
As we circle our hands around the candles three times, to usher in the holy Shabbos,
Let's also usher in the eternal Shabbos,
at the same time!
As we close our eyes and cover them,
And pray for the rebuilding of the Beis Hamikdash,
Let's pause for a few extra moments!
Let your mind see a taste of what your soul is seeing, in this very moment.
Envision yourself hearing the call of the Shofar, and miraculously arriving in Eretz Yisroel.
Envision yourself walking up to the Temple Mount, with thousands of Jews all around you, before you, with you, and behind you..
Envision yourself watching the Beis Hamikdash descend,
Envision yourself walking up the steps, and entering the Temple courtyard.
Ask yourself,
What are you thinking?
What are you feeling?
What are you saying?
What are you doing?
What do you see?
What do you hear?
What do you smell?
Whose hands are you holding?
Continue to envision all that you have learned about the Beis Hamikdash, even if it's not all so clear, and not in chronological order.
Watch the kohanim bringing Karbanos
Watch the kohen Gadol lighting the menorah
Smell the challahs sitting on the shulchan
Smell the ketores burning on the mizbeiach
Hear the Leviim singing Shir hamaalos in unison, while standing on the 15 steps, with the most beautiful voices and music.
Where will the Seudas Moshiach take place?
Envision yourself partaking in the feast
Tasting the delicious wine,
Tasting the special fish and meat.
See the Rebbe sitting in his red chair,
Beside the Frierdiker Rebbe, and all the Rabbeim, and all the Tzadikim from throughout our history.
Feel the inspiration from the Torah chadasha.
Feel the holiness, the closeness,
The spiritual high.
Continue to envision what's going on around you.
What miracles do you see?
How does it feel to see prophecy?
Take a look at your iPhone (after Shabbos)
What messages are coming in on all your Whatsapp groups?
What do you see in your facebook newsfeed?
What kind of selfies are people taking?
What are all the world leaders saying, in the news?
Continue to envision the personal changes in you, and the way you experience your new reality.
And then allow that vision to flow from your mind to your heart.
Feel the shock, the relief, the tears of disbelief,
Feel the calm, the comfort, the release of all the negative energy
Feel the joy, the laughter, the excitement, the fun
Feel the love in your heart, that you suddenly feel for everyone
Feel the pride, the gratitude, the contentment, the inner peace,
Feel the smile now spread across your cheeks
Continue to envision all that will be.
Get comfortable with the Future You,
the Future World, our destiny.
And then pray to Hashem
With all your soul, mind, and heart,
To allow this vision to flow
just one step lower,
From your heart, to your body.
So that this Shabbos Chazon,
We can experience the true reality
So that our physical eyes can also see,
Together with our souls
In complete harmony.
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
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