JEWISH THOUGHT

feeding faiTh

Yoseph Janowski

Ioften encounter people who want to know what was special about the Rebbe. Sometimes, it’s hard to know where to start describing someone whose vision was so vast and who influenced the world and so many people in so many ways, myself included. So maybe that’s a good place to start.

In the last Chassidic discourse delivered by the Rebbe, he discusses the topic of strengthening faith, by allowing the essential personal connection with G-d to shine and permeate one's entire being, spiritually and physically. Many of my experiences of the Rebbe reflected this.

As a child, I attended a Chabad-run overnight camp near Detroit for about six years in a row. That was, I think, my first connection to Lubavitch and the Rebbe. Later, my older brother Yisroel Yitzchok Eliyokum of blessed memory (who passed away a few months ago), was studying in the Lubavitcher Yeshiva in Montreal. He would write me letters about the Rebbe, and when he came home for holidays, he would talk to me about his positive experiences. When I was about fourteen years old, I attended overnight camp in Montreal where Yisroel was still studying, and at the end of the camp season he arranged for me to join a group of students traveling to New York, where I experienced a farbrengen (Chassidic gathering) with the Rebbe for the first time. The following day I was blessed to have a private audience with the Rebbe, during which he stressed the importance of knowing the names of my grandparents. I had asked for a blessing for my parents, but I didn't know their parents' names, and the custom is that when asking for a blessing for someone, we mention their name and their mother's name. "How is it that you don't know such a commonplace thing?" the Rebbe asked. He then gave me a blessing.

During my late teenage years, I studied at Lubavitch yeshivas in Montreal and Brooklyn, so I had the opportunity to see and hear the Rebbe quite often. What I remember most is how the Rebbe taught us how to look at life, to focus on helping others, how to renew our energies, retain our optimism, and how to be happy knowing that we are close to G-d and bringing Him joy through living a Jewish life and being kind to others. He would quote the teaching of the Alter Rebbe, the first Lubavitcher Rebbe, based on the verse (Psalm 149): "Israel will rejoice with its Maker," saying that every Jew has reason to be happy simply due to the joy we bring to G-d by being His partners in making this world into a Divine dwelling. The privilege that we all have, as simple beings, to be part of something infinite, should bring joy to every moment.

I once entered the Rebbe's study on the occasion of my birthday, and the Rebbe told me, "Together with the happiness of your birthday, G-d is rejoicing with you." I remember walking out feeling elated, that G-d Almighty is rejoicing and sharing in my personal happiness. I felt quite profoundly and deeply a G-d Who relates to me on a personal, intimate level.

The Rebbe told us that by opening our eyes we can see the world becoming better, and humanity getting closer to Redemption.

Twice a day we recite the verses of the Shema, “Hear O Israel, G-d our Lord, G-d is One," which expresses our connection to the oneness of existence; we believe that G-d made this world, and us, and everything in the universe, and we know by extension that He is intrinsically united with everything, always. He creates the world every second, and it is all one with Him.

The Rebbe gave us all the ability to feel, clearly, the unity of G-d within everything. The Rebbe gave us the feeling, and awareness, and confidence, that we are one with G-d, and that we have a mission to reveal how G-d is everywhere. He taught us that by fulfilling our mission, via Torah and its commandments, and especially being a role model and teacher and helper to others, we can bring about the Redemption.

The Rebbe taught us that there is a G-d in this world. How? With his personal example, he exuded calm confidence, sureness and optimism in all situations. With the many miracles that he performed, bringing Divine healing and help to so many. With his teachings and clarifications of Torah, explaining them in a way that made sense to a new generation. With his spirited enthusiasm and joy, an almost mischievous presence that was inspiring and infectious. And with his unique ability to relate to each individual and, on each one’s level, to show that G-d is personally united with us and cares deeply about every detail of our lives.

With all of this, we are imbued with the clarity to feel strongly that our life matters, that our purpose of transforming this world into a Divine abode is eminently doable – and that it is actually happening right now. The Rebbe told us that by opening our eyes we can see the world becoming better, and humanity getting closer to Redemption. I often wonder how he would view how world events are unfolding today. As his student and disciple, all I can share is how I see them, inspired by the way he taught me to see – without discounting or ignoring the suffering and the imperfections, to see the positives in everything.

I believe we can see this especially clearly when it comes to Israel and its standing in the world. Despite so many forces trying to fight its existence and delegitimize it in different ways, Israel is thriving on so many levels. Instead of being boycotted, as many conspired to accomplish, it is being sought out by corporations and governments around the world for its much-needed expertise – in agriculture, technology, medical research and defense among other fields – that are central to solving so many of the world’s problems. As Western European nations deal with a major crisis in energy supply due to the war in Ukraine and other factors, they are turning to Israel’s newly found abundance of offshore natural gas to fill the void. This development, in turn, is making the potential enemies of Egypt and Turkey into friends, since they are the most likely transit routes through which the energy will flow. Instead of Israel being harmed by Iran’s threat to wipe it off the map,the entire Iranian geopolitical standing and economy are being wiped out, while at the same time many nations in the region pivot towards warmer relations with Israel in response to the Iranian threat.

Things are looking bright. Perhaps, as the Rebbe predicted, the ultimate Redemption, a time when all the nations will honor and respect the Jewish people and G-d, is close at hand – a time when humanity will finally reach universal peace and prosperity. May it happen very soon. EM

future tense

MOSHIACH MUSINGS

There is a profound link between the concept of the red heifer, whose ashes were used for ritual purification purposes, and the principle of the redemption through Moshiach:

For the duration of the exile, until the coming of Moshiach, all Jews are in a state of impurity caused by proximity to corpses. We no longer have ashes of a red heifer to purify us, and new ones can be prepared only in the presence of the Holy Temple.

Both the red heifer and the redemption effect purification. The ashes of the red heifer are used for removing a technical state of impurity. The redemption will purify the entire people of Israel (including those who are technically pure) from any trace of deficiency in the bond with our Father in Heaven. One of the prophecies thus says of that time, in terms analogous to the “waters of purification” of the red heifer: “I shall sprinkle pure waters upon you that you be purified. I will purify you from all your impurities and from all your idols!” (Ezekiel 36:25)

Maimonides cites a Mishnah with the following words: “Nine red heifers were prepared from the time this precept was ordained until the Second Temple was destroyed: the first was prepared by Moses our Master, the second Ezra prepared, and there were seven from Ezra to the destruction of the Temple. The tenth will be prepared by King Moshiach – may he soon be revealed, amen, may thus be (G-d’s) Will!” (Hilchot Parah Adumah 3:4)

Our present mitzvot can make this happen momentarily!