LIVING WITH MOSHIACH, Parshat Vayakhel-Pekudei
Yshagalov
B"H
LIVING WITH MOSHIACH
Weekly Digest About Moshiach
PARSHAT VAYAKHEL-PEKUDEI, 5761
Adar 28, 5761
March 23, 2001
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THIS PUBLICATION IS DEDICATED TO THE REBBE,
RABBI MENACHEM M. SCHNEERSON
OF LUBAVITCH
"I BELIEVE WITH COMPLETE FAITH IN THE ARRIVAL OF THE MOSHIACH.
"AND THOUGH HE MAY TARRY, I SHALL WAIT EACH DAY, ANTICIPATING
HIS ARRIVAL." Maimonides, Principles of the Faith, No. 12
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* TABLE OF CONTENTS *
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* Introduction.
* The Weekly Torah Portion.
* The Rebbe's Prophecy.
* From a Talk of the Rebbe
* Shabbat Mevorchim Nissan
* Parshat HaChodesh
* A Call To Action.
* The Weekly Shabbat Calendar.
* Laws of Shabbat Candle Lighting for the Blind.
* Shabbat Candle Lighting Blessing.
* Moshiach Information Hotlines.
* Moshiach In The Air - Electronic Media.
* Subscription Information for this Weekly Magazine:
Living With Moshiach.
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* INTRODUCTION *
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We are pleased to present, to the visually impaired and the
blind, our weekly publication, Living With Moshiach.
*
In this week's issue, we focus on Shabbat Parshat HaChodesh, the
forth of four special Torah readings read in the synagogue on the
Sabbaths before the month of Nissan--Shekolim, Zachor, Parah and
HaChodesh.
*
This Tuesday, the 25th of Adar (March 20), marks the 100th year
since the birth of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, the Rebbe's wife.
On this day in 5748/1988, in connection with her 87th birthday
(about a month after her passing, on 22 Shevat), the Rebbe spoke
about the significance of birthdays and the importance of
celebrating them in the traditional Jewish manner, which will be
discussed, G-d willing, in our next issue.
*
Our sincere appreciation to L'Chaim weekly publication,
published by the Lubavitch Youth Organization, for allowing us to
use their material.
Also, many thanks to our copy editor, Reb Mordechai Staiman, for
his tireless efforts.
*
It is our fervent hope that our learning about Moshiach and the
Redemption will hasten the coming of Moshiach, NOW!
Rabbi Yosef Y. Shagalov
Administrator
Committee for the Blind
E-Mail: y...@dorsai.org
23 Adar, 5761
Brooklyn, New York
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* THE WEEKLY TORAH PORTION *
* Adapted from the Works of the Rebbe *
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PARSHAT VAYAKHEL-PEKUDEI
In the first Torah portion we read this week, Vayakel, Moses
gathered the Jews together and relayed G-d's command to build the
Sanctuary, in the second Torah portion, Pekudei, lists Moses'
accounts of the precious metals used to make the Sanctuary's
vessels, and details how the offerings were made. Finally, it
relates how these actions brought G-d's Divine Presence to rest in
the Sanctuary.
Usually, when a person builds a new house, he waits until it has
been completed to fill it with furniture and implements. The
dedication of the Sanctuary, however, was done in the exact
opposite manner. "And he placed the golden altar in the Sanctuary
before the veil, and he burnt upon it the incense of spices... and
he set up the court around the Sanctuary and the altar." The
Sanctuary was not yet fully erected when Moses offered the incense
on the golden altar.
The Sanctuary, G-d's dwelling place on earth, contained a
holiness so great that it existed above and beyond the laws of
nature. Its sanctity (and that of the Holy Temples that followed)
is eternal, not subject to the concept of time, and continues
today, though we no longer have a physical edifice in which to
bring offerings. The unusual manner in which the Sanctuary was
erected, therefore, reflected this.
The Torah's command, "And you shall make Me a dwelling place,"
applied not only to the Sanctuary, but includes the obligation to
erect the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Moses' offering of incense on
the golden altar dedicated not only the Sanctuary that traveled
with the Jews in the desert, but the Temples that were yet to be
built, including the Third Holy Temple when Moshiach comes.
According to Jewish law, offerings may be brought even in the
absence of the Temple's physical structure if one knows the exact
location of the altar. When Moses burnt the incense, before the
Sanctuary was completely built, he caused a measure of holiness to
be brought down into the world that is not dependent on physical
limitations. This holiness is eternal and exists forever.
This holds particular relevance for our generation, the last
generation of exile before the Messianic Era. No longer may we be
satisfied with the measured norms of behavior that sufficed for
previous generations; our times demand an extra measure of
self-sacrifice on our part. Our service of G-d must therefore also
breach all limitations, so that we may merit the ultimate and Final
Redemption with the coming of Moshiach, speedily in our day.
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* THE REBBE'S PROPHECY *
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The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson of Lubavitch, issued
a call that "THE TIME OF OUR REDEMPTION HAS ARRIVED!" and
"MOSHIACH IS ON HIS WAY!"
The Rebbe stressed that he is saying this AS A PROPHECY, and
asks us all to prepare ourselves for the Redemption, through
increasing acts of goodness and kindness.
LET US ALL HEED THE REBBE'S CALL.
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See "Living With Moshiach" Vol 212:
http://www.moshiach.net/blind/lwm-5760/212.htm
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* IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY DEAR GRANDPARENTS, *
* *
* Reb Shmuel Pesach Ben Reb Yaakov Dovid *
* Passed away on 3 Tishrei, 5755 *
* *
* Mrs. Fraidel Chedvah Bas Reb Zev Wolf *
* On the occasion of her sixth yahrtzeit, *
* 4 Adar, 5761 *
* Pais *
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* FROM A TALK OF THE REBBE *
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51 years ago, on Shabbat Parshat Vayakhel-Pekudei, 5710/1950,
the Rebbe said the following:
"In the last series of Chasidic discourses that the [Previous]
Rebbe wrote, he anticipated everything and hinted at everything.
[According to the unauthenticated notes of a listener, the Rebbe
said: "I search among the subjects explained in these discourses
for the answers to all the questions beings asked."]...
"The [Previous] Rebbe says this of our present time--the final
era before the Redemption, the era in which the task of separating
the sparks of G-dliness in this world and returning them to their
source comes to an end. As the Rebbe wrote, now is the era
preceding the Redemption, and the mode of spiritual service now
required is a mode of victory, with an unquestioning acceptance of
the yoke of heaven.
"In order that victory be secured in the current battle, 'secret
treasures, which have been locked away for generations,' have been
squandered--i.e., all the teachings and episodes which the Rebbe
revealed in recent times, and which had been hidden and sealed from
generation to generation, until the generation of the Baal Shem Tov
and his mentor.
"Because no one adequately took all these treasures to heart,
their revelation is a veritable squandering, all for the sake of
victory."
In another of his earliest talks, the Rebbe suggests that we
pour over the latter talks of the Previous Rebbe from his final
years in order to find guidance and our orders on how to proceed.
Jewish teachings explain that when a great Sage makes a
statement about another great teacher he is, in reality, saying the
same about himself. Thus, we must take the Rebbe's advice and pour
over his most recent teachings, those from the years of 5750, 5751
and 5752 (1990-1992). In these most recent talks, the Rebbe's
declaration that "The time of our Redemption has arrived," shows
clearly that we have entered a new stage in the pre-Redemption era.
And the Rebbe's instructions to publicize this and other statements
and messages are also contained in these talks.
May we very soon no longer have to review the Rebbe's talks, but
hear Torah from the Rebbe himself.
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* SHABBAT MEVORCHIM NISSAN *
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This Shabbat is Shabbat Mevorchim, the Shabbat before the new
Jewish month. Literally translated, it means a Shabbat in which we
bless the upcoming Jewish month. This Shabbat Mevorchim is special
because it is the Shabbat before the month of Nissan, which is
often referred to as "the month of Redemption."
On the surface, calling Nissan the month of Redemption is
explained by the fact that Nissan is the month in which we
celebrate Passover, [1] the holiday that commemorates the Jews'
redemption from Egyptian slavery. But the month of Nissan is also
connected to the Final Redemption, as our Sages say, "In Nissan,
our people were redeemed, and in Nissan, they will be redeemed in
the future."
This Shabbat represents the transition from the month of Adar to
the month of Nissan. Both months contain within them commemorations
of miraculous events. In Adar we celebrate the downfall of Haman
and the victory of the Jewish people, and in Nissan we celebrate
our freedom from slavery.
The difference between the events is that the miracles of Purim
occurred within the natural order of the world, while the miracles
of Passover transcended the natural order. The story of Purim can
be traced through a natural sequence of events. But by cloaking
miracles in the natural order of the world, we are actually
elevating the natural order.
That is our true purpose on this earth, to elevate the physical
to the spiritual and have G-dliness revealed on this plane.
Another concept that the two months have in common is
redemption. Adar celebrates redemption from Haman's wicked decree,
and Nissan celebrates the redemption from Egypt. Shabbat is also a
kind of redemption, a weekly redemption from mundane cares and
worries to a place of light, joy, song and Torah-study.
May all of these redemption's be stepping-stones to our
complete, final, and ultimate Redemption, the coming of Moshiach.
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1. This year, Passover begins on Saturday night, April 7. Ed.
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* PARSHAT HACHODESH *
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This Shabbat is one of the four special Shabbats preceding the
Yom Tov of Pesach. It is called Shabbat Parshat HaChodesh. We read
a special Torah portion from the book of Exodus which states: "This
month shall be the head month for you. It shall be the first month
of the year."
Shabbat Parshat HaChodesh always falls either on the Sabbath
when we bless the month of Nissan or on the first day of Nissan
itself.
The month of Nissan is special in that it is a month of
miracles--not the everyday miracles of human existence, or hidden
miracles such as those that took place on Purim. But, rather,
Nissan contains revealed miracles that are higher than nature
itself.
With the command that the month of Nissan, a month of revealed
miracles, be designated as the first and "head" of the months, the
Torah emphasizes that in all the months of the year, whether we see
open miracles, miracles in the cloak of natural events, unusual
success or a seemingly unchangeable cycle of nature, we must
realize that G-d is the Creator of the Universe, the sole Master of
the world, who directs and cares about even the smallest detail of
the world and each individual person.
If each and everyone of us would sit down for only a brief few
moments and pay close attention to what has happened to us
personally, we will detect minor and major miracles that happen in
our personal lives.
Many times we are just too busy to stop for a moment and take
stock of what has happened. But we shouldn't pass it off as another
"natural" happening. It is a miracle of G-d, whether it has
occurred in the month of miracles, or in an average day.
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* A CALL TO ACTION *
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The Rebbe's slogan is: "The main thing is the deed." We
therefore present from the Rebbe's talks suggestions what we
can do to complete his work of bringing the Redemption.
Make Others Happy:
As we are in the midst of the 30 days of happiness comprised of
the month of Adar, we should endeavor to make others happy.
The Rebbe explained, "We should proceed to spread joy and
happiness in the most literal sense, making efforts to assure that
the members of one's household and similarly, all of those with
whom one comes in contact, experience great joy. And this will lead
to the ultimate joy, the coming of the Redemption. May it take
place in the immediate future."
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* In loving memory of *
* HORAV CHAIM YEHUDA KALMAN *
* Ben Horav Avrohom Yehoshua Marlow, *
* head of the Bet-Din (Rabbinical *
* Court) of Crown Heights, *
* Passed away, on Friday Morning, *
* 20 Sivan, 5760 (June 23, 2000) *
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* THE WEEKLY SHABBAT CALENDAR *
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** JEWISH WOMEN AND GIRLS LIGHT SHABBAT CANDLES **
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* FOR LOCAL CANDLE LIGHTING TIMES: *
* consult your local Rabbi, Chabad-Lubavitch *
* Center, or call: (718) 774-3000. *
* or: *
* http://www.candlelightingtimes.org/shabbos *
* *
* FOR A FREE CANDLE LIGHTING KIT: *
* contact your local Chabad-Lubavitch Center. *
* *
* FOR A LISTING OF THE CENTERS IN YOUR AREA: *
http://www.candlelightingtimes.org/general/shluchim.html
* In the USA, call: 1-800-Lubavitch (1-800-582-2848). *
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>>>> Times Shown Are for Metro NY - NJ <<<<
FRIDAY, MARCH 23, EREV SHABBAT PARSHAT VAYAKHEL-PEKUDEI:
* Light Shabbat Candles, [2] by 5:51 p.m.
SATURDAY, MARCH 24, SHABBAT PARSHAT VAYAKHEL-PEKUDEI:
* Parshat HaChodesh - See above.
* Blessing of the New Month, Nissan. [3]
* Shabbat ends at NIGHTFALL, at 6:53 p.m.
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2. The Shabbat candles must be lit 18 minutes *BEFORE* sunset.
IT IS PROHIBITED AND IS A DESECRATION OF THE SHABBAT TO
LIGHT THE CANDLES *AFTER* SUNSET.
3. Rosh Chodesh Nissan is on Sunday, March 25.
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* LAWS OF SHABBAT CANDLE LIGHTING *
* FOR THE BLIND *
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Edited by Rabbi Y. K. Marlow O.B.M.*
* A blind woman who lives alone should light her Shabbat
candle(s) with a blessing.
* If she is married to a non-visually impaired person, HER
HUSBAND SHOULD LIGHT THE SHABBAT CANDLES WITH THE BLESSING.
* If she is eating and lighting in the company of others who
are non-visually impaired, and they lit the Shabbat candles,
she should light her own Shabbat candle(s), BUT WITHOUT SAYING THE
BLESSING.
* (If at all possible, she should not be the last one to light
the Shabbat candle(s), so that she can be absolved by the latter's
blessing.)
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*. Head of Bet-Din (Rabbinical Court) of Crown Heights.
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* SHABBAT CANDLE LIGHTING BLESSING *
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* First light the candles. Then spread your hands out around the
candles, drawing your hands inward in a circular motion three times
to indicate the acceptance of the sanctity of Shabbat. You then
cover your eyes and recite the following blessing:
BO-RUCH A-TOH ADO-NOI E-LO-HEI-NU ME-LECH HO-OLOM
A-SHER KI-DE-SHO-NU BE-MITZ-VO-SOV VE-TZI-VO-NU
LE-HAD-LIK NER SHEL SHA-BOS KO-DESH.
Translation:
Blessed are you, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe,
who has sanctified us with His commandments, and
commanded us to kindle the light of the holy Shabbat.
* Uncover your eyes and behold the Shabbat lights.
* The time of lighting is considered especially propitious for
praying to G-d for health and happiness. The prayer is readily
acceptable because it is offered during the performance of this
great mitzvah of lighting Shabbat candles.
CAUTION:
The candles must be lit 18 minutes *BEFORE* sunset. IT IS
PROHIBITED AND IS A DESECRATION OF THE SHABBAT TO LIGHT THE
CANDLES *AFTER* SUNSET.
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End of Text: Living With Moshiach, Parshat Vayakhel-Pekudei, 5761
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