SILK WORMS

Dear Family,

Hope everyone is well.

BH we had good news that Brian's operation was successful! We know though that it takes a long time to recover from these things and we wish Brian a continued strengthening until full health.

MAZAL TOV TO HIRSHY AND MARIASHA ON THE BIRTH OF THEIR NEW BABY SOPHIA ESTHER BH. Such nice news. Wishing you much joy from her and all the Family.

Mazal Tov to Devorah Leah on her upcoming birthday next week. Wishing you and your Family continued achievements and growth especially with your new projects at our office.

Welcome back to Batsheva who has now returned to London from NY with her Make-up degree BH.

Silkworms are linked to the story below, and silk is highly esteemed for its qualities by the Rebbeim.

At a farbreng in 1950, The Rebbe mentioned that it would be a good thing for chassidim to wear Kapotas made of silk on Shabbosim and Yom Tovim, because this is an expression of distinctiveness, and he quoted the Rebbe Rashab on this.

We are now in the 3 week period where we are remembering the Destruction of the two Beit Hamikdash in Yerushalayim.

In connection with this I saw an interesting article from the Rosh Yeshiva of Kerem Beyavneh, Rabbi Greenberg, describing the period in Yerushalayim at the time of King Chizkiyah, and the Prophet Yeshayeh, when King Sancherev of Assyria was heading towards Yerushalayim with a huge army, with which he had already conquered most of the world. (Melachim 2 Chap 18-19).

I saw an important lesson in this story, in that even though we as a People often look divided, there is a deep underlying Unity within us, and we are all heading to the same destiny.

So Sancherev was now aiming to conquer Yerushalayim with his vastly superior army, and he now sends his General to give a message to the Jews to surrender and submit to him.

When the General sees Yerushalayim he mocks and ridicules with his confidence.

As is often the case, the Jews were split on how to react between left and right.

There was a Group led by Shevna the scribe who wanted to surrender, but the Group led by King Chizkiyah and supported by the Prophet Yeshayeh would not agree to the surrender and servitude of Yerushalayim to this evil force.

Shevna's group was larger than Chizkiyah's ie 130,000 to 110,00.

The people felt defeated, because in addition, Shevna had been communicating with the enemy, and Yeshayeh tried to encourage the people - 'Do not fear what they fear and do not be overwhelmed....Even although they are the majority do not think we should follow them....When there is a consensus of wickedness against the Torah we do not follow this.....But rather, Fear only Hashem.....

It was indeed a very dark time for the Jews, and Hashem was not at all visible.

But then look what happened!

Shevna and his group start to go out of the Gate of Yerushalayim, but at the moment of Truth, he goes out all by himself, and the rest of his party recognise that this runs contrary to the spirit of our People, and they stay behind!

The next morning, the People awoke to find the entire Assyrian camp of 185,000 soldiers dead of plague, and Sancherev had to return home empty-handed!!

There is an explanation of this historical event, brought from the words of Yeshayeh itself.

His prophecy begins pointing out that Bnei Yisrael may think that Hashem is no longer watching over them because of this, that or the other circumstance happening to them.. But Yeshayeh continues that Hashem is Eternal, and does not grow weary of them...and concludes by assuring Yisroel not to fear - Fear not o WORM OF YAAKOV..for I will help you..the word of Hashem and your Redeemer.'

The Midrash gives an interpretation (amongst others) that the worm is referring to the SILKWORM.

The SILKWORM is one of the most magnificent creatures in terms of its life- cycle, as we all at 19 Leweston Place have been experiencing for the past 2 months with Mommy growing her silkworms - dozens of them! And we all taking turns to climb up the mulberry tree in the park to collect leaves every day.

So Rabbi Greenberg explains as follows the Stages of the silkworm Cycle , and links it to the FUTURE REDEMPTION.

1. A beautiful flying creature lays EGGS and we expect such similar beautiful creatures to hatch. But what do we see? We are disappointed to see ugly caterpillar larvae. Ie We are expecting a great Geulah but all we see are tiny eggs. (or our difficult lives with all its problems)
2. CATERPILAR LARVAE - they start eating 23 hours a day! And they multiply their birth weight 86,000 x during the first 21 days! Ie at this Stage the Jewish Nation is focusing on all their material concerns - the worm's head and body are all one. There is no neck connecting ie the Spiritual (head) and Material (body) are submerged together and dominated by the body growth.
3. Worm sheds its skin and starts to introvert into its cocoon made in a magnificent manner, again working tirelessly day and night. ie It now appears to us as a very dark situation where it may seem that Hashem is not with us anymore.
4. But truly what is happening is the the worm is undergoing a miraculous transformation inside the cocoon and transforming from a worm back to a beautiful butterfly which can fly again. - The fulfilment of our ultimate goal of Redemption and Mashiach (and when it comes to the crunch, the Truth of our deep inner being is victorious over our more base natures)

This should occur speedily in our days before Tisha BeAv this year, which will transform our mourning to a Great Joy.

Gut Shabbos.