GREAT OPPORTUNITIES

Dear Family,

I hope everyone is well.

The theme of this week's email came from a few sources ie commentary of Rebbe on this week's Haftorah of Yishayeh, (Shabbos Chazon) and a maamer of the Alte Rebbe in Likutei Torah also on the Haftorah.

The pasuk of focus in Yesahayeh for both the above was 'Tzion (the most inner point of the heart and inner soul) will be redeemed by (the practice of) justice, and her captives (the aspect of our outer soul which has been tricked into fulfilling all the worlds distractions) through tzedakah.'

Yeshayeh sees how the Jewish People have lost sight of their Divine mission, and even when they are carrying out Torah and mitzvos, this was being done in a mechanical and empty way, without passion and enthusiasm. And therefore they have been forced to seek fulfilment in the transient pleasures of the world.

So the Alte Rebbe addresses this in his opening line and asks 'How can we come to this position that every day should be as new in your eyes?' (that we should find this passion and enthusiasm)

To keep it very brief he explains how in the upper worlds movement is in a step- by- step fashion, moving from one level to the next in an orderly fashion.

But in this world there is the OPPORTUNITY through teshuva and maasim tovim (good deeds) to draw down and reveal the Essence of Hashem from one extreme to the other, AND IN THE FLASH OF ONE MOMENT!!

An example to illustrate this from halacha is as follows:

Someone who says to his proposed wife 'I am betrothed to you on condition that I am a complete tzadik', the betrothal is valid and official, even if his current state is a total evil person!

Because with one flash of a thought towards teshuvah, he can reach that level.

As it says in 'Shema' - 'These are the words (the mitzvot) which I (Anochi - the Essence of Hashem) command you (metzavecha also has the connotation of connecting to this Essence), today (hayom, in the here and now, while it is still light, and not in the World-to-Come), on your heart...to love Hashem with all your soul..'

And with both aspects of your heart - the left side containing the bitterness of the battle with ones passions, and the holy right side which expresses the joy of doing mitzvot.

And these are not two separate aspects. They live together in the heart, whereby the more bitterness that is experienced, the more is the joy that can be gained from the Holy side. Ie the light is much greater and more appreciated after experiencing darkness.

In the same way the saddest month in the Jewish calendar - Av - wherein is the day of Tisha Beav - when both Temples were destroyed, and on which many tragedies occurred in our history, its name is called Menachem Av (our Father (Av) will comfort (menachem) us) ie through our bitterness will come eventually the greatest comfort.

And so our OPPORTUNITY is to practice the physical deeds which Hashem has commanded us, while it is still 'day' and collect these deeds into a 'locked box' full of our treasures.

And when we will meditate on the power of these deeds, and how many we have collected, and how much reward we have stored in our 'boxes', we will do them with a great joy, and 'each day will be as new in our eyes.'

Wishing everyone a Gut Shabbos, maybe in Yerushalayim, before Tisha Beav.