HISTORY

Dear Family,

I hope everyone is well.

Mazal Tov to Channah on her birthday next week. Wishing you much success in your new business project, all in good health and happiness!

Mazal Tov Rivky, whose birthday is one day later. Wishing you continued success in all your activities, and much happiness and nachas from all your children, in good health.

Mazal Tov Talya on your birthday next week. You are so far away in Australia, and I hope we can see you some time. Wishing you a great and happy year.

There are so many celebrations in Kislev and so much light in the darkest month of the year.

One of the highlights of Kislev, is Yud Tes Kislev marking the release from prison of the Alte Rebbe, Reb Shneur Zalman of Liadi, and which marks the 'Rosh Hashanah' of Chassidus, when we restart the learning cycle again of his famous work TANYA.

His name Shneur, which means 2 lights, reflects his expertise in both the Nigleh of Torah (The Rav's Shulchan Aruch), and the Nistar (hidden aspect) - Tanya.- his 2 main works.

I saw in this week's Sedra Vayishlach, and a point made by the Zohar, a connection which I found interesting.

Vayishlach (Based on a Sicha of the Rebbe Likutei Sichos Vol 5)

At the end of the Sedra it speaks of Esavs descendants, and our Sages say that Magdiel and Iram allude to Rome (Pirkei deRabbi Eliezer..)

Hashem told Avraham that the Jewish People would go into exile 4 times, the fourth would be the Romans. Our current exile is an extension of the Roman exile, since the culture, legal system, and even many of the languages of Western Civilisation, derive from the ancient Romans.

(in V33:14 Yaakov predicts that he will come to Esav in Seir. The Baal HaTurim points out that the word avo - I will come, has the numerical value of 4, ie I will come to you in Seir after the 4 Exiles!

At first the Romans actively opposed G-dliness, destroying the Second Temple in 70CE.

Since then however, Western culture has become progressively refined, and has gradually shed its opposition to G-dliness, and has begun marshalling its material and cultural resources to contribute to the spiritual refinement of the world.

We can facilitate this process by further studying of the Torah and deepening our observance of its Commandments.

This will allow us to identify the difference between Jewish and Roman values, and then elevate the latter by revealing their innate Divine potentials

Zohar

In the Zohar, the following prediction is recorded:

'in the 600th year of the 6th millennium, (this works out to be 5500 or 1740 and onwards), there will be an opening of the Supernal Gates of Wisdom, and the lower wellsprings of wisdom, preparing the world for the 7th millennium (ie Shabbos, - the final Redemption)

If we look back we can see that this refers to the rise of the Chassidic movement, ( Baal Shem Tov 1698-1760, and THE ALTE REBBE 1745-1812), and the industrial Revolution.

May the refinement of the world continue, with the arrival of Mashiach, and the revelation of HIS STORY (the Story of Hashem)

Gut Shabbos to all, and wishing a Kislev full of light.