Rabbi Manis Friedman's reflections on the Rebbe

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The Rebbe Acknowledges "And He Will Redeem Us"

Coronavirus thoughts

By Rabbi Heschel Greenberg
Buffalo, NY.

Some more Coronavirus thoughts

 I think that in all of Jewish history there was never a time that all Rabbis and Halachic (Jewish legal) authorities have commanded Jews not to go to shul to pray, not to pray with a minyan (quorum of 10) , not to hear the Torah reading (during this week when we read an extra and special Torah reading known as Parshas Hachodesh no less) because of pikuach nefesh-saving lives. Is there a positive message in this bizarre phenomenon?

And if there is one, what is the positive message in this unprecedented phenomenon? In my humble opinion, it is the most powerful message that we have received in all of history! Let me explain: Jewish law is clear. Pikuach nefesh-saving a life overrides the laws of the Torah. But why? The answer comes from last week’s Torah reading. When Moses broke the tablets he did it to save the Jewish people. Indeed, Moshe is praised for this action, because although Torah, which personified Moses, is the highest ideal in life for the Jewish people, the Jewish people are even higher.

 This is clearly stated in the Midrash which speaks of how both Torah and Israel (the people) preceded (and transcend) creation. However, the Midrash asks rhetorically “which of the two (Torah and Israel) comes first?” The answer is Israel! This, the Midrash states, is based on the fact that the Torah always says “Speak to the children of Israel.” Israel must be there first before the can be a Torah command to them. Throughout history, this preeminent level of Israel, which overrode the dictates of the Torah, was always there, but it never applied to all of the Jewish people uniformly.

If a Jew was restricted from observance of a Mitzvah in one place because of danger to life, there were always Jews elsewhere who could perform that Mitzvah. For the first time in history, G-d has orchestrated a situation (which we pray will end very soon) that compels us to realize that every single Jew is so precious that G-d embraces him or her unconditionally, even without the important value of communal prayer etc.. As we stand on the threshold of the Final Redemption, some might suggest that the reason it has been delayed is because of the imperfections of some in the observance of Torah and Mitzvos.

 Thus, we may humbly suggest, G-d therefore has made it apparent to the whole world that His love for us is unconditional! Moreover, His love for us applies to each and every Jew regardless of his or her level of observance!  Moreover, G-d says to even someone on the highest level in terms of piety, who never missed a minyan, etc., “My love for you exceeds My love for your Torah and Mitzvos as great as that may be. Indeed, G-d is in effect saying to us, My love for you is absolute, essential and transcends all levels of logic and rationality. When this level is revealed universally, as it is now, we are seen by G-d as perfect (despite our limitations) and there can be no excuse for the delay of the Redemption. On the contrary, this is the best preparation for the Redemption because it reveals our essence, which is the Messianic spark in each and every one of us.

 To be sure, this is not intended to tell us that we can be lax in other areas of Judaism because G-d loves us unconditionally. Chassidic thought explains that that essential love that G-d has for us, which transcends the love and bond created through our Torah observance, has to be channeled and revealed through Torah. Torah is called light as it illuminates everything. It also illuminates and highlights the transcendent love for us.

 So now that all the Rabbis and authorities have ruled that we should not even try to make makeshift prayer meetings and skirt around the ban, Torah itself cries out and demonstrates G-d’s essential love for us. The more we adhere to Torah principles can only strengthen the awareness of our inherent transcendence over everything, including Torah. I’m reminded of a an anecdote with an Israeli soldier who put on Tefillin right before going into battle during the Yom Kippur war, whose left arm was blown off.

When he asked the Rebbe why was that arm with which he performed a Mitzvah blown off, the Rebbe’s response, to the best of my recollection, was that he was supposed to die and the Tefillin saved his life, and by losing his left arm G-d’s message was that His love for him transcended even his observance of the mitzvah of Tefillin.

 May Hashem translate this unprecedented showering of essential love into the actual Redemption and removal of all illness and the ushering of an age of total peace, love, unity and total devotion to all of G-d’s commandments!

Drinking Song

A Woman Sees the Rebbe

About two and a half years ago, an amazing story was publicized about something that happened in London, England that left a huge impression on the Jewish communities there and around the world.

A woman who was undergoing bypass surgery, experienced clinical death and miraculously came back to life. The news of the entire event was posted on various media outlets. When she woke up, she related what she saw above at the time of the clinical death – she saw the Lubavitcher Rebbe who was with all the righteous and told her that it was not yet her time and she would come back to life.

She was instructed to also publicize the fact that big events were about to happen, causing global chaos - in North Korea and China. The Rebbe emphasized that Israel would be safe. 

Indeed, about two and a half years ago, the North Korean-US conflict reached a new high, almost leading to nuclear confrontation. At that time, North Korea for the first time launched missiles with a range of 6,000 mi, capable of reaching the United States. 

When these events happened, the Rebbe's remarks about North Korea were understood to be a worldwide concern that could lead to the Third World War (because Russia and China supported North Korea). 

Now, after all that is happening in China, we also understand the rest of the Rebbe's remarks and we do see how the events in China have lead to chaos in the world. It should also be stressed that the Rebbe's words - that the Land of Israel would be safe are true and indeed we see that the number of people infected in the country is very small compared to other countries (about 15 in total – G-d should send them a complete and immediate recuperation). 

At the end of the Rebbe's words to the same woman, he tells her: "Redemption is in the doorway, King David of Israel is alive and well, I'll be there myself. I live and exist, live and exist, live and exist. "

They Should Know Who is Boss

Rabbi Reuven Dunin had the exceedingly rare privilege of unrestricted access to the Rebbe. He once related the following story:

 

“One night of yechidus (private audiences) I was in 770 waiting for the Rebbe to leave his room and go home. When it was already after midnight, I went outside 770 to wait for the Rebbe there. Suddenly, police cars blocked all approaches to 770, snipers went up on the roofs all around and a helicopter hovered over.

Secret agents set up a human blockade on the steps leading to 770 and examined every inch. Then a few limousines pulled up and several men came out and went directly to the Rebbe’s room. Outside, the agents continued to keep guard not allowing anyone to approach the area.

After about half an hour, they all left. “I was curious and so I went to the Rebbe and asked him who the people were. The Rebbe said they were from the Atomic Energy Commission.

I asked the Rebbe what they wanted and the Rebbe said they had a question that they were unable to solve for a long time and so they came to consult with him.

“Did the Rebbe help them?” I asked. “Yes,” said the Rebbe.  I said - “Why? The dropping of the atom bomb was a terrible thing …”

“Three reasons,” said the Rebbe. “First, their plans are for civilian reactors used for peaceful purposes. Secondly, the United States is a country that does chesed  (kindness) with Jews and I must help it.

Thirdly, so that they should know who is the Balabos (who is in charge).” 

 

 

This insight, that the Rebbe is not only a tzaddik and spiritual leader, but the head and brain of us all and therefore, the boss of everything – was part of Rabbi Dunin’s basic awareness of what a Rebbe is.

11/11/11 and Adam Kadmon

Today, 11 Shevat is the official start of the 70th year of the 7th Lubavitcher Rebbe's leadership. What's interesting is that the date contains three 11's: Shevat is the 11th month counting from Nissan in addition to it being the 11th day of the month in the year 5711. Incidentally, the Rebbe was born on the 11th of Nissan or 1/11 (Nissan being the first month) so that's another instance of 11.

What's also significant is that this year, 5780 is 3332 years since the Sinai Revelation and is thus the beginning of the year 3333 since the Torah was revealed. 3333/(11+11+11 as in 11/11/5711) yields 101 or Kuf Alef which is Adam Kadmon or the first world to manifest itself after G-d contracted His light at the start of Creation and corresponds to the level of Yechida which is connected with Moshiach. Big things are in the offing.