The Day the Sun Did Not Set

BH

In a talk delivered by the Lubavitcher Rebbe on Shabbat Parshat Korach of 1991, the Rebbe spoke about the story of Aaron's blossoming staff as told in the Parshah. Korach and his rebellious faction had contested Aaron's right to be the Kohen Gadol ("high priest"). In order to reiterate His choice of Aaron to serve Him in the Sanctuary as the representative of the Jewish nation, G-d instructed Moses:

"Take... a staff from each of [the tribes'] leaders... each should write his name on his staff.... Write the name of Aaron on the staff of Levi... and the man whom I shall choose, his staff will blossom....Moses placed each staff before G-d in the Sanctuary.... On the next day... behold, the staff of Aaron was blossoming: It brought forth blossom, produced fruit and bore ripe almonds." (Numbers 17:16-24)

The Rebbe referred to this as a "natural miracle." G-d did not simply make almonds appear on Aaron's staff. Rather, He provided the entire process of budding, blossoming, and then emergence and the ripening of the fruit. Aaron's staff defied nature's laws but the almond appeared seemingly naturally (albeit in an unnatural place). It transcended nature, but did so on nature's own terms.

The Shabbat on which the Rebbe spoke about the miracle of Aaron's staff was the 3rd of Tammuz, and the Rebbe found two more historical examples of "natural miracles", both occurring on that date. One example the Rebbe cited was on the third of Tammuz of the year 2488 from creation (1273). Yehoshua - Joshua - was leading the Jewish people in one of the battles to conquer the Land of Israel. Victory was imminent, but darkness was about to fall. Yehoshua proclaimed "Sun, be still at Giv'on; moon, at the Ayalon valley" (Joshua 10:12). G-d responded and halted their progress until the Jewish people brought the battle to an end.

We are taught throughout history that G-d does not perform a miracle in vain. Why then was such an incredible miracle as stopping the sun and moon needed here? Wouldn’t a simpler miracle, such as illuminating the battle site at Giv'on itself make more sense?

But a miraculous engineering of "artificial" light would have meant that the laws of nature were merely superseded, not transformed. To inspire the people of Israel to not only transcend their natural self but also to transform and sublimate it, G-d insisted that the miraculous light provided them should be natural sunlight -- even if this meant creating a new natural order in the heavens.

The third of Tammuz, 2488 as the Rebbe spoke about in 1991, was “the day the sun did not set”.

On the third of Tammuz of this year, (Tuesday, June 15th) Jewish people around the world will be marking the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s 16 Yahrtzeit –anniversary of his passing. The Rebbe’s influence on world Jewry is denied by no one. The Rebbe, simply put, changed the face of Judaism around the globe, post holocaust. The revival of Jewish customs, holidays and more was in large part due to the Rebbe. Due to the Rebbe’s vision and commitment to every single Jewish person, vibrant Jewish communities have sprouted across the globe.

Today, with more than 3,000 Chabad centers worldwide, the Rebbe’s mission is being seen through. The influence and guidance of the Rebbe still lives, 16 years later. The numbers of Chabad’s success throughout the years is are staggering and the influence his emissaries have had - not only on Jewish people – but on the world is amazing!

On Tuesday, we will celebrate the Rebbe’s life and influence. We will make commitments to better our lives to live the way the Rebbe asked of us. We will re-commit ourselves to the learning of Torah and Rebbe’s teachings. We miss our Rebbe and strive to continue his work, learn his teachings and emulate his ways.

On the third of Tammuz, 5754 (June 12, 1994) the Rebbe physically left this world. The Rebbe continues however to inspire, uplift, guide and teach!

Gimmel Tammuz – the third of Tammuz, indeed “the day the sun did not set”

I conclude with heartfelt prayers for the coming of Moshiach now, when we will be able to physically see the Rebbe again.