The Eternal Flame

BH

“A great miracle happened on this Shabbat. When the Jews took the Lamb for the Paschal Sacrifice, the Egyptians asked why. They were told, This is for our sacrifice, for G-d shall slay the Egyptian firstborns. Upon hearing so, the Egyptian firstborns waged a civil war. They were demanding the Jews be set free. Thus, for this miracle, this Shabbat shall be referred to as Shabbat HaGadol.”

In the “Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch” (The Code of Jewish Law compiled by Rabbi Shneur Zalmen) the author describes this reason for the Shabbat before pesach being referred to as“Shabbat HaGadol” - “The Big Shabbat.”

Now, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem M. Schneerson asks: There are several known miracles that happened on this Shabbat. Why, then, does the Alter Rebbe specify this one only?

The Rebbe answers his own question comparing this idea to the greater idea of Shabbat itself. The Rebbe explains that time is as much a created “being” or “entity” as all other created beings and entities. Whereas, before the creation of the world limitations and constraints of time did not exist!

With the creation of each day, time took a new form. The framework of one day existed. Then two. Then three. And so on. After six days, commentaries teach us that the world was perfect, all that was missing was repose. Tranquility. Rest.

The Rebbe further asks, if the seventh day was not created yet, how could repose be all thats missing? What about the entire time frame that is the seventh day?

So, the Rebbe explains; the structure of Shabbat is indeed a frame of time, however, it is different from the time constraints of days one through six. Time on Shabbat transcends the limitations of past, present and future. It is Shabbat!

Just like Shabbat holds the same form of time while transcending time simultaneously, the Egyptian firstborns created the same effect. They were evil. They worked the Jewish people, harder perhaps than the other Egyptians worked them. Yet, while still remaining the same evil Egyptians they were, they waged a war against their own, taking up the cause of “the enemy” in the process!

This, the Rebbe concludes, is the unique connection between Shabbat and the miracle of Shabbat HaGadol! This is why the Alter Rebbe specifies this reason, to the exclusion of others.

I would like to add to this. On Tuesday of next week Chabadniks around the world will celebrate “Yud Aleph Nissan” (the 11th of Nissan) - the 110th birthday of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. For Chassidim, this is a special day. The day the Rebbe started his journey toward changing the lives of so many.

The Rebbe made it his mission to touch as many Jewish people as possible! Wherever they may be. Evidence stands in the thousands of Chabad Centers around the world!

The Rebbe’s mission transcends time and space. The mission is eternal. The Rebbe never let up. There was no, “It’s five o’clock, let’s break” on the Rebbe’s schedule. And quite frankly, there is no 5:00 break for his emissaries either. The mission is 24/7.

In this week’s Parsha, Tzav, it states (Leviticus, 6:6): “An Eternal flame shall burn upon the Mizbei’ach (Altar). It should not go out.” THIS was the Rebbe’s mission! His goal, his teachings, his efforts, were timeless. They are the eternal flame that has reignited Judaism of late.

I join Chassidim, followers and admirers around the globe in wishing the Rebbe a happy birthday. While the Rebbe is not with us in a physical sense, his eternal flame shines bright.

Let us commit to carrying out the Rebbe’s mission, and working toward his ultimate goal - our united goal as a Jewish Nation - the coming of Moshiach.

Transition: Pain to Consolation

“I don’t know how I and my husband’s parents and sister will find the consolation and strength to carry on, but I know that the ways of G-d are good, and He will reveal the path and give us the strength to continue. I know that their holy souls will remain with us forever, and I know that very soon the time will come when we will be together again with the coming of Moshiach.” - Mrs. Eva Sandler, wife of murdered Toulouse Rabbi, Jonathan Sandler

The Jewish Nation has been struck once again. A young Rabbi, his two children, and another child, murdered at a center of Torah study. Their crime? Being Jewish.

While it is natural to question and demand to know why, we all know that no answer or explanation would be adequate. How could there be a acceptable reasoning? Children, cut down in the earliest of stages, in the purest of places, a center of Torah study.

As our hearts make the transition from anger to coping; from shock to reality; from pain to consolation, I draw a lesson from the transition from last week’s Parsha, Vayakhel-Pekudei, the final portion of the book of Exodus to this week’s Parsha, Vayikra, the introduction to the book of Leviticus.

Towards the end of last week’s portion the Torah states that the Mishkan - the Tabernacle - which had just been completed, was inaccessible due to a cloud hovering over. Moses - or anyone - could not enter. As Vayikra begins, we see a quick change. “G-d calls out to Moses...” - the cloud had risen, Moshe could enter!

The Lubavitcher Rebbe’s take on this lends a unique perspective to the “light that follows the darkness.” The Rebbe explains, “the fact that it was immediately preceded by a period of darkness” makes the revelation of goodness that much greater!

When one is struck by tragedy, there are different ways they can choose to go, but when one elects to strengthen his relationship with G-d and Torah as a result, the effect of the divine relationship can strengthen them in return. Strength coming from strengthening.

We as a people have been attacked. together. this is not the plight of the family alone. While the pain is felt by them, we are their supporting cast. We also need to act. We cannot stand by idly and allow terror to dictate how we conduct ourselves.

The famed author Elie Wiesel, in response to the attack in Toulouse wrote, “We say, as is Jewish tradition: “May G-d avenge their blood.” That will be the response from Above.

“Our own answer must be concrete and to the point. When we are persecuted, our response must be: We will remain Jewish – and do everything to become more Jewish.”

The dark clearly reared its ugly head to the world at large this past week. The Jewish response must be brighter and louder. We must add positive effect to the world and not succumb to the evil wishes of our foe.