On this day the Previous Rebbe was actually freed.
“It was not myself alone that the Holy One, blessed be He, redeemed on the 12th of Tammuz" wrote the Previous Rebbe, "but also those who love the Torah and observe its commandments, and so too, all those who merely bear the name ‘Jew'."
In the face of adversity, a natural impulse might be to restrict one’s sphere of activity. Instead, the Previous Rebbe expanded his activities and reached out to our entire people, impacting, producing change and influencing the future of all.
A true leader is not conscious of his individual identity; his only concern is for the people as a whole. Leadership of this kind is characterized by a unique dimension of self-sacrifice
The redemption of the Previous Rebbe, the head of the generation, enables every member of our people to experience redemption from those forces which restrict our own observance of Torah. May this personal experience of redemption spread and spiral until we merit the ultimate Redemption. May this take place now..
This week's torah portion Balak focuses on the blessings given the Jewish people by the gentile prophet Bilaam. Balak, the king of Moab, hired Bilaam, a gentile prophet to curse the Jews. But G-d put blessings in Billam's mouth and he was forced to utter them, in stead of the curses.
Among Bilaam's prophecies is the only explicit allusion to Mashiach in the Torah: "A star shall shoot forth from Jacob."
This allusion is chosen, because Mashiach's coming will introduce new light into our existence, brightening our horizons. The star to which the verse refers is an analogy for every individual Jew. Every person is a source of positive energy, radiating light.
Chassidut explains that every person is a star, because every person contains a spark of Mashiach within his soul. There is in our souls- an element that is one with G-d. This is our personal star. And this is our spark of Mashiach.
The coming of Mashiach will initiate an era when the G-dliness which is at the core of every being will come to the surface.
May it happen now, amen!
Candle lighting time for L.A. is 7:50.
Shabbat Shalom!
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