A beacon of light in a time of darkness and confusion
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
This week is parshas Behar-Bechukosai. In the parsha Hashem promises that if the Jewish people will study His Torah and keep His commandments they will enjoy material prosperity and dwell securely in their homeland. Hashem's promises everything good. This prosperity is both spiritual as well as physical. The Torah and the mitzvos are the abundance of light which shines through as well as the realization of physical abundance.
As Lubavitcher Chassidim we have been fortunate to see time and time again the clarity and depth of the Rebbe's vision. In many areas of life, be it the personal the spiritual or the global, the Rebbe's clarity of vision extends from beginning until end and over the horizon. The Rebbe's has been known in matters that other leaders were unable to fathom.
Take for example during the 1970s and the 1980s when we saw this distinction clearly in two areas. Firstly when it came to the law of return in Israel known as the question of mihu Yehudi, who is a Jew. Eventhough many of the Rebbe's contemporaries were unable to see what problems would come from not amending the law to read "according to halacha" (meaning that the Torah is the only authority that defines what a Jew is) the Rebbe was strongly outspoken with clarity that this law must be amended. It is unfortunate that only now we are realizing the damage caused by regrettably neglecting to fulfill His call.
So too did we see is clarity with regard to Shleimus Haaretz. The Rebbe was clear and unambiguous about His opposition for any land for peace deal and was outspoken against the Camp David Accord saying that all it was was a piece of paper and that it was a security issue for Eretz Yisroel. Others could not connect the dots. Many leaders at the time including religious leaders voted for the camp David Accord.
As Lubavitcher Chassidim we have seen this clarity times too many to count extend into all areas of life from the most personal to the most public. This foresight which extends from beginning until the very end is with us and part of our lives now more than ever. As the Rebbe said in 5710 after the passing of the Previous Rebbe: "We are not alone". While we ourselves recognize that we ourselves do not have this kind of vision we know that by living and acting as Lubavitcher Chassidim we merit to be connected to the Rebbe and to his clarity of vision by learning his Sichos and Maamarim following in his ways, consulting his Igros Kodesh and keeping his Minhagim.
Our impact, to our children our communities and to the world at large depend on how we choose to live. When I was young and learning in France in the Yeshiva what I remember even more than the learning were the tremendous example set by Rav Nisan and Rav Yisroel Noach. When I saw the way they lived the life of true Chassidim I knew that Chassidus was real, not just a theory. The same is true for us. When our children, our students, our associates are friends see our effort they know that what we are striving for is real. Especially our children who understand far more than we give them credit for, when they see us challenge ourselves especially in the areas that don't come naturally or are against our nature they to know that Chassidus is real. We ourselves might not be up for the challenge, give me like a vision but if we make a sincere effort by expressing a thought in a Sicha at the Shabbos table or share a heartfelt story or trying to implement the Rebbe's guidance in an honest way, we make an impression. We have been witness to the unbelievable success of those who are connected.
Maybe all merit the ultimate success, the arrival of Moshiach today.
A good Shabbos a good Chodesh