#1 Eternal Life of a Soul in a Body

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Eternal Life of a Soul in a Body

The Refined Physical Body of the Messianic Era

 The Rebbe once told a story¹ of the Rebbe Maharash taking his son on a tour of the heavenly realms.  Among the “sights” they saw was a chossid sitting in a brightly lit heavenly chamber with his eyes closed.  The great light in his chamber was generated by the many chapters of Tanya this chossid had learned b’al peh. But, despite all that light, his eyes were closed: he lacked understanding.  The lesson for us, explains the Rebbe, is that we need to open our eyes; not just to repeat b’al peh, but to understand what we are talking about.

We find many instances where the Rebbe declares that  the histalkus of the Previous Rebbe on Yud Shevat 5710 is only a test — in truth, nothing has changed.  To quote the gemara, “Yaakov Avinu did not die” (even though the Torah itself testifies to his embalming and burial) and “hu bachayim”—he is alive. “Just as his children are alive, so, too, he is alive.”

What about those who attempt to offer gentle interpretations that Previous Rebbe left  us a legacy and “it is as if he is alive”?  The Rebbe rejects them as trying to cool things off when the fact is: He is alive! He merely exchanged his garments.²

Sixty five years ago, the Rebbe instructed that one who questions the claim that the Moshe of the generation did not die, he was to be answered with the response: “When you grow up you’ll understand”³—because, in truth, the chossid making the claim didn’t understand this himself!  But now, after 40 years of the Rebbe’s teaching, we now have “eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to know”—the time has come to open our eyes and understand.

The Rebbe’s directive is that the “straight path” to opening our eyes to the Geulah lies in learning about Moshiach and Geulah.  The goal of this booklet is to present the explanations of Torah (in particular, pnimiyus Hatorah) to assist in “opening our eyes” to understand how Yaakov Avinu, Rabbeinu Hakadosh and the Previous Rebbe are in fact alive, and also Moshe Rabbeinu—the first redeemer—when he ascended Har Sinai, and also to Moshiach—the final redeemer—who remains “chai v’kayam” during the period of concealment which follows his initial revelation.

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1) Sicha, parshas Mishpatim, 5714.

2) Sicha of Yud Shevat, 5726.

3) Sicha of Leil Simchas Torah, 5711.,  ch. 2.

Gimmel Tammuz: What is the Moment When the Sun Stands Still?

Would you like to know at what moment the sun stood still on Gimmel Tammuz, 5754?

In the sicha of parshas Korach, Gimmel Tammuz, 5751, the Rebbe explains at length the great miracle which occurred on Gimmel Tammuz in the days of Yehoshua bin Nun: the sun and the moon (and the entire cosmic system) stood still.  “Shemesh b’Givon dom“.

This miracle doesn’t seem to have such an obvious connection to the miraculous Geuloh of the Rebbe Rayatz in 5627 (the subject of the Rebbe’s farbrengen), but mashpiim find an obvious connection to the events of Gimmel Tammuz 5754: that just as it was by Yehoshua bin Nun, that he commanded the sun and the moon (and the entire cosmos) to stand still, causing time to “freeze” in order to enable the Yidden to win the war they were waging on their own effort, so too we are in a “frozen moment” where the Rebbe wants us to finish the war to end golus with our own effort.  But there is an even greater insight, as we hope to explain with Hashem’s help.

When Gimmel Tammuz comes around, half the farbrengens are on the theme of celebrating “as’chalta d’Geuloh” (the beginning of the Geuloh), and the other half are  on the theme of hillula.  Come and hear an amazing reconciliation of this widespread confusion:

When Eliyahu HaNovi was preparing to ascend heavenward, he asked his disciple Elisha what he could do for him “before I will be taken from you.”  Elisha responds with a puzzling request: a double-portion of Eliyahu’s prophetic spirit should rest upon him.  Eliyahu replies that this is a difficult request, meaning it is impossible to give more than one has (Rashi)!  Nonetheless, Eliyahu adds that if he (Elisha) will see him being taken from him, then he can fulfill his request.

There are various answers given to the question: how could Eliyahu HaNovi give his disciple more than what he possesses.  The answer we will present here is explained in depth in Likutey Mohoron (Breslov), and will open our eyes to something amazing.

In Likutei Mohoron (ch. 66) it explains, based on the Zohar, that every Tzaddik possesses two dimensions of ruach — his supernal ruach, and his lower ruach.  He lives his life in this world with his lower ruach, but when the time of his histalkus arrives, the supernal ruach descends to this world and unites with the lower ruach (compare with Igeres Hakodesh, siman 27).  This means that the Tzaddik, in his final moments in this world, has a lofty revelation that far exceeds what he experienced in his lifetime.  Continues Likutey Mohoron: once the two aspects of ruach unite, the supernal ruach has to leave this world (because its nature is that it cannot tolerate to be here), and it ascends together with the lower ruach, which has united with it, and this is the Tzaddik’s histalkus.  Thus we find that by Rashbi, for example, he revealed the loftiest things in his final moments.

It comes out that every Tzaddik has three distinct stages:

1. his life in this world when only his lower ruach is accessible;
2. his final moments when his supernal ruach is revealed in this world;
3. his departure from this world, together with both dimensions of his ruach.

In the story of Eliyahu and Elisha, it was these “final moments” which provided the opportunity for Elisha’s request to be fulfilled: Eliyahu was still alive in this world, but with the revelation of his supernal ruach.  Prior to this moment, he could not give a double portion because he himself didn’t have it;  after this moment, he was already gone from the world and couldn’t give it over; but in exactly these final moments he had both aspects, and thus he could in fact fulfill Elisha’s request for a double portion.

These final moments paradoxically combine the elements of physical life together with the lofty qualities the Tzaddik attains when he is nistalek.  At that moment he is both “chai v’kayam” and at the same time “more than he was in his lifetime” (יתיר מבחיוהי, in the loshon of Igeres Hakodesh).

Now imagine that at this very moment the sun and the moon stand still.  Time freezes and the Tzaddik’s ascent is also “frozen” —  he remains “chai v’kayam”, alive as a soul in a body in this world, together with supernal revelations that are reserved for a histalkus.  Instead of a fleeting moment of opportunity for his disciples and mekusharim to receive a double portion, this moment of opportunity doesn’t end…

We could say that this is a deeper dimension of the Rebbe’s lengthy explanation of the sun and moon standing still: that the time will come (3 years to the day after the Rebbe spoke the sicha) when the Rebbe will make use of this gimmel Tammuz miracle of “Shemesh b’Givon dom” to create an unprecedented situation: the Rebbe will be holding by both realities!  He will continue to be chai v’kayam without histalkus (as the Rebbe tells us in the sicha of Bo 5752 that our generation will not experience histalkus), yet at the same time “more than he was in his lifetime” (יתיר מבחיוהי), which is a lofty state which is achieved at the time of — histalkus?!

This explains (and even validates) the divergent perspectives: yes, the Rebbe remains chai v’kayam b’guf gashmi, and yes, he also possesses the qualities of “more than in his lifetime”.  Practically speaking, it gives each and every one of us the opportunity to receive from the Rebbe even greater koichos than were available all the years, because the Rebbe himself is holding by greater koichos.  And it also gives us the keilim to understand how half of Lubavitch looks at Gimmel Tammuz differently from the other half!*  These feel the Rebbe lives, those feel “more than in his lifetime”, and both think that you can’t have the two together.  But, in fact, we can, and apparently we do!

May we utilize these great koichos to bring the Geuloh b’poel mamash and truly open our eyes to the reality of the Redemption.

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*) This recalls the explanation, attributed to the Helige R’ Yisroel of Ruzhin, of the machloikes between the Alter Rebbe (who advocated spreading the wellsprings of Chassidus) and R’ Boruch of Mezibuz (who was opposed to spreading Chassidus broadly).  He said that when Moshiach told the Baal Shem Tov that he would come when “your wellsprings will spread out”, the Baal Shem Tov’s eyes welled up with tears.  R’ Baruch, a grandson of the Baal Shem Tov, felt the pain of his grandfather’s tears that his wellsprings would have to descend to “chutza”, and therefore opposed something which caused his grandfather pain.  The Alter Rebbe, though, was a spiritual grandson of the Baal Shem Tov, and he felt the pain of the Baal Shem Tov that derived from the long time it would take to spread out the wellsprings before Moshiach would come, therefore he worked to speed it up.  We could say that the Rebbe has Chassidim that are more attuned to the reality of “chai v’kayam“, and Chassidim that are more attuned to the reality of “more than in his lifetime”, and all that is lacking for achdus is to expand the keilim.

The text of Likutey Mohoran in Hebrew and English here.

 

via Gimmel Tammuz: What is the Moment When the Sun Stands Still?

 

#9 (Gimmel Tammuz) The Sun Stands Still

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Gimmel Tammuz: The Sun Stands Still

Then and Now: Sustenance From a Higher Level

There is a principle established by the Rebbe that we can gain understanding of an event  that occurred on a given day by examining events that occurred previously on the same day.

Based on this principle, the sicha of Gimmel Tammuz 5745 delves deeply into the first noteworthy event of 3 Tammuz: the day Yehoshua bin Nun commanded the sun to stand still.  By examining that miracle, the Rebbe brings us to a deeper understanding of the miraculous release of the Previous Rebbe from prison on the same day in 5627 (1927).

Gimmel Tammuz—as we know it today—compels a chosid to contemplate the nature of his hiskashrus to the Rebbe, how he  continues to maintain a strong connection even when the external aspect is not revealed.

Being that the Rebbe is the Nosi, the shepherd of the Jewish nation, and a shepherd does not abandon his flock, it is self-understood that the Rebbe prepared the chassidim for all future events.  This preparation is found primarily in the Rebbe’s letters, sichos and maamorim.

We will attempt in this small booklet to take a deeper look at what the Rebbe wants us to understand about the miracle of Yehoshua bin Nun in making the sun stand still, and how the sicha of the Rebbe is a guidebook—a moreh derech—for chassidim to understand the situation after Gimmel Tammuz 5754 .

By examining the Rebbe’s sichos, we will find that we can learn from the earlier events of Gimmel Tammuz, and thus gain insight into our present situation and better understand how 3 Tammuz 5754 fits into the mandate of the 7th Generation:

Bringing Moshiach in actuality!

#10 The Generation That Doesn’t Die

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The Rebbe on several occasions stated that our generation is the last generation that will be in exile, and the first generation that will experience the Geulah.  Together with this comes a towering promise: in our generation we will experience the transition to eternal life without any interruption—meaning without experiencing death like the previous generations (who will also receive the reward of eternal life, although following an interruption).

Since the time the Rebbe said those words there have been many funerals, and many Jews old and young, r”l, have passed away.  It would seem at first glance that the Rebbe’s promise is something that will be fulfilled only upon the arrival of the true and complete Geulah (may it be immediately).

However, upon delving into the sources we will see that what appears to our fleshly eyes as real is actually only a temporary covering.  What is real lies hidden on the inside, in the essence of what we see.

Furthermore, the state of the body as it will be when it reaches the purity and refinement of eternal life—the Resurrection of the Dead—is so lofty that it bears little resemblance to the coarse material covering which we perceive.  The body will be like the body of Adam Harishon—Hashem’s own handiwork, placed to dwell in Gan Eden.

We hope to show how eternal life—as a soul in a refined body—is not contradicted by a lack of signs of life in the material garment we wear in this world.  Thus—a funeral does not necessarily contradict eternal life without any interruption.

The prophet Isaiah speaks of the time when death will be swallowed forever and Hashem will wipe the tear from every eye.  May we see that this refers to our generation—as we go from exile towards Geulah.

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Resurrection of the Dead While Still in the Dust? 

The Gemara³³ states that Tzaddikim will return to their dust one hour before the Resurrection of the Dead.  The Rebbe explains that this can be fulfilled through the spiritual service of “my soul will be as dust to all,” in which case there is no need to actually return to dust.

In the Zohar³⁴ it states in the name of Rabi Yitzchok: “They have taught that in the future the Holy One Blessed Be He will revive the dead and shake them from their dust — that they will not be fabric of dust like they were at the beginning when they were created from actual dust which lacks permanent existence…they will be shaken from that fabric of dust and they will arise in permanent fabric giving them lasting existence.  For it says: Arise! Shake off the dust.”

This expression of being “shaken from the dust” is found in the gemara³⁵ in the name of Rebi Elazar: “Anyone who possesses arrogance [גסות הרוח], his dust will not be shaken“. 

It has been asked³⁶ why do our sages use the term “to be shaken” to refer to the Resurrection of the Dead?  Why didn’t they say “he won’t arise” or “he won’t live” at the Resurrection?  It is possible to answer that this means that even while the arrogant will indeed arise at the Resurrection, he will arise in the original dust of this world, and this original dust is not shaken off from him.  Thus, while he has actually reached the level of eternal life, it remains hidden beneath a layer of “dust” (the “skin of the snake”) and thus he will still undergo the humbling process of passing away in order to “shake off the dust” that comes from arrogance.

This would then explain that our generation is already on the level of the Resurrection of the Dead, since our generation is on the level of Rabbeinu Hakadosh “who completed his avodah, nonetheless he suffered illnesses…only the waste which is at the ends of his garment was still not refined”²⁷.  We are only “dwelling in the dust” due to a lack of bittul.  Thus the Rebbe instructs our generation that it is specifically bittul (“My soul will be dust to all”) that nullifies the requirement to “return to the dust”—negating the need to die and return again in another incarnation.

(And see Ben Yehoyada³⁵ that the arrogant will arise in the resurrection like a person who was put to sleep to undergo a painful operation, and when he awakens “he is still sick and feels his body’s weakness”.)
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#12 Between Golus and Geulah

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Between Golus and Geulah

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Moshiach Concealed: Why and For How Long?

There is nothing more unsettling to a person than the feeling that he doesn’t know what’s going on.  Over 23 years have gone by since the Rebbe said that everything has been done and all that remains to bring the Geulah is to open our eyes.  We hear many asking the unsettling question: “It’s been over 20 years—what’s going on?!”

We find that the Rebbe explains¹ ascending levels of how to relate to things that, the outside, appear to be the opposite of good.  Such things may be experienced as painful events (yissurim).  A higher level is to view the events as a test —a nisayon; after sufficiently withstanding the nisayon one merits to see the good revealed.

The best approach, explains the Rebbe, is to learn Pnimiyus Hatorah, because it is the fastest way to reveal the good that is hidden within everything, without even needing to withstand nisyonos!  “Through understanding Pnimiyus Hatorah and the soul of the matter, one is able to see there also the hidden good, even though one does not see this revealed, or one even sees the opposite (the opposite of good).”²

This echoes the words of the Raya Mehemna to Rashbi (brought in Igeres Hakodesh siman 26) that those who taste from the Tree of Life (the Zohar and Chassidus) “do not need nisayon.”  Furthermore, the Rebbe says that we must strive to be a pnimi, which is accomplished by coming to understand what we believe: the avodah of drawing Emunah into seichel.³

We hope, בע“ה, to present the clear explanations of Pnimiyus Hatorah regarding the revelation of Moshiach and the Geulah in a manner which will help us progress from the experience of nisayon.  Additionally, we hope to contribute to speeding up the Geulah by explaining the topic in a way that our Emunah pshuta in the Rebbe’s words is drawn into and understood by intellect.

When we understand the reasons for the period that Moshiach is concealed, and most importantly what is the avodah of this period of concealment, we can come to regard the current situation — as unsatisfactory as it is — in a different light.  No longer must we view it as a time of nisayon (and surely not as painful yissurim), but rather as a necessary stage in bringing the Geulah in actuality.  By clearly understanding what we need to accomplish during this period in the process of the Geulah, one can leave behind the nagging doubts  and proceed confidently in these final moments of golus.

#11 (Elul-Tishrei) All That Remains is to Open Up the Eyes

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All That Remains is to Open Up the Eyes

How is it Done?  What Will We See?

To describe them as “historic” or “monumental” does not adequately describe the tremendous significance of the Rebbe’s words declaring that the work of exile has been finished, the only remaining task is to “open up the eyes”.

Several times in history Moshiach explained what is needed to bring him.  The first time is recorded in the Gemara: the Tanna R’ Yehoshua ben Levi went to ask Moshiach “When is the master coming”?  Moshiach answered him: “Today”.  Moshiach did not come that day, though, because “Today” really meant “Today, if you will obey His voice” — proper fulfillment of Torah and Mitzvos by the Yidden, which was lacking. Many generations later, when the Baal Shem Tov reached the chamber of Moshiach he asked him the same question: “When is the Master coming”.  Moshiach answered him with the famous words: “When your wellsprings will spread forth….” The Baal Shem Tov knew quite well this Gemara and Moshiach’s answer to R’ Yehoshua ben Levi (as the Previous Rebbe points out in Likutei Dibburim II, 309b), so why did he pose the very same question to Moshiach a second time?  Because the Baal Shem Tov saw that the Yidden had already fulfilled the requirement of “if you will obey His voice” and he was asking Moshiach: “What now?” In our generation, the Rebbe himself states that nothing remains to be done, and therefore today the answer to “When is the Master coming” is the Rebbe’s declaration that “the one thing that is needed is that a Yid will open up his eyes properly.…”³¹ Even among dedicated Chassidim there remain matters which require clarification: How can the work of refinement (avodas habirurim) be finished if things look so unfinished?  What does it mean to “open up the eyes”–will we see a physical world or G-dliness?  How do we do it?

Only upon delving into the sources in Chassidus can we begin to understand the depth of the Rebbe’s unprecedented expressions, and the truly unique moment in which we live.  We present here some insights of Chassidus which shine light into these questions (in a way of “oiros b’keilim”), and בעהי”ת bring to a clearer understanding of the Rebbe’s truly momentous declarations.

#9 (Gimmel Tammuz) The Sun Stands Still

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 Gimmel Tammuz: The Sun Stands Still

Reaching a Higher Level of Connection

The Rebbe teaches that an event can be understood by examining previous events that occurred previously on the same day of the year.

How do we understand Gimmel Tammuz?  A chossid’s hergesh is that it is not the same as Yud Shevat, but how do we know?

The Rebbe has given us the tools to see Gimmel Tammuz for what it is: the beginning of a deeper and higher degree of hiskashrus between Chosid and Rebbe, a higher level of revelation that demands a higher level of avodah.

Gimmel Tammuz demands that we maintain a strong connection even when the external aspect is not revealed.  This an avodah that transcends the intellect, the realm of “revelations”, and reaches to the essence.

We will attempt in this small booklet to take a deeper look at what the Rebbe wants us to understand about this day.  It is the day that Yehoshua bin Nun performed the miracle of making the sun stand still, allowing the Yidden to be victorious by their own efforts.

It is also the day that proved to be the beginning of the redemption of the Friedicker Rebbe, even though Chassidim at the time were uncertain whether to dance or cry.

From the sichos we will see that the Rebbe prepared the way for us not to be confused or weakened by Gimmel Tammuz, and instead to reach a greater level of hiskashrus, and to bring the Geulah!

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#1(Laha”k): מה ענינם של ימות המשיח

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כתוב בספר התניא קדישא בקשר לימות המשיח: ”ונודע שימות המשיח ובפרט כשיחיו המתים הם תכלית ושלימות בריאות עולם הזה שלכך נברא מתחילתו.“ הוא זמן של עבודה לא זמן של קבלת שכר, כי ”קבלת שכר עיקרו באלף השביעי“ שהיא לאחר ימות המשיח. ומה טבעם של ימות המשיח? איך בדיוק הם קשורים עם הגאולה האמיתית והשלימה על ידי משיח צדקנו? כאשר נבדוק את הנושא יותר בעומק יתגלו דברים שאולי לא נתפסנו בשלימותם עד עתה.

קודם כל צריכים לדעת נקודה עיקרית שהרבי מדגיש: שרק הרמב”ם בלבד פוסק על ימות המשיח ואין חולקים עליו. ולכן הפסקי דינים של הרמב”ם במשנה תורה שלו על הנושא הם הלכה למעשה לכל הדעות. שם, בהילכות מלכים ומלך המשיח, הרמב”ם פוסק להלכה איך יהי’ אחרי ש“יעמוד מלך מבית דוד“, שהוא משיח, וסדר הענינים שיהיו אז: שמשיח יכוף ישראל, ילחם מלחמות ה’ וינצח, יבנה בית המקדש, יקבץ גוליות, עד שהוא יתקן את כל העולם.

יוצא מדברי הרמב”ם כמה שאלות: האם ”יעמוד מלך מבית דוד“ זוהי ביאת משיח? האם זה התחלת הגאולה? ולמה הרמב”ם פוסק שבימות המשיח “עולם כמנהגו נוהג“ אם כידוע הגאולה היא באופן של ”אראנו נפלאות“? נשתדל לענות על השאלות אלו מתוך משנתו של הרבי, ואז נקשר את כל זה עם התקופה הנוחכית שלנו לפי העדויות של הרבי.

הדבר הראשון שמזכיר הרמב”ם בקשר לימות המשיח הוא ”שיעמוד מלך מבית דוד כו’”, ומזה מובן שמשיח (שהוא המלך מבית דוד) צריך לעמוד עוד לפני שכל הענינים המוזכרים שם ברמב”ם מתרחשים. וזה מתישב על הדעת כי המשיח הוא זה שפועל את כל הענינים, כמובן שהוא צריך קודם לכן לעמוד. אבל עדיין אין הענין ברור, כי הרבי כותב שכל הדברים שמשיח פועל אחרי שהוא יעמוד ”אינם סימן ברור של הגאולה, כי כל זה עדיין יכול לקרות במצב של גלות.“ זאת אומרת שיכול להיות מצב שמשיח כבר ”עמד“ ופועל פעולותיו ועם ישראל עדיין בגלות.

ועוד, אומר הרבי, ”ע”פ שטחיות לשונו ברמב”ם בזה, הנה ברור הביע דעתו מוחלטה, אודות המאורעות שיהיו קודם התגלות משיח וסדרן, ז.א. קודם שתתחיל הגאולה.“ אם כן, עדיין צריך ביאור מה הענין של ”ביאת משיח“: האם היא התחלת ימות המשיח או סיומם. והאם ביאת משיח והגאולה הם שני דברים נפרדים או והאם הם ענין אחד. והביאור בזה: