A Word From The Rabbi

Dear Friend,

This Sunday, the seventh of Adar, is the birthday and yahrzeit of our great leader Moses - Moshe Rabbeinu. (This year, being a Jewish leap year, the Yahrtzeit of Moses was also marked in the first Adar).

The Lubavitcher Rebbe spoke numerous times about the significance of this date in our G‑dly service. In one of the Rebbe's last public addresses, the Rebbe delved further into the significance of this date.

On a person's birthday, "his mazal (source of influence) shines powerfully." If this concept applies to the birthday of any Jew, surely it applies with regard to the birthday of a leader of the Jewish people. Nor is this relevant merely as an event in the past. Instead, each year, the positive influence associated with the Seventh of Adar is increased, reaching a level immeasurably higher than in previous years.

The birthday of a Jewish leader affects every member of the Jewish people, for the leader is the source of influence through whom G‑d's blessings are drawn down for the entire people. Seven is symbolic of a complete cycle.

Thus, the Seventh of Adar should inspire every Jew to carry out his service in a complete manner. The positive influence of the month of Adar will facilitate the performance of this service.

Similarly, these positive influences will hasten the coming of the Redemption. It is of utmost importance that the Redemption come sooner, even a moment sooner, for the Divine Presence and the Jewish people are in exile. Therefore, it is important to hasten the coming of the Redemption; every single moment its coming can be speeded is significant.

The potential for this certainly exists: the very next moment can be the last moment of the exile, and the moment that follows, the first moment of Redemption.

Wishing you a successful week,

Rabbi Yudy Shemtov
Senior Rabbi/Executive Director