BREAKING DOWN OUR OWN WALLS
This week, we all witnessed the terrible scenes of destruction in 770, as the wall of the Rebbe’s Beis Midrash was stripped back and smashed down. This act of vandalism has struck us all very deeply and personally.
I am not writing to address the vandals who had the audacity to strike the Holy stones of the Rebbe's Beis Midrash and the tremendous Chilul Hashem that this has caused. Neither am I writing to discuss the issue of expanding 770 as per the Rebbe’s wishes. Whilst an important goal, it is not something that Chassidim on the individual level are involved in.
The Baal Shem Tov famously taught that everything that a Jew sees or hears is a personal lesson in the service of Hashem. This applies even when seeing things that are extremely negative and antithetical to Kedusha.
As Chassidim, we have to ask ourselves, what can we learn from the events of this week and how we can channel this into something positive and Geulahdig in our actual, personal Avodah.
On Hey Teves 5747 after the victory in the Seforim case, the Rebbe stated clearly that nothing is just an event that occurs. Everything that happens, even the negative, comes from Hashem and must be channelled into bringing greater G-dly light into the world. The Rebbe said that the lesson we need to learn must be taken from the very actions (claim) of “the other side”, meaning that the very idea that lies within the negative is the antidote in the positive.
The breaking down of walls in a negative, destructive way needs to be transformed into a positive, constructive breaking down of walls. Not the walls of a building, but our own walls.
We are in the midst of preparing ourselves for Yud Shevat, the day on which the Rebbe assumed the leadership of Chabad and the beginning of the special seventh generation. One of the preparations that we make, is to learn the Bosi Legani Maamarim connected to this year. The Maamar of Shabbos, the 11th of Shevat 5724, talks about removing walls.
The Rebbe quotes the Messianic prophesy of Zechariah פרזות תשב ירושלים, that Yerushalaim will be settled as a city without walls. Rashi explains that this means that there will be no limitation or measure to the size of the holy city. Yerushalaim is a composite of ירא שלם, perfect awe of Hashem, which represents the personal service of a Jew.
Walls represent restriction and limitation - Gevul. The removal or absence of walls represents Bli Gevul, the ability to break through all boundaries an spread out without limit. This includes not only removing the walls of negativity and Kelipah, but also the walls and limitations within Kedusha itself.
A Yerushalaim with walls, represents a service of Hashem that is limited and measured by the extent of our understanding and feeling. This service comes from the lower, limited levels of the Neshama. In response, it elicits a G-dly revelation that is also limited, a light that is confined within Seder Hishtalshelus, the order of Creation.
The ultimate awe and service of Hashem is a service that transcends the limitations of feeling and understanding. This is the service through Mesiras Nefesh, a dedication to Hashem that is Bli Gevul. In contrast to feeling and understanding, Mesiras Nefesh comes from the essence of the Neshama, the “Nekudah of Yiras Shamayim” that is beyond logic. Only with the unlimited service of Mesiras Nefesh, can we draw down the G-dly light that is completely unlimited.
The Shlichus of this generation is to bring the Redemption and draw down the infinite, unlimited light of Hashem. In Bosi Legani, the Rebbe explains that we have to do this is the manner of soldiers in an army. This is why the Jewish people are called the soldiers of Hashem. A soldier must break down their walls to surrender their own understanding to fulfil their mission with Mesiras Nefesh.
We need to introspect on what is holding us back and limiting us in our service of Hashem in keeping Torah and Mitzvos. Where are my personal struggles and confines that I cannot break through to surrender myself to do Hashem's will. We need to take the spiritual sledge-hammer of Mesiras Nefesh and break those walls down.
Moshiach is called the ‘Poretz’, the one who breaks through barriers. Moshiach is presently standing behind the walls of Golus, peeking through the cracks’. Through our efforts to break down the walls of our own inner Golus, we will succeed in our mission. Then Moshiach will break down the walls of Golus completely and permanently, bringing about the revelation of the true Bli Gevul.
May we merit the immediate Hisgalus of Melech Hamoshiach and the greatest and truest expansion of 770, as part of the Beis Hamikdosh Hashlishi, in the unwalled city of Yerushalaim.
I am not writing to address the vandals who had the audacity to strike the Holy stones of the Rebbe's Beis Midrash and the tremendous Chilul Hashem that this has caused. Neither am I writing to discuss the issue of expanding 770 as per the Rebbe’s wishes. Whilst an important goal, it is not something that Chassidim on the individual level are involved in.
The Baal Shem Tov famously taught that everything that a Jew sees or hears is a personal lesson in the service of Hashem. This applies even when seeing things that are extremely negative and antithetical to Kedusha.
As Chassidim, we have to ask ourselves, what can we learn from the events of this week and how we can channel this into something positive and Geulahdig in our actual, personal Avodah.
On Hey Teves 5747 after the victory in the Seforim case, the Rebbe stated clearly that nothing is just an event that occurs. Everything that happens, even the negative, comes from Hashem and must be channelled into bringing greater G-dly light into the world. The Rebbe said that the lesson we need to learn must be taken from the very actions (claim) of “the other side”, meaning that the very idea that lies within the negative is the antidote in the positive.
The breaking down of walls in a negative, destructive way needs to be transformed into a positive, constructive breaking down of walls. Not the walls of a building, but our own walls.
We are in the midst of preparing ourselves for Yud Shevat, the day on which the Rebbe assumed the leadership of Chabad and the beginning of the special seventh generation. One of the preparations that we make, is to learn the Bosi Legani Maamarim connected to this year. The Maamar of Shabbos, the 11th of Shevat 5724, talks about removing walls.
The Rebbe quotes the Messianic prophesy of Zechariah פרזות תשב ירושלים, that Yerushalaim will be settled as a city without walls. Rashi explains that this means that there will be no limitation or measure to the size of the holy city. Yerushalaim is a composite of ירא שלם, perfect awe of Hashem, which represents the personal service of a Jew.
Walls represent restriction and limitation - Gevul. The removal or absence of walls represents Bli Gevul, the ability to break through all boundaries an spread out without limit. This includes not only removing the walls of negativity and Kelipah, but also the walls and limitations within Kedusha itself.
A Yerushalaim with walls, represents a service of Hashem that is limited and measured by the extent of our understanding and feeling. This service comes from the lower, limited levels of the Neshama. In response, it elicits a G-dly revelation that is also limited, a light that is confined within Seder Hishtalshelus, the order of Creation.
The ultimate awe and service of Hashem is a service that transcends the limitations of feeling and understanding. This is the service through Mesiras Nefesh, a dedication to Hashem that is Bli Gevul. In contrast to feeling and understanding, Mesiras Nefesh comes from the essence of the Neshama, the “Nekudah of Yiras Shamayim” that is beyond logic. Only with the unlimited service of Mesiras Nefesh, can we draw down the G-dly light that is completely unlimited.
The Shlichus of this generation is to bring the Redemption and draw down the infinite, unlimited light of Hashem. In Bosi Legani, the Rebbe explains that we have to do this is the manner of soldiers in an army. This is why the Jewish people are called the soldiers of Hashem. A soldier must break down their walls to surrender their own understanding to fulfil their mission with Mesiras Nefesh.
We need to introspect on what is holding us back and limiting us in our service of Hashem in keeping Torah and Mitzvos. Where are my personal struggles and confines that I cannot break through to surrender myself to do Hashem's will. We need to take the spiritual sledge-hammer of Mesiras Nefesh and break those walls down.
Moshiach is called the ‘Poretz’, the one who breaks through barriers. Moshiach is presently standing behind the walls of Golus, peeking through the cracks’. Through our efforts to break down the walls of our own inner Golus, we will succeed in our mission. Then Moshiach will break down the walls of Golus completely and permanently, bringing about the revelation of the true Bli Gevul.
May we merit the immediate Hisgalus of Melech Hamoshiach and the greatest and truest expansion of 770, as part of the Beis Hamikdosh Hashlishi, in the unwalled city of Yerushalaim.