

Even when doing everyday activities, like working, eating, exercising, etc., if you are doing them, to support your life of Torah, they too become holy and transformative actions. When you do a mitzva, you transform the physical into holy. Every mitzva is done with physical objects, time or place. He gave us Torah and mitzvot, with which to accomplish this mission. These souls are what enable us to bring out the potential hidden in creation. The soul of a Jew is an actual part of G-d.
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G-d created an unfinished world, and made us His partners in creation, to complete it, of our own free will. We were not just chosen because of our ancestors, rather, we are part of G-d's Divine plan from the very beginning. This is what the Jewish mission is all about. The reason why G-d created this world, is because, He has a Divine desire to dwell in this world openly, and that we make that possible through our efforts. What is the connection between all these things: creation, Moshiach, Torah, mitzvot and the Jewish people? The prophet also rebukes Israel for neglecting Torah study and mitzva (commandment) observance, but assures them that they will return to the correct path and will be redeemed. Gd promises to punish all the nations that have persecuted Israel while they were exiled. The prophecy continues with a discussion regarding the Final Redemption, and the song that all of creation will sing to Gd on that day. Who laid out the earth." These words are similar to the Torah portion that speaks of the creation of the heavens and the earth. The Haftora starts with, "So says the Almighty G-d, Who created Heavens. There are several reasons we read this Haftora on this special Shabbat: The Haftora this week is from the book of Isaiah. This week we start reading the Torah from the beginning with the Torah portion of Bereshit. May we all be completely successful this year in actualizing the dream of the entire human race for all time, a world truly at peace, led by Moshiach. Thus, this person's interaction with his fellowman excelled even over Joseph. For Joseph was dealing with his own brothers, and it is normal that he would have been merciful toward them. Rabbi Abba thought, "He is indeed worthy that G-d should perform miracles on his behalf." Rabbi Abba wept and said, "This man's conduct is even greater than that of Joseph. Also, from that day I sought ways to extend him favors." If it happened that I was unable to effect an immediate reconciliation, I did not sleep till I had forgiven him, and I never paid attention to any harm he inflicted on me. The stranger said, "Never did anyone inflect harm upon me without my effecting a reconciliation with him, and extending him my immediate forgiveness. For G-d has wrought two miracles on your behalf.

Rabbi Abba approached him and asked, "Tell me of your behavior. As he walked away, the wall collapsed directly upon the place where he had slept. When the sleeper awoke and saw the dead serpent close by, he rose to leave. Rabbi Abba observed a serpent approach the slumbering stranger, but suddenly an animal emerged from the ruin and struck the serpent down. The stranger entered a ruin, sat down beneath a tottering wall and fell asleep. It once happened that Rabbi Abba was sitting in the gateway to the city of Lod, and saw a fatigued person approach from the road. So, this Yom Kippur, as we contemplate our miniature world and the world at large, let us contemplate a practical idea as to how we can help bring about world peace.Įsoteric Jewish teachings relate the following story, which might prove very helpful in our quest for peace, not only in the world at large, but in our own communities, family units and within ourselves. And the fact that the first person was created as a lone individual, unlike the other creations which were created in multitude, teaches us about the power and importance of each individual. For, as the Talmud teaches, every person is a miniature world. And this heightened yearning for world peace comes at a time when the possibility seems even more remote, when weapons of war and terrorism have become ever more sophisticated and deadly.Īs we transition from the season of Jewish holidays into our regular day-to-day lives, our thoughts shift from personal improvement back to the consideration of the world in which we live.īut maybe, just maybe, the two are intimately intertwined. But the desire and drive to make peace a reality continues to intensify. Whether it's a t-shirt suggesting "Visualize Whirled Peas" (Get it? "Visualize world peace"), or a bumper sticker with a '60s peace sign announcing: "An idea whose time has come," everyone wants peace. The Rebbe Writes | All Together | A Word from the Director | Thoughts that Count Visualize Whirled Peas | Living with the Rebbe | A Slice of Life | What's New
