706:Beis Moshiach 03/08/2009 9:43 AM Page 3 contents IN THE ERA OF THE HEELS OF 4 MOSHIACH D’var Malchus | Sichos in English REB LEVI YITZCHOK’S VICTORY 6 Shlichus | Chani Nussbaum THE REBBE’S WAR FOR CROWN 10 HEIGHTS Feature | Avrohom Ber THE ART OF STORYTELLING 18 Inisght | Ofra Bedosa RABBI YITZCHOK ISAAC HERZOG Z”L USA 24 Feature | Gershon Nof 744 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11213-3409 Tel: (718) 778-8000 Fax: (718) 778-0800 [email protected] SOUL CONNECTION WITH RABBI LEVI www.beismoshiach.org 30 YITZCHOK Z”L EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: 20 Av | Nosson Avrohom M.M. 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Beis Moshiach is not responsible for the content of the advertisements. 706:Beis Moshiach 03/08/2009 9:43 AM Page 4 dvar malchus IN THE ERA OF THE HEELS OF MOSHIACH Sichos In English (Adapted from Likkutei Sichos, Vol. IX, p. 71ff, Sefer HaSichos 5749, p. 641ff) NOTHING COMES however, prompted to the question: When G-dliness shines overtly, UNEARNED Why is it our Divine service that is the revelation draws a person to going to bring Mashiach? Divine service, and causes him to feel One of the fundamental principles In previous generations, mankind satisfaction in this endeavor. When, postulated by Chassidic thought is was on a higher spiritual level and by contrast, G-dliness is not overtly that all revelations of G-dliness are seemingly displayed a greater revealed, a commitment to the Torah dependent on man’s Divine service. commitment to Divine service. and its mitzvos requires more self- Even revelations which transcend How can our efforts accomplish a sacrifice. our mortal conceptual grasp must be purpose that theirs did not achieve? drawn down through our own efforts. [3] The above also applies to the A POINT IN SOUL These questions can be resolved revelations of the Era of the ABOVE “I” by contrasting our Divine service Redemption. during the era of exile with that Which commitment is greater? In that era, it will be revealed that carried out by the Jews at the time of When focusing on the extent of the our world is G-d’s dwelling. the Beis HaMikdash. commitment, how much of a And just as a person reveals his In our prayers, [4] we say “we are person’s character is given over to true self at home, so too, at that time, unable to go up, and to appear and Divine service, there is no question G-d’s true self, [k’viyachol] - as it bow down before You.” that the people who lived during the were - the essential aspects of His When a person came to the Beis time of the Beis HaMikdash Being, will be revealed in this material HaMikdash and appeared before possessed an advantage. world. G-d, he had a direct appreciation of G-dliness permeated every aspect These revelations will not, G-dliness. [5] of their being. however, come about merely as an And as a spontaneous reaction, he Nevertheless, the very fact that expression of Divine favor. Instead, prostrated himself. this commitment absorbed their they will have been ushered in by This was not merely a superficial minds and their feelings indicates “our deeds and our Divine service act. that it left room for a sense of self. during the era of exile.” [1] On the contrary, experiencing Their Divine service had an “I”, And more particularly, it is the G-dliness directly spurred a albeit an “I” of holiness, but an “I” response to the challenges that arise complete commitment of homage, nonetheless. during the era of Ikvesa diMeshicha, motivating him to willingly forgo all In the time of exile, by contrast, a the age when Mashiach’s personal concerns and subordinate person’s Divine service occupies less approaching footsteps can be heard, every aspect of his being to G-d. of his conscious thought. which will precipitate Mashiach’s During the era of exile, by Thus making - and carrying out - coming. [2] contrast, G-dliness is not apparent, a commitment to Divine service and our commitment is not prompted reflects the workings of an inner RESPONDING TO by external factors. potential that transcends the person’s THE EXPERIENCE A person feels his own self, and conscious self. OF G-DLINESS his Divine service is not evoked The person goes beyond all naturally from above. Instead, it must concepts of his personal “I”. An intellectually honest person is, come as a result of his own initiative. His true self, the aspect of his 4 17 Menachem-Av 5769 BEIS MOSHIACH 706:Beis Moshiach 03/08/2009 9:43 AM Page 5 being which is totally identified with expression of our souls, and of all the these blessings upon you..., so that G-dliness, motivates his conduct. limbs in the body, it is the heel which you will be free to gain wisdom from This reflects a deeper dimension displays the most active obedience to the Torah and occupy yourself in it.” of soul - and a deeper commitment to this potential. These benefits observance brings, G-d - than was revealed during the Our minds and our hearts are however, are not ends in themselves, time of the Beis HaMikdash. mediums for the expression of our but merely mediums to enable man to conscious potentials. And our heels reach his ultimate goal: the service of A CHANNEL FOR are mediums for the expression of G-d. THE SOUL’S POWER our inner will which transcends our The ultimate benefits mankind conscious thought. will receive will be in the Era of the These concepts are related to this Similarly, in the analogue, it is the Redemption, when: week’s Torah reading, Parshas Ekev. souls which can be compared to “There will be neither famine nor Ekev literally means “heel,” and “heels,” the people living in ikvesa war, nor envy nor competition, for refers to ikvesa diMeshicha, [6] the diMishicha, whose commitment good things will flow in abundance time when Mashiach’s approaching expresses the inner power of the soul and all the delights will be freely footsteps can be heard. and manifests the infinite potential of available as dust.” [14] Moreover, the connection the G-dly spark that exists within And yet, man should not strive for between this era and the analogy of each of us. this period in order to partake of heels runs deeper. these blessings. The human body is used as a JUST RECOMPENSE “The Sages and the prophets did metaphor [7] to describe the not yearn for the Era of Mashiach in Other interpretations [10] explain collective of the Jewish people as it order to rule over the entire world, that the word ekev refers to “the end has existed over the ages. nor in order to eat, drink, and of days,” the era when the ultimate In that context, our present celebrate. Rather their aspiration was reward for our observance of the generation can be compared to the to be free [to involve themselves] in Torah and its mitzvos will blossom. heels, for we lack the intellectual and the Torah and its wisdom, without Indeed, the initial portion of the emotional sophistication of our anyone to oppress or disturb them. Torah reading focuses on the reward forebears. [15] which we will receive for our Divine The heel is the least sensitive limb It is the observance of the Torah service. in the body. and the connection to G-d which this This prompts a question: Since Indeed, our Sages [8] refer to it engenders which should lie at the the mitzvos are G-dly, what reward as “the Angel of Death within man.” focus of endeavors. Nevertheless, we find that the heel can possibly be appropriate? possesses an advantage over the How can any material benefits other limbs. possibly serve as fair recompense for REALIZATION It is most sensitive to the person’s acts that are G-dly in nature? OF THE MISSION will. The resolution of this question The two interpretations of the For example, it is far easier to put has its source in our Sages’ word ekev are interrelated. one’s heel into a hot or a cold body of statement: [11] “The reward for a For it is the intense commitment water than to immerse any other mitzvah is the mitzvah.” that characterizes our Divine service limb. The fundamental reward for the during ikvesa diMeshicha which will One might say that this advantage observance of a mitzvah is the bring the dawning of the era which is a direct result of the heel’s lack of connection to G-d the mitzvah will allow us to express that sensitivity. Because the heel is further establishes. [12] commitment without external removed from the influence of the The rewards of health, success, challenge. heart and the mind, it offers less and material wellbeing mentioned by The heartfelt dedication to the resistance to orders which run the Torah are merely catalysts making Torah at present will bear fruit, contrary to one’s thoughts and possible our observance.