Hi Good Shabbos – Achieving internal and global peace

In this week’s Parshah, the Rebbe shows us an entirely and perhaps concluding – as this was the last public address by the Rebbe – paradigm – one in which, when we live it, it will bring us, both internal and hence global peace and unity!

To begin with, the Rebbe focuses on the name of the parshah Vayakhel – to gather.

What is the lesson from the fact, that as in this year’s Torah reading, we read Vayakhel separate to Pikuide (the next parshah, which is joined to Vayakhel in many years?)

There are two purposes to our existence – the first is to dedicate our lives to serving God, as well as convincing everyone else likewise – additionally, though the notion of giving up our selfish desires, for altruistic ones, is universal; nonetheless, obviously the specifics will vary due to the individual (for example, obviously the mission of a man and woman is different, as well as, the mission of a child or adult etc. etc.)

Nonetheless, from the fact we read Vayakhel separate to Pikuedie (which means specifics) this indicates, that there is a universal wholeness, relating even to just the service of Vayakhel.

In other words, the Rebbe teaches us in this epic address, that peace and unity – world peace and world unity – will ensue from his simple understanding.

(For peace is a result of love, love is a result of identification; so if like workers of the same company, like team-members, we individually hence collectively realize, that we are all batting for the same team; our mission, both individualistically responsible to God, yet obviously, simultaneously, being one of another 7,000,000,000 fellow teammates, all working toward overcoming selfishness for altruism – we identify, hence love, hence will automatically have world peace.)

This idea of peace, of unity, is ever more present in the Jewish nation – specifically commanded by God, to love and unify with one another.

This is most evident from the reading about the shekel.

Well known is the question, why God asks “the shekel is twenty geirah (an ancient measurement) half should you give as a present to the Almighty;” would it not more sense to say “half a shekel is ten geirah.”

However the lesson is exceptionally deep – a Jew standing alone – may he be truly the most righteous, is still not complete – he is but a half – only when he or she unites with his or her fellow Jews, are they seen as whole – in the eyes of their Creator!

This extends not only to your fellow Jew in your town or community, but to every Jew!

For this is the meaning of the commandant of Ahavas Yisroel (to love your fellow Jew) to love every Jew, no matter who, no matter where they live!

The reason for this is, because at a soul level we are but one – though in many bodies – for the Jewish soul is God, and any non-divisible matter, though it may be found in many locations, remains non-divisible; hence all Jews, even as they exist in bodies, are a single unit.

To begin with – in order to appreciate this unity of the collective whole – we must realize our unity with God himself!

Kabbalah teaches, that when God creates a Jewish soul, like emanating a flame from within, he then unites with this flame, hence the two flames become a single flame (as when we place two flames together, they seamlessly merge.)

Knowing this, is the foundation of man’s service to God; just as saying Modeh Ani, gratitude to God, is a preliminary and foundational point of all our subsequent service to God!

All this is further emphasized, standing as we are in the start of the messianic redemption – hence God has literally begun to bring his children home to Israel (the Rebbe is referring to the Russian return to Israel which in his words) is a return unlike the previous (say operation Magic Carpet etc. etc.) which involved great risk, for this return miraculously was a transformative loving approach (from the same government hell-bent on the Jews destruction!)

Incidentally the Lubavitcher Rebbes (apart from the previous Rebbe, who precluded as he was from visiting the graves of his holy ancestors, went to visit the graves of our holy Patriarchs etc. in Israel) did not make aliyah.

In conclusion, the practical lesson from all the above, how to live Ahavas Yisroel – loving kindness – comes – that the Torah gives us three mechanisms of charitable contribution – 1.10th 2.10th or 100% of our income to charity – from Shekalim – given for the sacrifices of the Temple; We learn as the Alter Rebbe teaches, the intent of a sacrifice (not to give an animal, rather) to give your entire being to God, hence not only must we increase in our charitable contributions, but simultaneously we must live our charitable contributions! That in addition to giving money, we are obsessed with giving, it is who we are, what we are engaged in, not only on an action level, but also what we speak about, and what we are concentrating, thinking and obsessed about!

And through this 100% dedication to charitable causes, we then will cause God to do his ultimate charity, and bring the redemption when every Jew universally and individually will return to Zion!