Quotes from the Rebbe – Parshas Emor (5751)

The Hebrew word for redemption is the same as exile – the former Geulah, the latter Goilah;  the only difference is the letter Alef – this signifies that redemption is actually not another state, rather it is the very same, albeit redeemed-  in other words, when we recognize that everything in our world is one hundred percent controlled and directed by a compassionate loving Father in Heaven.
We see this clearly in the bizarre phenomenon that not only were the Jews redeemed from Egypt which the redemption is the prototype of all subsequent, but in fact the Egyptians actually not only lent them their precious objects but compelled them to take, which is usually an unnatural occurrence – for ultimately redemption is not about exiting one reality ( for another) rather the elevation / refinement and hence redemption of the exile ( it is for this reason that the Egyptians were brought to a point of recognition of the Divine hand and will.)
We must however challenge this premise by noting that in the end of the day the purpose of the redemption was the giving of the Torah which revealed a new Divine aura ( hitherto unrevealed) similarly as it states in Torah Oir our lengthily exile is for the sole purpose of receiving in the messianic era the Divine essence ( hence this challenges the premise that redemption is merely the elevation of the past, as it seems we enter a radically new state.)

The explanation:

The Hebrew letter Alef (the redemption) has three meanings:  a. That God is master of the world b. That God teaches Torah c. A supernatural state – particularly visa-vie the miraculous revelations hidden within the Torah.

Practically this means redemption results in three transformations: a. the recognition that all is God and God is all b. The revelation of the Torah c. The miraculous Divine secrets revealed in the Kabbalah/Chassidus.

Hence redemption is in fact the subsequent elevation resulting directly from ” downloading” these three paradigms, namely that in truth, all is God and God is all b. The study and performance of Torah and c. the revelation to the point of integration of the secrets of the Torah.

The practical lesson:

Besides the general exercise of placing the Alef of God into exile through dedicating our lives to higher pursuits, we must increase in our study of Torah, particularly Jewish mysticism and teach all.