The Modern Guide To Living Jewishly incorporating Chabad doctrines

 

 

What to believe

 

1. Moshaich – a universal oneness both in terms of man, living in harmony with God, and with one another – is fast approaching!
2. This era has already to some extent begun as the Rebbe said in 1991 “Moshiach has come” – and the world consciousness in terms of both spirituality and human rights has never been higher – and this will continually increase!
3. Coupled with the above we must also be pained that Moshaich is tarrying and as the Rambam writes as one of the thirteen principles of faith – I believe with complete faith in the coming of the Moshiach and though he may tarry I await eagerly his coming daily.
4. Every generation is Divinely blessed with a Rebbe (acronym for Head of the Jewish people.)
5. The Rebbe is a prophet at (or close to) the level of Mosses.
6. The Rebbe’s words are not his own, rather God’s words through him – and I believe the third commandment of the 613 commandments enumerated by the Rambam is to adhere to the Rebbe of the generation.
7. Many are the directives of our beloved Rebbe – they would take books upon books, but to sum up certainly his three basic ideas, they are:
   1. Traditional faith, trust and adherence to God.
   2. As taught by the Baal Shem Tov, unconditional non-judgmental love for your fellow Jew in particular, and man in general.
   3. To understand that the messianic redemption is not a distant dream, rather, we have traversed through thousands of years of exile precisely to witness the soon to be complete redemption – and believing this is a fundamental part of Judaism, for hope creates joy and happiness creates harmony, unity and energy!
   4. Forgive and forget.
   5. As the Baal Shem Tov teaches, By finding the good in the bad, God transforms the bad into the good!
   6. We are all messengers of God to light up our environment positively!
   7. Judaism believes, seven moral laws were given, and it is incumbent on Jews who work with gentiles to share them.
   8. Ultimately, all of Judaism boils down to these two principles: Do acts of goodness and kindness, and always increase the acts of goodness and kindness you are doing!