5 months ago

When The Rebbe Rashab Said Kapitel 122…

Portions from the Rebbe’s farbrengen of Chof Mar-Cheshvan 5742, when the kapitel in Tehillim of the Rebbe Rashab was 122, the same as the Rebbe’s this year. The Rebbe focuses on the unique lesson of that year’s kapitel which is also very much applicable this year as well • Full Article

Since this year marks the beginning of the 122nd year since the Rebbe Rashab’s birthday, the appropriate chapter in Tehillim is Ch. 122. This is the distinction of this year compared to all past and future years. And since this chapter is said the entire year, the lessons derived from it are especially applicable to the whole of this year.

Psalm 122’s contents are about the idea of peace and love for a fellow Jew. For example, verse 8 states: “For the sake of my brethren and friends, I ask that there be peace within you.” Likewise, verse 3 states: “Yerushalayim that is built like a city in which [all Israel] is united together.” This expresses the general idea of unity and love of a fellow Jew, as our Sages have interpreted it: “a city that is joined together — a city that makes all Jews friends.” This unity engendered by Yerushalayim is not just in spiritual matters, but also expresses itself in physical things.

This concept is also expressed in a passage in the Talmud (Taanis 5a) “The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘I will not enter the Yerushalayim of Above (i.e. the heavenly Yerushalayim) until I can enter the Yerushalayim of below (i.e. the earthly Yerushalayim). Is there then a heavenly Yerushalayim? Yes. For it is written: ‘Yerushalayim that is built like a city in which [all Israel] is united together.’” And Rashi explains that: “the Yerushalayim of below is built as a city that has a companion which is similar to it.”

This Talmudic passage is clarified with reference to a commentary in Likkutei Torah on Shir Hashirim. It explains that the “daughters of Yerushalayim” mentioned in Shir Hashirim (5:16) refer to “the souls that have not yet descended to this world to be enclothed in a body…” When these souls do descend below, they descend from the Yerushalayim of Above to the Yerushalayim of below, to fulfill their mission of converting the “below” (this physical, corporeal world) to a “Yerushalayim of below” (to make the physical world a fit dwelling place for G-d).

There are two general types of souls (“daughters of Yerushalayim”): those in the category of “the heads of your tribes,” referring to those souls on the level of Yerushalayim of Above; and those in the category of “your wood choppers and water drawers,” referring to those souls on the level of Yerushalayim of below.

…In other words: Despite the fact that there are different levels among Jews (“heads” and “water drawers”), and each category must perform the spiritual service suitable to it, there must nevertheless be unity between them. Indeed, the verse states: “You are standing today all of you before the L-rd your G-d, your heads… to your water drawers” — “all of you” meaning “to unite them as one.” Furthermore, the context of the above stated Talmudic passage is about G-d entering Yerushalayim of below (and then Yerushalayim of Above) — the idea of the final redemption. And our Sages have said: “Israel will not be redeemed until they will all be one (united) group” (Tanchuma Nitzavim).

But all is not clear. How is it possible to achieve true unity when Torah itself states that there are differences among Jews — heads, wood choppers, water drawers etc.? However, our Sages have taught that the preparation and preliminary to Mattan Torah (Giving of the Torah) was the unity of Jews. This is seen in the verse relating their encampment at Mt. Sinai which states (Shemos 19:2) “And Yisroel encamped there before the mountain,” on which our Sages point out that “encamped” (ויחן in Hebrew) is singular tense, teaching us that they were ‘as one man with one heart.’ Only when they were united did G-d consider them fit to receive the Torah, This unity was effected by “Yisroel encamped there before the mountain,” Mt. Sinai on which G-d gave the Torah. It was the revelation of “And G-d descended on Mt. Sinai” which effected the complete unity of Jews.

So too in our case. Unity between the different categories of Jews is affected when “You are standing today all of you before the L-rd your G-d, your heads… to your water drawers.” The standing “before the L-rd your G-d” effects that it should be “all of you” — “to unite them as one.”

Jews must be united all the time, as evidenced by the inclusion of the verse “For the sake of my brethren and friends I ask that there be peace within you” in the prayers said every day (in “Ein Kelokeinu”). Nevertheless, the fact that this year we begin to say Ch. 122 of Tehillim (corresponding to the Rebbe Rashab’s birthday, as explained above), which includes this verse and others speaking of unity and love between Jews, is an indication that such unity and love should be emphasized and strengthened this year.

In practical terms, this means to intensify working in those areas connected with Ahavas Yisrael, in a peaceful and serene manner. And just as the idea of peace is mentioned several times in this chapter, so too one must not be content with just one effort in this area, but must continue many more times. If one speaks truly from the heart, his words will surely enter the person’s heart the first time. And if not, one should examine oneself, for perhaps the problem lies within himself!

(Reprinted from Sichos in English)

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