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| I Will Write It In Their Hearts - Volume 5 A Treasury of Letters from the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson Selections from Igros Kodesh The significance of Lag BaOmer; spreading the teachings of the Zohar as a catalyst for redemption Translated by: Rabbi Eli Touger Published and copyright © by Sichos In English (718) 778-5436 • info@SichosInEnglish.org • FAX (718) 735-4139
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No. 601
The text of this letter was sent to various individuals, personally addressed to each one.B"H, Pesach Sheni, 5710Greetings and blessings,
Enclosed is the kuntres for the upcoming Lag BaOmer[holiday]. "He with a generous eye will be blessed,"[429] for he will share it with people at large.
The concept of Lag BaOmer is explained in the teachings of Chassidus. [It is identified with] the Sefirah of Hod shebeHod, which represents an interruption, a barrier, and a "mound,"[430] [separating] between Atzilus and Beriah, Yetzirah, and Asiyah and also an interruption, a barrier, and a "mound" between the levels above Atzilus and Atzilus. Each one of these barriers blocks one of the two means in which the external forces[431] derive nurture:
For this reason, the students of Rabbi Akiva ceased dying on Lag BaOmer,[434] because this barrier created a block between [them and] the accusing forces directed at them.
- as a result of a multitude of contractions;[432] and
- from the sublime encompassing light.[433] On that level, the deeds of the beings of the lower realms are not significant and [hence,] all beings can receive [influence].
All of the above applies in the present era. In the era of Mashiach, by contrast, when "I will cause the spirit of impurity to depart from this earth,"[435] [there will be a change]. [On the verse,][436] "I struck down and I will heal," our Sages comment (Koheles Rabbah 1:4): "The division[437] that I established between the higher realms and the lower realms — that [the beings of] the higher realms live and exist [eternally], while those of the lower realm die — I will heal in the Ultimate Future." For the barrier of a mound will not be necessary at that time.[438]
R. Shimon bar Yochai,[439] the source of the revelation of the secrets of the Torah, refined this barrier (the fundamental revelation [of his achievements] will be in the Ultimate Future), because he illuminated it with the most complete light, the light of Mashiach.
See the discussion of these matters in the maamar entitled Eid HaGal and in its explanation in the Siddur [Im Dach], Shaar HaLag BaOmer and sec. 25ff. of the maamar entitled Chayav Adam Livareich, 5638.
The manner in which [the Jewish people] will leave the exile and enter the era of Mashiach was already revealed by our Sages: "In the Future, Israel will taste of the Tree of Life, this book of the Zohar, through which they will leave their exile with mercy." And Mashiach told the Baal Shem Tov that he will come when the wellsprings of the Baal Shem Tov's teachings spread outward.
My revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, hk"m, explained [Mashiach's] response at length, [saying]:[440]
The teachings of the Baal Shem Tov are the vessel for the light of the revelation of Mashiach. The teachings of our Rebbe, the Baal Shem Tov, and the pure task of refining and cultivating our emotional qualities, will ultimately spread [to people on the periphery] and all will realize the truth. The self-sacrifice from their parents and grandparents will awaken even those who are found on the peripheries.
See [the sources for] the above: the Zohar III, p. 124b, the letter of the Baal Shem Tov [to his brother-in-law] regarding the ascent of his soul [on Rosh HaShanah of] the year 5507,[441] and the sichos of SimchasTorah, 5690.
We must all clearly know that each and every activity and each and every effort made to spread the wellsprings [of Chassidus] outward illuminates the darkness of the exile and hastens the coming and revelation of Mashiach. There are no words to describe how difficult it is to remain even one extra moment in exile and how precious one extra moment of the revelation of Mashiach is.
With the revelation of our righteous Mashiach, the Holy One, blessed be He, will heal the divider [separating] the higher realms from the lower realms, as explained above. Then "those who lie in the dust will arise and sing."[442] My revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, hk"m, who showed us the way and the path upon which we will ascend [in our Divine service], will advance at the head, leading all of his students, his chassidim, and all of those bound and connected to him, taking us out of the straits and bringing us to the broad expanse of G-dliness,[443] in the true and complete Redemption.
With greetings and blessings for all forms of good,
M. Schneerson
Notes:
- (Back to text) [Mishlei 22:9.]
- (Back to text) [In Biblical times, a mound was used as a symbolic barrier to establish a boundary-line; see Bereishis 31:46-52. gal, Hebrew for "mound," shares the same letters as "Lag." Hence the connection to the above.]
- (Back to text) [I.e., the forces of evil.]
- (Back to text) [When G-dliness is revealed powerfully, the external forces cannot receive nurture. Nevertheless, when there are a multitude of contractions, the power of G-dliness is reduced and the external forces can derive nurture.]
- (Back to text) [Since an encompassing light does not need to be internalized within a vessel, even the external forces, which are not appropriate vessels, can derive benefit from it.]
- (Back to text) [See Yevamos 62b.]
- (Back to text) [Zechariah 13:2.]
- (Back to text) [Devarim 32:39.]
- (Back to text) [The Hebrew term mechitzah, "division," shares the same root as the word mechtzasi, "I struck down," which is employed in the above verse.]
- (Back to text) [Since "I will cause the spirit of impurity to depart," there will be no need for safeguards against it receiving nurture.]
- (Back to text) [Whose yahrzeit is commemorated on Lag BaOmer.]
- (Back to text) [Sichos of SimchasTorah, 5690.]
- (Back to text) [Reproduced in part in Kesser Shem Tov, sec. 1.]
- (Back to text) [Cf. Yeshayahu 26:19.]
- (Back to text) [Cf. Tehillim 118:5.]
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