B"H
Shalom and Bracha!
May Hashem grant peace, security and blessings to the
land of Israel and bless you, your entire family and all those
who are dear to you with a wonderful sweet New Year filled with
health, happiness, success, prosperity, fulfillment and
inspiration and may we see the redemption through Moshiach
immediately!
This week’s portion begins with the Mitzvah of appointing judges
in all of our gates. In every city in Israel a Jewish court was
established with judges and officers to enforce the rulings of
the judges. This Mitzvah has a very important message to each of
us. A gate serves for entry and exit. Our body has many gates.
The ears hear, the eyes see and the mouth both eats and speaks.
Our limbs feel and act. Even a smile or a frown can be powerful
communications that deeply affect others. We have to appoint
judges on our gates. When I want to speak, is this speech a
Mitzvah? Is it appropriate? Is it inappropriate? Is it hurtful
or forbidden speech? When I want to look at something will it
better me or worsen me as a person and a Jew? What does the
Torah say? These are the judges of our personal gates. What are
the officers? Our plan of action to assure we listen to our
judges and how we avoid repeating mistakes. If we find an
environment conducive to bad behavior, we must avoid it. A
nurturing environment must be sought. Clear plans to bear
responsibilities for our actions must be drawn. These are our
private officers.
In
the literal sense of the Mitzvah, The Sanhedrin, the supreme
Torah authority, was established in Yerushalayim in the Temple
complex. Because they were the final authority, there was unity
in custom and practice throughout the Jewish people. Three times
each day in the Amidah we pray for the return of the Sanhedrin
and the Jewish courts.
We
find an interesting distinction between the way the Mitzvah is
described in the portion and in the liturgy. The prayer
beseeches Hashem “return our judges as at first and our advisers
as in the beginning. We pray for advisers rather than officers.
This is based on the promise of the prophet Yeshaiahu (1:26)
“And I will return your judges as at first and your advisers as
in the beginning. What is the difference between officers and
advisers, and why when Moshiach comes will we need only
advisers?
The
Rebbe explains that officers were necessary to enforce the
rulings of the judges, inflicting corporal punishment until
their rulings were accepted. When Moshiach comes, there will be
no need for force, because there will be no evil and we will all
want to follow the rulings of the Torah. However, we will need
advisers, who will direct us how best to fulfill the rulings of
the judges.
Everything which will occur when Moshiach comes is a result of
our service during the Galut, the exile. In order to merit the
replacement of officers with advisers when Moshiach comes, we
need to change our attitude to the commandments of Hashem. We
shouldn’t do a Mitzvah as a burden, but as a privilege. As such,
we shouldn’t seek shortcuts and minimums in fulfilling Mitzvot,
but rather the ideal way to perform a Mitzvah. As a precursor to
the return of the judges and advisers, the Rebbe has recommended
that each person have a Rav, upon whom he relies for Torah
knowledge, and who supervises his learning and progress in
fulfilling Mitzvot, and a Mashpia, who advises him in living his
daily life according to the Torah. This is particularly
pertinent to the days of Elul, when we reflect upon our actions
in the previous year and prepare for the coming year.
As
we stand on the eve of redemption, may our efforts in appointing
personal spiritual leaders hasten the return of the High Court
to the Holy Temple together with Moshiach.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Biggs
A
Project of Chabad of Great Neck
400
East Shore Rd. Great Neck NY 11024
516
4874554 fax 516 4874807
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