The central theme of this gathering is unity. As the final day of the year 5743, it has a special connection with Rosh Hashanah 5743, since, as Sefer Yetzirah puts it, "the end is wedged in the beginning." Since both extremes are covered, all days in between are also included and unified in this one day.
In addition, in Likkutei Torah, parshas Nitzavim, the Alter Rebbe speaks of the unity of all levels of the Jewish people; a powerful unity in which "one finds neither beginning nor end." This unity, he writes, is part of the preparation for Rosh Hashanah. Today, the day before Rosh Hashanah, is the time this unity finds special emphasis.
This unity of the Jewish people finds added prominence when a large number of Jews gather together. At such a time, Jewish custom dictates that one begin with a blessing, such as in the verse (Tehillim 118:26), "Blesse is he (singular) who comes in the Name of the L-rd; we bless you (plural) from the House of the L-rd."
The verse changes from singular to plural in order to point out the added dimension gained by the individual when he joins together with others. At first, he is only an individual. Later, when he joins with others, he gains.
The blessing has additional strength because of the presence of guests who have come to join us in this holy environment. To them, the phrase, "Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the L-rd," applies literally.
We are also connected with all those who are listening through technical devices, although they might be far away. We have mentioned on other occasions that there are certain times in which one must hear the actual sound directly, such as the reading of the Megillah and the sound of the Shofar. In such circumstances, listening through a telephone, etc. is invalid, since the sound which is heard is merely that of vibrating metal, which mimics the actual sound.
Sometimes, however, it is not necessary to hear the actual sound. Now, for example, the main thing is not hearing a voice -- rather, it is that a person should think about the words he has heard, and take them seriously to the extent that he acts upon them. Since everyone hears these words simultaneously, we are all unified even though we are separated by great distances.
This unity helps intensify G-d's blessings, beginning with the writing and inscription for a good year, including the most important blessing, the arrival of Moshiach.
Erev Rosh Hashanah marks the birthday of the Tzemach Tzedek, in the year 5549 (1789). On a person's birthday, the Talmud tells us, "his mazal rules," having its effect even down here in the physical world.
Furthermore, just as Rosh Hashanah marks the world's creation, so too a birthday serves as the person's personal Rosh Hashanah. Therefore, just as on Rosh Hashanah, a new revelation, never before revealed, descends to the world; an individual has a similar revelation on his birthday.
Since a tzaddik's life is one of Torah, the main theme of his life can be discovered by examining his Torah. Similarly, one must examine his actions as leader of the Jewish people. The Baal Shem Tov went so far as to explain that a Nassi must set aside his Torah study for the sake of communal good.
The Previous Rebbe once told a story along this line. The Tzemach Tzedek once complained to his son, the Rebbe Maharash, of the necessity of him having to devote such large chunks of time to helping people with their personal problems, granting personal interviews, etc.
The Rebbe Maharash responded by pointing to the bookcase which held the Tzemach Tzedek's writings in Chassidus and Niglah, whereupon he asked, "If not for your devotion to the needs of others, would you have merited all of this?!" The Tzemach Tzedek agreed, acknowledging that his communal activities yielded a tremendous blessing in his Torah study.
Part of this blessing was his ability to unify all areas of the Torah, from practical Halachah to the deepest secrets of the Torah.
We also see the theme of unity in his explanation of the statement, "They make him [i.e. the soul, before it is born] swear to be a tzaddik." This quote has a special connection with today, since this statement, together with the rest of the first three chapters of Tanya, was taught by the Alter Rebbe on the day of the Tzemach Tzedek's birth.
In Hebrew, the word "to swear" (mashbi'in) can also be read "to fill up" or "to supply" (masbi'in). In this context, it refers to the special abilities the soul receives which enable it to fulfill its sacred function down here on earth.
Although not every Jew can become a tzaddik (as explained in Tanya), all can equally reach the level of perfection when it comes to action. So too, the pure, untainted faith of a Jew is present equally in all Jews, regardless of their level of knowledge, etc. Even should we be unable to see it openly or sense it, this pure faith is present nevertheless.
Aside from this aspect of unity in the Tzemach Tzedek's Torah, we also find this theme in his communal activities. The Tzemach Tzedek achieved unity among all groups of Jews, even those who were opponents in previous generations. This was true to the extent that he even enlisted members of the maskilim to help combat the Russian government's attempts to harm Judaism.
His efforts have cleared the path for us to follow -- just as one takes the stones out of the road, so too we can remove the obstacle of our "hearts of stone" -- in order to attain true ahavas Yisroel and achdus Yisroel.
This theme of Jewish unity also finds expression in the weekly Torah portion, Ha'azinu. This parshah is the only one which was said entirely in the presence of every single Jew, from "the heads of your tribes" to "the wood-choppers."
The importance of unity among all categories of Jews must be thoroughly explained to each individual. The Torah scholar must actually feel how he is unified with even the "lowest" Jew, since we are all part of one unit.
Furthermore, as the Alter Rebbe explains, each limb has an advantage over every other limb -- the head is better when it comes to thinking, but for walking, the foot is obviously better. So too regarding the Jewish people; each person has a unique quality possessed by no one else.
At the beginning of the parshah, Moshe commands the heavens and the earth to listen to his speech. This shows the control a Jew has over the entire universe, and since we all read this verse from the Torah, we all have this capability as well.
This ability was openly exhibited by the Tzemach Tzedek, who, on Rosh Hashanah would, "arrange things in Petersburg," (the Russian capitol) as the Previous Rebbe related. Rosh Hashanah is a particularly auspicious time for this, since it is the day in which things are "arranged" for the entire world, including the non-Jewish nations.
May this revelation of G-d's majesty and rulership on Rosh Hashanah be brought to its perfection with the arrival of Moshiach. This is also connected with the coming year, 5744, since there is already a "tumult" -- since acronyms have been found for the previous two years, what will be with this coming year?! When written in the customary order (tof, shin, dalet, mem), the letters stand for t'hei shnas divrei Moshiach -- "May it be a year of the words of Moshiach," as we learn Torah from him directly, speedily in our days.
By Divine Providence, a newly printed volume of Or HaTorah (Maamorei Razal and Inyanim) from the Tzemach Tzedek just arrived this evening. Since, as the Baal Shem Tov explained, everything happens by Divine Providence, it is appropriate to examine a segment of this book.
The beginning of the book quotes a statement in Berachos (9b) to the effect that King David, in composing the Book of Psalms, "began a favorite section with [the word] ashrei and concluded with [the word] ashrei." This refers to the beginning of Psalms, the first of which begins, ashrei ha'ish ("fortunate is the man"). The second Psalm concludes, ashrei kol chosei vo ("fortunate are all who trust in Him").
We therefore see, as Rashi explains, that both of these Psalms together are considered as one. This stresses once more the idea of unity.
The Tzemach Tzedek explains that the word ashrei corresponds to kesser. For this reason this Psalm is written as two, because there are two levels in kesser, atik yomin and arich anpin.
Another new book also just arrived -- the fifth volume of the Previous Rebbe's letters. The first letter was written under the Nazi regime, and therefore had to be written: 1) in German, and 2) in a way that the censor could be avoided.
He writes, "At the present time I have no place to live, and I am staying with friends -- the entire family together in one room. Therefore, I have place for the books which Agudas Chabad lent me...I would be happy if Agudas Chabad would take them back." His intention was that they should endeavor to save the library, together with his entire family.
The first lesson to be derived from this letter is from the fact that the entire family was in one room -- clearly pointing to the idea of unity. Even the words, "Agudas Chabad" point to this, since "Agudah" indicates that many have joined together. So too, "Chabad" indicates the study of Chassidus in such a way that it penetrates the person's being, forming a powerful unity between him and G-d.
As the Previous Rebbe explained, each of the Rebbes had his unique aspect. The Alter Rebbe corresponded to chochmah, and the Mitteler Rebbe to binah. The Tzemach Tzedek was daas, and just as daas includes all of the six middos, so too he had six sons.
Since today is the birthday of the third Rebbe, it is appropriate to complete the "three pillars" of Torah (which we have learned previously), prayer (as we shall sing a request for the rebuilding of the Temple), and charity (through the distribution of dollars).
It is also an opportune time to add on to the suggestion made on Shabbos Nitzavim-Vayeilech, i.e. to pledge sums of money to charity. It is proper that this pledge be made bli neder (without constituting a vow). This will apply to both extremes -- that he not be bound to give the entire amount, and that he not be bound to give only that amount and not more.
25th Day Of Elul, 5743