1

Shabbos Shuvah has past and there are only several moments left until Yom Kippur, the most unique day of the year. As we heard from the Previous Rebbe, each and every Jew has already received a kesivah vachasimah tovah on the first day of Rosh HaShanah. And this positive judgment has been enhanced and has continued to grow in the subsequent days, the second day of Rosh HaShanah, and the Fast of Gedaliah,[46] "a day of will." These three establish a chazakah, a sequence of three associated with permanence and strength.

This positive influence was initiated by the sequence of three days which culminated in Rosh HaShanah: the preceding Shabbos, a Shabbos associated with Selichos; Sunday, a day of oneness;[47] and Rosh HaShanah itself.

We can be assured that G-d has accepted our prayers. Indeed, as stated in the Tur, the nature of the Jewish people is that even on the day preceding Rosh HaShanah, they wear festive garments and eat a festive meal, confident that they will prevail in judgment.

And this positive influence is further enhanced by Shabbos Shuvah which is connected with the service of Shuvah Yisrael, that as the Maggid explains, a Jew's teshuvah should bring him to the awareness that Havayah, the transcendent dimension of G-dliness is Elokecha, "your strength and your vitality."

And this is drawn down throughout the year at large, making it an entire year when Havayah becomes manifest as Elokecha. And this relationship is reflected in the totality of one's experience, one's thoughts, speech, and deeds, expressing itself even in the material dimensions of one's life.

The Haftorah from the previous Shabbos continues, "And [the recitations of] our lips will compensate for [the offering of] bulls." This will lead to the offering of bulls in the Beis HaMikdash, "the Sanctuary of the L-rd established by Your hands." And those offerings will be complemented and brought to perfection by the service of the Jews, "[the recitations of] our lips."

And thus together with the service of the Levites and the Priests this service will bring about a threefold bond which draws down a dimension of permanence and eternality to the world. This in turn will be enhanced by every Jew's fulfillment of his individual mission in the world, transforming this world into a dwelling for G-d. In particular, this will be brought about by those Jews who are referred to by others as Shluchim. For as mentioned on other occasions, when the number ten, representative of an individual's ten spiritual powers, is added to the numerical equivalent of the word Shliach (çëîÖ), the sum equals the numerical equivalent of Mashiach (çëÖÄ). And Mashiach will come in the immediate future and lead us to our Holy Land with great joy.

   

Notes:

46. (Back to text) The root of the name Gedaliah is the word gadol, meaning "great," i.e., the day contributes a dimension of greatness. Furthermore, Gedaliah was "of the seed of the House of David," thus introducing a connection to David who is described as malkah meshicha, "the anointed king."

47. (Back to text) In the narrative of Creation, instead of stating "the first day," the Torah states "one day." Our Sages interpret this to mean "a day when G-d was one with His world."