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(The Rebbe Shlita began by reciting the Priestly Blessing and the following verse. He then said:) There are two interpretations of the concluding phrase mentioned above, "And I will bless them":

1. That it refers to the priests. According to the principle, "I will bless they who bless you," because the priests bless the Jews, G-d will convey a blessing to the priests.

2. It is a blessing for the Jewish people as a whole as reflected by the previous phrase, "And they shall convey My Name upon the children of Israel."

There is a point of connection between these blessings and every member of the Jewish people, man, woman, or child. For as the Rambam writes, the spiritual qualities of the priests and the tribe of Levi are not exclusive and are within the grasp of every Jew who decides to separate himself from the vanities of this world and make G-d -- and thus His Torah -- his portion. Surely, this applies to Yeshivah students, for "Torah is their livelihood." In particular, it applies to those who study in Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim, the Yeshivah for which the Previous Rebbe[62] was the first director. He set the basis for the functioning of the yeshivah, has directed it until the present day and indeed, will continue to direct it forever.

"Holiness never departs from its place." On the contrary, it continually increases and proceeds further. As such "he (the Previous Rebbe) gave -- and is giving -- his bread to the poor" -- those who are involved with the service of bittul, "my soul will be as dust to all." And the Previous Rebbe gives them "his bread," his influence both material and spiritual (which became assimilated into his being as bread does), to bring about great success in the study of Nigleh (the revealed dimension of Torah law), the study of P'nimiyus HaTorah (Torah's mystic dimension), and in the fusion of the two studies as one. This is reflected in the name Tomchei Temimim which relates to the description of the Torah as "perfect" (Temimah). Nevertheless, there are some who have a greater portion in the study of Nigleh, while others have a greater portion in the study of P'nimiyus HaTorah.

"Those with a good eye will be blessed." All those who study in Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim possess "a good eye" and therefore they receive all the blessings necessary for themselves and all the blessings necessary for them to continue as possessing a "good eye" in their relations with others.

May each one[63] of you together with the entire Jewish people be blessed with a healthy body and a healthy soul. May it be revealed within the body how the soul is a part of G-d from Above. For as the Baal Shem Tov taught, each entity in the world shares a connection with G-d's essence. May you be blessed from the source of blessing, the Previous Rebbe and indeed, from the ultimate source, G-d's essence.

May G-d's essence be drawn down (the extended meaning of the word yivurach, "blessed" as explained in Chassidus) to all the matters of our generation and to all the people in our generation.[64] And these blessings will be expressed in our material world, and in a revealed manner, establishing an all-encompassing unity with G-d's essence.

Herein, there is a connection to Yom Kippur which is described as achas bashanah, "once a year," i.e., oneness in the dimension of time. Expressing this oneness are the Jewish people, "one nation in the world." And this oneness will be revealed in the world and in the Torah. The latter is of primary importance, for it is through the Torah that the world was created. And it will be revealed how not only "Is there nothing else... apart from G-d," but rather, that there is simply "nothing else" at all.

And the entire Jewish people will be blessed in a manner of Atem Nitzavim, "you are standing in judgment," which Chassidus interprets to standing with the strength of a king. For each Jew, by virtue of his study of the Torah is a king as our Sages declared, "Who are our kings? Our Rabbis." And this will be drawn down (as the verse continues) lifneichem, "to your inner dimensions" so that Havayah will be Elokeichem, i.e., it will be revealed how "your strength and your vitality" is Havayah, G-d's transcendent dimension.[65]

May the mission -- with which you as students of Torah are charged -- be fulfilled and may you serve as channels of blessing for your household, to all those with whom you share a connection, and to all who support them.[66]

May you and the entire Jewish people receive the threefold blessing with which the Patriarchs were blessed bakol mikol kol. As mentioned, these words are numerically equivalent to the word kabetz ("gather in"). May this be a year of true redemption when the exiles will be gathered in. For G-d will "sound the great shofar for our freedom," and in this "the year of wonders in all things," we will proceed together with the entire Jewish people to our Holy Land, to Jerusalem, and to the Beis HaMikdash. May this take place in the immediate future.

   

Notes:

62. (Back to text) The Previous Rebbe was also the only son of the Rebbe Rashab and his successor.

63. (Back to text) The importance of every individual is reflected in our Sages' statement, "Every person is obligated to say, 'The world was created for me.' "

64. (Back to text) This particularly applies to those described as men, Adam, a name associated with the phrase Adamah l'Elyon, "I resemble the One Above."

65. (Back to text) This relates to Shabbos Shuvah and the Haftorah which begins, "Return, Israel to Havayah Elokecha." [See the sichah to the members of the Machne Israel Development Fund.] From the Shabbos, all the days of the coming week are blessed.

66. (Back to text) On the verse "those who support it are happy," our Sages noted the connection between the Hebrew for happy (ÿÖàÇ) and wealth (ÿÖàÆ) and explained that those who support Torah scholars will be blessed with wealth.