Tipping the scale
We eagerly await the universal redemption. Then the world will be devoid of hate and greed, free of suffering and strife, and suffused with the wisdom and goodness of its Creator.
Maimonides said, “A single deed, a single word, even a single thought, has the power to tip the scales and bring redemption to the world.”
The nature of our world is perfect and good, our every good action is real and enduring. Every negative thing is just that – a negative phenomenon; hence the common equation of evil and good with darkness and light. Darkness is just the absence of light. Light need not combat and overpower darkness in order to displace it — where light is, darkness is not. A little light will banish a roomful of darkness.
No matter how dark the world may seem or feel, light is just a single action away. If we open our eyes to this reality, we will bring redemption to the world. Today.
From the Rabbi Lubavitcher
To learn more about the Lubavitcher Rebbe, please visit therebbe.org
Passover, the path to unity
One of the basic meanings of the Pesach festival is that it represents the birth of our people as one nation. Every individual became a part of a singular entity, Am Yisrael. As a people, our strength is that we can each maintain our distinct characters and use our unique gifts to contribute to the Jewish community as a whole.
How is unity between individuals and the collective achieved?
“Passover” signifies the miracle of G-d’s passing over the homes of the Israelites in Egypt and sparing their lives, leading to the delivery from Egyptian slavery.
Passover also has a deeper spiritual meaning: it teaches us that every individual has the capacity to leap over partitions separating Jew from Jew and individual from community until all are united and merged into the single organic entity that constitutes the Jewish nation.
G-d gives us the ability to rise above our narrow personal interests and overcome our differences for the sake of unity – so that not one soul will be lost. This unity, which derives from helping one another and intervening when necessary, will definitely expedite the final redemption.
To find out more about Passover, please visit www.passover.org
Tzedakah is not limited to gifts of money
Tzedakah, often translated as charity, is a mainstay of Jewish life. The sages teach that the world was built upon kindness. However, tzedakah goes one step further. Literally translated as “justice” or “righteousness”, tzedakah signifies that sharing what we have with others should not be considered praiseworthy or extraordinary. Rather, it is the ethical and just thing to do.
Tzedakah is not limited to gifts of money. Sharing time, expertise or even a kind smile are all forms of charity that we can do.
No matter how much you were blessed with, you can always share with others. Throwing a coin into a charity box every morning (except for Shabbat and Jewish holidays) sets the tone for the rest of the day. So make sure to make it a habit.
From the Lubavitcher Rebbe
To find out more about the Lubavitcher Rebbe please visit therebbe.org