18. Tetzaveh 5780: Which Came First, The Olive Or The Oil?

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/avrohom.lipszyc/videos/10157811459948257/ SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/hachaim/18-tetzaveh-5780-which-came-first-the-olive-or-the-oil Written: https://www.dropbox.com/s/79h4smyftg3e1gp/18.%20tetzaveh%205780%20-which%20came%20first%20the%20olive%20or%20the%20oil.pdf?dl=0 YouTube: https://youtu.be/oMIhn3xpZVY --- When we pull back from sharing and engaging, one of two things can be happening: (a) We are self-sabotaging, pushing others away, and denying ourselves our calling, or, (b) We have turned inwards, digging deeper within ourselves, searching for more to share, and more to evolve into. The two have the same outwardly appearance, of pulling back, withholding and isolating, and nevertheless, they are in essence polar opposites. One is taking us into deeper growth and greater engagements with others, while the other is robbing us and others of who we are, and why we are here on earth. How are we to know what truly drives us in holding back and isolating? The obvious answer is to sit and wait to see what it leads us to, greater engagement or greater isolation. The deeper was of knowing is to be able to hear where the isolation and withholding is coming from, our Ego Animalistic Soul or from our Selfless G-dly Soul. And thus, is the olive developing and bringing us the oil, or is the olive holding back the oil, and needs to be crushed in order to get it out of the way of the oil. This lecture is based primarily on a maamor the Rebbe delivered on this Shabbat, in 1965, exploring the opening commandment of our Torah-portion, “And you shall command the children of Israel, and they shall take to you pure olive oil, crushed for lighting, to kindle the lamps continually.”