22. Behar-Bechukosai 5780: The Gates Have Opened -Understanding Lag B'Omer

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/avrohom.lipszyc/videos/10158053136858257/ SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/hachaim/21-behar-bechukosai-5780-the-gates-have-opened-understanding-lag-bomer Written: https://www.dropbox.com/s/raotuymq6t5sve1/22.%20behar-bechukosai%205780%20-the%20gates%20have%20opened%20-understanding%20lag%20bomer.pdf?dl=0 YouTube https://youtu.be/an34jzopGVU --- A regular struggle that some of us have, when we hear about the stories of the righteous and saintly of old, is the simple fact of, “But, I Am Not a Tzadik…” So, what can this story teach someone like me?! This becomes especially so, when we speak of the supranatural performed by the saintly and the righteous. Their powers to do so, through prayer and through Torah-study, is due to their transparency in their desires, will, intellect, emotions, thought, speech and action, to their will and paradigm that G-d has given us through His holy Torah, and through our connection with Him in prayer. The negation of self to G-d, is what allows these great giants to embody the spirituality and divinity within the Torah, to create these miracles. As our sages teach (-Talmud, Sotah 12a; Jerusalem Talmud, Chapter 3, Law 10) upon the verse in Job (-22:28), “You will make a decision, and it will be accomplished for you,” that, “The righteous decrees and G-d fulfils,” and that, “G-d decrees and the righteous nullify.” Meaning, that even if G-d has decreed upon someone illness or suffering, the righteous can nullify G-d’s decree. The average person does not reach this level of humility, self-negation and transparency, through which he or her can become a conduit for G-d’s miraculous powers. Thus, what can these stories be telling us? Some would suffice with saying that the point of teaching us these stories are to teach us the importance of having a faith in the saintly and the righteous, as the verse states (-Exodus 14:38), “And they believed in G-d and in Moses, His servant.” However, the Rebbe takes this yet a step further, as I so often heard the Rebbe say, “Who is this, and which is he, who would have the brazenness of heart to compare himself to these righteous upon who the world is founded?! And yet, nevertheless, it is our obligation to take but at least a piece of this and to incorporate this into our lives, as well.” And thus, we must accept that we are capable, and obligated, to stand upon the shoulders of these giants, and to follow in their footsteps. But, how?! This lecture is based primarily on a maamor the Rebbe delivered exploring what Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai created for each and every one of us, from the righteous, to the average, and for the even way less than average. -- Rabbi Avrohom Lipszyc The Jewish Center - Chabad of North MiamiThe Jewish Mind 12550 Biscayne Boulevard - Suite 310 North Miami, FL 33181 Tel: 305.892.1234 Email: [email protected]