When my wife was about to give birth to our second child, I called one of my congregants, by the name of Mitch. I said, "Mitch, it's Thursday night. Can you come over and babysit? My oldest son will sleep, just stay here in the house.”
He came over Thursday night. We went to the hospital with a false alarm. So Friday night, again, my wife decided now was the night to have the baby.
I ran over to Mitch's house. However, being that it was Saturday, I don't turn on the light or ring a doorbell. I was standing in the street, and I cupped my mouth together, and I said, "Mitch, get up! Mitch, get up!”
In the middle of the night, his wife gets up, opens up the window. She says, "Rabbi, what's the problem?"
I said, "I need to talk to Mitch! I need to talk to Mitch!"
She says, "Mitch, get up. The rabbi is downstairs."
Mitch says, "Buzz him in, buzz him in."
She says, "It's Shabbos. I can't buzz him in."
He says, "You're right."
He gets up, he comes to the window. He says, "Rabbi, what is it? What is it?"
I said, "Mitch, it's the real thing! It's the real thing!"
He says, "What? Mashiach is coming?"
My dear friends, the Rebbe has told us that this generation is the last generation of exile and the first generation of redemption. That is, the difference between exile and redemption is simply the letter "Aleph."
If you put the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, the Aleph, into the word "Golah," which means "exile," it becomes "Geulah," which means "redemption." By bringing the Aleph of G-d into our life, we find personal redemption.
There are three levels to the Aleph. One is: Aleph means "teacher." Number two: It means "master." And number three: it means "wondrous."
Taking G-d as the master of the universe, an eye that sees, an ear that hears, that's your first step to redemption. Number two, G-d, as a teacher, brings you to the second step of redemption. And the third step of redemption is to believe in wonders and miracles in the world around us.
Each one of us can be part of the ultimate redemption. All we need to do is take the Aleph and bring it into our life.
_____
There are more secrets and facets to the Hebrew Alphabet than just one video can cover.
As a carpenter employs tools to build a home, so G-d utilized the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew Alphabet, the alef-beis, to form heaven and earth. These letters are the metaphorical wood, stone and nails, corner posts and crossbeams of our earthly and spiritual existence. In "Letters of Light," Rabbi Aaron L. Raskin explores the essence of these holy letters, illustrating how they continue to be a source of creation, reflection, prayer and inspiration in our everyday lives. Each letter is examined in terms of its design, gematria (numerical value), and Hebrew meaning. Rabbi Raskin's insights are guided by the rich foundations of Chasidic philosophy, particularly by the illuminations of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe. The result is a unique and insightful exposition of how the twenty-two letters of the alef-beis can provide wisdom and guidance for every aspect of our lives.
CLICK HERE to pick up your own copy of "Letters of Light!"
You can also get a free chapter about the letter Gimmel by clicking on the image below:
He came over Thursday night. We went to the hospital with a false alarm. So Friday night, again, my wife decided now was the night to have the baby.
I ran over to Mitch's house. However, being that it was Saturday, I don't turn on the light or ring a doorbell. I was standing in the street, and I cupped my mouth together, and I said, "Mitch, get up! Mitch, get up!”
In the middle of the night, his wife gets up, opens up the window. She says, "Rabbi, what's the problem?"
I said, "I need to talk to Mitch! I need to talk to Mitch!"
She says, "Mitch, get up. The rabbi is downstairs."
Mitch says, "Buzz him in, buzz him in."
She says, "It's Shabbos. I can't buzz him in."
He says, "You're right."
He gets up, he comes to the window. He says, "Rabbi, what is it? What is it?"
I said, "Mitch, it's the real thing! It's the real thing!"
He says, "What? Mashiach is coming?"
My dear friends, the Rebbe has told us that this generation is the last generation of exile and the first generation of redemption. That is, the difference between exile and redemption is simply the letter "Aleph."
If you put the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, the Aleph, into the word "Golah," which means "exile," it becomes "Geulah," which means "redemption." By bringing the Aleph of G-d into our life, we find personal redemption.
There are three levels to the Aleph. One is: Aleph means "teacher." Number two: It means "master." And number three: it means "wondrous."
Taking G-d as the master of the universe, an eye that sees, an ear that hears, that's your first step to redemption. Number two, G-d, as a teacher, brings you to the second step of redemption. And the third step of redemption is to believe in wonders and miracles in the world around us.
Each one of us can be part of the ultimate redemption. All we need to do is take the Aleph and bring it into our life.
_____
There are more secrets and facets to the Hebrew Alphabet than just one video can cover.
As a carpenter employs tools to build a home, so G-d utilized the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew Alphabet, the alef-beis, to form heaven and earth. These letters are the metaphorical wood, stone and nails, corner posts and crossbeams of our earthly and spiritual existence. In "Letters of Light," Rabbi Aaron L. Raskin explores the essence of these holy letters, illustrating how they continue to be a source of creation, reflection, prayer and inspiration in our everyday lives. Each letter is examined in terms of its design, gematria (numerical value), and Hebrew meaning. Rabbi Raskin's insights are guided by the rich foundations of Chasidic philosophy, particularly by the illuminations of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe. The result is a unique and insightful exposition of how the twenty-two letters of the alef-beis can provide wisdom and guidance for every aspect of our lives.
CLICK HERE to pick up your own copy of "Letters of Light!"
You can also get a free chapter about the letter Gimmel by clicking on the image below:
