A lion's share

This week's Torah portion states: "He crouches and lies like a lion and like a lioness; who will dare rouse him? ”  (Numbers 24:9)

    The Medrash points out that this is a reference to the time of Exile, from King Tzidkiyahu until Moshiach. That even in the time of Exile, the Jewish people are like a lion and a lionesss and there’s no boss over them. It follows that when it comes to Torah and mitzvos, the entire concept of Exile doesn’t apply. 

In order not to get accustomed or even think that the world and/or Exile can control a lion and a lioness, we are shown periodically open miracles even in the time of Exile (such as the release and liberation of the Previous Rebbe, 12-13 Tammuz). This is so that we can acknowledge that even now there’s no one except G-d. 

This is the teaching from the miracles of 12/13 Tammuz:  a Jew has to know and be aware that in any place and at all times he or she is a lion or lioness and are “bnei chorin”,  free people in matters relating to Torah and mitzvos and they are not to be concerned with limitations of time and place.

(From a sicha at a 12 Tammuz farbrengen, 5716)

The Breadline

"...remember to set aside some of it as an offering to me. ²⁰From the first batch of bread dough that you make after each new grain harvest, make a loaf of bread and offer it to me, just as you offer grain. ²¹All your descendants must follow this law and offer part of the first batch of bread dough."

Bamidbar (Numbers) 15:18-21

It’s explained in Midrash that whoever fulfills the mitzvah of (separating) challah (bread),  it’s as if they nullified idol worship! How so? A person may feel that there is a need to daily plow, sow, grow, harvest, collect, winnow, mill, etc. grain to have bread to eat. This is, in a more expanded view, a metaphor for all manner of sustenance.  Seemingly, a person may claim that it’s their merit and efforts within the natural order of things that bring the daily bread and this is done by getting involved in the sowing through baking process. Comes along the mitzvah of challah and proclaims that “the first batch of bread dough ” is given to G-d and not as  charity  but as an obligation and as a recognition that sustenance is not due to one’s strength but it’s really G-d,  Who gives the power to succeed. And specifically through this,  we bring blessings upon our homes. By doing this mitzvah, we nullify the appearance that natural occurrences in the world are somehow extraneous  to G-d or outside of Him, i.e. not controlled by Him. I.e. we strip away that layer of reality that masquerades  as  forces outside of G-d's sovereignty. One could argue that, seemingly,  gentiles also enjoy bread (sustenance) but without the added "burden" of mitzvah of challah. Seemingly it may be so,  however, when Jews perform this commandment, they reveal and "blatantly" so,  the truth that also in "natural"  occurrences  there is “ein od milvado”, that there’s nothing except for Him only.  This concept isn’t necessarily demonstrated when we study Torah or perform mitzvahs but rather when we ‘re out in the world/field and reveal also there Emes Havayeh (the truth of G-d)

From the sichah of Sivan 26^th, 5736 (1976)