After the passing of the Baal Shem Tov on Shavuot 1760, R. Tzvi succeeded him as leader of the Chassidic movement. Exactly one year later, R. Tzvi announced to his disciples that his father had appeared to him in a vision and instructed him to transfer the leadership to R. Dovber, the Maggid of Mezeritch.
Link: Appointed as Maggid
Once a month, as the moon waxes in the sky, we recite a special blessing called Kiddush Levanah, "the sanctification of the moon," praising the Creator for His wondrous work we call astronomy.
Kiddush Levanah is recited after nightfall, usually on Saturday night. The blessing is concluded with songs and dancing, because our nation is likened to the moon—as it waxes and wanes, so have we throughout history. When we say this blessing, we renew our trust that very soon, the light of G‑d's presence will fill all the earth and our people will be redeemed from exile.
Though Kiddush Levanah can be recited as early as three days after the moon's rebirth, the kabbalah tells us it is best to wait a full week, till the seventh of the month. Once 15 days have passed, the moon begins to wane once more and the season for saying the blessing has passed.
Links:
Kiddush Levana: Sanctification of the Moon
Brief Guide to Kiddush Levanah: Thank G‑d for the Moon!
Joseph’s brothers called him a dreamer. Jacob chided him for sharing his dreams, but took them seriously. Pharoah called Joseph, “One who knows a dream to interpret it.”
Jacob and Pharaoh were both closer to the truth. Joseph was not living in a dream. He was untangling it.
The dream is the world of human business, a mess of incongruent opposites in utter discord, seemingly void of meaning.
Joseph’s brothers retreated from the dream to the stillness of the pasture and the starry night sky. They scorned Joseph, who seemed obsessed with counting, managing, and organizing everything about him—whether in his father’s house, in Potiphar’s estate, in an Egyptian dungeon, or as viceroy of Egypt.
But in truth, Joseph stood beyond the dream.
So far beyond, he was able to envision all its disparate parts in harmony, as a patchwork of many colors in a single garment.
So far beyond, he did not need to run from the dream, because he knew it could not harm him.
So far beyond, he was capable of entering the confusion of the dream without losing his vision, rearranging its parts from within.
Today, we are all Joseph. We must rearrange the dream from within.
As you enter the dream each day, enter with divine purpose—to discover G‑d in all your ways and make this world His dwelling place.
Hold tight to the wisdom of the Torah you have learned, and to the mitzvahs you keep. They are your needle and thread to sew the many colors of humanity into a beautiful world.
Master the dream from within.