Mandate Unmasked

As impossible as it sounds, as absurd as it may seem: The mandate of darkness is to become light; the mandate of a busy, messy world is to find oneness.

We have proof: for the greater the darkness becomes and the greater the confusion of life, the deeper our souls reach inward to discover their own essence-core.

How could it be that darkness leads us to find a deeper light? That confusion leads us to find a deeper truth?

Only because the very act of existence was set from its beginning to know its own Author.

As it says, “In the beginning . . . G‑d said, ‘It shall become light!’”

Maamar V’nachah Alav 5725; Likkutei Sichot, vol. 10, pp. 7ff

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By Tzvi Freeman

From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. Subscribe and get your dose daily. To order Rabbi Freeman’s latest book, Wisdom to Heal the Earth, click here.

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By Tzvi Freeman

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Wisdom to Heal the Earth is a revolutionary new look at Tikun Olam based on the teachings of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory.

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20 Comments

Robert June 6, 2024

And flowers grow forth from dirt, it is the same. Reply

max November 9, 2023

"It shall become light!"... wow. so appreciate that take. yes Reply

M. Diane August 23, 2017

And, let us not allow fear to prevent the negative/intentionally wrong-doers of us to bond with the positive/G-d fearing of us. Those seemingly polar aspects should feel a pull to draw near to each other which attraction feels stronger the closer to each other they become. G-d has used this same design in other of His natural applications. Why do we assume negatives would all clump together and stay in their own group and that positives should do the same? When Providence provides an undeniable opportunity, let us encourage bonding between these differently charged entities. There must be benefit for each and the world. Our Creator is Awesome. We must reach out to each other with true abiding love and refrain from judgment of another until we are sufficiently studied, authorized and asked to render one. Reply

Brenda Toronto, Canada August 24, 2017

in response to M. Diane:

"Bonding between Different Entities" M. DIanne, you express he most important goal for humanity - that we should all rise above our differences and connect in love of others.

The Kabbalists determined the conditions in order to rise above our differences, our self-interests and self-benefits in order to bond with others:
Since G_d represents the collective, we always make our request to bond with others in a group.
Since a prisoner cannot free himself, each asks for the others to be free of their egoistic nature,
then G_d passes His Light of connection through you to the others while you receive this gift too.
This force of connection yields the sensation of G_d's presence between us. We reveal His positive force of connection instead of our natural egoistic force of separation.
Gradually this positive energy flows to all humanity so hopefully we can eliminate the path of deterioration upon which humanity is accelerating. Reply

M. Diane August 25, 2017

in response to Brenda:

You are kind to take time (especially on a Friday, late afternoon) to write and post this encouraging message. Over Shabbos, I will have time to re-read and think about what you wrote. Thank you very much, and may G-d bless you for sharing your learning and insights here with all of us. Reply

Jesajah Vorst Winnipeg, Canada November 1, 2017

in response to Brenda:

Humanity is forever (even if some lacks some human action B"H"
I agree that the positive energy is there. But it is not only for us as Jews. It is all of humanity's moral obligation to love our neighbour like the neighbour would love us: Weahafta lerayacha kamocha.. Reply

Brenda Toronto, Canada August 30, 2017

in response to M. Diane:

The world is at a critical turning point. It is our mandate to help it change in a pleasant way. Hurricanes are mild awakenings to force people to unite, on higher levels of nature (vegetative level) we can expect epidemics, then on the animate level we get nuclear war. These are all expressions of the eruption of the ego.
If you read my comment in Daily Dose: "Cutting Off The Supply", I clarify the order of how the Light of good connections between us, spreads to all humanity so that we will be rewarded that special force to help others and relate in harmony to each other.

Thank you for enabling me to share with you in the limited space and topic focus required. Reply

M. Diane November 12, 2023

in response to Brenda:

Baruch Hashem

Dear Brenda...
I pray you are well.
I miss your postings.
You said the world is at the turning point
and it certainly is!
in 2017 you mentioned epidemics and we had a MAJOR one
you also mentioned war and we now have a horrible one just starting
G-d help us
G-d send the Messiah now!
Brenda. please take care and let us hear from you
Shalom Reply

Barrett Goldflies Chicago January 13, 2017

This has become one of my core philosophies and find myself thinking, "Even in the blackest night, an ocean of stars bursts forth." Thank you for this new world view! Reply

Mark Anthony M Delos Santos CEBU CITY August 15, 2016

the Ulitmate Light Thank you Rab. for waking up my day. You can only appreciate light when it shines in darkness.. Reply

EZRA HOUSE New York August 15, 2016

A short poem related to converting darkness to light -

Aware of Imperfection
is
Perfection of Aware Reply

RW USA August 14, 2016

This is a very refreshing view!

Thank you....! Reply

Brenda Toronto, Canada August 14, 2016

Mandate Decoded Light is G_d's love that binds us together.

To the extent we become absorbed within our self-interests, we disconnect from each other and we lose that Light between us.
This loss is manifest in hideous forms of terror, wars, indifference...

Finally these sick sensations will force us to implement the method of the Kabbalists to attach all humanity together so that we will be a "Light unto the nations of the world". This is our mandate! Reply

Shlmel West Palm Beach, FL August 14, 2016

Mandate Unmasked Darkness & confusion are not the same thing. I take this letter by my beloved Rabbi M. M. Schneerson to be (2) different letters written on the same paper. Darkness never had a mandate to become light. If it did, then the days of the week would not have had contrasting heavenly orders to identify how to count days. There is no disorder or confusion in Darkness. It is one of the first obedient forms that G_d commanded instructions. Darkness' major characteristic even before light has an existent name is orderliness. G_d never commanded Darkness to form or make light. He commanded Darkness~ thus the second letter within this letter, confusion.
This word has more to do with people being mindful that there are social-economic issues within our neighborhoods that seem to match our Jewish way but do not line up with what is most important, Child bearing & Child rearing instead of "PlannedParenthood clinics" being used as a convenient career growth answer. Reply

michele usa July 30, 2015

My Interpertion The Wonders of Torah Within

As I realize and discern visually the state of the world @large, within my set apart life, I realize that darkness is crouching at my door. Oh yeah, and denial is not an option....I understand that it is for this very purpose and time that the sons and daughters of G-d will be made known. Torah within us is indeed the light of the world.

I will look darkness in the eye, and decree "Let there be light, G-d is One." Reply

Anonymous Forest Hills, NY/USA July 26, 2011

Let there be light In relating to what we go through special three weeks and the mourning in Borough Park, thank you I find your writing relevant. Some people get mad at the L-rd, some people get mad at all people the good, the bad, the innocent, the guilty, mainly they say they can not make any sense at all. I do not immediately see any sense mourning the destruction of the temple ages ago either, but thank you, in reading different articles, and reflecting on my own personhood, I am glad we still keep on talking, that the voice of the L-rd still sounding let there be light, let darkness hide, let love rise, let hate die and He is the Eternal Life. Amen. Reply

Berel Yehud, Israel July 26, 2011

I don't get it. I don't think that just because a person is very confused in life that they look inward, and eventually infer some deeper truth from their own depths.

On the other hand "pain made man think." Just look at how deep Shoah philosophers like Primo Levi or Victor Frankell are. So if the darkness engenders pain then I agree. But if a person in just lost in a complicated and changing world, then I don't agree. Reply

Anonymous istanbul July 26, 2011

Tears from this corner. Reply

Anonymous Marietta, GA July 26, 2011

Darkness to Light This is just the best. Gives so much meaning, purpose to all the struggle. Printed it and carrying it with me to share with others all day. Thank you soooo much. Reply

Michelle UK July 25, 2011

thankyou! this is the message today that helped me smile. G-d bless you for this website and the service of all those who add to it's treasures by sharing what they too brought out into the World

this to me is a message that the whole world wide community or Family of Man can relate to

salam Reply

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