Living Torah Archives

Just days before his passing on the tenth of Shevat in 1950, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson, the Rebbe’s father-in-law and predecessor, published a discourse titled “Basi L’gani”. The discourse expounds on many ideas from the Torah that highlight the importance of making this world a dwelling place for the Divine Presence of the Almighty.

According to the statement of the Midrash, G-d created the world because he desired to have a “dwelling in the lower realms.” Yet a verse in Song of Songs refers to G-d’s world as His garden. A deeper look at the descriptions “dwelling” and “garden” provide an insight into the very nature and purpose of creation.

The Previous Rebbe wrote a discourse that served as his last teaching. Its title quotes the verse where G-d says, “I have come to My garden, My abode.” By choosing those powerful words, the Rebbe taught his generation and future generations, that beneath all its outer appearances, this world is G-d’s own garden and dwelling place. No matter how strong the urge to give in to cynicism or despair, no matter how bad things may appear, this teaching shows and empowers us to search out and reveal the essential goodness and G-dliness of the entire creation.