* Translated by Janine Muller Sherr
“What is engraved upon our hearts?” asked Rav Moshe Shilat last night at an event commemorating the yahrzeit of the Lubavitcher Rebbe on the third of Tammuz.
We (in Israel) will read Parashat Chukat this week, a parasha that opens with the words: “This is chukat (the statute) of the Torah.” The word “chuka” is related to the word “chakika” which refers to something engraved deep into a rock: not ink on paper and not pencil that can be erased. When something is engraved into another object, it is absorbed into it and becomes inseparable from it.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe called on us to engrave these truths upon our hearts:
• Each and every Jew is endowed with a holy soul. Every Jew is beloved and precious to God and is called upon to live his or her Jewish life to the fullest.
• Each person is a “shaliach” (messenger) who has been sent to this world for a specific mission.
• In addition, the Rebbe taught: Redemption is not a far-off dream but a plan of action. Our world has been so confusing these past few years—beginning with Covid and continuing until the U.S. president’s “deal” this past week. But it is important to keep in mind that—behind the scenes—a divine plan is unfolding. In fact, given our current situation, redemption might be the only realistic plan…
• It all depends on us: to bring one Jew closer, or to add one more mitzvah, one more prayer, or one more smile. At any given moment, it is in our hands to point the world in a positive direction.
Today is the day to *engrave* these truths upon our hearts— not just to speak about them, but to engrave them upon our hearts—to believe in their centrality, move them forward, and bring them to fruition.
