* Translated by Janine Muller Sherr
Today marks the 31st yahrzeit of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Dr. Yehiel Harari helped me formulate a message for this special day:
"The Rebbe would repeat over and over: A person cannot find inner peace until he discovers his life’s mission. In fact, he will be beset by inner turmoil until he not only understands his mission but can actualize it.
Mission, meaning, direction, purpose - those words encapsulated the essence of his message. We need to understand for what purpose the world and each one of us was created; why there is pain, exile, and suffering, and in which direction the world is heading, what is the hopeful outcome?
The Rebbe explained that our mission is to perfect the world and bring about redemption. And he provided us with the practical tools for achieving this lofty goal: by observing Torah and mitzvot and becoming better parents, better partners, and of course, better Jews, while also devoting ourselves to helping others.
The Rebbe asked us to seek out God in every moment of our lives - not only in the tunnels of Hamas in Gaza or on the night when Israel and the U.S. destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities, but to feel that God is with us at all times, wherever we are.
This is true not only in our private lives, but on the national level as well. Each individual must fulfill his or her calling - but so must the Jewish people. We have witnessed this clearly in recent days: When the Jewish people embrace their identity and recognize their mission - reality changes for the better.
Today, On Gimmel (the third of) Tammuz, let us reflect on our purpose and rededicate ourselves to the fulfillment of our mission".
