Dear Readers..

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Dear Readers,

L’shana haba’a b’yerushalayim – next year in Jerusalem!

Every year Jews in every corner of the world announce this wish at the end of the seder. In fact, we’ve been doing so for the past two thousand years.

Picture a yid in Spain in the time of the Inquisition, a yid in the time of the pogroms, or a yid in one of the ghettos saying these words and fervently praying and hoping that maybe, just maybe, next year in Jerusalem.

Where does this faith come from?

Truth is, it’s the same now. In a general sense we have been successful both materially and spiritually. Things are pretty good. In fact, in a few weeks we will celebrate the miracles of the Six Day War, the liberation of the Western Wall, and we can even hop on a plane to see Jerusalem for real!

So why do we feel this isn’t the real deal and still say these words yearning for the Messianic times? Why aren’t we satisfied with the great developments taking place all around us, as if we’re not complete while in golus?

The answer lies with the soul. The Jewish soul will not rest and is not at peace till its G-dly spirit is tangible and can be seen. It’s this uneasiness which keeps us ultimately dissatisfied with the status quo. In our minds we might find this or that reason, but at the core we’re unsettled because we’re not at peace with our current reality.

True freedom is when the soul can be its natural self.

Recognizing this saves us the time looking for temporary fixes to cover this emptiness. It also empowers us with the energy needed to infuse our physical lives with G-dliness through learning Torah, doing mitzvos and many acts of goodness and kindness.

This week Friday, Yud Aleph Nissan, is the 115th anniversary of the birth of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, the outspoken Jewish leader on the need for the geulah shleimah, the ultimate redemption. He was a catalyst for the previous century’s worldwide baal teshuvah movement, viewing it as the fulfillment of Maimonides’ halachic ruling that the yidden would do teshuvah right before the geulah and implored each and every Jew to view their very next deed as the one tipping the scales for good.

May we be the ones who finally experience the dream of our parents and grandparents going all the way back to the beginning of time; (by) next year, we should all be in Jerusalem!

Wishing you a wonderful Shabbos Hagadol and Chag Hapesach kasher v’sameach,

Shalom