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Today, the day of the Previous Rebbe's wedding, is relevant to every person in the generation. Its importance receives special emphasis this year when the date falls on a Wednesday, bringing to mind our Sages' teaching: "A maiden marries on Wednesday."

This teaching has a further allusion to the dynamics of the wedding bond. The Hebrew for this phrase, ìàëî ÜÇÖÉ äîàÜü

ëÆëüÿä, serves as an acronym for the word äÉüî, "moon." Wednesday is the day when the moon and the sun were created. These two celestial bodies are examples of the interrelation between a mashpia (a source of influence, i.e., the groom) and a mekabel (a recipient, the bride).

Wednesday leads to Thursday, the day on which the blessing "to be fruitful and multiply" was given to the fish. Afterwards, Friday was distinguished by the creation of man. It was also the day of Adam's wedding[229] (and to him, was given the full measure of the blessings for fruitfulness). This is related to every wedding as emphasized by the wedding blessing, "Grant abundant joy to these loving friends, as You bestowed gladness upon Your created being in the Garden of Eden."

The wedding blessings also include references to the Messianic redemption, containing the prayer, "Soon the L-rd, our G-d, will make heard in the cities of Judah and the outskirts of Jerusalem the voice of...," a prayer which will be fulfilled in the Messianic redemption. That redemption will represent the consummation of the marriage bond[230] between G-d and the Jewish people that was established at the giving of the Torah.[231]

This can be associated with the weekly Torah portion which mentions the mitzvah of Bikkurim (the first fruits). In connection with this mitzvah, the Torah teaches, "And you shall take from the first of all the produce of the earth." Our Sages explain that we must take "from the first," but not all the first. We give the first fruits, the choicest portion of our produce to the priests as Bikkurim. This produce becomes consecrated. Indeed, from a certain dimension, the rules governing it are more severe than those governing other consecrated property.

Metaphorically, the concept can be explained as follows: G-d grants abundant blessings to the Jews.[232] The Jew must take the "first fruits," the choicest portion, of every aspect and consecrate it to G-d. This must be expressed in every aspect of our daily life and using every one of our potentials.[233]

This will bring about great blessings as the conclusion of this passage states: "Look down from Your holy habitation... and bless Your people, Israel" a reference to the ultimate blessings. Generally, the verb äöëùÖä -- "Look down" -- has negative connotations. In this instance, however, it refers to apparent, revealed good. Though everything given from G-d is good, there have been times when it has been necessary for a sage to explain the positive connotation in statements (or events) which on the surface appear negative. Here, however, we are speaking of open and revealed good for which all explanation would be superfluous.[234]

The above can be connected with the distribution of money to be given to tzedakah. [This is also connected with a wedding. One of the customs -- which is spreading and becoming accepted throughout the Jewish community -- is that a bride and groom give generously to tzedakah on the day of their wedding.]

This will hasten the coming of the Messianic redemption, which will represent the wedding of the Jews with G-d. May it come now on Wednesday[235] as appropriate for the Jews have remained -- despite the many trials of exile -- a maiden, pure and holy, waiting for their marriage with G-d. May all this come with great happiness as fitting for a wedding.[236]

This will serve as a preparation for the year É"ÖÜ, a year of miracles, and also a year when Rosh HaShanah falls on Shabbos. May Mashiach come now and then, we will merit the sounding of the shofar on Rosh HaShanah in the Beis HaMikdash even on the Shabbos. This is possible because of Mashiach's coming, when the Shofar of our Freedom will be sounded.

   

Notes:

229. (Back to text) On Friday, G-d also made woman. Her creation was significantly different from that of all the other created beings (including man). G-d brought everything else into existence through speech, declaring "Let there be..." When He created woman, He "built" Adam's rib, i.e., involved Himself in her creation. Significantly, we find the term binyan, "building," used in reference to marriage, which is described as "an eternal structure."

230. (Back to text) There is also a connection to Friday the sixth day of the week. The Torah was given on the sixth of Sivan. Thus, our Sages explain that the verse, "And the heavens and the earth were completed on the sixth day," also alludes to the day the Torah was given.

231. (Back to text) This also relates to the month of Elul. One of the verses which serves as an acronym for the month of Elul is ëî ëâàâà ëâàâî ëÉÇ -- "I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine" -- taken from the Song of Songs which alludes to the love relationship between G-d and the Jewish people. Significantly, this verse describes a phase in this relationship when the first step is taken by the Jews.

232. (Back to text) The connection of this service to the Jews is further emphasized by the fact that the Jewish people as a whole are referred to as the first fruits of the world.

233. (Back to text) This is reflected in the offering of the Bikkurim which involved not only the deed of bringing the Bikkurim, but also reading a declaration, i.e., an activity using the power of speech.

234. (Back to text) This is particularly true at present when all that is necessary is, to quote the Previous Rebbe, to "Stand prepared to greet Mashiach."

235. (Back to text) The date, the 13th of the month is also significant. 13 is the numerical equivalent of the word âçÇ meaning "one." This refers to the oneness of G-d, the oneness of Torah, and the oneness of the Jewish people.

236. (Back to text) Note also the series of discourses "Samach Tisamach" which was recited by the Rebbe Rashab in connection with the Previous Rebbe's wedding and which describes the quality of happiness.