Metzora: 5784 - His luck prevails: Rabbi Shimon Zonnenfeld dedicated this week's 'Weekly Insight' to 11 Nissan and its influence on each and every one. At the conclusion, he gave a blessing to his father-in-law, the Rabbi, Harav Yehuda Leib…

00:01 Speaker 1 Today is a special day, a special date: 11 Nissan, the Rebbe’s birthday. One hundred and twenty-two years ago, the Rebbe’s great soul descended into this world, in the city of Nikolayev. We know that on a person’s birthday, his mazel is stronger. And when we are speaking about a soul that belongs to the entire Jewish people, about a leader, then the mazel of everyone connected to him is stronger too. That is something eternal, without limitations. It doesn’t matter how much time has passed; there is no statute of limitations on it. It is something real and eternal that remains. We learn this from Purim. We know that when Haman was looking for the most opportune time to carry out what he planned to do, he cast lots, and the lot fell on the month of Adar. The Midrash says he was overjoyed, because he was certain this was a bad time for the Jewish people. Why? Because in that month, their leader, Moshe Rabbeinu, had passed away—even though many, many years had already gone by. So he was overjoyed. But he didn’t know that Moshe Rabbeinu had also been born in that month, and therefore his mazel was stronger. And that is indeed what happened: afterward, everything was turned around. In the same way, on the birthday of the leader of the generation, the Rebbe, even though so many years have passed, the birthday is something eternal, something real that continues to exist, and therefore his mazel is stronger. What does it mean that his mazel is stronger? It means this is an especially auspicious day, a day that gives strength to everyone who follows his ways and his path. They receive special strength. A resolution made on a birthday carries much, much more weight. And it was the Rebbe who publicized and brought out the significance of birthdays. People already knew about birthdays, of course, but the Rebbe made it a campaign—the birthday campaign—that for

02:18 Speaker 1 every person, every Jew, the day they were born is a day when their mazel is stronger. The Rebbe gave various customs and practices to follow on one’s birthday. That applies to every individual; how much more so when we are speaking about the leader of the Jewish people. And I think one can say that since the creation of the world, there has never yet been a Jewish leader who did so much for the Jewish people, bringing Jewish souls back to their Father in Heaven. Through his shluchim, he brought merit to so many Jews during the years he was here in this world—and not only then, but now as well. His work continues with even greater strength and vigor. Everything the Rebbe set in motion—there has never been anything like it in history. So many Jews. There is no Jew in the world whom the Rebbe has not touched, wherever they may be, and there are thousands upon thousands of stories. How many Jews were helped by the Rebbe? How many Jews were brought closer to Judaism through the Rebbe? There has never been anything like it in history. And so, when a date like 11 Nissan arrives, the Rebbe’s birthday, it gives strength to each and every person. Every person in our generation can connect to the Rebbe and has the strength, a special strength, to do so by learning his teachings, following his ways, and doing everything the Rebbe asked of us—above all, his heartfelt request to bring the days of Moshiach. Everything the Rebbe did was to bring the days of Moshiach, so that the future Geulah would come very soon. Every single thing the Rebbe did was to bring it about in actual reality. So surely, surely it will happen, and very soon. We don’t know why it hasn’t happened yet. And while I have the opportunity, I also want

04:35 Speaker 1 to mention and send my blessings to my father-in-law, may he be well, whose birthday is also on 11 Nissan. He was among the first shluchim the Rebbe sent, to California. So today is his birthday too. May he be well for many long years, to 120. He has turned ninety-six.

04:56 Speaker 2 To 120.

04:58 Speaker 1 To 120. May he be healthy and live a long life in good health.

05:00 Speaker 2 Amen.

05:03 Speaker 1 And with Hashem’s help, may Hakadosh Boruch Hu help all the wounded, all the hostages, and all the soldiers protecting the Jewish people and Eretz Yisroel. And may all the Jewish people have a kosher and joyous holiday.