The Leap Year - Part II

00:00 Behemshech in continuation to the earlier installment regarding a leap year and its lessons. We continue now with installment number two, discussing additional talks and insights from the Rebbe on this topic. In a sicha of Shabbos Parsha Nitzovim Tov Shin Lamed Ches, late 1978, the Rebbe stated the following as it is translated here in English by Sichas in English. The Jewish calendar system, rotating on the 19-year cycle, institutes a leap year periodically to compensate for the days lost in the juxtaposition between the lunar and solar calendars, the Jewish calendar being based upon the lunar calendar. This past year, a leap year, concludes an entire 19-year cycle and effects a perfect correspondence, leaving no disparity, no extra days or moments between the two calendars. This calendar adjustment is reflected in a Yid's service to Hashem. The Bashemtev explains that everything that a Yid sees or hears should serve as a lesson for him in his service to Hashem. Particularly, the fixation of the calendar, which is a mitzvah of the Torah, and the purpose of all the mitzvahs being, I have commanded you these mitzvahs to fear Hashem, contains valuable lessons in the service of Hashem. The leap year teaches every Yid that during the leap year he can compensate for the service he has not fulfilled in previous years. Now, we go on to a sicha that the Rebbe delivered on Vov Tishrei, the sixth day of Tishrei, which was the yartzeit of the Rebbe's mother, Tov Shin Lamed Ches, late 1977. The Rebbe states that

02:21 it is explained in Sifri Musar, the Musar Haskell, the lesson of a leap year, that if in the past years one is lacking something in his service to the Creator, the Shemesh and Mogen Hashem Elitim, as it's mentioned in Tehillim, in chapter 84, for the Lord, Hashem, is a sun and a shield, the Lord bestows favor and glory. That there are a number of days which could have been filled and filled with Torah mitzvahs, and for whatever strange reason, it did not happen. So when a leap year arrives, it demonstrates for the person on the calendar that now the person has a special occasion, a special opportunity to compensate, to fill in the number of days which he did not fulfill in the previous years. And this needs to inspire the person that he should complete what he was lacking in the past years, to the extent that he will complete the number of days, as it's mentioned in the Zeyar, on the Pasuk of Avram, Zokan Baba Yomim, that Avram was elderly, and Baba Yomi came in the days. What does it mean he came in the days? That Avram brought all his days, all his life, in a manner that it was Ru'uyim Leshamam. They were appropriate. They were filled fully with a contentful format, with Torah mitzvahs, as he fulfilled it before Batun Torah. Because the inyan of Yaim, day, is as it's mentioned in the beginning of the creation, Vayikra Lekim Leir Yaim. When we speak about day, day means light.

04:41 That the days of Avram Avinu were illuminated with Ner Mitzvah v'Torah Eiv, mitzvah, which is compared to a candle, and Torah, which is compared to light. And literally, mitzvah is, serves, and is parallel to the service of a candle, and Torah is the inyan of light. Likewise, it's mentioned in the Zeyar in Parsha Vaychi, in Igeret to Yankev, that Yedei Hashem Yemei Smimim Nachalasim Le'ilam Tia. Hashem knows the days of those who are complete, and the heritage will be eternal. And as it's mentioned, the word from the Bashem Tev, as the Rebbe stated it in the Kute Sichas Chelek Dalet, volume 4, page 1193, and volume 5, page 103. The Rebbe sums up that this is basically the concept of a leap year. That then there is a special inspiration, together with an assistance that one has and receives from above to complete, that one receives and fulfills, that one receives from above, that it gives him the potential to complete everything that he was lacking in the previous years, and he does it with joy and good-hearted. We will, im yirtzeh Hashem, continue in the next installment.