TISHA B'AV

"The Time for
Your Redemption
has Arrived!"

Sunday, July 21

This day commemorates the destruction
of the Holy Temple over 1900 years ago.
We observe this period with the hope
that the Temple will be rebuilt speedily
in our days by the righteous Mashiach.

A fast day starting Shabbat evening,
July 20, 9:02 p.m. and ending
Sunday night, July 21, 9:36 p.m.

WHAT IS THE MESSIANIC ERA?

The Era of the Redemption is the age foretold in the Bible by the
prophets of Israel, in which there will be neither famine nor war, neither
envy nor strife. G-d's presence will be revealed, and all negative energies
will be sublimated to His service, "for the world will be filled with the
knowledge of G-d as the waters cover the ocean bed" (Isaiah 11:9). In
this Era, Mashiach will help all of mankind to become aware of the
Divine Presence in this material world.

ancient Sages of Israel (Midrash Yalkut Shimoni, Vol. II, sec. 499,
on Isaiah 60:1): "Seized by consternation, the Jewish people will
ask, 'Where shall we go?' " And the same passage proceeds: "The
Almighty will answer them: 'My children, have no fear.... Why are
you afraid?' .... Mashiach will stand on the roof of the Holy Temple
and proclaim, 'Humble ones: The time for your redemption has
arrived!' "

WHAT CAN

WHAT DOES "MASHIACH" MEAN?

Mashiach (the Messiah; literally, "the anointed one") is the Jewish
leader chosen by G-d to inaugurate the Redemption. He is both saintly
and scholarly, and is descended from the royal House of King David. His
revelation comes in two stages: Initially, he reaches out to Jews
everywhere in an effort to bring them back to their heritage, the Torah.
Moreover, he is a tireless champion of G-dly causes. Once he is
successful in the above, rebuilds the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and
returns the Jewish people to their homeland, his identity as the Mashiach
is certain. The Messianic Age will have begun.

WHY IS

Now AN "ERA OF MIRACLES"?

We are living them now. Consider:
* The unforeseen collapse of the Iron Curtain and its satellite
regimes.
* The epoch-making ingathering of hundreds of thousands of
suppressed and stricken exiles, converging on the Holy Land from
undreamed-of directions.
* In the Persian Gulf this year, the rumblings of a military volcano
of unprecedented power fell dormant, as the world witnessed a
lightning-quick victory and the Divine protection of Israel. Indeed,
the Gulf War was prophetically described in all its detail by the

I Do?

The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson Shlita,
has appealed to every individual:

1.Let us learn to recognize and appreciate a miracle when it happens
right in front of us. (Indeed, the Rebbe has pointed out that the
Hebrew letters that comprise this year's date indicate the words,
"This will surely be a year in which `[G-d] will show you
wonders.' ")

2.Let us wait for Mashiach actively:
(a)by studying the classical Rabbinic sources, on both the revealed
and the mystical levels of the Torah, that can give one an
insight into what is meant by the coming of Mashiach and the
ultimate Redemption. (Many of these texts are now available
in English translation.) Such study is no mere academic
exercise: in itself it hastens the appearance of Mashiach.
(b)by broadening and deepening one's study of other areas in the
Torah, such as the Mishnaic tractate entitled Pirkei Avos
("Ethics of the Fathers").
(c)by undertaking the practical observance of mitzvos (command-
ments of the Torah) such as tefillin, mezuzos, lighting the
Sabbath candles before sunset on Friday, and so on.
(d)by increasing one's daily contributions to charitable causes. As
the Sages of the Talmud have taught (Bava Basra 10a),
"Charity is great, for it brings the Redemption near."

For further information contact:

LUBAVITCH FOUNDATION

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI (313) 737-7000

Sponsored by: S. Druk, H. Finman, C. D. Kagan, Y. M. Kagan, J. Keselman, Y Y Misholovin,
B. Rosen, B. Shemtov, B. Stein, J. Stewart, M. Zaklikofski & H. Zaklos.

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FRIDAY, JULY 19, 1991