4: The angel who spoke with me returned and woke me, as a man is awakened from his sleep. He said to me , "What did you see?" I said, " I see, and behold! - there is a Menorah made entirely of gold with its bowl on its top, and its seven lamps are upon it and there are seven tubes to each of the lamps that are on its top. And two olive trees are near it, one to the right of the bowel and one to its left". And I spoke up and said to the angel that was speaking to me, saying "What are these, my lord?" The angel who was speaking to me spoke up and said "Do you not know what they are?" I said "No, my lord."
So we see from this that Zechariah just like Moshe rabeinu had trouble understanding the Menorah. What made it hard to understand were the two olive trees which represent the tree of life and the tree of death, which represent the side of holiness and the "other" side which opposes the side of holiness. Its a constant battle and there are more than a few times that the other side overpowers the holy side. That's what Moshe rabeinu and Zecharya the navi couldn't understand. How could we win this war if the other side wins so many battles, and resembles such a great huge mountain? What is the answer? How do we win one battle at a time and win the war at the end? The navi tells us...
He spoke up and said to me, saying, "This is the word of Hashem to Zerubbabel, asying, "Not through armies and not through might, but through My spirit, says Hashem , Master of Legions. Who are you, O great mountain - before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!!!
What's this got to do with simcha/joy? Because the spirit of Hashem which we are meant to emulate, is joy. With joy we can not only move mountains, we can even obliterate them!!!!
The author of Shmuot Tovot reports that the following was said by
"the great luminary," Reb Dov Ber, the Maggid of Mezritch, of blessed
memory, to the holy master, Reb Meshulam Zushia [aka the Rebbe, Reb
Zushia] of Anipoli, when the latter drew himself close to the path of
Reb Dov Ber.
In the service of the Creator, you should teach yourself three things
from a child:
1)Always be happy;
2)Don't be idle;
3)Cry for what you want.
And seven things from a thief:
1)He works at night,if he doesn't get what he wants the first night, he works for it a second night
2)They all love each other
3)He'll work hard for something small
4)Even though he worked hard to get it,it's not worth a lot to him
5)He'll sell a $5 item for pennies
6)Even if he gets pummeled and tortured, he remains firm
in his conviction;
7)He loves his craft and wouldn't trade it or exchange it for anything.
The Shmuot Tovot concludes: Dear reader -- reflect and consider the
profundity of these words and the advice for serving God they
contain.
(c) Copyright 2008 Breslov Research Institute
Have a great day!!! And a great week!!!
Etan
