Chabad Tokyo Japan

In our Torah portion, Vayigash Genesis 45:1-3, Joseph discloses his true identity to his brothers: he is their younger sibling, the one they had sold into Egyptian slavery years prior, and who has since risen to the position of Egypt’s governor. His brothers were jealous of him, had sold him into slavery years ago, and assumed he was dead. They did not recognize him in his position of power. They failed to recognize their long-lost brother, whom they took by force and sold to Egypt in his foreign attire, serving as an Egyptian official.

Joseph, once their younger brother and a slave, was now the governor of Egypt. Joseph had been testing his brothers’ integrity and commitment to their youngest brother, Benjamin. He used a series of dramatic maneuvers to generate their repentance for selling him to a slave! He wanted to see his brothers repent of their sins, especially for the theft they committed when they sold him. These combined to create a surprising revelation for his brothers. The person they least expected to see was now in a position of power and testing them to see if they were willing to sacrifice themselves to avoid the kidnapping of their brother to slavery for the king of Egypt. They could have anticipated any outcome in Egypt except this!

Theft is one of the Noahide commandments, and it is forbidden even in the smallest value possible. This also applies to land. Since G-d gave the land of Israel to the Jewish people, any attempt by a non-Jew to take land from this holy land is considered theft and is forbidden according to the 7 Noahide laws.

This is the inner meaning of our Sages’ statement: “A person will never take a portion designated for a colleague.” This is true of not only physical matters but also matters of sanctity. The divine sparks enrobed in material property are destined to be elevated by only one person in the entire universe. Every soul has a certain measurement of G‑dliness it must elevate; it is tied to a particular soul because of that soul’s nature.

G‑d structures the events of the natural world to enable anyone to elevate the portion of creation he ought to purify. As long as the person does not elevate the sparks destined for him, they remain in exile. And since the sparks connected with a person’s soul are found in exile, the soul itself is in exile. Finally, the world is on the verge of Moshiach revelation, so we must prepare ourselves for that transformative event that will change the entire creation for good.

*This is from a series of articles by Rabbi Bernstein Moshe.

As we near the close of autumn in 2023, it’s troubling to observe that academics and students from America and Europe have been downplaying, justifying, and even lauding a brutal mass killing of Jews by a terrorist faction that endorses an anti-Jewish genocide plan.

The House Committee on Education and the Workforce asked a simple question to the presidents of three of America’s premier universities: “Does advocating for the genocide of Jews infringe upon your institution’s code of conduct related to bullying and harassment?” Unfortunately, none of them could provide a definitive “yes” in response. We must ask ourselves: How could so many brilliant individuals have been so mistaken? We must first comprehend where the academic world has deviated from the right path.

In each era, educated Jews have grappled with reconciling two types of wisdom: the divine wisdom of our Torah and the worldly wisdom of foreign civilizations. The philosophers of Ancient Greece are particularly notable in this narrative. Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of the Chabad school, was himself proficient in mathematics, astronomy, and other aspects of secular knowledge.

The untainted oil of the Holy Temple symbolizes divine wisdom, which was tainted by the worldly wisdom of the Hellenizers. The triumph of the Hasmoneans culminated in unearthing a concealed flask of pure, untouched oil. This oil was ignited and miraculously shone for eight days. Divine wisdom not only triumphed but ascended to unprecedented heights.

This is the juncture where academic institutions diverged; here they failed. They failed to embrace the divine wisdom of the Torah and the 7 Noahide laws. At this point, these institutions began to focus more on secular or human wisdom—the knowledge derived from human experience and intellect, often emphasized in academic and scientific fields—rather than the divine wisdom outlined in the 7 Noahide laws.

The story of Chanukah is the story of the natural intellect redemption. It underscores the nullification of our reason to the divine wisdom represented in the seven Noahide laws, bringing the world closer to full redemption.

*This is from a series of articles by Rabbi Bernstein Moshe.

Chanukah symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness. The act of lighting candles holds a special significance, as the immediate visibility of the light contrasts with the spiritual illumination of other mitzvahs from the Torah, which remains unseen to the physical eye. However, the mitzvahs associated with lighting lamps, such as the Chanukah menorah, bring a palpable light into the home. The Chanukah menorah is placed at the home’s entrance, outside, where its light is immediately noticeable to passersby, illuminating the surroundings so that even non-Jews can see the candles. This visible manifestation of light sparks a spiritual awakening in every Jew and carries a profound message for Noahides.

In 1973, Israel faced a similar period of darkness when it was invaded by neighboring Arab armies. The country’s existence and the lives of millions of Jews seemed threatened. However, Israel managed to repel the invaders, with the IDF advancing to within 100 kilometers of Cairo and 30 kilometers of Damascus—a miraculous turnaround. Today, as Israel faces another war, similar miracles are expected. Jewish soldiers on the frontlines have already experienced many miracles. The war, which began on the year’s most joyous day, is expected to end with a resounding victory, as the land of Israel is divinely protected because the Holy Temple is located at the heart of this country, in Jerusalem.

In matters of holiness, we always want to ascend rather than descend. The essence of the holiday is about going above and beyond mere requirements; each night we add more candles. In matters of sanctity, we should always add. This is why the custom is to light the menorah while adding light, reflecting our deep love for G‑d and His immense love for us. Similarly, observing the 7 Noahide laws should go beyond mere requirements, serving G‑d out of love.

*This is from a series of articles by Rabbi Bernstein Moshe.

Exactly twenty-four years ago, we came to Japan, to establish the first Chabad House. Today, we finished building the steps of the Mikveh- Onsen.
Thank you Hashem for all your kindness, we are grateful for all the special people who are a huge part of what we do. Thank you dear Rebbe MhM for all the constant brachot.

In our Torah portion, Vayeshev, we can see how divine Providence plays a key role in our lives and the course of the world. Before Joseph reached his brothers, they conspired against him and planned to kill him (Genesis 37:18). Although their intentions were not expected, the brothers’ actions ultimately led to Joseph’s ascent to power and the survival of Jacob’s entire family. Joseph’s journey to be king over Egypt serves as a vivid illustration that, whether we perceive it or not, every event in our lives is orchestrated by God for our ultimate benefit. This is true for the individual and for society as a whole.

Therefore, harboring anger towards those who seem to cause us harm is both unwise and counterproductive. While those who try to harm us may be accountable for punishment for their actions, they cannot inflict anything upon us that is not within God’s will.

Another example can be seen in the case of Judah, who gave the name Peretz to Tamar’s firstborn (Genesis 38:29). The Mosciach comes from Judah and Tamar’s son, Peretz. As the soul of Moshiach prepared to enter the world, the forces of evil contended that the equilibrium was on the brink of shifting against them. Therefore, the birth of this soul was in a manner that the forces of evil agreed to it. Just as in military strategy, where an army might feign retreat to lure the enemy into a vulnerable position, the birth of Moshiach was a seemingly apparent transgression, but actually, it was not a transgression, just misleading the evil.

Nowadays, the most evil forces on earth aim to harm the Jewish people. But just as in the case of Josef and Judah, only good will rise from this evil eruption. The ultimate good of redemption, by King Moshiach In this redemption, the righteous will survive, meaning those who accepted upon themselves the seven Noahide commandments and the people of Israel.

*This is from a series of articles by Rabbi Bernstein Moshe.