Why Did Biden Kneel?

Sigmund Freud famously believed that a person's dreams are crucial to understanding what motivates them. He wrote, "The interpretation of dreams is the royal road to a knowledge of the unconscious activities of the mind."

In a story, a gentile approached Rabbi Yishmael and said, "I had a dream that I swallowed a star." The rabbi responded by saying that the dream indicated that the person had killed a Jew, based on a verse in the Torah portion of Chukat-Balak: "A star went out from Jacob." The dream of swallowing a star symbolized murdering a Jew.

But why did Rabbi Yishmael interpret the dream using a cryptic verse? The verse in Balak refers to a warrior or leader, not every individual Jew, let alone a Jew killed by an anti-Semite. In fact, the verse is understood by the great Talmudic sage, Reb Akiva, to refer to Moshiach.

The 17th of Tammuz, a fast day on the Jewish calendar, that will be next Thursday, July 6, 2023,  marks the beginning of the Three Weeks of mourning, leading up to the fast of the 9th of Av. These days commemorate various catastrophes, including the capture and destruction of the city of Betar. Betar was a significant event following the destruction of the Second Temple when the Jews revolted against the Roman oppressors. The leader of the revolt, Shimon ben Koziba, was seen by Rabbi Akiva as a potential Moshiach, hence his title, "Shimon Bar Kochva" (son of the star). However, the revolt failed, Betar was captured, and Bar Kochba, along with many Jews, was killed.

So, is the star in the dream representative of Moshiach or a humiliated Jew? According to the Baal Shem Tov, every Jew must repair and prepare their own fragment of Moshiach. Each person is anointed by God as an agent of redemption, bringing compassion, love, light, hope, and healing to the world. When individuals align themselves with their essence and reveal their own inner Moshiach, they contribute to collective redemption.

On July 13, 2022, President Biden visited Yad Vashem in Jerusalem and knelt for an extended conversation with Rena Quint and Gita Cycowicz, Holocaust survivors. This gesture symbolized the recognition and honor given to the survivors and their experiences. The meeting held great significance for Gita and Rena, as it felt like the fulfillment of a prophecy.

Biden's act of kneeling before these survivors echo a similar moment when he knelt before Rivka Ravitz, chief of staff of former President of Israel Reuven Rivlin. In both instances, Biden sought to hear the stories of those who had experienced the horrors of the Holocaust and built new lives.

While there were other headlines and controversies surrounding Biden's visit, the powerful moment of him kneeling before the story of the Jewish people remains significant. It reminds us that the desire for Moshiach's arrival must be accompanied by our own efforts to reveal our inner Moshiach, to be agents of redemption ourselves.

In conclusion, Moshiach is not solely a grand figure who will change the world, but rather a vision that resides within each person. By revealing our own inner Moshiach, we contribute to collective redemption and pave the way for a unified and enlightened world. Just as we wait for Moshiach, Moshiach is also waiting for us.

This Shabbat will be the 12^th of Tamuz in the Hebrew calendar.

In 1927, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, became a symbol of resistance against Stalin's oppressive regime in the Soviet Union. Despite grave dangers, he established a clandestine network of Jewish institutions, including schools and synagogues, to preserve Jewish life under communist rule.

Facing persecution and imprisonment, the Rebbe's unwavering dedication to Judaism never wavered. He defied the Soviet authorities, declaring that no one could impose their beliefs on the Jewish people. His courage and resilience inspired others to stand strong in the face of adversity.

On the day of his exile, as he boarded a train, the Rebbe fearlessly proclaimed the eternal strength of the Jewish people. His words resonated with defiance and faith, leaving an indelible mark on the struggle for Jewish survival.

The Rebbe's miraculous liberation on the 12^th of Tamuz, 1927, and his unwavering commitment ensured the continuity of Jewish life in the Soviet Union for decades to come. His legacy continues to inspire and uphold the values of Judaism.

Shabbat Shalom, 

Rabbi Yoseph Geisinsky