It's never too late

Tonight is the auspicious day of Yud Shvat. The day that the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson) took over the leadership from his father-in-law, the previous Rebbe. It is a very special day for Chabad Chassidim, and all Jews. (As always, read more about it here at Chabad.org.)

The Rebbe's leadership lasts until today. Even though we cannot physically see him, we know that he is still here with us spiritually, guiding us and teaching us how to live our lives.

One of the main missions started by the Rebbe was shlichus, the idea of 'Ufaratzta'- going OUT into the world, finding Jews, igniting their neshamas, teaching them about yidishkeit and bringing them closer to Torah and hashem.

(Video) The Rebbe's mission statement, which his father-in-law (The Frierdiker Rebbe) said in the name of the Alter Rebbe, is that there are three things: Love of G-d, Love of Torah, and Love of your fellow Jew. These three are all one, and cannot be separated. And because they are all one essence, when you grasp a part of the essence, you are simultaneously grasping all of it. One cannot exist without the other two. Merely Love of G-d by itself will not last, without love of Torah and love of your fellow Jew.

When the Rebbe accepted the leadership, he said clearly, don't think that you have hired me to do the job for you, and now you can idly enjoy your life. This is a joint mission- mine and yours. Meaning, the Rebbe is here to help us and guide us in our work here on earth, but not to take the burden from us. You must carry out the mission which the Rebbe entrusted to you completely with body and soul. You have to do the work and get the job done. You must transform your worldliness and material passions and elevate them to the realm of kedusha.

The Frierdiker Rebbe said, that when the Mishkan was built in the dessert, it could have been built from private individual funds. But all Jews had the opportunity to contribute. It was the same when building the Bais Hamikdash. Money was collected from every tribe, even though Dovid Hamelech could have covered the expenses himself. When the Frierdiker Rebbe commissioned 'the sefer Torah of Moshiach', he did not want it to be his own personal endeavor, but rather a group effort. He wanted all Jews to participate.

And so it is with the final mission which the Frierdiker Rebbe (and consequently our Rebbe) entrusted to us- to make this world a dwelling place for Hashem. It is a beautiful thing. The Rebbe gave us a gift by allowing us to participate in this final effort. He did not take all responsibility, he entrusted us with the mission of bringing Moshiach.

And one beautiful thing that the Rebbe lived by was- "S'iz nita kein farfallen"- it is never too late. Not for any Jew. It is never too late to start doing good, to start learning and growing. It is never too late and you can never have gone so far that you couldn't find your way home.

And the Rebbe, with all the light he brought into this world, will be there, guiding you and lighting the way.