Nitzutz Mashiach - Spark of Mashiach

"Nitzutz Mashiach" is an illumination from the soul of Melech HaMashiach (King Messiah), which shines within every Jew in the innermost part of their soul (Yechidah, or the essence of the soul). Because of this connection that Melech HaMashiach has with every Jew, he has the power to redeem each and every person of Israel, but the work is placed upon each individual Jew to reveal this spark from potential to actualization.

The Nitzutz Mashiach gives a Jew the strength to serve the Creator beyond limitation and measurement, similar to the Days of Mashiach - and through this, one can bring about a personal redemption even during the time of exile, as well as actively bring about the general redemption.

Its Source in Chassidic Texts

The earliest source discussing the connection between the soul of every Jew and the soul of Melech HaMashiach is in the writings of Rabbi Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl, who brings in his book "Meor Einayim" a saying in the name of the Baal Shem Tov, and these are his words:

"As stated by the Baal Shem Tov of blessed memory, each Jew needs to rectify and prepare the part of Mashiach's form that belongs to his soul, as is known that 'Adam' is an acronym for Adam, David, Mashiach... And similarly, Mashiach will be a complete form comprised of all Jewish souls, including the six hundred thousand... Therefore, each Jew must rectify the aspect of Mashiach that belongs to his soul portion..." — Meor Einayim, Parshat Pinchas

A more detailed explanation about the essence of this spark, and the work of revealing it, we find in a later generation, in the name of the Maggid of Kozhnitz:

"Every awakening that a person feels in their life, whether in Torah or in prayer, comes from the portion of Mashiach that exists in all souls, and before the coming of Mashiach, all the scattered parts of Mashiach in the world will unite into a complete form, in the aspect of 'My soul yearns, indeed it pines, for the courts of Hashem; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living G-d.'"

The Rebbe Rashab also establishes that every soul includes all the levels of the forefathers, Moses, and Mashiach:

"Every soul is a soul of Atzilut, and the proof is from the statement of our Sages that any person can say, 'When will my deeds reach the deeds of the forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,' and also the level of Moses, and even higher that one can reach the level of Mashiach as well, and this is due to the root of one's soul which contains all these levels..." — Sefer HaMaamarim 5643, page 70

The Rebbe brought a source and allusion to this concept from the words of our Sages on the verse: "A star shall step forth from Jacob" - which is explained in one place as a prophecy about the King Mashiach, and in another place as referring to every individual Jew. According to the principle that different interpretations of the same verse are related to each other, this proves there is a connection between every Jew and the soul of Mashiach, as both are described as "a star from Jacob," because every Jew has a spark from the soul of Mashiach.

Based on this concept, the Rebbe explained a puzzling section in the prayer service. When opening the ark to remove the Torah scroll on holidays, the congregation says: "Master of the Universe... and may the verse be fulfilled in us: 'And the spirit of Hashem shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might.'" That is, the congregation prays that a verse and prophecy spoken about our righteous Mashiach should be fulfilled in them! This question was raised by Rabbi Chaim Elazar Shapira, author of Minchas Elazar, in his book Chamisha Ma'amaros, and despite the difficulty, he ruled that one should recite the text established by the great sages of Israel. However, the Rebbe explains this based on what is written in the book Me'or Einayim - that every Jew has a portion of Mashiach's soul, and therefore possesses (something akin to) the qualities of Mashiach, which is why one can request that this verse be fulfilled in oneself.

Level and Essence

The spark of Mashiach is the "point of Judaism" in a Jew's soul - alluded to in the letter Yud, the first letter of the name of the nation of Israel. This point is also called "the inner point of the heart."

The level of the Mashiach spark is in the deepest part of the soul. In the Tanya, the Alter Rebbe compares this spark to the level of Chochmah (wisdom) in the soul, "in which the light of Hashem Himself is clothed and concealed." Generally, the Rebbe explained that this is the level of Yechidah in the soul. However, in another talk, the Rebbe innovated that the level of this spark is not only at the level of Yechidah (which is itself only a "name" for the soul itself) - but in the very essence of the soul itself.

Since the spark of Mashiach is the deepest part of the soul, completely united with the Holy One, blessed be He - therefore its connection with the Holy One is not in an intellectual way or the like, but in a way that transcends reason and knowledge. This means that the Jew's soul feels that it is united and attached to its source, the Holy One, blessed be He, by virtue of its very existence. And in a person's divine service as well, the function of this spark is not a particular service, but the very knowledge that one is united with the Holy One, blessed be He.

The connection to Hashem through the spark of Mashiach has its root in the soul of Mashiach - who draws and reveals this level of connection in the souls of Israel. This is why Mashiach is called the "general Yechidah" - because he encompasses all the aspects of "Yechidah" of all the Jewish people. This is also the reason why the leader of the generation - who includes all the souls of the generation - is the general Yechidah, and therefore also the Mashiach of the generation.

Its Revelation

The spark of Mashiach remains concealed, since generally the revealed powers in a person are manifest and they conceal the essential connection in the essence of the soul. This spark is especially concealed during the time of exile, when there is a general concealment of the divine light; and even more so when a person's animal soul brings him down to a personal exile and he is immersed in worldly desires and matters.

A person's task is to reveal this spark through his service during the time of exile, and through this he has the power to rise and elevate himself during exile with a foretaste of the redemption. Likewise, because of this spark, he has the power to bring about the actual redemption.

During the Exile

Despite the spark usually being hidden - there are several places, times and individuals in whom it is more revealed, as explained in Chassidic teachings:

• Chassidic teachings: The Baal Shem Tov drew into Jewish souls their soul's root called "mazla" (which is the Yechidah of the soul), and therefore he is called Baal Shem Tov, because the level of "Keter Shem Tov" is the level of Moshiach's light that rises above all three crowns.
• Leader of the generation: Since the leader of the generation is the Moshiach of the generation, and his soul is the general Yechidah that includes all souls of the generation (as mentioned above) - therefore the illumination of Moshiach is revealed in him and he gives the power to every Jew to reveal the spark within themselves. This is especially true of Chassidic leaders, who are openly connected to the coming of Moshiach.
• Young schoolchildren: In children, the other soul powers are not developed, and therefore do not conceal the inner point of the soul's essence - thus the spark of Moshiach is more revealed in them. This is also the intention of our Sages when they called children "my anointed ones," as it is said: "Touch not my anointed ones - these are the schoolchildren."
• Rosh Chodesh: On every Rosh Chodesh, when the moon is renewed, there is also renewal within the Jewish people, about whom it is said that they "count by the moon" and "resemble the moon." This renewal is the revelation of the Moshiach spark, which brings renewal to a person's entire existence and brings about the coming of Moshiach.

Chassidic teachings also explain several aspects of a person's divine service through which one can reveal the Moshiach spark (in addition to the fact that all Torah study and mitzvah observance reveals the spark):

• Prayer service: During prayer, a person reveals their inner connection to the Holy One Blessed be He that is beyond reason and knowledge, and the soul temporarily leaves its personal exile; therefore, during this time the Moshiach spark is especially revealed.
• Charity: Since in one's business a person invests their entire soul and faculties to earn money, therefore when they distribute this money for the mitzvah of charity, they reveal the innermost point of their soul and connect it to the Holy One Blessed be He, thereby elevating all their service in Torah and mitzvos - this is the revelation of the Moshiach spark.
• Humility: According to an explanation attributed to the Maggid of Kozhnitz, the desire for attachment to Hashem was damaged in the sin of the Tree of Knowledge through the attribute of pride. When all parts of Moshiach's yearning from all worlds unite through the attribute of humility - the sin of the Tree of Knowledge will be rectified and all parts of Moshiach's stature will unite, as the prophet says that Moshiach will come "poor and riding on a donkey" (meaning - over materiality and pride).
• Connection to the leader of the generation and fulfilling his mission: Since the general aspect of Moshiach shines openly in the leader of the generation (as mentioned above), therefore through connecting to him and fulfilling his mission, the Moshiach spark is revealed in a person, penetrating all ten soul powers. This is also hinted at in the word "shaliach" (messenger), which with the addition of ten equals the gematria of "Moshiach" - when a Jew fulfills their mission with all ten soul powers, they reveal and bring Moshiach. Moreover, the entire purpose of the spark's existence is to give a Jew the power to fulfill their mission. This is especially true regarding Chassidic leaders whose purpose is bringing Moshiach, as studying their teachings assists and effects the revelation of the spark.
• Demanding the redemption: Through anticipating the redemption and declaring "We Want Moshiach Now," a Jew reveals the Moshiach spark within themselves.
• Studying matters of Moshiach and redemption: The Rebbe's instruction to study matters of Moshiach and redemption is "the straight path (the easiest and quickest among all paths of Torah)" to effect the revelation and coming of Moshiach - "beginning with the revelation and coming of Moshiach within each and every Jew."

Bringing the Redemption

By virtue of the spark of Moshiach within every Jew, each person has the power to bring about the general redemption - by revealing their particular spark through their service with all the powers of their soul. Even though we're talking about just a private spark and the individual service of a Jew - since the spark of Moshiach is an internal and essential matter, the principle applies: "When you grasp a part of the essence, you grasp it all." Therefore, even one spark can bring about general redemption throughout the entire world. This is also the reason for Rambam's ruling that when "a person performs one mitzvah - he tips the scale for himself and the entire world toward merit, and brings salvation and deliverance to himself and to them" - because through a mitzvah, even a single one, the spark of Moshiach is revealed and affects the entire world.

The spark of Moshiach also emphasizes even more the power of a Jew to crown Melech HaMoshiach and connect to him through the proclamation of "Yechi HaMelech" (Long live the King). For if every king has a deep connection to his people (which is why he depends on them, as "there is no king without a people") - for Melech HaMoshiach the connection is even deeper, because of the spark from his soul that exists within every Jew.

Similarly, this spark gives Melech HaMoshiach the power to redeem each and every Jew, even those at the lowest levels - since they too have a connection to Moshiach through the spark of his soul that illuminates within them. This is similar to what is explained about Moshe Rabbeinu, who was able to take all of Israel out of Egypt only because of the part of Moshe Rabbeinu that illuminated within each member of Israel. The work of Ahavas Yisrael (love of fellow Jews) in the special manner relevant to our generation, the period of "the threshold of redemption," while emphasizing the unity of Israel through the level of Yechidah, "the point of unity beyond division" - is made possible through the power of the spark of Moshiach.

In the Time of Redemption

In the true and complete redemption, the spark of Moshiach within every Jew, which is the essence of their soul, will be revealed. Therefore, only then will a Jew be able to serve Hashem in a manner completely beyond limitations. This is the most significant innovation of the redemption - the revelation of the true reality of the Jewish people, the deepest level of their souls; and this will be revealed and penetrate all levels of the soul, so that the deep connection of the essence of the soul will be recognizable in all of them.

Through the power of the spark of Moshiach within each member of Israel, Moshiach will be able to teach Torah to all of Israel and continue to influence them during the time of redemption.

Influence on Other Faculties

The spark of Moshiach influences all faculties of the soul and enables a deeper connection with Elokut (G-dliness). The various faculties of the soul possess different characteristics, and therefore their connection with Elokut is measured according to each faculty's perception and recognition of G-dliness. As a result, the connection they form with Elokut is measured and limited according to their characteristics. In contrast, the spark of Moshiach creates an "essential connection" that is unlimited, and through its revelation, this connection is felt in all faculties, so that they too experience an essential connection with Elokut, expressed through absolute dedication and self-nullification to G-dliness. Additionally, the spark of Moshiach consumes and nullifies the negative tendencies in a person's soul "automatically," because in relation to its level of connection to Elokut, those things that oppose G-dliness have no significance whatsoever. This is one of the reasons this faculty is called a 'spark' - like a spark of fire that consumes, burns, and spreads by itself.

The influence of the spark is an 'internal' influence. And the power of the spark's revelation can affect 'all' faculties together. Similarly, the spark of Moshiach affects all the soul faculties of a Jew in an internal manner. This is because the spark of Moshiach is the 'essence' of all faculties, and all faculties are revealed illuminations from it; therefore, its revelation affects them because it is their essence.

The revelation of the spark in the soul's faculties is a "chiddush" (innovation). Since the connection of the soul's faculties with Elokut is a connection of "revelations" - two separate entities connecting to each other, requiring constant renewed awakening in order to influence them with renewed divine powers. In contrast, the connection of the spark of Moshiach is an essential connection - in its very existence it is one with Elokut, which is an incomparably higher type of connection. Therefore, its renewal is constant, and through its connection with other parts of the soul, it creates a "chiddush" in all types of connections in all faculties. This is why the future redemption of Israel is called a "chiddush" in the blessing for the sanctification of the new moon, where we say: "they (the people of Israel) are destined to be renewed like it."

See Also

• Living Geulah
• Receiving Moshiach Tzidkeinu
• Dvar Malchut Toldot (2)

External Links

• Rabbi Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl - in his book Meor Einayim Parshat Pinchas, Warsaw, 5649 (1889), from the HebrewBooks website.
• The Rebbe - Hitva'aduyot 5743 Part 3 page 1315 - The connection of Moshiach to every Jew.
• The Rebbe - Hitva'aduyot 5746 talk of Simchat Torah night - The concept of the spark of Moshiach. In Yiddish.
• The Rebbe - Dvar Malchut Toldot - Moshiach is an essence above Yechidah.
• Rabbi Adin Even Israel-Steinsaltz, The "Messianic Complex" of the Jewish People, on the Chabad House website.