Columbus discovered America. Franklin discovered electricity. Fleming discovered penicillin.
And, with a great distinction between the scientific and the sacred, the Lubavitcher Rebbe discovered a phrase in Midrash Tanchuma, Naso, 16.
Like all historic discoveries, that which was discovered had been there all along. The discoverer does not create the find; he finds it. Until that moment, it has been covered and out of sight; and then it is dis-covered. It is found. And nothing is ever the same after that moment of discovery.
Here is what it says in that Midrash:
“When the Holy One, blessed be He, created the world, He longed to have a home in the lowest realm."
That's it. That's the discovery. And again, like all great discoveries, the discoverer does not simply discover the thing; just as importantly, he realizes the significance - the meaning - of the thing. That's what makes it historic.
The Rebbe noticed three themes in this phrase: Longing, home, lowest.
"Longing" meant that this was not some passing interest or negotiable preference. This was a Divine longing, something dear and important to G-d in the deepest and most urgent sense.
"Home" meant that this was a longing to be at home on earth. Not for earth to be His second home, or vacation home, or summer home, but primary residence. And if nothing else, the definition of a home is a private space where you can be yourself. At home, one is at ease, completely and utterly comfortable in the presence of loved ones.
"Lowest" made it unmistakably clear that the intent was for G-d to be at home not with in the company of angels, miracles and celestial brilliance but rather with humans, challenges and materialistic realities.
And this is all stated as a Divine feeling at Creation. It was a mission statement, a statement of the purpose of existence.
In other words: the purpose of the universe and our existence is to fulfill an urgent need for G-d, namely, that He be at home with us here on earth in our daily lives.
And how did this discovery change the Jewish world? In three ways:
"Longing" meant that no one is dispensable. G-d's need for each of us to exist and carry out our part of the plan is absolute. We need to be here. And to be that urgently needed by the Eternal G-d Whose need is eternal means that we are eternally and unconditionally important. Not self-important - being needed by G-d causes self-importance to fall away like darkness at sunrise - but truly, seriously important. The kind of importance that gives every moment of every day meaning and depth.
"Home" meant that do's and don't's of Judaism are not a religion as much as they are a relationship, the kind that requires a home. G-d does not desire our worship as much as He desires our closeness. The Mitzvot we do for G-d - such as observing and celebrating Passover, for instance - are not religious rituals as much as they are selfless acts of love and humility, the kind of meaningful and heartfelt gestures that lie at the heart of a healthy relationship. And they change the world from a jungle into a home. Suddenly, Jewish observance became meaningful in the most tender way, doing Mitzvot became a pleasure, and we were no longer strangers with a common religion but brothers and sisters, building a beautiful home for us and G-d.
"Lowest" meant that it all mattered right here. Heaven is nice, but here, on this pale blue dot, is where the purpose of all existence is found. Life is not merely a way to get into Heaven. Life, lived correctly, outranks Heaven. And within life, it is not the spiritual moments that count but the physical good deeds that those moments inspire. What matters to G-d is not only how long a man can meditate for, but more importantly, how many acts of goodness, kindness and holiness he can get done. This meant that nothing in our lives was commentary. Work, money, love, leisure, fitness - everything, no matter how mundane, is a potential comfort zone for G-d, when done right. This served as a powerful unifying force, for though our mental capacities are diverse, a good deed is a good deed, no matter who does it. Some of us may have a deeper appreciation of the Mitzvah to eat Matzah, but no one eats Matzah better. Eating is eating. In that, we are all one.
And finally, this magnificent mission statement meant that life has a destination and it ain't Heaven. It is the ultimate perfection of our own earth. It is the coming of Moshiach. And that became the central, all-consuming obsession of the Jewish People. G-d needs us to do Mitzvot. G-d needs each one of us. We need each other. We need to do more. G-d wants Moshiach to come now. So naturally, we want Moshiach now!
And all that from one discovery of one phrase in the Midrash.
Yesterday was the Rebbe OBM's 119th birthday. So in case we were wondering what we could give him as a birthday present, this answers it: bring Moshiach now.
Happy birthday Rebbe, and happy Passover to one and all!
