Yellow Victory Flag

During the ride way home on a recent family road-trip, our youngest decided that she no longer wanted her hot-dog & hamburgers. Unfortunately, this decision was made after she had already finished eating them about half-hour prior. Not consulting us and taking matters into her own hands, we were forced to make an emergency stop at an off-the-beaten-path shopping mall for some paper towels and wipes.

While fishing out some clean clothes for my daughter from the back of the car, a gentleman approached me and called out “Moshiach Now!” I practically banged my head on the trunk roof hanging above me as I quickly turned around to see who on earth could possibly be making such an obscure reference in the middle of a small town in Indiana. Looking around, I saw nobody I was expecting — perhaps some other Lubavitch chosid stuck here, or at least some other Orthodox Jew who was familiar with that saying. Instead, before me was a man in an auto-parts store uniform, wearing a wide smile. He recognized the yellow Moshiach flags on our car from his college days at the University of Indiana Chabad House ten years ago, and was really excited to meet us. We smiled and shook hands, chatted about his connection to Judaism and the Rebbe, did the mitzvah of Tefillin, blessed each other, and went on our respective ways.

In essence, we had a perfectly G-dly experience, in the middle of a parking lot. For a brief moment in time, we opened the window to a higher world, the new world, where spirituality and physicality meet. We uncovered the reality that G-d not only runs this world (what are the odds of such a run-in!), but is here in this world with us, together. Moshiach is the connecting essence, the connecting purpose of everything that exists — that which unites each and every one of G-d’s creations, even in a tiny strip-mall in Indiana.

And that’s why I love my little yellow Moshiach flag. Because behind the glorious yellow, blue and red color, it represents the ultimate in unification — the oneness of G-d with all of his creations in the deepest, most intimate way. It represents the welcoming of G-d into your home, your heart and your life. The message of Moshiach is universal — that G-d’s essential nature is here, with us, present in this very moment and space — all we need to do is open our eyes and tap into that reality. It matters not what religion you currently practice, or what beliefs you hold. G-d is here equally for all of us — with no judgements, no distinctions, no battle, no exceptions.

In battle, there are many different types of flags that are used. The most obvious are the nation-flags that identify the opposing sides. As the battle wages on, the white surrender flag may appear. Ultimately, one side waves the “victory” flag. And as disappointing as it is to one party, the victory flag is actually a relief to both sides. It signifies the end of the battle, the end of the struggle. The soldiers can shake hands, move on and go home.

Recently I read an article about a Vietnam-vet, who 30 years after the war was over, decided to go back to the jungles, and continue the battle. He obviously didn’t “get the message” that the war, the struggle, was long over. And so he continued on and on with his battle, fighting till the bitter end, long after everybody had moved-on.
It is for this reason that I proudly wave the “yellow Flag”. To remind myself and others that the war is won, that there is no reason to keep fighting, to keep living in the paradigm of struggle, battle, us-versus-them, judgements and division. The Moshiach flag is the final victory flag, teaching us all that the battle of good versus evil is finally ending. We can put down our weapons of war, and happily access the connecting essence of G-d that permeates our world. And in this battle, there are no losers — each and every one of us is a winner. Because G-d loves us all, and is here for all.