Outside, I began to take notice of the birds of spring gathering materials for their nests. It was fascinating to me to pay attention to the dynamic of nest building. With my interest sparked, I researched a method to craft my own nests and started to weave.

On a deeper level, I intuitively understood that this process of creating a safe, nurturing home, was connected with the Geula process — the prophetic time ushering in goodness and peace, creating a home for Hashem (G-d) in this world.  As I discovered, the kabbalistic term referring to Moshiach’s mystical dwelling during the unfolding of Geula is called “Kan Tzipor” which is translated as “the bird’s nest.”

Why is Moshiach’s spiritual abode referred to as “the bird’s nest?” Moshiach (translated into English as Messiah), embodies the highest level of the human soul, the “Yechidah”. This correlates to the divine essence of each person, a place within each one of us that is completely aligned with Hashem’s desire for unity, oneness and intimate connection in this world.

Moshiach, since his soul is the general yechidah of all souls, exposes us to this highest level of our own soul.  With the full and complete revelation of Moshiach, we will be in harmony with our true divine desires which results in peace, goodness and health. In the full Geula with Moshiach, dimensions of existence and spiritual and G-dly awareness are completely revealed to us.

Until that time, Moshiach spiritually resides in the “Kan Tzippor” — the “Bird’s Nest”. There he awaits until this physical world is capable of receiving and revealing this highest level of soul — Yechidah — within a human body. Though Moshiach is a human, he requires the “journey” from the concealed mystical world, through the dimensions of time and space, to be revealed into this physical world.

It is the tremendous efforts of us all that refine this world to receive this full revelation of G-dliness.  As mentioned previously, Chassidic sources say that Hashem (hebrew word for G-d) desires a dwelling place in this world.  With each act of kindness and compassion that we extend to each other, we open the world to receive this great light of divine revelation, bringing Moshiach one step closer.

The following is a story of the holy Jewish sage, the Baal Shem Tov, who began the stages of revealing chassidus to the world:

The Baal Shem Tov would spend hours praying in thesynagogue.  Usually his students waited for him to finish, but one time, they got very hungry and ran home to get something to eat.  When they returned, they saw that the Baal Shem Tov had finished praying and was waiting for them.  They asked why he had finished early. He told thema parable about a man with keen vision who stood with friends next to a tall tree.  He suddenly noticed a beautiful bird singing sweetly at the top of the tree; his friends noticed nothing.

The man wanted to climb the tree, but since the tree was tall and he wouldn’t be able to do it himself, he asked his friends to stand one upon the other’s shoulders and he climbed up until he reached the bird.

The Baal shem Tov continued “ …When I daven (pray) Shmonei Esrei, wondrous things are revealed to me.  However, I yearn to climb up and reach the supernal chamber called Kan Tzipor (“the bird’s nest”), which is the chamber of Moshiach.  Since this chamber is very high, I cannot go up there on my own.  When you are standing on top of one another (referring to his student’s prayers), I am able to reach up high.  But today, when you left the synagogue, I fell from the lofty levels I had reached.  Having nothing else to do, I finished praying.”  (Sippurei Chassidim as told in the Beis Moshiach magazine, August 19, 2013).

The Baal Shem Tov reveals through this story that it is the combined efforts of each and every one of us that enables us to reach higher heights.

As we weave our own kindnesses and gifts in the world, may it be with blessing and joy and result in opening the dimensions of time and space to receive the complete revelation of Geula, a time of peace and abundance and goodness.

And from my soul to yours, I present The Welcoming Nest.