What is the difference between any dedicated activist spreading Torah and repairing the world, and an "emissary"? Simply put, the uniqueness of an emissary is that he receives his power, authority, and responsibility from the sender, who entrusts him with things beyond his limited personal abilities. How does one merit the crown of emissary? How is it expressed in our daily service of God?
To be a dedicated soldier (chayal) in God's army, one must be a chasid (the ח of the word chayal), – to act with a spirit of kindness and love for Israel, with true fear of Heaven (Yarei shamayim, the yud of the word chayal), and to do everything with the power of Torah (lamdan, a learned person, the lamed of the word chayal). For an emissary (shaliach), the acronym is more 'complete' – chasid, God-fearing, learned – but their order is different: at the head is the shin of shamayim (Heaven). The soldier in the army fulfills his role on earth, but the emissary begins his mission with 'heavenly consciousness' – a connection to the Supreme Source from which he receives the mission.
Amalekite skepticism is expressed in our generation in the scientific perception that 'there is no heaven' – everything is material and measurable, subject to the same laws of nature, moving in fixed and cyclical circles. This perception claims that there is nothing sublime or wondrous, and that "there is nothing new under the sun". Within this framework, human activity is also limited and it is impossible to exceed the limitations of reality and bring about real change.
The emissary confronts this phenomenon – he believes and sees that 'there is heaven!', there are phenomena that transcend nature, there are true innovations, there can be a bearing of opposites of fire and water (of which the heavens are composed) and there are people who represent heaven on earth and can be a source of power of mission. The people of heaven, the creators of the mission, are never satisfied with themselves and what they have to give – they reveal that there are "heavens and the heaven of heavens" to infinity and their destiny is to connect their emissaries directly to the highest source.
The experience of heaven requires study and illustration. Initially, the experience of the presence of the sublime and the divine awakens great awe, but ultimately it draws man to approach it and infuses all of reality with a sense of kindness and love. This is the order of the letters of the word shalich (emissary): shin – Shamayim (heaven); lamed – lamdan (learned); yud – yarei (God fearing); chet – chasid (a disseminator of God’s love).
Indeed, although the fire of the mission descends from heaven – it is a mitzvah in the Temple to bring fire from the ordinary person. Of the emissary's work it is said, "A perpetual fire shall burn upon the altar; it shall not go out." The work of the soldier is based on personal sacrifice ("altar") and on tangible and warm enthusiasm ("fire") that must appear "always", both in times of elevation in holiness (which seems 'more internal' than external enthusiasm) and in times of fall and impurity (which seem to extinguish the holy fire, God forbid). When a person does all he can, and even pushes himself beyond his own limits, he merits the crown of mission from heaven – the revelation of true, heavenly infinity within his service of God on earth.
The dedicated and enthusiastic activity to do good in the world, to reveal that there is heaven, is capable of extinguishing opposition and skepticism – "(the flame) shall not go out!" Then even the opposition itself is transformed, nullified before holiness and even enlisted to it – the "no" that was extinguished becomes "yes" and it becomes clear that the sense of earthly permanence and unity is nothing but a reflection of God's unity and eternity.
