BESURAS HAGEULO
The Announcement of the Redemption:
Chapter 21
[This talk was given on Parshas Shemini. The year in which this sicha
(talk) was delivered, the Parshas Shemini was read a total of eight (Shemini)
times. There is a well-known Chassidic adage, which the Rebbe quotes, that
a year in which Shemini is read shemini (eight) times will be a fat (shemini)
year. (The word for 'fat,' shemen, has the same root as the word for 'eight,'
shemini.) The Rebbe then proceeded in this vein, that, indeed the
year 5751 was a distinguished and a fat year. Translator's note.]
The principle accomplishment of this year - which the Jewish people have
designated and named "It will be a year of miracles I will show
him"[1] - is that it is a year distinguished for being "fat" and
filled with wonders and miracles from G-d, visible to everyone. This
accomplishment also serves as a preparation for the wonders and miracles
of the complete and true Redemption, coming imminently, "as in the days of
your going forth from the land of Egypt I will show you
miracles"[2] - as mentioned and emphasized many times during the
year.
* * *
This Shabbos is the Sefirah of Malchus sh'b'Gvurah,[3]
a revelation of King Moshiach within the severity of exile, and also Shabbos
Parshas Shemini[4]... which is particularly connected with our
righteous Moshiach - since the "kinor5 of the days of Moshiach" is made of
"eight strings."[6] This leads directly to nine and then ten,
which is holy[7] - that is, the perfection of ten achieved in
the true and complete Redemption ("upon a ten-stringed
instrument"[8]), "a kinor of ten strings"[9] (which
is higher than a kinor of eight strings).
The connection should be further emphasized since the birthday of the Rebbe
MaHaRash[10] occurs right at the beginning of the month of Iyar,
on the second of Iyar. It is well known that his directive and inspiration
was m'l'chatchila ariber [Literally, "from the start, go
above."].[11] The Rebbe MaHaRash was the sixth generation (from
the Baal Shem Tov), "double the force of three which represents a well-grounded
and established idea";[12] that leads to the seventh generation,
the eighth generation, until this generation - the ninth generation (a tripled
presumption),[13] which becomes the immediate preparation - without
any interruption at all - for the tenth generation which is holy in the true
and complete Redemption.
In all of this[14] everyone receives further strength from the
extension of Moshe[15] in our generation, my sainted father-in-law,
the Rebbe, the leader of our generation, particularly since today we read
Torah in his synagogue... From this house of prayer the strength will also
reach those outside this house, until the whole world, including the farthest
corner (physically and spiritually) of the world. There will then be a
fulfillment of "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the
nations,"[16] together with "gather the dispersed of Israel, I
will yet gather others to him [Israel] beside those of him that are
gathered."[17]
A reflection of this has been fulfilled in these times (the year of miracles
and the year I will show him wonders), namely "the gathering of the dispersed
of Israel" from that country[18] without limitations (not as it
was previously, when in order to leave one needed a special connection and
a special request), and they are coming to the land of Israel, also without
limitations (not as it was previously, as is well-known). This is one of
the revelations beyond measure or limit during the end of the time of exile.
Simply put:
All Jews, men, women and even children, have the responsibility to increase
their efforts to bring our righteous Moshiach in actual reality!
Therefore it's obvious there's no place for relying on others or imposing
the work on someone else instead of doing it one's self - but this is the
task of every man and woman; everyone must themselves do their job,
"to serve my Maker"[19] (for the sake of which "I was
created"[19]), and certainly one has the ability (since "I do
not ask except according to their ability"[20]).
What this duty consists of is also simple: increasing one's Torah and mitzvos.
This means learning both the open aspects of the Torah and the inner aspects
of the Torah[21] and performing the mitzvos with distinction...
All of this should be done with an intense anticipation and desire for the
Redemption[22] - "I anxiously await his coming every
day."[23] As we say every day in the prayers: "May our eyes behold
Your return to Zion in mercy" and (on weekdays) - "Speedily cause the scion
of David Your servant to flourish." This has been mentioned many times.
(From the talk of Shabbos Parshas Shmini, the blessing
of the month and the eve of the month of Iyar, 5751)
__________
1. [see Number 14 of this volume, note 2a, for an explanation of the acronym.
Translator's note.]
2. Michah 7:15.
3. [There are seven "emotional" Sefiros (emanations of G-dliness). These
"character traits" such as kindness, severity or discipline, harmony, etc.
are reflected in the individual's personality. Each of these also includes
all the others. (There is a kindness within kindness, a discipline within
kindness, etc.) The forty-nine days of the Omer counted between Passover
and Shavuos reflect the forty-nine "combinations." Accordingly, the Shabbos
when this talk was given was the day of "Kingship in Severity." Translator's
note.]
4. ["Shemini" means eight. Translator's note.]
5. [A "kinor" is a stringed instrument. It usually has seven strings.
Translator's note.]
6. Arachin 13:2. And note there.
7. [See Vayikra 27:32. Translator's note.]
8. Tehillim (Psalms) 92:4.
9. Mishneh and Baraita, end of Kidushin.
10. [The Rebbe MaHaRash (Moreinu HaRav Shmuel) was the fourth Lubavitcher
Rebbe. Translator's note.]
11 Igros Kodesh of the Previous Rebbe, volume 1, letter 617.
12 [In Jewish law, something that occurs three times establishes its claim
and is thereafter presumed to be the status quo. When the Baal Shem Tov
introduced Chassidism, many questioned its legitimacy as well as its claim
to be the teachings that would bring Redemption. As the Rebbe MaHaRash was
the sixth generation from the Baal Shem Tov, and in each generation Chassidism
flourished and grew stronger, its validity and the truth of its claim regarding
Redemption were doubly established. Translator's note]
13. [That is, having doubly established the truth of Chassidism, what
follows are three more generations. Since every three generations validates
the claim, as it were, after nine generations the presumption that the "spreading
of the wellsprings of Chassidus" will bring Moshiach - and that the wellsprings
have in fact been spread - has triple the strength. Translator's note]
14. [The Rebbe has just explained that the increasing strength of the
wellsprings of Chassidus means that in fact we have reached a generation
(the ninth) that makes the imminence of Redemption a certainty. The additional
strength referred to in this paragraph is the strength to prepare for the
coming Redemption through the activities of and association with the Previous
Rebbe. Translator's note]
15. Zohar Chadash III: 273a. Tikunei Zohar 469.
And see Tanya chapter 44 (63:1). [A reference to the concept that
the leader of each generation has a spark of the soul of Moses. Therefore
the leader of each generation is also considered the Moses of that generation.
Translator's note.]
16. Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 56:7.
17. Ibid 56:8.
18. [i.e., the Soviet Union. Translator's note.]
19. Mishneh and Baraita, end of Kidushin.
20. Bamidbar Rabbah 12:3.
21. [Generally speaking, Chassidus teaches that the Torah has two dimensions:
an open, revealed part consisting of the laws and customs themselves, and
the rules for analyzing, deriving and applying them as, for example, the
study of Talmud; and a hidden, inner dimension consisting of the mystical
reasons and spiritual meaning of the laws as, for example, the study of Kabbalah
and Chassidus. Translator's note.]
22. In the words of our Sages - "Did you anticipate salvation" (end of Shabbos
31a). See Rambam, Laws of Kings, beginning of chapter 11: "Anyone
who doesn't believe in him (in the King Moshiach) or anyone who doesn't anxiously
anticipate his coming, etc." See Likkutei Sichos vol. 30, p. 182-3.
And see there for cross references.
23. The text of "Ani Maamin". See Likkutei Sichos vol. 23, p. 394.
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