BESURAS HAGEULO:
Chapter 25
We have already mentioned many times that according to all the signs of our
Sages regarding the end of days (in addition to the general statement in
the times of the Gemara that "all the appointed times have
passed"[1]), this generation is the last of exile and the first
generation of Redemption. My sainted father-in-law, the Rebbe, the leader
of our generation, testified accordingly - in connection with his well-known
announcement "immediate Teshuvah, immediate Redemption"[2] - that
in his days, (decades ago) all the aspects of service were completed, the
only requirement being to "polish the buttons"[3] and to stand
ready to greet our righteous Moshiach.[4] How much more must this
be the case after the increased efforts to spread Torah and Judaism and the
wellsprings of Chassidus outward from then until now; especially since after
forty years (from his elevation[5]) "a person reaches the level
of understanding of his teacher,"[6] "A heart to know and eyes
to see and ears to hear."[7] Thus it is absolutely certain that
the service of "polishing the buttons" has also been concluded, and we are
standing ready to greet our righteous Moshiach.
This matter receives the utmost emphasis in this year - 5751, whose
mnemonic[8] is
hinted at in the verse9 "his kingship will be exalted" (referring
to Dovid and Shlomo,[10] since King Moshiach will be from their
offspring[11]) over the entire world. The importance of this year
is also alluded to in the year's acronym, "It will be a year in which I
will show him wonders,"[12] as in the verse "as in
the days of your going forth from the land of Egypt I will show him
wonders."[13] The year began with the "wonders" which were actually
seen (in addition to those which will be seen in the future, "I will show
you") and revealed to the eyes of the whole world. These wonders
fulfilled the words of the Yalkut Shimoni:[14] "In
the year the King Moshiach will be revealed, the kings of all the nations
of the world will struggle with each other... the king of Persia etc., the
Arabian king, etc.; And (G-d) will say to them (Israel), "My children, do
not be afraid, all that I have done I have done only for your sake... The
time for your Redemption has arrived!" From that time on (particularly in
the month of Nissan, the month of Redemption) we are already standing at
the time "When the King Moshiach comes ("behold he comes")... and will proclaim
to Israel, 'Humble ones, the time for your Redemption has arrived!"
...But action is the main thing:[15]
Since this is the Shabbos after the giving of the Torah, Parshas Naso, in
the year of I will show him wonders, it is a time particularly ready and
appropriate for the revelation of "a new Torah will proceed from
me."[16] This means that the practical lesson is that this is
the set time to prepare (a sample and example of) the new dimensions
of Torah to be revealed that will ultimately lead to the actual fulfillment
of the promise "a new Torah will proceed from me."
Simply put, there should be a renewal and increase in learning Torah with
vigor and delight, until one originates new insights, whether for one's self
or to have an effect on others, "Raise up many disciples."[17]
For it is known that "Every one of Israel is able to reveal secrets of wisdom
and to discover a new insight in Torah, whether in homiletics or in the revealed
or in the esoteric parts of Torah, according to the level of his soul's root.
Indeed, one is obligated to do so."[18] This includes
particularly a renewal and intensification in learning and spreading the
inner teachings of the Torah that are revealed in Toras Chassidus, a sample,
example and "taste" of the Torah of Moshiach ("those who taste it shall merit
life"[19]). Through this we will quicken, hasten and achieve the
coming of Dovid, the King Moshiach.[20]
(From the talk of Shabbos Parshas Naso, 12 Sivan 5751)
__________
1. Sanhedrin 97:2
2. "Kol Koray" in the HaKriah VeHaKedusha [Reading and Holiness] of
the years 5701-03 [1940-1943] (his Igros Kodesh volume 5, page 361
and following. 377 and following. 408 and following. Volume 6, page 430 and
following). And elsewhere. [The phrase literally means, "Immediately to
Return (or Repentance), immediately to Redemption. Translator's note.]
3. See the talks of Simchas Torah 5689 [1929].
4. See HaYom Yom 15 Teves, And in several places.
5. [The Rebbe is writing in the fortieth year after the passing of the
Previous Rebbe. Traditionally, the departure of a tzadik from this world
is referred to as an "elevation," meaning that he has reached a higher level
of spirituality and inferring that his physical life in this world was also
essentially spiritual. Translator's note.]
6. Avodah Zarah 5, beginning of side b.
7. Tavo 29:3.
8. [As every Hebrew letter has a numerical equivalent, the alphabetic
designation of a year may yield abbreviations or words that have special
significance. The process of discovering these numerical meanings and
correspondences between words is called "gematria." Here, for instance, the
Hebrew letters à, ù, ð, ú
numerically equal 5751 (à = 1,
ù = 300, ð =
50, ú = 400; 5000, sometimes designated
with a preceding ä, is often omitted, it being
understood we are in the sixth millennia (5000-5999) of Creation). The word
àùðú, formed from the
letters means "will be exalted." Translator's note.]
9. Balak 24:7.
10. The explanation of Rashi on the verse.
11. Sefer HaMitzvos of the Rambam, negative commandment 362.
Perush HaMishnayos, beginning of chapter Chelek, principle 12. Igeres
Teiman.
12. [See 6a. úåàìôð
åðàøà úðù
äéäú äéä is the translated
phrase in Hebrew. Translator's note.]
13. Micah 7:15.
14. Yeshayahu, remez 499.
15. Avos, Chapter 1, Mishneh 17 (in gematria, "good") - that is learned on
this Shabbos. [The number 17 in Hebrew can be formed from the letters of
the word "good." See also note 6a. Translator's note.]
16. See Yeshayahu 51:4: "For Torah will proceed from me." And in Vayikra
Rabba 13:3: "A new Torah will proceed from me, a renewal of Torah from me
will proceed." This is explained at length in the talk of the second day
of Shavuos (Sefer HaSichos 5751, p. 566 and following).
17. Avos Chapter 1, Mishneh 1.
18. Tanya, Igeres HaKodesh, section 26 (p. 145a).
19. See Likkutei Sichos, volume 20, page 173. And see there for cross
references.
20. Igeres HaKodesh of the Baal Shem Tov - section 309 at the beginning.
|
