BESURAS HAGEULO:
Chapter 48
The most recent innovation in the work of shlichus[*] is:
to receive our righteous Moshiach in the true and complete Redemption.
Indeed, the preparation for the coming of our righteous Moshiach is the most
all encompassing aspect of Judaism and includes all the other points and
details of the work of shlichus.
As has already been said many times, according to the declaration of our
Sages of blessed memory[1] "all the appointed times have passed."
According to my sainted father-in-law, the leader of our generation, that
teshuvah has already been done, to the extent that all aspects of Divine
service have already been completed (even "polishing the
buttons"[2]), and we therefore stand ready to greet our righteous
Moshiach. The work of shlichus must be to prepare in reality to
actually greet our righteous Moshiach.
Thus the goal of today's international convention of
shluchim[3] is: to produce good resolutions of how to
accomplish the special shlichus of these times: greeting our righteous
Moshiach.
...It was already mentioned earlier that my sainted father-in-law, the leader
of our generation, had declared that already all aspects of Divine service
have already ended and we stand prepared ("stand all of you prepared") to
greet our righteous Moshiach.
We also see (as mentioned many times) that many of the signs of the Redemption
have been fulfilled in the events of the world, beginning with the sign (in
Yalkut Shimoni[4]) that "the time for your Redemption has
arrived" when "the nations incite one another."[5] This has taken
place particularly in the Arab countries.
...And we see in reality how it was and it will be that "he will fight the
wars of G-d"[6] and be victorious in various situations, and
specifically through a war of peace.[7] And "victory" is also
an expression of "eternity,"[8] connected with the revelation
of "Endurance":[9] Nun - revelation of the 50th
gate;[10] Tzaddik - the ninetieth year (as Jewish people have
designated the year);[11] and Ches - the revelation of our righteous
Moshiach, who is connected with the number eight (eight princes of
man[12]).
The shluchim have already begun long ago to fulfill the work of
shlichus in spreading the Torah, Judaism and the Wellsprings of the
inner teachings of Torah outward, and for a long time have even reached
completion in the work of shlichus, according to the announcement
of my sainted father-in-law mentioned above. Nevertheless, the true and complete
Redemption has not yet actually come. It must be said, then, that there must
be something that remains to be done that will bring the Redemption into
reality.
What is needed is the following: It is known that "in every generation an
individual descended from Yehuda is born who is qualified to be the Moshiach
for Israel,"[13] and that "one who qualifies because of his
righteousness to be the Redeemer and when the time arrives G-d will be revealed
to him and send him, etc."[14] And according to the announcement
of my sainted father-in-law, the leader of our generation, the singular
shliach of our generation, the singular Moshiach of our generation,
that everything has already concluded, it's understood that there has begun
to be fulfilled the "send now the one You will send,"[15] the
shlichus of my sainted father-in-law. And therefore it's obvious that the
only thing that now remains in the work of shlichus is to greet
our righteous Moshiach in actual reality, in order that he should be
able to fulfill his shlichus in actuality and bring all the Jews out
of exile!
'This then must be the practical lesson that results as we gather now at
the opening and commencement of the "International Convention of
Shluchim."
We must come out with a resolution and an announcement to all shluchim
that the work of shlichus now and for every Jew is to their capacity
to lead to the greeting of our righteous Moshiach.
This means that all the details of the work of shlichus in spreading
the Torah and Judaism and spreading the Wellsprings of the inner teachings
of Torah outward must be permeated with greeting our righteous Moshiach.
As emphasized in the program of the convention - "all the days of your life
to bring the days of Moshiach."[16] All aspects of Divine
service (every day of your life, and in every day itself - in every detail
and hour of the day) must be permeated with "to bring the days of Moshiach."
It's not sufficient "to increase" (as stated in many places),[17]
or that he (the shliach) should stand and wait until Moshiach will
come, at which point he will take part and have the satisfaction. Rather
he is "to bring." He does all that depends on him to bring
"the days of Moshiach." [The word "days" is] in the plural, [meaning] not
only the beginning of one day but the days of Moshiach (and not only when
Moshiach is "presumed to be Moshiach,"[18] but all the days of
Moshiach - also the completion of "absolutely Moshiach"[19] etc.)
From the international convention must come and be brought good resolutions
such that every shliach must prepare himself and prepare all Jews
in his place and city, etc. to greet our righteous Moshiach. This should
be done through his explanation of the concept of Moshiach, as explained
in the Written Torah and the Oral Torah, in a way that it will be
received by everyone according to his intellect and understanding. This
includes in particular learning the subject of Moshiach and Redemption, and
specifically in a manner of Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge.
And since this is the Divine service of the time, it's understood this applies
to every Jew without any exception whatsoever.
'Further and fundamental: since the work of shlichus has already ended, every
Shliach needs to approach the true
M'Shalayach[20] - G-d - and declare: I have done my
shlichus and now the time has come that You, as it were, should do
Your shlichus (for G-d is also a shliach (He tells His word
to Yaakov, etc."[21]) and together with the ten Sefiros (G-d,
Himself, it is essence and being, as it were, is our righteous
Moshiach[22]), is the essence and being as it were of our righteous
Moshiach). "Send now the one You will send" - send us our righteous Moshiach
in actual reality.
And even if there is only a doubt that G-d will restrain the Jews in exile
even a minute for the great pleasure and satisfaction that the Divine service
in exile creates for Him, a Jew cries: "all that the master of the house
tells you, do, except to leave."[23] All that the master of the
house - this is G-d - says, one must do "except to leave." One must not remain
even a minute, G-d forbid, in a situation of "leaving," the table of their
father. One begs and demands, as it were, of G-d: "send now the one You will
send" - in the beginning of the year "by whom You will send"[24]
and bring already the true and complete Redemption!
And together with the completion of the work of shlichus (at the
conclusion of Likkutei Torah, Parshas Brocha[25]) one
immediately reaches the completion of the wedding - the Song of Songs - of
Israel and G-d (specifically through an actualization of the good resolution
to learn all of Torah Or and Likkutei Torah, all their chapters
until the end. For learning the Torah contained within them hastens the actual
Redemptive process.)
(From the talk of Shabbos Parshas Chayei Sarah,
25 MarCheshvan, Blessing of the month of Kislev, 5752)
__________
* ["Shlichus" comes from the word "to send." Thus a "Shliach" is an emissary
or messenger and "shlichus" is the mission or purpose for which he is sent.
The term "shlichus" here refers to the goal of Chassidism in general, and
Chabad in particular, to spread the wellsprings of Torah, increase observance
of mitzvos and be a resource for one's fellow Jew, materially and spiritually.
Translator's note.]
1. Sanhedrin 97b.
2. See the talk of Simchas Torah 5689.
3. ["Shluchim" is the plural of "Shliach," hence it means "emissaries."
Translator's note.]
4. Yeshayahu, remez 499.
5. Midrash Lekach Tov, Lech Lecha 14:1. See also Bereishis Rabba,
chapter 42, 4.
6. Rambam, Laws of Kings, chapter 11, halacha 4.
7. ["Fighting the wars of G-d" is one of the qualifications an individual
must meet before being presumed to be Moshiach. There is no necessity, however,
for the war to involve bloodshed or even to be on a physical level (as the
fight for spirituality and observance of mitzvos may also properly be described
as a "war of G-d.") Hence the expression "a war of peace." Translator's
note.]
8. [The word for "victory" in Hebrew - nitzachon - is etymologically related
to the Hebrew word for "eternity" - nitzchiyus. Translator's note.]
9. ["Endurance" - Netzach, in Hebrew - is one of the ten Sefiros, or Divine
Attributes through which the universe is created. It is etymologically related
to nitzachon and nitzchiyus (victory and eternity, respectively) Its three
Hebrew letters - nun, tzadik and gimmel - are here used not just as the letters
of a word but as an acronym revealing a deeper meaning of the word.. Translator's
note.]
10. [A reference to the fiftieth and final gate of Wisdom. Translator's
note.]
11. [The numerical value of the letter Tzadik is 90. This discourse was
delivered in the Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach's 90th year. Translator's note.]
12. Sukkah 52:b. [The numerical value of the letter Ches is 8. The passage
in the Talmud referenced in note 6 discusses a verse in the prophetic book
of Micah that mentions seven shepherds and eight princes. In the Talmudic
discussion, each of the shepherds and princes is identified. One of the eight
princes is Moshiach. Translator's note.]
13. The commentary of the Bartenura on Megillas Rus.
14. See Sha'alos v'Teshuvos Chasam Sofer Choshen Mishpat (vol. 6)
at the end (section 98). And see S'dei Chemed, Peas HaSadeh,
entry Aleph, klal 70, ff.
15. Shmos 4:13. [In the passage from Exodus referenced in note
9, Moses demurs from the shlichus, or mission, of redeeming the Jewish people.
His last protest before accepting the shlichus are the words quoted. This
phrase, "send now the one You will send" is classically seen as a reference
to Moshiach. Thus, Moses asked G-d to send Moshiach immediately. This - the
immediate sending of Moshiach - was also the shlichus of the Previous Rebbe.
Translator's note.]
16. Brochos chapter 1, mishneh 5. [The expression "All the days
of your life to bring the days of Moshiach" is the Mishneh's interpretation
of the Biblcial commandment to "Remember the Exodus from Egypt all the days
of your life." The Mishneh deduces that the added emphasis of the word "all"
is "to bring (i.e., include) the days of Moshiach." This means simply that
we will have to remember the exodus even in the Messianic Age. The Previous
Rebbe in his sicha cited by the Rebbe combines the Biblical phrase and the
Mishneh's interpretation to produce a novel idea, namely, that "All the days
of your life [you must endeavor] to bring the days of Moshiach." Translator's
note.]
17. [See previous note. In most places where a Biblical word implies the
inclusion of other points, the Talmudic term employed is "to include" rather
than "to bring." This the Rebbe interprets as a lesson for us to be proactive
in bringing the days of Moshiach. Translator's note.]
18. Rambam, Laws of Kings, chapter 11, halacha 4.
19. ibid.
20. [M'Shalayach - literally the one who causes to be sent. As a "shliach"
is an emissary, the "m'shalayach" is the one who sends him on his task.
Translator's note.]
21. Tehillim 147:19. See also Shmos Rabba chapter 30, 9.
22. [In the sicha the Rebbe refers to the fact that the word "shliach"
(numerically 348) plus ten equals "Moshiach" (numerically 358). Translator's
note.]
23. Pesachim 86:b.
24. [The Hebrew words numerically add up to (5)752, the year in which
the sicha was said. Translator's note.]
25. [Torah Or and Likkutei Torah, comprise the Alter Rebbe's Chassidic
discourses on the five books of the Torah and the Song of Songs. The concluding
words on Deuteronomy deal with Shlichus and the commencement of the next
section on Song of Songs deals with the wedding of Israel and G-d. Translator's
note.]
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