BESURAS HAGEULO
The Announcement of the Redemption:
Chapter 55
The revelation of the teachings of Chabad Chassidus began with the Alter
Rebbe on the 19th of Kislev and continued and increased with greater strength
and greater vigor through all seven generations of its leaders. This includes
in particular the founding of the Yeshiva Tomchei Temimim, the soldiers of
the House of Dovid who go out to the wars of the House of Dovid to be victorious
over those "who revile the footsteps of your Moshiach"[1] and
to bring into reality the revelation of Dovid King Moshiach.[2]
The revelation comes to its fulfillment in our generation, which has already
completed all the requirements, and the only thing necessary is "to open
the eyes" and to see that "Behold he (the King Moshiach)
comes."[3]
* * *
From this we can derive a practical lesson:
In addition to this generation being the last generation of exile, the end
of the exile, it is also the first generation of Redemption, the beginning
of Redemption. We therefore find ourselves at an auspicious time connected
to the Redemption. There should be a daily increase (connected to the lesson
of Chanukah,[4] that "from here on continuously
increase"[5]) in matters that bring the Redemption into reality
and into the open.
Among them:
One must strengthen one's belief in, longing for and anticipation of the
coming of Moshiach, to such an extent that as long as our righteous Moshiach
has not yet come in reality and openly, one feels his life is lacking. As
Yaakov said, even one hundred and thirty seven years were "few"[6]
because the Redemption had not yet actually come.
Further and fundamental:
One must increase in learning and spreading the inner teachings of the Torah
(and Torah in general is Yaakov's function), oil (secrets of the secrets)
of the Torah, in a way that they light "from the opening of the house on
the outside,"[7] "your wellsprings will spread
outward,"[8] "until the Tarmudites leave the
market."[9]
(From the talk of Shabbos Parshas Mikeitz, Shabbos (6th of)
Chanukah, Evening Rosh Chodesh Teves 5752)
__________
1. Tehillim 89:52.
2. See Sichos Simchas Torah 5661 - Likkutei Dibburim vol. 4,
787b and ff. Sefer HaSichos 5702, end of p. 141 ff.
3. Shir HaShirim 2:8 and Shir HaShirim Rabba on the verse.
4. And in a continuing manner also after Chanukah, since "increase in holiness
and (certainly) don't decrease" (Shabbos 21b).
5. Shabbos 21b. Shulchan Aruch Orach Chayim Section 671, section
2. [This is a reference to the increase in light during the days of Chanukah,
lighting one candle the first night, two candles the second, etc. Translator's
note.]
6. Vayigash 47:9.
7. Shabbos, ibid.
8. Mishlei 5:16.
9. Shabbos, ibid. [This is a reference to the passage in the Talmud
that discusses the latest time for kindling the Chanukah lights; the rabbis
declare this to be when the Tarmudite merchants would leave the market and
no one else would remain outside. Chassidus explains that the word "Tarmud"
(the name of a nation) rearranged spells "Moreds," rebel. Metaphorically
this means that we will bring light to the outside to the extent of removing
all resistance to the Divine. Translator's note.]
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