102. Moshiach Weekly - Yud Shevat

שער. . . וההוספה בלימוד התורה היא והגאולה משיח בעניני ה"דרך ישרה" לפעול התגלות וביאת משיח והגאולה בפועל

ממש.)משיחת ש"פ תזו"מ ה'תנש"א(

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In the Blink of an Eye Canada Transfomed Moshiach Identity Crisis

Shtus Dikdusha - In Dor Hashvi'i The Rebbe's Royal Troops Bracha V'Hatzlacha

B'chatzrois Kodsheinu A Maise Mit Fifen טאנץ ארויס פון גלות

Dvar Malchus Feature Feature

Editorial Tzivos Hashem Dollars from the Rebbe

Yud Shevat with the Rebbe Purim 5736 Shabbos Parshas Beshalach - 5746

L ooking at the world around him, one could wonder. How could this world full of evil acts and

destruction, be turned over "kheref ayin" - "in the blink of an eye" to one where everyone is united to serve Hashem in the highest degree.

The answer could be found in this week's Parsha Bshalach, the Parsha relates the emancipation of the Yidden from Mitzrayim, taking with them much of Mitzrayim's wealth and goods.

The beginning of the Parsha tells us, that the leaving of Mitzrayim came about through Paroh himself as it says "ויהי בשלח פרעה את העם" - "when Paroh sent out the nation".

When one looks at the change that took place it is very drastic. Paroh, one day the evil dictator of the whole world, who acquired enormous wealth through selling food during the years of famine. The next notwithstanding his superior position and power, he frees the Jewish people who were enslaved under his rulership for hundreds of years. Furthermore, not only did he set them free, he aided them causing them to leave Mitzrayim arms raised in victory - ''ויוציאם ביד רמה!"

From the depths of Exile and enslavement to the broad horizons of freedom.

The Torah tells us "מצרים מארץ צאתך כימי נפלאות that the Geulah haasidah will - "אראנו be in a similar fashion to the redemption of Mitzrayim.

True, we find ourselves in Galus already for close to two thousand years, with the situation of the world still looking very dark and evil. We must know however, that just like in the time of Mitzrayim the Geulah came in a blink of an eye, with Paroh and his ministers aiding Yisroel to go out in triumph, so too will it be bekarov mamash, that in the blink of an eye we will be freed from our Golus. This will also be with the aid of the goyim as the Torah relates about the times of Moshiach that then even the nations of the world will serve Hashem.

Then we will all lift our voices in praise to Hashem, like it is described later in the Parsha about the shiras hayom, following krias yam suf. As Chazal learn out from what it states "אז then they will sing" that the ultimate" - "ישירjoy and praise of Hashem will come by the Geulah haasidah.

Soon may it be, the Geulah of benei Yisroel along with the whole world, in a way of "oz yashir" song and praise speedily in our days mamosh!

In the Blink of an Eye

In the time of

Mitzrayim the Geulah came in a blink of an eye

נסדר והוכן לדפוס ע"י:אברהם מרדכי בן פראדיל, אברהם משה בן זיסא, אברהם זבולון יעקב באשא, שיינא בן יוסף לאה, עטא בן משה בן דינה, לוי בן שיינא באשא, מנחם מענדל הכהן בן חי'ה בן מענדל מנחם חנה, בן מענדל מנחם מיכלא, שיינא פייגא, דינה נחמה בן הלוי מענדל מנחם זיסעל, מלכה מנחם מענדל בן עטא לאה, מנחם מענדל בן שיינא באשא,

שמואל בן אילנה.

Rebbe Photos: Y. Ezagui

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/////////////////////////////////////////Dvar Malchus

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(Based on Sichas Yud Shevat 5746)

I n preparation to Yom Hagadol Vhakadosh, the momentous day of Yud Shevat, each

Chossid learns the maamorim of Bosi Legani. Placing specific stress on the maamor of 5711, applying to himself the Rebbe's first message to our generation - that it is our avodah and zchus, to bring the shechinah back down into this world.

This speciality of our generation, comes not because of our superior worth, but rather because we are the seventh - which is automatically special. Just like Moshe's generation (which was the seventh from Avraham Avinu,) merited the revelation of Matan Torah, so too we, the seventh generation of Nesiei Chabad will merit the coming of Moshiach.

The hamshacha of the shechinah in the generation of Moshe Rabeinu did not take place in an instant. In the maamorim of Bosi Legani¹ it is explained that it came about through a process which was started at Matan Torah, mainly being accomplished

through the erecting of the mishkan.

Unfortunately, immediately following Matan Torah, the yidden sinned with the golden calf. How could it be that following such an amazing revelation of G-dliness, the Yidden were able to make such a catastrophic mistake?

Chazal answer, that following the forty days when Moshe was to return, the satan brought confusion to the world - through showing a vision of Moshe in a coffin, leading the Yidden to believe that Moshe was nistalek.

In the maamor of Bosi Legani 5730 (the maamor on the last perek of the Frierdiker Rebbe's hemshech) the Rebbe explains that the purpose of this undesirable occurrence before the building of the mishkan, was in order that the dwelling of the shechinah, which was to follow should have the advantage of iskafya and ishapcha. Through this the aliya was on a much greater level than it would have been before the sin.

Our Dor Hashvi'i is similar to the Dor

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Shtus Dikdusha - In Dor Hashvi'i

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A person can stray and have doubts’ pertaining to the Rebbe's nevuah. Twenty years have passed and the darkness only seems to be getting stronger

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4 | Moshiach Weekly

Hashvi'i of Moshe in many ways. Already in Dor Ha'shishi the Frierdiker Rebbe assured that "L'alter Ligeulah" (immediately to Redemption,) which, in the Rebbe's words, is compared to the promise of the first Yosef (in the generation preceding the Geulah of Egypt)2: "אלוקים פקוד יפקוד אתכם".

At the Farbrengen of 10 Shevat 5711 - in which the Rebbe officially assumed the Nesius and gave over the mission statement of our generation - the Rebbe declared that our generation is the last generation of Golus as well as the first generation of Geulah.

The Rebbe continuously stressed this point throughout the years, as we got closer and closer to Moshiach, until the climax in the 5750's. It was then, that we were informed that the Geulah had already started to penetrate the world, and Melech Hamoshiach's effect could already be seen upon the nations³. The process of bringing down the shechinah had already begun.

But then came an enormous Helem V'hester, the likes of which we cannot bear - the Rebbe was concealed from our eyes.

Acting upon common sense and logic, a person can stray and have doubts’ pertaining to the Rebbe's nevuah. Twenty years have passed and the darkness only seems to be getting stronger - "40 days" have gone by and Moshe is still nowhere to be seen. From where can we derive the necessary strength to continue?

The necessary approach can be found in this years maamorim of Bosi Legani 5715 and 5735 corresponding to ois hei in the Frierderiker Rebbe's maamor. The Rebbe explains that the only way to

fulfill Hashem's desire of making a דירה בתחתונים is through using shtus dikdusha - an avodah higher than Ta'am V'da'as - to refine this world.

This is also regarding our situation; by using normal avodah according to our understanding, we cannot succeed. It is only through adhering to the instructions the Rebbe gave us in a manner of emunah, higher than logic that we will finally break through and turn over this Golus, which in truth, is nothing more than "shtus diklipa".⁴

It will be then, that we will see that (- just as in the first Dor Hashvi'i -) this whole yeridah is only for the greatest aliyah of all - the complete דירה .in the Beis Hamikdah Hashlishi בתחתונים

•

It is on this note that we present to you the "Moshiach Weekly" Shevat expanded edition, which includes many articles focusing on the special Shlichus we received 64 years ago - to bring the Shechinah into this world with the coming of Moshiach.

May we merit to finally go out of this Golus with the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach leading the way !ונזכה זעהן זיך מיטן רבי'ן - והוא יגאלנו

1. Bosi Legani 5728, Ha'arah 5. Bosi Legani 5740.

2. Sichas Shabbos Parshas Veyechi 5752, Sefer Hasichos 5752 Vol. 1 P. 240.

3. Sichas Shabbos Parshas Mishpatim 5752, regarding the proclamation on the UN.

4. Sichas Shabbos Parshas Noach 5752.

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Shevat 5775 | 5

I n 5711 when the Rebbe officially accepted the “nesius”

a year after the “histalkus - hilula” of the Frierdiker Rebbe, chassidim from all over the world sent in a “ksav hiskashrus” in which each chossid pledged his entire existence to the Rebbe. At the farbrengen upstairs in 770 the Rebbe said the ma’amer “Basi L’gani,” explaining Hashem’s purpose in creating the world, namely, to create a dwelling for himself in the physical world. Just like a human being lives in a house, surrounded by material objects that serve to make him comfortable, the physical world must be made into Hashem’s “house,” a place where materiality reveals the truth of Hashem’s existence.

The Rebbe continues in the ma’amer to explain the stages of Hashem’s revelation

in this world. Originally, Hashem was revealed within the world, but due to the חטא and the six successive עץ הדעתgenerations, the revelation of Hashem bounced away from the physical world. Avraham

Avinu, began the process of reintroducing the revelation of Hashem into the physical world, which culminated with Moshe Rabeinu the seventh leader from Avraham Avinu.

Symptomatic of the long and bitter golus, Hashem’s revelation is once again not in the physical world. The Rebbe charged us with the mission of reintroducing the revelation of Hashem back into the physical world. The implication of the ma’amer is that the Alter Rebbe, as the first Rebbe of Chabad began this process of bringing back Hashem’s revelation, and as the seventh generation, we will be the one to merit finishing the process and

תשי"א

6 | Moshiach Weekly

Shevat 5775 | 7

bringing Moshiach. As Reb Velvel Brisker remarked upon learning the ma’amer “der yungerman tracht az er iz Moshiach.” As the chassidim of the 7th generation, it is our mission to fully reveal Hashem’s presence in this world. This can be accomplished through avoda in a manner that is higher than logic, especially when loving a fellow Jew through which we will finally be able to greet Moshiach.

During the farbrengen on Shabbos Mevorchim Shevat, the Rebbe spoke about a “hora’ah” that we can learn from the Parshas Hashovua in connection with Yud Shevat.

“Golus Mitzrayim was an incredibly dark golus. So dark, that at the end of Parshas “Shemos,” even Moshe Rabbeinu the “nosi hador”

himself, couldn’t see a way out of it for the Yidden. Notwithstanding the terrible darkness of the Golus, we find that from the very first plague, the light of the Geulah began to shine.

Four years after the histalkus of the Frierdiker Rebbe, it seems that the golus is only getting stronger and darker by the day. Although, we know that the Alter Rebbe explains in “Iggeres Hakodesh” the tremendous level of “histalkus” that is effected in the world through the histalkus of a tzadik, externally it doesn’t appear to have brought any benefit to “hafotzas hamayonos.” We must realize, that just like by Golus Mitzrayim, the Geulah occurred during the most intense moments of darkness, so too now, the darkness of the current golus is in truth announcing to us Moshiach’s arrival.”

On Yud Shevat itself the Rebbe spoke about an interesting parallel between all the Rebbeim of Chabad. We find that all the Rebbeim are buried “chutz la’aretz.” Similarly, we find that Moshe Rabbeinu is also buried outside of “Eretz Yisroel.” The midrash explains that Moshe was buried “chutz la’aretz,” for the sake of his generation. That “if you will be buried with them in the desert, they will enter (the land,) in your merit, and you will lead them.” In a similar vein, although “Ya’akov Avinu,” was himself “ready,” for the Geulah, he refused to meet Esav since his children are “not yet ready.” Both Ya’akov and Moshe sidelined their own interests, and remained in golus

for the sake of their children and talmidim.

The Rebbe continued - his voice choked with tears, - “Every nosi in disregard of his own needs and interests, puts everything aside and looks towards his flock, to see what they are lacking. If for whatever reason they must remain in golus, he remains with them, in order to serve as a conduit and connect every Yid to Hashem.”

It is stated in seforim, that certain neshamos never experience the true reality of the Golus. For these neshamos it is as if the churban never really happened. The truth is, that this is indeed the case by all neshamos when excavated to their quintessential spark. However, only the neshamos of certain tzadikim experience a revealed, conscious

תשי"ד

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“As Reb Velvel Brisker remarked upon learning the ma’amer “der yungerman

tracht az er iz Moshiach.””

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“We must realize, that just like by Golus Mitzrayim, the Geulah

occurred during the most intense moments

of darkness, so too now, the darkness of

the current golus is in truth announcing to us Moshiach’s arrival.”

“The Rebbe continued - his voice choked with tears, - “Every nosi in disregard of his own

needs and interests, puts everything aside and

looks towards his flock, to see what they are

lacking.”

8 | Moshiach Weekly

reality of Geulah. By having a nosi buried “chutz la’aretz,” we are able to tap into and feed off this geulah experience.

After this Sicha the Rebbe instructed the chassidim to sing the niggun “Nie Zhuritze Chloptzi" standing up and dancing vigorously for some time.

A short time before Yud Shevat 5730, commemorating 20 years since the Frierdiker Rebbe’s histalkus, the Rebbe announced that he planned to finish the writing of the Sefer Torah to greet Moshiach, initiated by the Frierdiker Rebbe 28 years beforehand. The atmosphere was ecstatic, every chossid was sure that this was it and Moshiach would actually arrive.

Rabbi Mendel Gordon, now Mashpia in Yeshivah Gedolah Lubavitch London, reminisces about his experiences as a ten year old. “When I visited one of my relatives on Motzei Shabbos Yud Shevat he asked me what would happen tonight. I notified him that tonight Moshiach will be revealed. He tried to explain to me that this couldn't be the case, since the reason we don't say "u’vo letziyon" at night is because "ein Geulah balayloh". I just shrugged, it was a good question but totally irrelevant. The fact was that Moshiach would be coming tonight." Here again chassidim were sure that when Moshiach would redeem the Yidden, the Rebbe would be the one to fill this role. At last it’s Friday afternoon the kitchens of Crown Heights which are usually bubbling with excitement at this busy time were now abandoned, their inhabitants cramming every

last inch of 770’s main shul. Only one thought filled the minds of everyone present - how many more moments will we wait until the Rebbe reveals himself as the . . . Just then the Rebbe pulls out a box, opens it wide and withdraws a . . . Yes, it was a crown, the time is here! To their dismay, the Rebbe placed it on the Sefer Torah, not where they thought he would.

The SiyumMany years had passed and the

Sefer Torah remained uncompleted. Finally on Shabbos Parshas Va'eira 3 Shevat 5730, it was made known that the siyum would take place on Friday, Tes Shevat. After many years, the day arrived to finish Moshiach's Sefer Torah. A chossid who was there gives his recollection of the events: "All chassidim were sure that Moshiach would be revealed momentarily and we had no doubt as to whom that would be. Because of the tremendous excitement, I didn’t notice some details which were related afterwards. I remember that there had been a tense silence. I cannot forget the yearning and longing we felt: "Nu, when will it happen already?"

The Rebbe entered the zal carrying a large box; none of us knew what it contained. Until then, in Lubavitch, it was not customary to place crowns on Sifrei Torah, so we didn’t consider that as a possibility. We knew that the

Rebbe Rayatz had said that this Torah would be the one to greet Moshiach and we saw the tremendous Kavod with which the Rebbe treated it. It was clear to us that, any minute now, we would be going to greet Moshiach.

After the writing was completed, the Rebbe opened the box he had brought in with him and removed a handsome crown. We were certain – I, as well as many others who witnessed those special moments – that the Rebbe would place the crown on his own head and reveal himself as Moshiach."

After the Siyum"In the Sicha after the siyum,” he

continued “the Rebbe said that “small

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“I just shrugged, it was a good question but totally irrelevant. The fact was that Moshiach

would be coming tonight."“We were certain – I, as well as many others who witnessed those special moments – that the Rebbe would place the crown on his own head and reveal

himself as Moshiach."

Shevat 5775 | 9

jars” still remained, and we were a bit disappointed. After everyone dispersed, we went to our rooms and lay down in a sad silence. We weren’t depressed, because we were certain that Moshiach had to be revealed any minute anyway, but we were very disappointed. Our expectation had been that Moshiach was going to be revealed at the siyum.

Some quoted that Ben Dovid (Moshiach) will not come on Erev Shabbos or Shabbos. Of course before the siyum we said that Moshiach would be revealed anyway

and that he would take care of this halachic problem, but after the fact we waited until Motzei Shabbos. We knew that the twenty years were not over yet, since Yud Shevat was on Shabbos. We were waiting for the Motzei Shabbos farbrengen.

In the maamor at the Siyum, the Rebbe had mentioned that now the inyan of Moshiach is only a matter of time. We understood this to mean soon, so I now pinned my hopes on the Motzei Shabbos farbrengen, especially since that farbrengen would be broadcast live to Eretz

Yisroel for the first time.

On Shabbos Yud Shevat, the Rebbe said the maamor "Basi L’Gani," with an explanation of the last chapter of the Rebbe Rayatz’s maamor, thus concluding all twenty chapters. In the maamor said at the Motzei Shabbos farbrengen, the Rebbe began from the first chapter again. This solved the mystery of what the Rebbe would do after finishing all the chapters.

Motzei ShabbosWe continued to wait expectantly

for Motzei Shabbos, and when nothing happened we were very disappointed.

At the farbrengen the Rebbe pointed out that the Rebbe Rayatz could have paid for and written the Sefer Torah himself, but he wanted to include everyone. Then the Rebbe said that life continued for twenty further years after the Frierdiker Rebbe physically passed away, comparing the present situation with what had happened after Shimshon passed away. The Plishtim continued to fear him even after his death, "and when speaking about a Nasi Yisroel, who is irreplaceable and obviously Maalin Ba’kodesh (ascending in holiness), after twenty years he becomes even higher and greater."

I despaired after hearing this, because I realized that the Rebbe was saying that the time hadn’t yet arrived.

After the farbrengen that Motzei Shabbos, there was a farbrengen of mashpiim, who had come from afar. They encouraged Anash to believe even more strongly in the revelation of Moshiach. One of them said that it had apparently been a keitz of sorts, which unfortunately hadn’t materialized.

I remember another farbrengen, where there was an argument between two mashpiim, Reb Shlomo Chaim Kesselman and Reb

The Chassidim's Letter After the Siyum Sefer Torah:

The Hachnosas Sefer Torah to greet Moshiach caused a great awakening amongst the Chassidim on Moshiach’s coming, as seen in the following letter sent to the Rebbe by many prestigious Chassidim:

To the Rebbe HaMelech HaMoshiach Shlita:

Being that we have merited to complete Moshiach's Sefer Torah, and the Rebbe Shlita is ‘from the house of Dovid, well-versed in Torah, forces the Jewish people to go in the paths of Torah, strengthens the breaches, fights the wars of Hashem and is successful’ (a quote from the Rambam about the criteria of Moshiach); we have already heard from the Rebbe’s holy mouth that all the deadlines (for Moshiach’s coming) have passed, and there is still no limit to the pains that befall the Jewish people – please, have mercy and may we arrive right away to the Geulah from this bitter Golus and may the Rebbe lead us upright to our land.

Signed, Zushe Wilimovsky, Berke Chein, Bentzion Shemtov, Sholom Liberow, Aharon Friedman, Velvel Kesselman, Berl Shemtov, Nachman Sudak, Berl Baumgarten, Berl Kesselman.

10 | Moshiach Weekly

Ben-Tzion Shemtov. R’ Shlomo Chaim said that compared to what they had in Lubavitch, there was a yeridas ha’doros (a descent of the generations), while Reb Ben-Tziyon maintained that dor l’dor y'shabach maasecha and there was an aliyas ha’doros (an ascent of the generations).

Reb Shlomo Chaim also remarked that Shlomo HaMelech did not have a Rebbe. If he had had a Rebbe, he would have written the parables of love in Shir HaShirim about a Rebbe and chossid...

N’shei Chabad In Eretz Yisroel

The his'orerus to complete the "Sefer Torah to Greet Moshiach" also came about through the "nashim tzidkonios," the N’shei U’Bnos Yisroel and N’shei Chabad of Eretz Yisroel.

The following is an excerpt from the sicha of Parshas Va'eira 5730 (bilti mugah): "There was a suggestion from Eretz Yisroel to complete the writing of the Sefer Torah to Greet Moshiach. At first glance, the suggestion should have come from here where the Torah is, in the Daled Amos of 770. This

is especially so because those who expound Gematriyos say that 770 is the numerical equivalent of ‘Paratzta’. Yet the suggestion came from Eretz Yisroel, this is a question like every other question..."

The Rebbe said, "It is explained in Chassidus that it’s possible for a person to stand next to a great treasure, in the middle of the day with the sun shining full force. He can stand there with his eyes open, and yet not see the treasure because he is looking off to the side.

Where has there ever been a greater treasure, which all of the generations have yearned and waited for – the coming of Moshiach Tzidkeinu? The treasure is revealed at high noon with the sun shining at full force, and they don’t notice it, because they are looking off to the side. They are busy with other matters (albeit lofty

matters and matters of holiness, but they are still not looking) and therefore they don’t see..."

In Adar of that year the Rebbe said that Moshe Rabbeinu finished the Torah immediately before his passing on Erev Shabbos. The Rebbe said this in connection with the Sefer Torah of Moshiach, which had engendered opposition from Bnei Brak. The Rebbe said, "What a pity on those who don’t recognize the greatness in participating in this Sefer Torah, which the Nasi HaDor began to write and writes! Since the word Nasi is from the root word 'me’asin,' which means to force, the Nasi has the power to include even those who say explicitly that they don’t want..." The Rebbe also explained that a king can grant property to someone against his will. Once the person possesses the awesome gift, he can begin to appreciate its greatness.

Now, forty-four years after that momentous occasion, we still find ourselves still in Galus. However we are continuously strengthened by the Rebbe's words, "anavim hegiha zeman geulaschem." We are certain that long before Yud Shevat, we will merit to walk with the Rebbe, along with the Sefer Torah of Moshiach, to our holy land.

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“Suddenly, for the first time ever, the whole world could

be instantaneously damaged, with virtually no man

power, requiring as little effort as needed to push a small

button.”

Shevat 5775 | 11

In the months leading up to Yud Shevat, the world seemed to tremble with violence and chaos. The ongoing cold war intensified, reaching new heights. More countries were drawn into this unpleasant conflict, with no realistic end in sight. Beyond the political arena, many countries were shocked with an array of enormous natural disasters - earthquakes and floods killed thousands of people, and left many more without shelter, food or water.

During the farbrengen of Yud Shevat, the Rebbe addressed the bleak situation by posing a powerful question. How is it possible for a Yid to speak about creating a “דירה בתחתונים” and a “גן” for Hashem, at a time when the world is in such turmoil, experiencing the exact opposite of a nice, peaceful and pleasant garden?

In explanation, the Rebbe referenced a phenomenal development in political sociology. Throughout history, any conquest or revolution was achieved only with the help of a massive army and access to a large armory of weapons. This all changed drastically with the discovery of the atom, together with monumental advances in nuclear physics. Suddenly, for the first time ever, the whole world could

be instantaneously damaged, with virtually no man power, requiring as little effort as needed to push a small button. We see clearly, that in the realm of negativity and destruction it is possible to alter the state of the world from one extreme to the other, with very little effort. Surely, within the realm of positivity, every Yid possesses the power to make a much larger dent in the world.

To further explain this idea, that every Yid possesses the “koiach,” (ability) to affect the entire world, the Rebbe quoted the famous Rambam (quoted countless times by the Rebbe,) that a Yid must view the entire world resting on a set of scales equidistant between goodness and evil. One small act of positivity by a Yid, can tip the scale towards the side of goodness in turn accomplishing a “והצלה ”תשועה for the entire world. The Rebbe also added, that in the past, to imagine such an idea would have required an incredible amount of emunah. Who would have thought one act could

change the world. However, in our day and age, with the advances of nuclear physics, we see clearly and experience firsthand, how one small act can change the world irreversibly.

During the celebrations of “Didan Notzach,” in the week following Hey Teves 5747, Lubavitcher chassidim expressed their tremendous excitement and joy with a solid week of nonstop dancing and farbrenging. The chassidim were refocused with a call from the Rebbe to prepare seriously for Yud Shevat, a mere 30 days away. Based on the Rebbe’s special instruction, the preparation period was divided into three segments, each 10 days long, each concluding with tests and

תשמ"ז

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“Perhaps, our promulgation of the “sheva mitzvos b’nei

Noach,” is counterproductive, as it will cause the nations

to interact peacefully with each other?”

“There has already been more than enough fighting and

arguing between the nations of the world, to serve as the

sign heralding Moshiach’s arrival”

תשמ"ו


assessments evaluating the progress of each chossid in getting ready for Yud Shevat.

During the farbrengen on the Shabbos preceding Yud Shevat, the Rebbe made special mention of the fact that this Yud Shevat would mark the “siyum” of both the third cycle of “limud horambam” for those that learn three “perokim,” and the first “siyum” for those that learn one “perek” a day. The Rebbe explained the significance of these “siyumim;” by all Yidden joining together and uniting in learning the same thing, particularly through “limud sefer horambam” a sefer which includes and unites the whole Torah, a tremendous achdus among Yidden is created, which in turn annuls the cause of the Golus i.e. the disunity between Yidden. In turn, propelling the coming of Moshiach.

Throughout the farbrengen of Yud Shevat itself, the Rebbe discussed the topic of Moshiach numerous times. During the second sicha the Rebbe spoke about the necessity of publicizing the “sheva mitzvos bnei Noach.” The Rebbe explained a “hora’ah” that can be learned from the “parshas hashovua.” The parsha begins “Vayehi Beshalach Paroh” (And when Paroh sent out the Yidden.) Although the Egyptian grip on the Yidden appeared to be incredibly strong and intense, - nevertheless, Paroh was forced to carry out Hashem’s will by letting the Yidden go. The lesson for us is, nowadays during our golus, even though goyim may appear very powerful, a yid should never become disheartened, but should toil with strength and pride in encouraging goyim to fulfill the “sheva mitzvos b’nei Noach,” a prime step towards the coming of Moshiach.

The Rebbe began the following sicha with a question “A klotz kashe:” The Midrash delineates one of the signs heralding Moshiach’s arrival

as fighting and arguing between the “Nations’ of the World.” Perhaps, our promulgation of the “sheva mitzvos b’nei Noach,” is counterproductive, as it will cause the nations to interact peacefully with each other?

The Rebbe explained that in truth, this is not a valid excuse to hide behind. There has already been more than enough fighting and arguing between the nations of the world, to serve as the sign heralding Moshiach’s arrival. Therefore a Yid must work wholeheartedly in the campaign to spread the “sheva mitzvos b’nei Noach".

Following these sichos and the maamor “basi l’gani,” the Rebbe made the long anticipated Siyum on the Rambam and said a Hadran, during which the Rebbe discussed a Halacha in the final perek discussing the arrival of Eliyahu Hanavi. The Rambam quotes two opinions, one that Eliyahu will arrive before Moshiach, and one that he will come after Moshiach. The Rebbe explained that this is not a “machlokes b’metzius,” (an actual difference of opinion,) but a discussion as to whether Eliyahu’s arrival constitutes an event in and of itself, or is just another stage in the redemptive process. In the year 5751 this “hadran,” was printed in the “kuntres dvar malchus,” and distributed by the

Rebbe on 15 Iyar.

An interesting event that occurred at the beginning of the yemei hachono (preparatory days) for Yud Shevat. During the Farbrengen on Shabbos Parshas Vayigash, the Rebbe spoke about the lengthy, bitter golus and suggested that perhaps Hashem enjoys the Yidden demanding “ad mosai,” - “how long must we be in Golus?!” And then immediately Moshiach will come! But even this can only be done properly when Moshiach will come.

Sitting at that farbrengen Rabbi Marlow quickly made up his mind that he would not let the Rebbe’s words linger solely in chants and slogans, but that they must be channeled into concrete actions. That very night, he gathered a group of 25 rabbonim to discuss what can be done to vanquish the golus. At that meeting, Rabbi Marlow wrote up an extensive psak din ruling that Moshiach must come immediately, without delay. The psak was signed by all those in attendance.

The following morning, Rabbi Marlow, along with some of the other Rabbonim, positioned themselves in Gan Eden Hatachton, near the entrance to the Rebbe’s room, in order to hand the psak to the Rebbe. Upon receiving the psak din, the

Shevat 5775 | 13

Rebbe leafed through it for some time, and responded: “May Hashem satiate your heart’s desires in all that is written here. To quote the Rambam: “Amen! Indeed, may it be His will!” And may it be immediately, particularly since we find ourselves 30 days before Yud Shevat!”

In the months following Chof-Zayin Adar 5752, excitement and anticipation for the coming of Moshiach grew exponentially. A satellite event was scheduled to take place on the eve of Yud Shevat 5753, to raise awareness and broadcast to the world the proximity of Moshiach’s coming.

After much anticipation, the momentous day of Yud Shevat, finally arrived. Around midday, the television crew from the satellite station pulled up to Eastern Parkway, and began unloading opposite 770. A familiar beeping sounded across Crown Heights at 12.30 pm as the “Moshiach Beepers,” proclaimed “mincha now.” The preparations for the hookup had to be placed on hold, as thousands of anash, shluchim, temimim and simple yidden streamed into 770 for mincha. After Mincha the curtains around the Rebbe’s balcony were opened, as the Rebbe encouraged the singing of "Yechi" for two and half minutes.

Following the completion of mincha, bochurim worked on the finishing touches in getting 770 ready for the evening’s event. The bochurim prepared a special platform to the side of the aron kodesh, and decorated the southern side of 770 with beautiful red drapes. The satellite crew entered 770 and

set up the equipment needed to broadcast this special occasion to the world. All was ready for the grand kinnus, set to begin at 5:00 pm.

As the clock ticked and the appointed hour drew nearer, 770

began to fill with guests and locals alike all waiting with expectation for the awesome event to commence. 770 was crammed to full capacity not least with representatives from the media who swarmed beis chayenu to report on the exciting events of the day. Special “bleachers,” were set up to the left of the Rebbe’s balkany

designated exclusively for the media, along with parts of the ezras noshim, with televisio`n stations from afar a field as Japan being represented.

A platform was constructed on the southern side of 770, to the right of the Rebbe’s balkany, underneath the big windows. On the wall the colossal painting by Mr. Michal Shwartz was displayed, depicting “How the world will look when Moshiach will come.” A key segment of the event, was Mr Shwartz’s siyum of the painting, personally commissioned by the Rebbe himself. Adjacent to the painting hung a sign: “Celebrating a Vision - the Historic Siyum of the Painting - When Moshiach Comes Yud Shevat 5753.” The shtender for the emcee stood under the sign, around which stood many prominent chassidim and rabbonim.

Ten minutes before the scheduled start of the event, the emcee, Rabbi Shmuel Butman took the liberty of reminding the enormous crowd of the importance of maintaining the proper decorum throughout the event for the satellite program to run smoothly. At 5:00 pm the kinus commenced as planned; the Rebbe's Chazan, Rabbi Moshe Teleshevsky, opened the proceedings by reciting the Rebbe's kapitel posuk by posuk, as the entire crowd repeated after him.

Before the ceremony continued, Rabbi Butman prefaced that the kinnus is not a “coronation,” but is rather a gathering of Yidden to cry out to Almighty G-d that He “in his infinite mercy, give our Rebbe the directive to be revealed and take us all out of this golus, to bring the Redemption for all of humankind.” The crowd responded with a resounding and thundering “Amen.”

Rabbi Butman then explained that the words of the Rebbe are words of nevua, and that the Rebbe

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

“Special “bleachers”

were set up to the left

of the Rebbe’s balcony

designated exclusively

for the media, along with

parts of the ezras noshim,

with television stations

from afar a field as Japan

being represented.”

“Rabbi Zalmen Gurary

benched the Rebbe with

the brocho of "Yechi

Hamelech," while the

crowd of chassidim

declared "Yechi,'' loudly,

three times. Immediately,

the chassidim began

singing "Yechi"

ecstatically.”

תשנ"ג


has told us countless times that the time of our redemption has arrived, which according to the Rambam (as a nevua) must be fulfilled, and so Moshiach should come imminently. Rabbi Butman reminded those in attendance of all the other prophecies uttered by the Rebbe that were seen to be fulfilled, in relation to the safety of Eretz Yisroel while it was under attack by scud missiles from Sadam Husein, in relation to hurricane Andrew and in relation to all the advice the Rebbe had given people from all walks of live over the previous 43 years. The same Rebbe, our Rebbe, is asking of us to be ready to greet Moshiach.

Rabbi Marlow stood up to bless the Rebbe, followed by Rabbi Zalmen Gurary who urged the assembled to accept the Rebbe as Moshiach just as he was accepted as Rebbe 42 years earlier. Rabbi Yitzchok Hendel from Montreal said that according to the psak of Rabbonim the Rebbe is b'chezkas Moshiach and subsequently read the psak din aloud.

Thereafter Reb Yoel Kahn spoke about the Rebbe's call to spread the message that Moshiach is actually coming now, and the need to prepare is only that we not be embarrassed in

the face of this mission.

Afterwards the emcee passed the microphone over to Rabbi Shea Hecht, who was to introduce the artist Mr. Shwartz to perform the “siyum” on the painting. Messages from Rabbi Groner and Rabbi Krinsky were interjected clarifying in the Rebbe’s name, that the Rebbe’s participation in ma’ariv should not be interpreted or misconstrued as involvement in any kind of “coronation,” but as his regular participation in ma’ariv. Rabbi Hecht continued to speak thanking the gaboim of 770 and the members of Aguch for their involvement in the event.

Meanwhile the light in the Rebbe's special room (leading to the balkany,) turned on at 5:51pm. The crowd began singing “Oirech Yomim,” and the blinds to the special room were raised for ma’ariv. The shaliach tzibur Reb Yehoshua Korf davened from the amud.

Upon the completion of ma’ariv at 6:02 pm, the Rebbe came out to the balcony, and the curtains were drawn open. The voice of Rabbi Hecht was heard introducing the siyum, and the artist, Mr. Michal Shwartz completed the painting, completing it with the word “mamash.” During the siyum, the Rebbe faced the crowd (and the media,) to his left.

Rabbi Zalmen Gurary benched the Rebbe with the brocho of "Yechi Hamelech," while the crowd of chassidim declared "Yechi,'' loudly, three times. Immediately, the chassidim began singing "Yechi" ecstatically. A violin and keyboard were played, accompanying the euphoric singing, while the Rebbe looked on scanning the crowd and beaming. Several times the Rebbe lifted himself up and looked at those standing beneath the balcony. The Rebbe also looked in the direction of

the special stand set up for the media who relentlessly snapped pictures of the Rebbe. After a few minutes, the Rebbe began encouraging the singing with his head, at some points quite intensely. The singing went on for over eight minutes, at the end of which the Rebbe motioned with his head to draw the curtain, concealing the Rebbe from the eyes of the chassidim at 6:13 pm. The crowd continued to sing Yechi until the Rebbe had exited the shul completely.

A feeling of "kibush" was felt in the air. The satellite had been a huge success; though all had hoped and prayed that this event would culminate with the hisgalus of the Rebbe as Melech HaMoshiach. Incidentally, the popular “Super Bowl,” game was b’hashgocha protis, scheduled for the very same evening as the Yud Shevat kinnus. Millions of Americans, sat with their eyes glued to their television set or ears glued to the radio and heard about the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s message to the world in the news broadcast run during the game interval; that the world must prepare for the revelation of Moshiach with deeds of goodness and kindness.

Shevat 5775 | 15


12 Cheshvan 5752. Mr. Fifer asked the Rebbe: Due to the fact that the country of Québec is meant to separate and turn into a independent country. Is it good for the Jews to stay there?

The Rebbe: Why should you move out of a place that you live there for a long period of time? You should continue living there until Moshiach will come, and then we will go together with Moshiach. And until then will be together with Moshiach in Québec and the rest of Canada. The Rebbe then gave him an extra dollar and said this is for Canada.

•

Canada was blessed with distinguished eltereh chassidim and shluchim who were driven to disseminate the Rebbe’s teachings to the masses. On Beis Cheshvan 5702, the

Frierdiker Rebbe personally sent nine temimim to help form the growing Jewish community in Montreal. One of these temimim was the legendary Mashpia, Reb Menachem Zev Greenglass.

Born in Poland to a non-Lubavitch family, R’ Greenglass studied in the Chabad Yeshivos in Lodge and Otwock. With the advancement of the Nazis, he was forced to escape to Shanghai, and continue his learning there. These formative years set the platform for his expertise in Kabbalah and Chassidus that he employed to great effect once he was sent by the Frierdiker Rebbe to cultivate the Jewish community in Montreal.

R’ Greenglass anticipation for the Geulah truly burned in his bones. He inspired his talmidim to prepare themselves for the Geulah by strengthening their hiskashrus to the

Shevat 5775 | 17

Rebbe through learning his teachings, sichos and maamorim and fulfilling his instructions. He demanded of his talmidim that they always know some maamorim by heart. His catchphrase - “Chabad demands p’nimius”- was a clear mission s t a t e m e n t

that all his talmidim knew to be an unconditional directive.

R' Gringlas once told over a story: in the early years chassidim outside the Rebbe's room were discussing how Moshiach is going to come? Suddenly the Rebbe opened the door to his holy room and said “Azoi vet er kumen!”

Reb Moshe Eliyohu Gerelitzky was a well-known chossid in the Montreal community being one of the students in Tomchei Tmimim in Lodz, Poland before the Second World War. After

fleeing the War and arriving in Canada he had planned to move to New York to live in the shadow of the Frierdiker Rebbe. The Frierdiker Rebbe however had other plans

instructing him to establish a branch of Tomchei Tmimim in Montreal.

Reb Moshe Eliyohu’s anticipation and strong belief in the coming of Moshiach has been described as a person standing at a train station, waiting impatiently for the train to arrive. “Moshiach darf shoin kumen! Glaich itzter! Mamash Mamash!” he would shout over and

over at any given opportunity, whether when speaking to fellow members of Anash or in conversations with his family. His grandchildren recall that in regardless what subject he was discussing, Reb Moshe Eliyohu would immediately connect it to the subject of Moshiach.

Reb Menachem Zev Halevi Gringlass wrote to an acquaintance in Tammuz 5751:

“We stand now b’ezras Hashem in the most serious tekufah. The sichos kodesh and the maamorim that are coming out (with the heores and marei mekomos) are truly revelations from Above. In truth we are not worthy of this at all, it is only b’hashgochah protis that we have merited to be the last generation of Golus and the first of Geulah, and therefore as the Bal Shem Tov explained the Posuk “V’Hu Yechalkeluchoh”, that Hashem Himself will make us keilim…

We must literally learn every single maamor 3-4 times at least and then think through its contents 7-10 times, at least half an hour every time and only then maybe we can hope that something will “stick”, and the kli will become a little bit clean etc.”

and was appointed director of Kehot, Machne Israel, Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch and Kollel Chabad in Canada. His student and ben bayis (household regular) R’ Shneur Zalman Farkash, who is today a mashpia in the Chabad yeshiva in Buenos Aires, related:

“I saw his accounting books that were full of astronomical figures coming in and going out, the budgets of all the mosdos went through him. Every far-off shliach in Canada and every little activity had to get his approval. I remember how famous shluchim in the area would go to the yeshiva to discuss matters of timely import with him and gain his advice.”

The Rebbe Rayatz instructed him to be in touch with his son-in-law (later the Rebbe) too, and R’ Greenglass did so. We can see this in the numerous letters that the Rebbe sent him before the nesius, on many issues, some of which are publicized in the Igros Kodesh. Due to his many

positions and involvements in learning, askanus, in the yeshiva, and kabbalistic practices, there is a letter that contains fifteen sections, each one on an entirely different subject.

Not surprisingly then, immediately after the passing of the Rebbe Rayatz, R’ Greenglass became mekushar, heart and soul, to the Rebbe. At the end of Shvat 5710/1950, only two weeks after the histalkus, he went to New York to the Rebbe. Although up until then he was well acquainted with the Rebbe and would shake hands with him when he visited his room, this time, after the histalkus, the Rebbe said with a smile, “I won’t give you ‘shalom aleichem’ because I know that you won’t respond” (since in Lubavitch the practice is not to shake the Rebbe’s hand).

Simchas Torah 5711 he merited “ruach ha’kodesh” regarding the acceptance of the Chabad leadership. This what R’ Greenglass related:

Before hakafos (the night of Shmini Atzeres or Simchas Torah) the Rebbe called the members of the hanhala of yeshiva Tomchei T’mimim of Montreal and spoke to them about the yeshiva and told them to send a report every two weeks. The Rebbe asked who would take the responsibility to write the report and they were all silent.

At that moment, R’ Greenglass wondered what title to use in this letter to the Rebbe, for to him it was clear that it should say, “to the Rebbe shlita,” but he did not want to impose his view on the others, nor did he want to share his opinion with them. And yet, he did not want to sign to a report that did not have the appropriate title for the Rebbe.

The Rebbe, sensing what he was thinking, said that if they thought there would be a problem with the title, this should not be a reason to refrain from writing for they could simply write “shalom u’v’racha” without a title.

Also from that Simchas Torah:At the farbrengen after

Mincha, the Rebbe asked R’ Greenglass how many talmidim there were. He said 86. The Rebbe responded: 86 is the gematria of Elokim. May you have talmidim that number Tzivaos (499). He added that on Simchas Torah there is no concern about yeshus (arrogance – i.e. due to having such a large number of students).

MY NAME IS VOLFIn his position of mashpia,

he taught Chassidus mornings and evenings, farbrenged, and had personal discussions with talmidim. Despite his advanced age and being a genius in Nigleh, baki in Chassidus and Kabbala and head mashpia in the yeshiva

oTmyMatoTthr

wlewthwohhthtiRabbi Greenglass (right) with his friends from Poland and Montreal

– Rabbi Hendel and Rabbi Gerlitzky

14 7 Adar 5771

PROFILE

776_BM_Eng.indd 14 07-02-11 8:12 AM

The Giluyim of 5751


Rabbi Pinchas Hirshprung was the chief Rabbi of Canada for over thirty years and Rosh Yeshivah of Tomchei Tmimim Montreal, known particularly because of his tremendous bkius in Gemorah and works of halchah. Though being a student of the famous Chochmei Lublin Yeshivah Rabbi Hirshprung, in the mid-5720’s Rabbi Hirshprung became close to the Rebbe. On regular occasions he would come in for the Rebbe’s Farbrengens and for Yechidus.

Rabbi Sholom Dovber Volpe in his sefer "Shemen Sasson Mechaverecha" relates that he once heard the gaon zt'l give a shiur at the yarchei kallah in the summer of 5747 i n t h e

Catskills, N.Y. When the audience expressed their amazement at his amazing bekius in shas bavli and yeruChei by heart, the gaon said: "You think this is bekius?! Do you want to see true bekius? Open every volume of the tens of volumes of Likkutei Sichos, learn each Sicha with the footnotes and then you will understand what bekius is!"

Reb Zushe Zilbershtain recalls how he called Rabbi Hirshprung a number of times to sign the Psak Din that the Rebbe is Moshiach, but was pushed off again and again. Finally he told him to come with the Psak to his grandchild’s

bris, and there he would sign the

Psak.

At the Bris he signed the Psak with huge sincerity. It was evident how much importance he gave to this historic Psak Din.

I asked him, “Why were you pushing me off for so long, and now you sign with such feeling?”

He told me that three times the Rebbe told him during Yechidus (with no connection to what was being discussed)- “Pinchas zeh Eliyohu - you will be mevaser the Geulah.”

He felt that through signing the Psak, which would be publicized throughout the world, and increase anticipation for Moshiach, he was fulfilling the Rebbe’s request from him.

“This was why I wanted

One of Rabbi Hirshprung’s close students, Reb Meir Plotkin tells over that he once asked the Rav about his belief in the Rebbe as Moshiach. He asked him: “What did you see in the Rebbe that you didn’t see in anyone else?”

Rabbi Hirshprung answered: “There are two things that the Rebbe is special in and no one can compare to him: 1) His Torah knowledge and 2) his leadership of Klal Yisroel, and I can tell you that there is no one comparable to him, not only in our generation but also in previous generations.

I was with Reb Meir Shapira in Lublin, with Reb Menachem Zemba, and many other Torah giants of the past generation and I can tell you that no one is comparable to his genius in all parts of Torah. It is superfluous to even mention about the Rebbe’s leadership...he is the only one that it can be said about him that he is B’chezkas Moshiach according to Halachah”.

Shevat 5775 | 19

to sign the Psak specifically by a Bris to which Eliyohu himself comes to participate”, he explained.

At the Shabbos Ha'Gadol drasha following Chof Zayin Adar 5752, nearly half his (Reb Zushe’s) lecture discussed the fact that the head of the Jewish people was ill. He expounded on the topic of the Rosh Bnai Yisrael and said that all Jews need a healthy Rebbe, for he and only he is the Manhig HaDor. With tears in his eyes, the Gaon shouted to Heaven and aroused the kehillah - mostly Litvaks, to daven for the Rebbe's recovery.

Rabbi Hirshprung gave his haskomah to many books in

Inyonei Moshiach at the time, including the seforim “Yechi H a M e l e c h ” (printed 5752) and “Yechi H a M e l e c h H a M o s h i a c h ” (printed 5753) which came to explain why the Rebbe is Moshiach according to Halachah.

Also after G i m m e l Tammuz, Rabbi H i r s c h s p r u n g openly supported the belief of chassidim that

the Rebbe is Melech HaMoshiach. He even took a stance to counter the Roshei Yeshivos and Rabbonim who challenged this belief.

On 13 Iyar 5757 Rabbi Hirshprung wrote a sharp letter in which he expressed the Torah viewpoint, regarding different Rabbi’s and Roshei Yeshivos that had criticized Lubavitch with regards to the movement’s belief that the Rebbe is Moshiach:

“With this I am expressing my clear opinion in this matter (without going in to the details

for I have already

heard out the issue in all of its details):

In regard to all of the discussion regarding the singing, printing etc of the quote, “Yechi Admu”r Melech HaMoshiach Lolam Voed” and all connected to this - there is no shadow of a question if this is against Halochah. The concept has clear sources in Shas, Zohar and from the greatest Kabbalists upon whom we (Klal Yisroel) rely on also in matters of Halochah l’maseh. (Besides the fact that the Lubavitcher Rebbe is a Talmid Chocham of such similar to the saying [in Gemorah] “Rav is [considered like] a Tanah” - and if he used such terms regarding his father-in-law, and on hundreds of occasions, this itself can stand as a source that can be relied on).”

He continued in his letter addressing the different Rabbi’s who seeked to publicize their viewpoint in the press:

“In regards to whose point of view will be accepted by the Jewish people - the Lubavitch perspective, who are involved throughout the world, with good will, in conquering the hearts of Acheinu Bnei Yisroel or of some Rosh Yeshivah (or even several of them): when Lubavitch will print the foundation for their conduct,


how it is founded on Chazal in Nigleh and Nistar (and the Rebbe’s own words), what will achieve that one will say his personal “Daas Torah”.”

In addition to the illustrious chassidim that called Canada home and strove to imbue the chassidishkeit from the “Alter Heim” into the new world, the shluchim of Canada, as well, weave Inyonei Geulah U'Moshiach into all their Chabad events and community endeavours.

After the Sicha of Chof Ches Nissan 5751 the

Shluchim in Canada gathered together for a special local Kinus Hashluchim at the end of the Kinus they took upon themselves a number of hachlatos to put the Rebbe’s words into action.

Below is translated their hachlotas which were sent to the Rebbe:

1. Everyone of the shluchim takes upon themselves

the malchus of the Rebbe to give themselves totally over to his instructions that he tells us.

2. To strengthen in personal shiurim in Geulah u'Moshiach and also in giving classes to the public in this subject.

3. Every one of the shluchim should learn every week the new sicha which comes out muga from the Rebbe.

4. To strengthen in one’s home strong belief and

a n t i c i p a t i n g of Moshiach's

coming.

5. All of the shluchim should will set aside time to be contemplate and arouse within himself the deep love for the Rebbe which is planted in the heart of every chossid.

6. On everything printed from now on in the name of the Lubavitcher mosdos there should be a line connected with Moshiach.

7. On every invitation or sign regarding a Simcha should be mentioned the coming of Moshiach (for example: the event will take place in Yerushalayim - and if chas v'shalom Moshiach does not come until then it'll take place in this and this place.)

8. During every Seudas Simcha Moshiach should be discussed

9. To visit the Rabbonim shuls and schools to strengthen their belief to talk to them and learn with them about Moshiach - to organize people to be in charge in every city.

10. To print a brochure regarding Moshiach.

11. To print in the local newspapers different ideas and saying about Moshiach and also to place advertisements from time to time.

12. To advertise on the buses throughout the entire Canada signs

Shevat 5775 | 21

regarding the coming of Moshiach.

13. To put up electronic billboards throughout Canada in public areas regarding the coming of Moshiach and the Rebbe's horo’os.

14. We must always remember the special time we are now standing in, the seriousness of the matters and our obligation, especially those who took specific tasks to make sure that they actually be fulfilled to give

nachas ruach to the Rebbe until the hisgalus of Malkeinu Meshicheinu now!

Moshiach weekly had the privilege to have an interview with Reb Zushe Zilbershtein of Montreal and Reb Menachem Matusof of Calgary. Here are some brief points from Reb Zushe’s work in Inyanei M o s h i a c h throughout the years.

-We arranged ads in local newspapers telling the world

that the Rebbe is

Moshiach and “Hinei Ze Ba”.

-Ran a column in the weekly Canadian Jewish News titled Moshiach Matter's.

-We had a phone line which the number was 1800-Moshiach, with a number of messages about Moshiach. A lot of money was spent on this special campaign and boruch Hashem at times we had thousands of callers daily.

-Billboards all over town with the theme: “Discover Moshiach”, with a picture of the sunrise and the 1800-Moshiach number on it.

-We also started a weekly fax under the Shluchim Office titled: Leben Mit Moshiach, which contains a sichah of the Rebbe in Inyonei Moshiach, sent weekly to shluchim all over the world.

-Opened up a Website called Moshiach.com

-Tzach made a brochure in Hebrew, 24 page long, called “Perceiving the Geulah”, explaining about Moshiach with clear explanations on Geulah u'Moshiach-- which we then translated into English, French, Russian, Portuguese .

-As is well-known in 5752 a crew from

the CNN

The Rebbe’s acknowledgement to the peulos of the Canadian Jewish community was touchingly expressed in a story that involved the Montreal N'shei Chabad.

A group of women from Montreal presented a collection of jewelry that had been donated by members of the community to the Rebbe to go towards building the Beis Hamikdash. Their effort was expressly mentioned by the Rebbe at the Farbrengen the following Shabbos Parshas Terumah.

After Gimmel Tammuz it was discovered that the box of jewelry they had brought still sitting in the Rebbe’s room. Whilst all the other items presented to the Rebbe by Sunday Dollars were usually kept in the room of the mazkir, Reb Leibel Groner and sent to the Rebbe’s Library, the Rebbe had personally stored their donation in his room, displaying the chavivus he attached to the heartfelt contribution.

The Rebbe should build the Beis HaMikdosh


television company asked the Rebbe regarding his message to the world. The Rebbe answered that “Moshiach is ready to come now, it is only on our part to do something additional in the realm of goodness and kindness . . at least a little more then Moshiach will come immediately”. Reb Ronnie Fine, one of the shluchim to Montreal, started a special campaign to actually bring this message out to the world, which was the “Good Card” Campaign which displayed the Rebbe’s call to add in kindness to bring Moshiach. Many shluchim such as myself used it at business cards. We

printed tens of thousands of cards and they were spread world wide.There was a big hit on those cards and we got back a lot of very good feedback.

- The well-known shliach of the Rebbe to Australia Reb Itche Groner and Reb Chaim Gutnick made a two-week tour around the world. Their goal was to explain to major Rabbonim in cities throughout Eretz Yisroel and around the world the Rebbe’s message that “Moshiach is on his way” and how Rebbe being M o s h i a c h according to

Halachah. They made a very big

impact on the

Rabbonim and these Rabbonim brought the message to their respective communities. I remember them coming to Canada and making a huge impact on the crowds.

Many of the articles that we put in the big newspapers, we used to send them to the Rebbe to be Magiah. An interesting story connected to this happened regarding an advertisement we had prepared on the topic of increasing awareness of the Rebbe’s Ten Mivtzoyim to prepare for Moshiach. The ad was entitled "A Message from the Lubavitcher Rebbe." We sent in to the Rebbe and interestingly enough the Rebbe took out the word “Lubavitcher” leaving it reading only, “A Message from the Rebbe”.

After we publicized the ad someone came over and asked me why we were writing plainly “the Rebbe”. He challenged that there are many Rebbe’s and we should write explicitly the “Lubavitcher Rebbe”.

Then I understood why the Rebbe changed it - to make this statement.

Rabbi Matusof from Calgary met with the Moshiach Weekly regarding the activities done in this field in Calgary:

Shevat 5775 | 23

In general at the time there was a big koch in the publicizing that the Rebbe is the Shofet, Yoetz and Novi of our

generation and his Nevuah that “Moshiach is coming,” as the Rebbe spoke of at length in the famous sicha of Parshas Shoftim 5751.

This campaign immediately followed the miracles and fulfillment of the Rebbe’s Nevuohs in relation to the Gulf War. One of the things I remember was that I was then giving shiur at that time every Friday morning in someone's office and I kept on repeating the Rebbe's words that there no one will get killed by the missiles and that there’s no need for the gas masks and that by Purim the war will be over like the Rebbe said. I remember many people asking various questions like what will happen if the war

still continues etc. And I

answered them that I don't know because nothing will happen!.. And the outcome is well known.

We were very strong then in going out to the world and telling them that this is now a time that Moshiach is coming and anavim higia zman geulaschem..

So too we worked on the magazines and newspapers around Calgary- Jewish and non Jewish. We had throughout those years many articles regarding the Rebbe and the Rebbe's message to the world, that moshiach is coming!

The way that a person sees that we are

r e a l

Rabbi Shmuel Zalmanov once stayed in Montreal for a while. Once he was noticed speaking quietly to Reb Peretz Mochkin and the bochurim gathered around to listen.

Reb Shmuel told over that he had heard that a chossid and been in Yechidus and told the Rebbe that “the Rebbe always says that Moshiach should come bkorov mamash, and mamash is the roshei teivos of the Rebbe’s holy name, so …”. The Rebbe answered “זאל שוין זאל משיח אבי אזוי, זיין שוין trans. From this Reb ”!קומעןShmuel said excitedly we see that the Rebbe holds that he is indeed Moshiach. Reb Peretz immediately answered, אוודאי“ שאלה? דער איז וואס !what’s the question - ”!געוויסObviously”.

1. It should be noted that late shvat 5752 the Rebbe mentioned in a sichah that we should have the coming of Moshiach “mamash with all its roshei teivois” which chassidim explained to mean the Rebbe’s initials or “Moshiach Menachem shmo”.

2. From “Eile Toldos Peretz” pg. 383

No Question about It


about Moshiach. Is only through the fact that we are strong in our beliefs and will never bend.

Despite living across the border, beyond the country divide, the chassidim of Canada always make sure to frequently visit the Rebbe, making the trip to New York frequently to strengthen their hiskashrus. Reb Michoel Gershzon, shliach in Ottawa recalls the time when he arranged a trip to the Rebbe in honor of Yud Shevat.

“We arranged for a bus for mekuravim that traveled along with us to visit Crown Heights. In the group was someone who had suffered from cancer over the years and, as a result, did not like being touched and hated crowds. Our plans included davening Friday night in 770, but some friends tried to dissuade me because of the crowding. Instead, they said to take them to a shul in the neighborhood. Others thought otherwise, saying the warmth of 770 would be the most powerful impact of the trip. I wasn’t sure what to do.

“I finally gave in. Why did these Jews make the long trip from Ottawa? Only because of the Rebbe. I took

them all to 770. At first, they found places to sit, but then a group from Brazil blew in like a storm. The Brazilians danced on the tables, pushed, and created a major commotion. My mekuravim were moved from place to place and I was sure they would be upset.

“When the davening was over and we went out as a group to our hosts, that man said to me, ‘You should know R’ Gershon, this is the holiest place in the world.’

It took me some time to believe that he was saying this sincerely and not sarcastically. He went on to say, ‘770 has endless reserves of

energy and emotion.’ The rest of the group

concurred. I was left

open-mouthed. What happened was precisely the opposite of what I had feared and what I had been warned would happen. I thanked G-D for giving me the good sense to go to 770. To me, this was a lesson as to how we must be careful to mix in our “sechel” into our shlichus but rather to go on the “Rebbe’s train” towards Geulah.”

Shevat 5775 | 25

W hat began in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, with a small number of children, has grown into a worldwide organization. Over 100,000

Jewish boys and girls, up until their Bar/Bas Mitzvah, are members of a special army - Tzivos Hashem.

It started on Sukkos, 5741, during a Chol Hamoed gathering for children in 770.

It wasn’t the first time the Rebbe attended such an event, however, this kinus was the third in a series of special rallies under the Rebbe’s direct instruction. One month earlier, on 14 Elul 5740, after several months of stressing the importance of Jewish education and the unique role children play in

protecting Eretz Yisroel and Am Yisroel, the Rebbe requested three special gatherings to be arranged - one before Rosh Hashanah, one during Aseres Yemei Teshuva, and the final one on Chol Hamoed Sukkos.

The first hint of the Rebbe’s wish for a new moisad occurred on the first day of Chol Hamoed by the kinus of Tzach. Rabbi Chodakov presented a special memento—a letter from the Rebbe, and read it to the assembled. The letter speaks about the fact that every Jew, even from a young age, is a part of Tzivos Hashem. The madrichim later distributed the letter among the children by the rally on the third day of Chol Hamoed.


On Monday, at the Chol Hamoed Sukkos rally, there was an air of expectancy; everyone was anticipating a big announcement.

In the three sichos that the Rebbe delivered, he expressed that the time was ripe for establishing an international Jewish children’s organization. In keeping with the previous signon of fighting the Yetzer Hora, the Rebbe declared that the organization be called Tzivos Hashem, the army of Hashem, and stressed the need to follow the orders of the commander-in-chief - Hashem.

The Rebbe explained that the way an army is set up and run on this world directly mirrors the way Hashem’s Heavenly

army is assembled. As a matter of fact, armies function on this world the way they do for the purpose of setting an example for Hashem’s army on this world (Tzivos Hashem) to follow.

Over the next few days, the Rebbe issued instructions regarding the nature of the new organization. Askanim also began working on an emblem for the new “army,” and everything was carefully scrutinized by the Rebbe.

Only one thing remained: the army needed its own anthem.

The Rebbe sent a message to Rabbi J.J. Hecht, one of the main activists in the new organization, to prepare a special niggun to serve as Tzivos Hashem’s anthem.

Shevat 5775 | 27

By the first rally on Chol Hamoed, the Rebbe instructed to sing Napoleon’s march, saying it was the best way to begin educating the new army. Several times throughout the coming days of Simchas Torah and Shabbos Bereishis, the Rebbe requested the children - the new soldiers - to sing this niggun.

Now, however, the Rebbe wanted an original anthem.

During the rallies in the summer of 5740, the Rebbe stressed the special role that children play in bringing Moshiach, and in response, the children chanted “We want Moshiach now.”

In camp, the previous summer, one of the staff members put these words to an old camp song, which is an old Chabad tune, about color war:

Gan Yisroel have no fear, color war will be here this year, one, Two, Three, Four, we want color war, five, Six, Seven, Eight, we don’t want to wait.

The words were slightly adjusted to speak about Moshiach “Am Yisroel have no fear Moshiach will be here this year, we want Moshiach now, we don’t want to wait!”

At Kos Shel Brocho on Motzei Shabbos Bereishis, the children sang this song for a long time with the Rebbe waving several times in encouragement. [In fact, the new version was so similar to the old camp song that some children got mixed up and sang “we want color war.”]

Rabbi Hecht, although busy with his other duties, set to work on composing an original anthem and came up with an idea. This niggun would be most fitting to serve as the Tzivos Hashem anthem.

The next kinus was scheduled for the coming Wednesday, the 28th of Tishrei. At the beginning of the rally, Rabbi Hecht taught the children the new song to be prepared for when the Rebbe would arrive. Within a few minutes, the Rebbe entered the shul for Mincha, while the children sang the Napoleon’s March.

After Mincha, all eyes turned expectantly to Rabbi Hecht, anticipating the presentation of the new anthem.

Rabbi Hecht took the microphone and began:

“We want to tell the Rebbe the words of the new song we are singing about Moshiach. So I’m just going to read them: Am Yisroel, have no fear, Moshiach will be here this year, we want Moshiach now, we don’t want to wait.”

The Rebbe smiled broadly, revealing his immense nachas.

As soon as Rabbi Hecht finished his introduction, the music began playing, and the children raised their voices in song. Immediately, the Rebbe’s face turned serious as he began to clap slowly in encouragement. At each round of the niggun, the Rebbe’s clapping grew stronger and faster, and within minutes, all the children had risen

from their seats, singing with all their hearts, each one captivated by the Rebbe’s energetic clapping.

A new song was born.

Although the Rebbe was shtureming tremendously in Moshiach’s imminent arrival and the role of the Jewish children in his coming, he had never given an official explanation for his great love for the new song. It was only by the next kinus of Tzivos Hashem that the Rebbe gave a clear explanation.

This was on the second night of Chanukah 5741, the very first time the Chanukah rally was attended by children in Tzivos Hashem.

After the twelve pesukim were recited, the children sang “We want Moshiach now”. The Rebbe then said a sicha in which he compared the battle of Tzivos Hashem to the war fought by the Yidden on Chanukah whose purpose was to strengthen Torah and Mitzvos.

The Rebbe then concluded:

“Although the general purpose of the battle is always the same - to be able to learn more Torah and perform more Mitzvos, nevertheless, in every period there is a special mission.

The special mission in our times

By the Farbrengen of Shabbos Parshas Mishpotim 5741 the Rebbe asked “Where are the children who want Moshiach now?!”

The children immediately began singing the niggun. A similar incident occurred on Vov Tishrei 5746, where the Rebbe suddenly asked, “Where are the “Tzon Kodshim” - the holy flock?!” The children responded right away with the song.

A few minutes into the singing, the Rebbe rose from his seat, and, facing the children, continued to encourage them in the singing. It was the first time that the Rebbe stood up during a niggun and the next time was four years later in 5746!... Th

e R

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’s A

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is just as you loudly proclaimed — “We want Moshiach now” that Moshiach should come immediately now!”

“We want Moshiach now” soon became the international Tzivos Hashem anthem, sung in many different languages. It also became the newest slogan of Lubavitch, with banners proudly proclaiming its message.

The Rebbe approved that the banner of “We Want Moshiach Now!” should be placed at the bottom of the Tzivos Hashem emblem. The name of the Tzivos Hashem bi-monthly magazine was also given the name “Moshiach Times”, with the Rebbe’s consent. Clearly the Rebbe wanted Moshiach to be at the forefront

in all activities related to Jewish children.

As can be expected and as was the case by many of the Rebbe’s new campaigns, there were those individuals who questioned the whole thing. By the Chanukah rally of 5741 the Rebbe addressed this. He explained that there is no place for any Jew to hold himself too high for such a request. This is evident from the fact that he stands in front of Hashem three times a day, in shmoneh esrei, and pleads for Moshiach’s immediate arrival. In light of this, how can one possibly be uncomfortable with screaming “We want Moshiach now”!

Throughout the next decade, “We want Moshiach now” was sung by every children’s rally, with

the Rebbe strongly encouraging the crowd - both when the Rebbe would enter the shul for the kinus, and after the sichos, together with the niggun “Utzu Eitzah”.

Why an Army?

The United States experienced sharply growing rates of juvenile violence during the 1980’s and early 1990’s. The Rebbe was keenly aware of this problem and took steps to address it from the ground up, initially launching Tzivos Hashem with a letter to all Jewish children under the age of Bar and Bas Mitzvah on Chol HaMoed Sukkos, 5741. This was followed by what became known as the first official Tzivos Hashem rally, which took place on the third day of Chol Hamoed Sukkos, 5741. In both

Shevat 5775 | 29

the letter and the sicha, the Rebbe explained that, not only would Tzivos Hashem help rectify this situation, but that Tzivos Hashem had in fact been created in order to recruit children into Hashem’s Army and bring Moshiach, serving as an ultimate solution to all Golus ills.

There were skeptics who questioned the Rebbe’s choice of framework for this project, wondering why the Rebbe chose something so often associated with violence as the model for young Jewish children. The Rebbe’s response was clear and startling.

“...As with every health problem, physical, mental or spiritual, the cure lies not in treating the symptoms, but in attacking the cause, although the former may sometimes be necessary for relief in acute cases.

The root of the problem, in my opinion, in this day and age, is the lack of kabolas ol, not only of ol malchus shomayim, but also general submission to authority, including the authority of parents

at home and of teachers in school, and the authority of law and order in the street. There remains only the fear of punishment as a deterrent, but that fear has been reduced to a minimum because there has in recent years been what amounts to a breakdown of law enforcement, for reasons which need not be discussed here.

On the other hand, American children have been brought up on the spirit of independence and freedom, and on the glorification of personal prowess and smartness. It has cultivated a sense of cockiness and self-assurance to the extent that one who is bent on mischief or anti-social activity feels that one can outsmart a cop on the beat, and even a judge on the bench; and, in any event, there is little to fear in the way of punishment.

Since, as mentioned, the root of the problem is the lack of kabolas ol, it would be necessary that it should be freely and readily accepted without coercion.

The chosen model was that of an army. An army has a rigorous

discipline system, yet soldiers choose to volunteer their services and are even willing to give up their lives for its sake. Tzivos Hashem is built in a way that entices children to join, causing them to be the ones choosing on their own accord to learn how to follow the instructions of authority.4”

The Initial Launch

Interestingly enough, Tzivos Hashem is first mentioned in the Torah when Am Yisroel left Mitzrayim - “יצאו כל צבאות ה‘ מארץ מצרים”. Yetzias Mitzrayim actually began 400 years earlier when Yitzchok was born, making him the first child in Tzivos Hashem. (Truth to be told, Tzivos Hashem was really inaugurated during Sheshes Yemei Breishis as each day of Creation was made with one of Hashem’s names, one of which is Tzvo’os.)

Submission to a Higher Authority

The foundation of an army is kabolas ol. A soldier never questions his commands. Though he may express interest in understanding the role his task has played in the greater scheme, this is only permissible once the mission has been completed, and with the understanding that his commander has a good reason for assigning him this task regardless of whether he fully comprehend its significance.

One of the primary goals of Tzivos Hashem is to help children learn to submit to a higher authority while they are still young. Using the metaphor of an army with Hashem as its Commander-in-Chief teaches children to follow instructions first and ask questions later. A soldier in an army cannot simply do whatever he wants, even if he were to be willing to face punishment. Doing so may put the entire army


in danger. The same is true for a soldier in the army of Hashem; behaving according to his own desires endangers the entire Jewish nation.6

The Mission

The mission of an army is to ensure the ruler’s dominion of his territory, enabling his subjects to live safely within it and abide by its constitution. Hashem drafted the Yidden into His Army to conquer the darkness and lies of this world (i.e. that the world runs on its own and people can do as they see fit) and bring about an undisputed awareness that there is a Creator and He reigns supreme over the seven heavens and the earth. This mission will have been accomplished when everyone and everything will recognize its Creator and obey His every command, bringing the world to the era of Moshiach.

In order to be truly successful in our fight against the enemy we have to understand who the enemy is and the tactics it employs in trying to defeat us. The Rebbe identified the primary enemy as the Yetzer Hara, and explained how the Yetzer Hara operates in trying to spread more darkness in the world.

The Rebbe identified the Torah as our primary weapon against the Yetzer Hara, based on the Gemara “I have created the Yetzer Hara, and I have created the Torah as its antidote.”

Every Mitzvah that we do illuminates this fact. On a simple level, by keeping Torah and Mitzvos despite perceived limitations, we reaffirm to the world that there is a Creator with Whom we have an essential bond, overriding the darkness and distance created by

the Yetzer Hara.

C h i l d r e n immersed in Torah and Mitzvos can accomplish this in a way that adults cannot and have always been on the front lines, such as at Kriyas Yam Suf

and during the times of Purim, Chanukah and the many other eras of oppression throughout our long history. Today, too, it is our children who will lead us to victory.

The New Recruits

The first wars fought by our nation after the term “Tzivos Hashem” was first coined, were physical wars for which men aged 20 and above were drafted to fight (since physical strength peaks at age 20). As such, when the Yidden were counted, they were counted from the age of 20. Shevet Levi, however, was counted from the age of one month. This was because, while the rest of the soldiers were out on the battlefield fighting physical enemies, Shevet Levi was fighting a different kind of battle,

a battle against the darkness and forces that try to distance us from our Creator. And for this battle, it was precisely the children who could best lead the army to victory.

Our generation is no different.

The Rebbe mobilized the children, for it is they, the Rebbe stated, who are our front-line soldiers and have been entrusted with the Torah, the most effective weapon to defeat the Yetzer Hara. Children are free of all worries. This purity and innocence allows them illuminate the world with G-dly, holy light, dispelling the darkness that hides its true essence.

An Army of Boys and Girls

According to the Torah, women do not serve in the army during a milchemes reshus. The war we

Shevat 5775 | 31

are fighting now, however, is a milchemes mitzvah, and for this kind of war, all Jews, male and female, and even a kallah on her wedding day, are called to battle.

The Rebbe emphasized at every opportunity that both boys and girls are included in the ranks of Tzivos Hashem. At times, it is in fact the girls who possess greater strength than the boys. At Matan Torah, Hashem told Moshe to speak first to the women and only afterward to the men. In the mission to reveal Hashem’s presence in this world, it was the women who came first to donate for the building of His home, the Mishkan. In our generation, too, it is the girls who march on the front lines in this final battle to rid the world of darkness and greet Moshiach. The Rebbe emphasized this point further with his insistence that any publication put out by Tzivos Hashem include both a boy and a girl in its cover illustration.8

Four divisions

Just as every army is comprised of a variety of brigades, Hashem’s army has four divisions. These four divisions are connected with our Avos and Imahos, who are in turn connected with the four directions of the world: Avrohom and Sara

with the South, Yitzchok and Rivka with the North, Yaakov and Leah with the East, and Dovid HaMelech and Rochel Imainu with the West.9

Indeed, as the original group of Tzivos Hashem left Mitzrayim and traveled through the midbar, they camped in four groups along the four sides of the Mishkan.

In order to accomplish the goal of conquering all four corners of the world, the Rebbe instructed that Tzivos Hashem groups meet periodically to devise a plan of action to combat the Yetzer Hara. The children and their generals (madrichim or madrichos) should strategize the “major attack” — the main offensive, by undertaking to follow the good example set out by one of the Avos or Imahos. For example, when choosing to battle the south, hachlotos would be undertaken by choosing to emulate one of Avrohom or Sara’s good qualities or ways of serving Hashem.

In order that no one method should take precedence, the Rebbe instructed that children should meet each week or at least once a month to review these various styles of attack (avodas Hashem), cycling through them constantly.29

During Tammuz 5753, hundreds of children, campers in the Lubavitch day camps of the former Soviet Union, marched through Red Square in a “Moshiach Parade”. The event was witnessed by hundreds of parents and tourists. On this very site, which, for over fifty years, was the official address of the Communist regime which hunted down Yiddishkeit, where in the past, huge military parades were held, casting fear in the hearts of the Jews, Jewish children now paraded proudly in anticipation of Moshiach. Truly a sign of Yemos HaMoshiach!

The children davened sincerely for Moshiach, held high Moshiach banners and signs and sang loudly Moshiach songs opposite the Kremlin.

Rabbi Shmuel Butman, director of International Campaign to Bring Moshiach, addressed the hundreds of children, saying: “The Lubavitcher Rebbe has told us that not only Moshiach is about to come but that he’s already on his way. And if a march such as ours can take place here, in the midst of the Red Square - this really demonstrates the truth of the Rebbe’s holy words”.

In connection to the Moshiach parade, Rabbi Berel Lazar, Head Shliach of the Rebbe to Russia, told the “Kfar Chabad” magazine: “This parade gave the children the feeling that Moshiach is not just a dream or something abstract, rather, a real thing that is going to take place in the near future”.


Victory through Achdus

In every army, each soldier has a battle buddy, a fellow soldier for whom he assumes responsibility to look out for his safety. Similarly, the Rebbe did not rely on the parents or teachers, but on the children themselves to look out for their fellow peers and make sure they stay on track.

The Rebbe instructed that children attending Tzivos Hashem rallies give a dime (or the local currency’s coin with a value of 10) to tzedaka. The Rebbe explained that a shekel is equivalent to 20 geira, half of which is 10 geira. When a child gives a dime (or other coin with a value of 10) to tzedaka, he reminds himself that he is only half a unit and must take responsibility for his battle buddy in order to become complete.10

Rallies and Parades

Every army holds rallies, where soldiers gather before going to battle in order to be briefed on how to conduct themselves during that battle. After the war has been won, the soldiers parade through the streets as a sign of victory. Similarly, Tzivos Hashem soldiers gather to be briefed for their upcoming missions. The Rebbe delivers the orders of the day. The [Lag Baomer] parades are a sign of pride and victory.11

The Order of the Day

Every army has a book of orders from which the soldiers take instructions on how to conduct themselves. So too, soldiers in Hashem’s Army have His book of orders, the Torah, which provides a soldier with everything he needs to know about how to conduct himself every day of his life. Specific guidance can be found

every day within that day’s portion of Chumash, and, on yomim tovim, in the krias haTorah of that day. Indeed, the Rebbe dedicated significant portions of his every sicha to extracting the Order of the Day for that particular day.12

New Marching Orders

As mentioned above, the Rebbe said that the mission of Jewish children in our times is connected to “Moshiach now”, however, in later years the Rebbe took this demand to a totally new level.

It was in middle of the year 5751, a year in which it burned consciously in the hearts of Chassidim that this is the year of אראנו I" נפלאות will show you wonders." From the beginning of the year, the Rebbe stressed the fact that this is the year in which the Midrash describes as “Shana Sh'melech HaMoshiach Nigleh Bo”. From sicha to sicha the Rebbe continued emphasizing that according to all signs, we will soon witness Moshiach’s arrival. Everyone felt that Golus is coming to an end and the Rebbe as the leader of the generation will be

the one to fulfill the purpose of creation. If only we would not interfere.

Then on Chof-Ches Nissan the Rebbe changed the whole previous state of affairs of Lubavitch. In impassioned words the Rebbe called out to every chossid and Jew: "What further can I do to effect this (that Yidden should truly demand and effect the coming of Moshiach)? I do not know! Everything I have done until now is nothing has came from it. We remain in Golus, and more than this, we remain in an internal Golus with regards to avodas Hashem. The only thing I can do is to give this over to each one of you: Do everything - טוט אלץ וואס איר קענטyou can to bring Moshiach immediately. This should be done with the “lights” of Tohu, but in the “Kaylim” of Tikkun. I have done everything that is within my ability. From now on, do all that is within yours!13

The following Shabbos the Rebbe clarified that what was needed was for addition in learning

In 5741 Reb Rami Antian organized a summer camp in Tzfas which was totally permeated with the spirit of “We want Moshiach now!” When the camp finished and Moshiach had not yet arrived, one of the children who had participated in the camp was so infused with the anticipation for Moshiach couldn’t not stop speaking about this subject so much so that he used to wait on the roof to be able to spot Moshiach as soon as he would arrive. This went to such a degree that his parents who were not shomrei Torah u’Mitzvos, thought that he had gone insane (!)

Following the painful sicha of 28 Nissan 5751 Reb Rami remembered this story and wrote it in to the Rebbe. Following the recount he ended off: “And I dare ask - Ribono shel Olam! Is it not deemed enough that following 2,000 years of G-dliness being concealed a Jewish child was found with such a total longing and thirst for Moshiach that we should merit the Geulah through Melech HaMoshiach?”

To this the Rebbe answered “והרי זהו טענתי בשיחה הידועה. אזכיר על הציון”.

Shevat 5775 | 33

Torah (both Nigleh and Chassidus) and fulfillment of mitzvos b’hidur (especially the Mitzvah of Tzedaka). The Rebbe specified that this was a requirement for every Jew, men, women and children to participate in14.

In the sicha of Shabbos Parshas Tazria-Metzora the Rebbe spoke at length of the need add in learning particularly the parts of Torah discussing Moshiach and Geulah. The Rebbe specified that this should be starting with the sources in Chumash, Nach, the particular Gemorahs until Chassidus

including the “Maamorim and Likutei Sichos of Nosi Doreinu”15.

In this article we will concentrate on the peulos done in regards to children in response to the Rebbe’s call:

On an occasion Reb Zalman Goldstein related: After Shavuos 5751 I was about twenty years old. Listening to the Rebbe speak more and more fervently about the importance of learning about Geulah and Moshiach week in and week out, everyone was motivated to do something to bring the

Rebbe’s vision to fruition. The question was what? I remember the stream of new pamphlets and books that started coming out then on the topic of Geulah and Moshiach, and I noticed there was little being done for children.

I thought about this a lot. About finding a way to spark a child’s interest on the topic without overwhelming them with information. The idea came to me of creating a short, 10-minute audio dramatization of the arrival of Moshiach to act as springboard for discussion at home and in the classroom. Every kid enjoys a dramatization. I know I did.

On 12 Sivan, 5751, I wrote a letter to the Rebbe outlining the idea and asked whether I should pursue it. After several days, the Rebbe replied: “In accordance with Vaad Rabbonei Anash and Agudas chassidei Chabad. Azkir Al Hatzion”.

Rabbi Groner provided me with a list of the names of the Rabbis of Vaad Rabbonei Anash and Agudas Chabad (among them Rabbi Zalman Gurary, Rabbi Nissan Mindel, Rabbi Alter Metzger, etc). I made copies of the script and gave it to each of them. While I was thrilled to have such senior Rabbis give their input, I was also scared what they may say about a script written mostly, if not entirely from my imagination.

A few weeks passed and Rabbi Zalman Gurary called me to his office and congratulated me on the project, saying he enjoyed it (his grandson told me that he had him read the script to him). He shared that the Rabbis met about the project and after reviewing the details they gave their full consent “to benefit children so that they may grasp, on their level, the concept of

Regarding what was done in this regard in Chicago, IL, we can gain clarity from letter written to the Rebbe by one of the shluchim to the city, Rabbi Yitzchok Wolf: “The students of our Cheder here are animatedly involved in the theme of Moshiach. The Jewish community, too, is discussing how in Lubavitch there is a tremendous excitement about Moshiach, and about the Lubavitcher Rebbe being Moshiach. We see evidently that when we speak about such matters pleasantly and sincerely, our words are accepted. The time has come for Hashem to answer the supplication of Am Yisroel for the hisgalus of Moshiach, immediately mamosh”.

On Erev Rosh Chodesh Adar I the Rebbe answered: “שימשיך הציון על אזכיר טובות. continue to inform of such good - ”בבשורות tidings. I will mention it at the Tziyon. C

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the coming of Moshiach.”

Rabbi Gurary proceeded to even write a special letter of approval on behalf of Vaad Rabbonei Anash. I raced with his approval to Rabbi Hodakov’s office, giving him a copy along with the script. Rabbi Hodakov appended his approval on behalf of Agudas Chabad and wished me luck.

What is interesting to note in the above story is how the Rebbe deemed of paramount importance every activity done in inyonei Moshiach, that even a seemingly simple recording for children be done with the guidance and approval of chief Rabbonim and askonim.

During the summer Lubavitcher camps used out the opportunity to educate and getting children in the spirit of Moshiach. Camp Gan Israel Montreal prepared a special booklet containing different parts of Gemora and Rambam dealing with Moshiach with the Rebbe’s explanations around them.

On 24 Menachem-Av 5751 Reb Shmuel Butman, director of the International campaign to Bring Moshiach, showed the Rebbe a newly printed t-shirt for children. The t-shirt read “Moshiach is on the way - Let’s be ready!” and the Rebbe’s bsurah of “הנה הנה משיח בא”. The Rebbe inquired how many t-shirts had been printed and we answered that in the meantime 2,000 shirts had been printed. The Rebbe said that if he would keep one we would still be left with 1,999 and added: “א ישר כח פאר די כתונת” - A Yasher koach for the shirt.

During that most extraordinary summer over 150 Lubavitcher mechanchim and school teachers gathered in Yerushalayim for a two day gathering to discuss matters to

do with chinuch. One of the major topics discussed was how to relay the message of Geulah to children.

Rabbi Naftali Rot, director of the Chassidic Education Centre, prefaced the symposion with divrei hisorerus saying: Educating children about Moshiach and infusing in them a feeling to get ready and demand Moshiach is the present task of educators.

During the symposion it was discussed that being that the task of our generation, Dor HaShvi’i, is to bring Geulah in actuality, this is the obligation of every member of the generation and therefore why activity must be directed to also get the children involved in bringing Moshiach.

During Ellul 5751 Reb Zev Krombi from Tzfas wrote in to receive the Rebbe’s approval to produce a special workbook for children about Moshiach. The Rebbe answer was “Azkir al haTziyon” and Rabbi Krombi immediately got to work. Much effort was put in to the booklet to produce illustrations which would attract the children and this took some time. During Chanukah 5753 Rabbi Krombi sent in the completed booklet in to the Rebbe and received the answer “Haskomah u’brochah” for its production.

In addition to this during Shvat 5753, the mazkir, Reb Leibel Groner showed the Rebbe the booklet and leafed through the booklet showing the Rebbe each page (it should be noted that the first page of the booklet contained a picture of the Rebbe and underneath the caption of “Yechi”). Upon being asked “Does the Rebbe have nachas from this booklet and give his brochah for hatzlochah?” the Rebbe nodded

his head.

Already at the beginning of 5752 it was seen by the Rebbe a special interest in children. The day of B’shem Hashem, on the morrow of Yom Kippur, was expected to be a “unexceptional” day in a most amazing Tishrei of “Niflo’os BaKol” with the Rebbe going to the Ohel as customary. However, some time after Shachris the Rebbe surprised all when we made it known through Mazkirus that there would be a special distribution of dollars after returning from the Mikveh and prior to his departure to the Ohel. This was to be no regular distribution though rather - a distribution geared exclusively to boys and girls under Bar and Bas Mitzvah. The Rebbe even mentioned that adults shouldn’t make kuntzen, and try getting the dollars themselves. The news spread like wildfire; boys’ as well as girls’ schools scrambled to make arrangements so that their pupils be able to attend, mother with young babies,entire families from throughout Crown Heights and beyond - all were determined not to let their little ones miss this amazing opportunity.

Light rain showers fell all morning, yet dozens of parents could be seen rushing to 770 with their children. Entire preschool classes, cheder classes with their melamdim, mothers with their babies and older children strode proudly by with their teachers, as the Rebbe handed each child a dollar bill, accompanied by a wish to “A Gut Yohr’, “A Zis Yohr”. Over the two hours that followed,thousands of children had the zechus to receive their special dollar and brochah from the Rebbe.

As the Rebbe made his exit from 770 onto the front pathway,

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another huge crowd had already gathered who did not yet have the opportunity to receive their dollar from the Rebbe’s holy hand. Soon, as the line only grew, the Rebbe’s shtender was brought so the Rebbe could lean on it. The Rebbe then again distributed dollars to all the children present; something that lasted for another few hours, after which the Rebbe finally departed for the Ohel.

The next special interest that the Rebbe payed to children was during the Farbrengen of Simchas Torah night before Hakofos. In two different sichos during the

Farbrengen the Rebbe spoke about the special connection have with Moshiach and called on the directors of Tzivos Hashem to begin the “Niggun of Tzivos Hashem” - We want Moshiach now!

This most amazing Farbrengen was later edited by the Rebbe, below we present a section of the sichah in which the Rebbe speaks of how he wants children to be educated in our time:

“The above mentioned [regarding the Geulah] has a special connection to Jewish children, Tinokos shel Beis Rabbon, as

Chazal say: “Al Tigu B’Mishichoi - this is refering to Tinokos shel Beis Rabbon”. One of the explanations in this (in addition to the explanation given in Meforshim): The chinuch of Tinokos shel Beis Rabbon must be in a ,ammer that the children are totally permeated imbued with the concept and notion of “Moshiach”, so that if one just gives a glance at a Jewish child - what does he see? - Moshiach!”

. . “Kimei Tzeischo m’Eretz Mitzrayim Arenu Niflo’os”: Just as then “all of Tzivos Hashem left Mitzrayim”, so too will the “Tzivos Hashem” of our generation go out

Several years later Reb Gabi Holtzberg hy”d who later gave up his life on the Rebbe’s shlichus in India put out the Kovetz called ‘Derech Hayeshara’ . As mentioned earlier, the Rebbe refers to learning about Moshiach as the ‘quickest, easiest and straightest path to bring Moshiach’. Gabi, a true believer and one who really yearned for Moshiach, realized that not enough had been done to spread the teachings about Moshiach for children. This booklet, written in Yiddish, was used in chadorim and camps all over the world. Due to the high demand by many camps and schools, just a mere six months later a second edition was printed. The mesholim and simple explanations became very popular. C

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of the present Golus to the Geulah Ha’Amitis V’ha’Shleimah teikef u’miyad mamash.

Including and especially the Jewish children who are present at the moment, who were educated - during the previous year and for sure this will continue - in a way that if one only glances at them they see “Moshiach”16.

In response to these clear words of the Rebbe Lubavitch institutions world-wide stepped up in their activities to educate children about Moshiach.

In the Lubavitch International Issue for 11 Nissan 5752 “Newsbits” section under the title “The Children were First” we read: “How do you get a child to anticipate the coming of Moshiach? The Chabad-Lubavitch Shluchim Office, together with Tzivos Hashem, came up with a formula that has well over one million Jewish children doing all sorts of good things to help bring Moshiach. Printed in eight languages, one million (!) full-color, beautifully illustrated brochures appeal vividly to the children's imagination, describing a world of peace, prosperity and happiness for all people. Distributed to schools and children’s programs in countries around the world, children were invited to participate in a contest in which the author of the best composition explaining “Why I Want Moshiach” is awarded a free trip to Israel”.

In Eretz Yisroel a special

campaign to encourage children to learn Inyonei Moshiach was started entitled “B’Nesiv HaGeulah”. Organized by the Chabad education wing of Tzach a special booklet was produced containing 90 sayings of Chazal in Inyonei Moshiach, the last two chapters of the Rambam’s Hilchos Melochim and a write up of signs of Geulah which have already started to take place in our time written up especially for children.

In this special campaign over 10,000 children participated.

During Adar I the Shluchim Office reported to the Rebbe regarding a new project for children to learn about Moshiach. Being Shnas HaTzadik, the ninetieth year from the Rebbe’s birth, the Shluchim Office worked prepared ninety pisgomim in Inyonei Moshiach to be learnt by the upcoming 11 Nissan as a present to the Rebbe. On 21 Adar (just one week before 27 Adar I) the Rebbe

answered giving a special brochah for the tremendous success of the project, reading: רבה בהצלחה ויהא .ומופלגה והזמן גרמא והענינים. אזכיר על הציון

On 27 Adar I before the Rebbe headed to the Mikveh (as customary before visiting the Ohel) the Rebbe wrote a mayneh to Reb Dovid Nachshon who had informed the Rebbe of an article entitled “The Order of the Day” regarding Moshiach which would

be placed in the Tzivos Hashem Magazine in Eretz Yisroel:

נתקבל ות''ח אזכיר על""הציון

[ותשואת חן]

This answer of the Rebbe is of much importance being literally one of the very last answers which the Rebbe gave in writing before the Rebbe’s stroke which took place only several hours later...

•

We will conclude with the Rebbe’s

wish “that all of Bnei Yisroel will go to Eretz Yisroel, starting with “the youth” and only afterwards “the elders” and so too in regards to “the men and the women”, that it starts particularly from the young children... tekef umiyad mamash”17.

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Venue: 770 Eastern Parkway

Time: Night of Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan 5736

Occasion: A tzeischem le’shalom farbrengen for the guests who came to the Rebbe for Tishrei

The elder chassidim slowly took their places atop the farbrengen bima, weaving together a tapestry of distinguished rabonim, chassidim and political figures. Thousands packed the shul waiting with bated breath for the Rebbe’s grand entrance.

When the moment finally came, the crowd of thousands rose to their feet. The sea of chassidim split to form a path leading to the resplendent red chair, to which the Rebbe briskly walked.

The singing started. The farbrengen had begun.The Rebbe began by speaking on contemporary issues, interspersing his talk with the singing of chassidic melodies and nodding his head to those wishing him l’chaim.

Suddenly, the Rebbe raised his hand, extending two fingers towards his mouth, as if mimicking the motions of someone whistling. A handful of chassidim followed suit and began to whistle.

The Rebbe turned to the whistlers, and with stirring hand motions, encouraged them to continue. They did. Now with greater intensity. Following the encouragement, their numbers quickly swelled, with dozens joining the impromptu ensemble of whistlers. They threw their cold, ‘rational thinking’ to the wayside, choosing instead to adhere to the wishes of their Rebbe.

Few noticed the flash of photographer Levi Freidin’s camera, successfully capturing the moment for perpetuity.

The picture is published

The following week, the Yiddish weekly paper, “The Algemeiner Journal,” published the picture in a write-up about the farbrengen in Rabbi Gershon Ber Jacobson’s weekly column, “About people, things, and happenings.”

The following is a loose translation of the article:

The Rebbe signals to whistle

It seemed quite odd when a chassidic Rebbe, a leader of a movement like Lubavitch, instructed his followers to whistle. Yes, as I said. The Lubavitcher Rebbe inserted two fingers into his mouth, signaling all present to whistle (feif) at the world and all obstacles that may lie in the way. To feif at the golus and all its hardships. To feif at all the difficulties and at all those who scoff. At those who mock the ways of Lubavitch in its quest to rid the world of darkness through disseminating light.

But for many in attendance, the whistling wasn’t all that bizarre. Near me stood an elderly, long-bearded chossid from Israel, R' Berkeh Chein. I knew him already from Russia. A golden Jew. A true living example of mesiras nefesh. Following the farbrengen, I asked him what he’s taking with him?’

His reply: “The whistling is what took me. It stirred my innards. Back in Russia, we fought and persevered through all the hardships and imprisonments by taking no notice of the government. We simply feift at everything, through which we fulfilled the Rebbe’s will. Nowadays too, we must do the same. In order to embrace another yid and ask him to put on tefillin, give his children a Jewish education, keep kosher, shabbos and family purity, we must not be nispoel - we must not be embarrassed or affected by societal norms.”

“…nu, so Hashem helped and we prevailed in Russia and now I find myself at the Rebbe’s farbrengen. So when we’re commanded to feif at the world, we do. If we’re commanded to walk through fire, we do…”

The article was printed alongside a picture of the Rebbe motioning to whistle. This stirred the emotions of many chassidim. Raising the ire of some, the staunch approval of others, and by some, plain old shame.

Indeed, there was a segment of chassidim who were simply… ashamed!

For the latter group - composed mainly of temimim

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and anash who supposedly stood at the vanguard of protecting ‘kavod lubavitch’ – by printing such a picture, the newspaper had crossed all red lines. It was an affront to the entire Lubavitch community who were all ‘utterly ashamed’ by having such a picture publicized.

One member of this group sent a letter to the Algemeiner lambasting them for the picture’s publication. The letter read as follows:

“All papers publish articles and columns that are not to the liking of some people. It may even anger some, but that’s what journalism is about. This time, however, you’ve crossed all lines. You’ve shamed tens of thousands of Chabad chassidim by your publication of the photo of the Rebbe whistling. All who I have spoken to are furious. It is not a sin for you to take into account the feelings of your readership.”

The above letter was published by the Algemeiner the following week (issue 198), thus setting into motion an avalanche of responses expressing dismay at its writer’s grievances. Despite (or maybe due to…) many of the responders not being Chabad chassidim, it was not understood what exactly infuriated the letter’s writer. “Was this done privately in the Rebbe’s room?” wrote one. With another pointing out how the ones who should be ashamed are in fact the misnagdim, who lack such a great leader.

“We seemed like grasshoppers in our eyes, and so we were in their eyes.”

Weeks passed, yet the storm

refused to subside. Letters were still flowing in to the Algemeiner in support of their publishing the picture. The writer of the following letter, also a non-Chabad chossid, sourced his viewpoint from Halachic literature.

“Lately I’ve been hearing complaints leveled against the Algemeiner and its editor, Gershon Jacobson, in light of their publishing a picture of the Lubavitcher Rebbe standing at a farbrengen and motioning to whistle. It’s completely beyond me how orthodox Jews, and even some rabbonim and roshei Yeshivos, could level such complaints. After all we have a clear psak of the Rambam at the end of hilchos lulav (8:14), in which he writes: “It is a mitzvah to add in this joy. And this was not done by the simple folk and

commoners, but rather by the great torah scholars, heads of Yeshivos, sanhedrin, chassidim, zekeinim and anshei maiseh. They were the ones singing, dancing and rejoicing…” The Rambam then continues a bit further: “rejoicing in doing a mitzvah and developing love for Hashem, who commanded it, is a great avodah. And whoever brings honor to himself in this area is a sinner and a fool. But whoever lowers his self-image when doing so, he is great, respected and one who serves Hashem with love. As Dovid hamelech writes, “And I further demeaned myself with this, and became abashed in my own eyes.” And there is no greater respect for a person than one rejoicing before Hashem, as it is written, “And Dovid hamelech was hopping and dancing before Hashem.”

This is the literal meaning of the words of the Rambam. In my eyes, the Lubavitcher Rebbe followed precisely the Rambam’s writing. It baffles me how Rabbonim – and even Chabad chassidim – are not aware of this Rambam and attacked you, this paper, and even the Rebbe. According to halacha one must not respond to those who have shown such blatant am-haratzus (ignorance.) What is clear is that by whistling, dancing and clapping the

Suddenly, the Rebbe raised his hand, extending two fingers towards his mouth, as if mimicking the motions of someone whistling.

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leader is lowering his image in front of the masses - but therein lies his greatness, as the Rambam writes.”

In that same issue appeared a letter from Rabbi Yosef Benzion Raices, a resident of Crown Heights, who also pointed out that the Rebbe is not the first to behave in such a manner as it is written, “And Dovid hamelech was hopping and dancing...”

More than 4 months had passed and at the Purim farbrengen of 5736 – a most memorable farbrengen at which the Rebbe instructed the donning of Rabeinu Tam’s Tefillin from the age of Bar Mitzvah and spoke in praise of Israeli Shluchim who crossed an Arab checkpoint in order to bring joy to every yid – the Rebbe finally addressed the whistling saga. A moment that will forever be etched in the minds of all those present and will remain, until the end of days be remembered as "ַא מעשה מיט ..."פייפען

The Rebbe started off by reprimanding the Chassidim who constantly preach Mesirus Nefesh for the Rebbe until it comes to protecting the Rebbe's Kavod, when they can't bring themselves to open a Tanach, a Gemara Chulin (a Yeshivishe Gemara) nor a Rambam, to answer the critics. Rather they insist on keeping their heads in "Galashin"1.

The Rebbe continued: “If one would open a Tanach in Novi Shmuel, one would see the source of whistling in Kedusha. It's told there, the story of Dovid Hamelech bringing the Aron HaKodesh to Yerushalayim, that he danced and whistled. When Dovid

Hamelech’s wife Michal criticized the king for belittling and demeaning himself by acting like a common person, Dovid vindicated himself by explaining his joy and excitement was “before Hashem.”

If one would just open up a Gemara Chulin, one would see that the idea of whistling in Kedusha is derived from the Pasuk "ואשריקה להם" that when the time of redemption will come about Hashem will signal the redemption through a whistle. The Gemara relates that a bird called 'Rachama' was heard whistling causing people to assume that it was the whistle of Geulah that they heard. The Gemara says further, that they realized it’s not the whistle of geulah because it didn’t sound quite like a human whistle, only similar.”

Based on this, the Rebbe said we can be sure the whistle of redemption is not a spiritual phenomenon but a

real human whistle that can

be heard with physical ears of flesh.”

The Rebbe goes on to connect whistling with the geulah of the Alter Rebbe. “The Alter Rebbe writes in the famous letter written in connection with his geulah on Yud-Tes Kislev: אליהם" ישרוק that the chassidim "ואל should not whistle or gloat at the Misnagdim. The Rebbe explained, that then in the times of the Alter Rebbe, when the spreading of the wellsprings of chassidus was just starting, the chassidim were warned not to whistle. However nowadays, in the final generation of golus, heralding the footsteps of Moshiach we must experience the whistle of kedusha, and fief on the galus to bring Moshiach.

The Rebbe concluded “Yehi Ratzon, may it be Hashem’s will, that we should merit to hear very soon the real whistling of Hashem by the Geulah Teikef U’m’yad.” In response, the chassidim began singing passionately “Wake up Yidden…” a fitting culmination to "ַא מעשה מיט פייפען”.

1. Having one's “head in galoshes,” (literally head in boots’,) refers to a story about one of the chassidim of the Rebbe Rashab, who was very knowledgeable and always contemplating ideas in chassidus. This chosid opened a galoshes business and invested a lot of his time and headspace into his new business. Upon his next visit to Lubavitch, the Rebbe Rashab said to him “Feet in galoshes I have seen before, but a head in galoshes?! This I’ve never seen!

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The burning desire of a chossid

Reb Avrohom Pariz was a special chossid, who stood out even among chassidim of lofty stature, and his biography “Echod Hoyo Avrohom” retains its uniqueness among the best publications of its kind.

Reb Avrohom is famous mainly for his absolute selflessness and devotion to the Rebbeim, to the extent that when he stumbled upon a bundle containing gold coins which was worth an enormous sum of money at the time, his first instinct and final decision was to deposit the sum, in its entirety, into the Rebbe’s bank account, which is even more shocking considering he had a starving family at home. However, he also excelled in his dedication to self refinement as chassidus Chabad teaches.

Once, as he walked casually through the streets of his hometown Bobruisk shortly after noon, he was approached by some locals and asked to help complete their Minyan for Mincha. When Reb Avrohom pointed to his friend Leibel Sheinin (later to become known as Reb Leib Dokshitzer after the City where he served as rabbi), who was davening Shacharis, the congregants replied “He can’t be counted. He has lost his mind, he has been there since the morning!”. Reb Avrohom commented “The difference between my friend and I is, that the Baalei Batim still think I’m normal. I must start davening longer!”

On another occasion, as he was picking oranges from an orchard during harvest season, he was suddenly struck with an overwhelming desire to indulge

in one juicy orange which he had picked, in response to which he made a firm resolution to refrain from eating oranges for the next six months! This brings to mind the story with Reb Shmuel Munkes and the non-Kosher kishke. In fact, his entire personality is similar to that of Reb Shmuel, who may have come across as humorous, but was actually a chossid of enormous stature, esteemed by his greatest colleagues and peers and even consulted by the Alter Rebbe on occasion.

This celebrated Reb Avrohom was overcome with a burning desire to publicize the greatness of the Rebbe to the world’s every corner. He wanted that people should recognize the Rebbe’s qualities, immerse themselves in his teachings and eventually accept him as Melech HaMoshiach so that he could fulfil his mission of redeeming Yidden from this bitter Golus and achieve the long-awaited complete and eternal Geulah.

His largest activity in this field was in Sivan 5725 (1962), when he printed thousands of notes “to our Jewish brothers and sisters” containing the said content and scattered them all around Eretz Yisroel, handed them out at the busy intersections and dropped hundreds out of a helicopter. When a copy arrived at the Rebbe’s secretariat, he received a hurried letter stating that: “We were shocked by his letter. Please halt the dissemination of the letter and proclamation immediately, gather all the remaining until the very last one and send them to the secretariat. Please confirm the fulfilment of the said instruction immediately. Secretariat”.

This article by no means presents a full account of all the references from the Rebbe on this topic, for that could fill a book of its own and is beyond the scope of this platform. We have tried our best to present a balanced report of the various responses received from the Rebbe, specifically those which are of greater significance and influence the general outlook.


Needless to say, Reb Avrohom immediately took to the task of collection with the same enthusiasm as he did the dissemination and never tried such publicity again. Nonetheless, he still remained of the opinion that the time will eventually come and the Rebbe’s fame would spread over the universe.

But what inspired him to such controversial activities in the first place, activities about which the Rebbe was later to be fiercely opposed by the Rebbe, in this scenario and many others throughout the years, with sharp expressions such as “they rip a piece of flesh from me” (Adar 5749) and “obviously, totally negated” (Chol Hamoed Pesach 5751)? Shouldn’t he, being a true chossid, have understood that this was not the right path to take?

In an emotion-packed letter written to Rabbi Menachem Mendel Feldman of Baltimore, dated Shevat 5727, he expresses what seems was the underlying motive for his activities in these so delicate fields.

“I met a tourist from Brooklyn in the Mikvah. I inquired of him, “Do you know of the Lubavitcher Rebbe?”, to which he replied “yes”. I then asked “have you seen him”, to which he replied “I have, he is a nice Rebbe”.

“I said “he is not just a nice Rebbe, he is the Rebbe of the whole world”. “My dear Jew”, the tourist replied cynically, “half the world is also enough!” “No!”, I insisted, “he is really the Moshe Rabbeinu of our generation.” “Don’t speak nonsense!” he told me. “He eats, he

drinks, he’s a good Jew.”

“It pained me greatly that no one knows who the Rebbe Shlita is.

“It is clear to me, that the revelation of the Rebbe will not come from above, rather from below: everyone will recognize that the Rebbe is the greatest person. Once that is achieved - there will automatically be “Yiddishkeit” and the spirit of impurity will disappear, slowly but surely. Meaning, all will follow its natural course; not supernatural, it will be realized that nature is itself truly supernatural. The approach will also be natural.

“When I see that people still don't know who the Rebbe Shlita is, it implies that it may be a while... You certainly understand how much the results of this distress me.

“Mendel, do you know who is guilty? It is our avreichim! The handful of mekushorim, myself and yourself included, for we conceal the Rebbe to ourselves. We are frightened to speak of him, to the extent, that we hide him even from ourselves. We don’t think about him...

“. . We must realize that this

literally matters to our lives. It is solely for this purpose that our neshomoh came down to this world, and one who does not know how to achieve this, must enter yechidus and request advice for this.

“To you my dear Mendel I say: all your speech, what you tell your students and your surroundings, must include content only about the Rebbe Shlita; then, in due course, you will not recognize yourself nor your surroundings…”.

From the people

The date 11 Nissan 5732 is unforgettable. The elevated atmosphere of “Yud Shevat HaGodol” (5730) was still quite apparent in the air and chassidim were still certain that the Rebbe would very soon reveal himself as Moshiach and may be addressed accordingly. Chassidim around the world made their preparations well in advance and as 11 Nissan approached many sent in Michtovei Brocho.

The Shliach of the Rebbe to Italy, Reb Gershon Mendel Gorelik and family were no different in this regard. The content, however, was unique, beginning with the

During one of the daily phone calls between Reb Zalman Gurary and the Rebbe’s longstanding secretary, Rabbi Chodakov, Reb Zalman complained that chassidim had been speaking about the fact that the Rebbe is Moshiach and that it brought bad publicity for Lubavitch. Rabbi Chodakov agreed and began bashing the idea. Suddenly, Rabbi Chodakov went quiet and Reb Zalman knew that “someone else” was on the line. Rabbi Chodakov then retracted his previous statements, claiming that this was not a new phenomenon for students always regarded their Rebbe as Moshiach. Reb Zalman was dumbfounded, yet, ecstatic. He ran to Rabbi Leibel Groner saying in excitement “gei koif a butel mashke un trink es oif - go buy a bottle of spirit and drink it up”.

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proclamation "Yechi Malkeinu Kvod Kedushas Admur Shlito Melech HaMoshiach", which the Rebbe was to tell us, more than a decade later, is fundamental to the coming of Moshiach and Techiyas HaMeisim. Their joy knew no bounds, when, in addition to the regular response with the “michtav kloli-proti”, their letter was adorned with the Rebbe’s holy handwriting it is - בנועם הנני לאשר קבלת מברק הברכה“with pleasure that I confirm receipt of your telegram with the brocho”.

[Reb Berke Chein, who sat numerous years in Siberia in reward of his devotion to strengthening Yiddishkeit in the former Soviet Union, would also always address the Rebbe with this title. Once, when he entered the Rebbe’s room for Yechidus and handed his pan to the Rebbe, addressed, as usual, to “כ”ק אדמו”ר המלך המשיח שליט”א”, the Rebbe asked twice “Why [do you write] HaMelech HaMoshiach? It should be Melech HaMoshiach(!), without prefixing the letter Hey beforehand”].

The farbrengen itself was electrifying. As if to spite those who suggested retirement at the age of seventy, the Rebbe requested a birthday present of seventy one

n e w institutions to be established throughout the coming year.

Reb Mendel Futerfas received an anonymous letter, dated Thursday, Taanis Esther (Nidche) 5733, suggesting two ideas for new institutions which he was to put forward to the committee. Whereas the first was rather regular - a fund to help needy people cover the traveling costs of their first trip to see the Rebbe, the second idea was significantly more outrageous, suggesting that the maamar Minuy Melech of Derech Mitzvosecho be printed for chassidim to learn on 11 Nissan, thus displaying their sincere wish to fulfil this Mitzvah literally, with the hope that this would arouse mercy from Hashem to allow us to accept the reign of the Rebbe as Melech HaMoshiach very soon.

It was this second suggestion, which attracted specific attention from the committee and plans already began for printing However, at the last minute it was decided that it be presented to the Rebbe. The unequivocal response arrived without delay: “It is obvious that the time does not allow for this at all. Immediately annul totally the suggestion of printing - and strongly reprimand the one who suggested the above. Call regarding the nullification and halt of speaking even about a thought. Vka”l. Vda”l” (all underlines in the

source).

When Reb Bentzion Shemtov, the obvious author of the anonymous letter, heard the response, he burst into joyous dancing, to the astonishment of all the bystanders. To their question “didn’t you just receive a sharp negative response, instructing to strongly reprimand you?”, he explained: "First of all, the Rebbe didn't negate the idea, the Rebbe only said that the time is not right, confirming that the time will eventually come”. This was a cause for immense joy and jubilant celebration.

“Additionally”, he continued, “did you think the Rebbe would say "thank you" for such an idea? Chassidus explains that appointing a king is achieved only when the nation request and beseech many times, while he refuses, until the king agrees”. He compared this sharp response to those of 5710, when the Rebbe completely negated the idea of assuming leadership, until enough “pressure” was applied from the chassidim (the nation) thus arousing his wish and desire and the Rebbe agreed.

“Similarly in our case”, Reb Bentche concluded, “although we were given over the head for this suggestion, we may hope that we slightly shattered the “wall” of refusal and have advanced one major stride toward the full


agreement, to be followed by many similar strides, until the desire to be king will be totally revealed and we will willingly accept his reign”.

When relating this episode, Reb Mendel added that various things exist which the Rebbeim initially opposed and agreed to only after enough “harassment” from chassidim, for they must be initiated from below. Similarly, chassidim can sometimes ruin (“kalye machen”). A chossid once asked the Rebbe Rashab how to conduct himself regarding “zman tefiloh”, for after all the Shulchon Oruch restricts one to this time. To this chossid the Rebbe replied that one must follow exactly as stated in Shulchon Oruch, despite the multitude of letters explicitly permitting the delay of davening (for the sake of a better davening) - “azoi vi m’fregt, azoi entfert men - how one asks is how one is

answered”.

It emerges crystal clear, that the concept itself of chassidim personally considering and addressing the Rebbe as Moshiach received full consent and support from the Rebbe, and even its public dissemination was only postponed and rescheduled for a later date. Chassidim should certainly deeply desire and yearn for this time, for it is fundamental to the arrival of Moshiach; they may not wait for the Rebbe to initiate such a campaign, for its very definition is an acceptance from below.

The idea, then, was always positive, but impossible to begin. But did things change?

Then and now - Yechi HaMelech and Chayolei Adoneinu

Two examples of the extreme

change of direction in this subject are the Rebbe’s association to the Sefer Yechi HaMelech, by Rabbi Sholom Ber Wolpo and the song Chayolei Adoneinu which included the controversial words “Chayolei HoRebbe, Moshiach Tzidkeinu”.

When this song was sung before the Rebbe on Shabbos Parshas Bereishis 5745, the Rebbe launched a fiery attack, not only on this song specifically- Demanding, "are they short on Lubavitcher Niggunim that they are compelled to choose ones which distance Yidden from Chassidus?" But also on the general concept of regarding him as Moshiach, including the attempt to print this in Halachic format or as a commentary to Rambam - an opposition directed, it seems, at the Sefer Yechi HaMelech.

Although when this song was sung seven years later, almost

Shevat 5775 | 47

to date, on Shabbos Parshas Noach 5752, the Rebbe voiced his displeasure, the tone had somewhat changed to lighter and less urgent. By contrast to the fierce warning “that anyone who continues such activities - opposes and battles against chassidus Chabad, against the leader of the generation, the Baal Shem Tov, until King Moshiach… who wishes and desires to come, but is waiting for additional dissemination of the wellsprings, but he [who sings songs and writes books containing the above content] - distances Yidden from chassidus, Heaven forfend!”, closing the discussion with the wish “that it should not be necessary to repeat this warning.”

The Rebbe now presented it as a suggestion: “Seemingly, it is a strange thing, that they sing a song with such words while I sit here by the table… the truth is that I should have arisen and left… the reason I didn’t is - Firstly”, the Rebbe said with a smile, “either way it wouldn’t help. Secondly, it will cause confusion in the unity . .” The difference in approach, content and tone is rather apparent.

Rabbi Wolpo relates what is for

him a highly sensitive episode, regarding the printing of his Sefer Yechi HaMelech. When he first presented it to the Rebbe in the year 5744, the Rebbe responded (word for word as delivered by Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Aizik Chodakov): “it seems he makes out as not to understand what I answered previously, that this can harm, Heaven forfend, to Chabad and the dissemination of chassidus, through writing on the topic etc. - that my response was mainly to him. I hereby warn him to stop speaking or writing and certainly to disseminate, all the more so to print on the topic of Moshiach - whether in his name or under another name, through a messenger or the like - or with any trick or in any style and form. If, Heaven forbid, he will do something in this, he should know clear that this is a battle against me specifically and generally. It is obvious, that the above includes an explanation on the topic of Moshiach in Rambam or other Seforim and maamorei chassidus and anything similar”.

His receipt of such a sharp response frightened him terribly, and during his visit to the Rebbe that summer, he asked forgiveness for the

pain which he caused. This time, the Rebbe replied in a rather comforting manner, forewarning and assuring that the sharp response had not intended the opposite of blessing. Nonetheless, the Rebbe did reiterate his stand in detail, maintaining that “hundreds (and more) Yidden stopped learning Chassidus, actively fight the Baal Shem Tov and his teachings etc. etc.” due to projects of this type and that the entire book is “permeated with the above ideas” leaving “no need to search for hints”.

When he plucked up the courage in 5751 and suggested that maybe the time had arrived that the Sefer be printed, the response was “if he will omit the sections which, according to friends who are mavins, are likely to distance some from studying chassidus - it is worthwhile”. There are no longer 1) “hundreds (and more) Yidden” who 2) “stopped learning Chassidus”, nor is the 3) entire book “permeated with the above (problematic and controversial) ideas. Rather, “Sections which are likely to distance some.”

At a farbrengen in 5752, Rabbi Leibel Raskin, Shliach of the Rebbe to Morocco, related, that when he was once sent to Europe for a certain mission, he spent some time in the Yeshivah in Brunoy. Some of the older Bochurim held a farbrengen in the basement, where they whispered to him: “you should know that 770 has the same numerical value as Beis Moshiach”. What was once relayed as a whisper in a basement, is now printed in the Rebbe’s edited Sichos.


“Kabolas HaMalchus"

A landmark in this topic is the farbrengen of Parshas Noach 5752, in which the Rebbe spoke at length about the importance of Kiddush Levono, stressing mainly on the Possuk recited towards the end “and they will seek out Hashem their G-d and Dovid their king”, which is explained by the Metzudas Dovid to mean that “they will also seek out Melech HaMoshiach who comes from the seed of Dovid”. This “Kiddush Levono campaign” was launched in continuation to the Rebbe’s statement, earlier in the farbrengen, that “all predestined dates for the arrival of Moshiach have passed” and that all Yidden have already done Teshuvah “and now it depends only on Moshiach Tzidkeinu”.

On a report regarding a public Kiddush Levono which took place on the streets of Detroit, the Rebbe responded “it shall be fulfilled by each of them ‘and they will seek out Hashem and Dovid their king’ and they found him”. This expression became a slogan and was even quoted back to the Rebbe

by the women who presented a box full with signatures from Neshei U’Bnos Chabad accepting the reign of the Rebbe as Melech HaMoshiach, to whom the Rebbe replied “good tidings . . may they have much success and go from strength to strength until you will go to Hashem in Zion by the true and complete redemption. Blessings and success. Much success”.

On Motzei Shabbos, eve of 28 Teves, the birthday of the Rebbe’s mother, Rebbetzin Chana, thousands of women from all around the New York area, crammed into seven seventy, filling every inch of its Main hall and women’s section, for a Melave Malka, Seudas Dovid Malka Meshicha, with the title “lekabel penei Moshiach tzidkeinu”. The event was also broadcasted to one hundred and twenty nine locations worldwide, which the Rebbe later acknowledged with a special “tshuas chein for the pleasure he caused and causes”.

The speakers included locals such as Rabbi Yehudah Kalman Marlow,

Reb Yoel Kahn, Rabbi Leibel Altein, Rabbi Zalman Gurary and guests such as Rabbi Chaim Gutnik and Rabbi Yitzchok Dovid Groner of Melbourne, Australia, Rabbi Mendel Gluckowsky of Rechovot and Rabbi Shlomo Cunin, the Shliach to California, addressed the crowd on a live hookup from Moscow. Yet, the highlight of the event was the speech of Rebbetzin Sima Ashkenazi of Kfar Chabad, which was more of an outcry than a speech.

Years later, when she reminisces of the events of those days, she is filled with a silent excitement, as she begins to relate her memories. After waiting a while for the Rebbe to join the event, an announcement was made that “meanwhile we will move on to the speeches”. “What speeches?”, she asked rhetorically, “we came here for “kabolas penei Moshiach”, not for speeches!”. When the women near her suggested that she ascend the podium and express her intense feelings and emotions regarding this event, she vehemently refused, but when the organisers approached her with the same request, she acquiesced.

“At one of the Rabbinical conferences in Russia”, she began, “the Rebbe Rashab stood fiercely against the government’s decree and Reb Chaim Brisker supported him. Despite all their efforts, they were unable to achieve their objective. Later, Reb Chaim visited the Rebbe at his home and found him crying. “Lubavitcher Rebbe, why do you cry? We did all we could”. “Ober der inyan hot zich nisht ufgeton”, the Rebbe replied. What haven’t the women done in the last few weeks? They made good resolutions, added in Torah

Shevat 5775 | 49

classes and drew Yidden closer to Yiddishkeit, all to bring Moshiach. If that didn’t accomplish his arrival, what is there to talk about? What is the purpose of speeches?”. At this point, she began reciting the Rebbe’s kapitel.

She felt an enormous desire to say “yechi”, but it wasn’t acceptable. “I knew that it could upset the Rebbe, as it had on previous occasions. I couldn’t think, nor way out my actions. The organizers were pressuring me to finish, so they could continue with the program. I held onto the shtender and looked at the floor; whatever happens, I must… I felt like I was fainting, as I heard myself proclaim, from the depth of my heart “yechi Adoneinu Moreinu veRabeinu Melech haMoshiach leolam voed”.

I descended the podium and went straight home”.

The entire crowd present rose to their feet with a sense of awe and repeated the holy proclamation, as well as those gathered in the 129 locations and connected by live hookup. “I felt terrible. I had sinned to the Rebbe. I didn’t sleep the whole night and my heart was pumping. The next day I was scared to pass by the Rebbe at the regular Sunday distribution of dollars, but I had no choice, so at five in the afternoon, I finally gathered the courage and went. The Rebbe blessed me with something for which I had anticipated and davened for many years”.

During the course of the winter, word began circulating amongst

the Chabad community that the Rebbe had a certain change of attitude regarding activities pertaining to accepting the Malchus of the Rebbe as Melech HaMoshiach. This rumor was based on numerous approvals or even encouragements for such activities, whether at the distribution of dollars or in specific responses to various Shluchim. The frequent discussion of the identity of Moshiach during the Rebbe’s farbrengen’s (and their subsequent printing in edited version for worldwide publicity) was also difficult to ignore.

Finally, in early Shevat, Rabbi Nachman Meir Bernard of Johannesburg, South Africa, presented the dilemma to the Rebbe: “. . everyone agrees one


hundred percent to the above, we only hesitate on account of our uncertainty that the Rebbe is in favor of such activities. (In the past, the Rebbe expressed his clear opposition to such matters, saying that they would distance Yidden from the study of chassidus. But now people are claiming that there are indications that the situation has changed; that now such activities are indeed desirable). Therefore, I dare ask - is the hour now appropriate for ‘את . . ובקשו מלכם Several days after Yud ”?’דוד Shevat the Rebbe answered: "תלוי לברר אתר שעל חב"ד על המקום. בתנאי -Iit depends on the conditions of the place. For the local Chabad to check".

Chassidim around the world rejoiced upon hearing of this response: In a stark turnaround from the position held in previous years, the Rebbe was officially permitting activities of המלכות קבלת as the local Chabad sees it fit. A similar response was received regarding a Shiur on this subject which was to be delivered by Rabbi Sholom Ber Wolpo in Lud, and, although others were worried about the negative effect which this could cause, Rabbi Boruch Boaz Yurkowitz, the Rov of Lud, wasn’t bothered. The Rebbe was consulted and the answer was “אין רואות שעיניו מה אלא אתר( שעל )רב לדיין - a judge (the local Rabbi) [can judge] only based on what he sees”.

In connection to this response and soon after its receipt, a special Melaveh Malka took place in 770, with the participation of over a thousand Anash and Temimim. During the Melaveh Malka, the

Rebbe’s chozer, Reb Yoel Kahn, spoke at length encouraging enthusiastic involvement regarding Moshiach in general and particularly the identity of Moshiach, as per the sichos and responses of the Rebbe. However, he commented, he is not a Rabbi to decide if this concept is necessary according to Halacha.

Following this, Rabbi Yosef Avrohom HaLevi Heller, a member of the Crown Heights Beis Din, ascended the podium and related that according to his findings when he researched this subject during the past summer (5751), it is absolutely clear that it is a Halachic obligation for Yidden to accept the Malchus of Moshiach already during the time of Golus [The basis for this, among other profound explanations in Geulah u’Moshiach, was later published in his sefer, "הלכתא למשיחא"].

“Broadcasted from the balcony”

The widespread acceptance of this idea among the Chabad community grew significantly in the year 5753, when the Rebbe would appear, once or twice daily, before chassidim from the balcony in the rear of seven seventy, which was prepared specifically for this purpose, and encourage the congregation in their singing the words “yechi Adoneinu Moreinu veRabeinu Melech haMoshiach leolam voed”.

The publicity of this conduct, which was initially reserved for chassidim and kept within the four walls of seven seventy, reached its peak on 10 Shevat 5753, when the

Rebbe appeared on the designated balcony to encourage the singing of “yechi” before the world media, part of which was viewed by millions during the halftime of the superball.

This column is not the place for a detailed description of the happenings behind the scenes of this event, but it is clear that the Rebbe was adamant to appear for the singing, despite all pressure applied against this and with the full knowledge that this would be broadcasted around the world. It seems that something had changed.

The essential point remains, however, that as positive as this idea may be, comprising a fundamental stage in the arrival of Moshiach, it must be carried out sensitively, in a way which will be openly welcomed by the world, and this is for the local Chabad to decide - how this will most efficiently be achieved in that specific community. They weren’t consulted as to whether the idea is right - that, has been clearly consented and encouraged by the Commander-in-chief; they have been assigned the mission to find the most effective way to present it so that its desired objective be obtained.

Let us hope and pray, that we will very soon merit to happily and willingly accept the reign of the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach!

Shevat 5775 | 51

• 18 Tishrei 5751:

Reb Mordechai Baron presented the Rebbe with a globe superimposed with eight clocks, each

representing a major city. In the middle of the globe, was a picture

of 770 with the words “We want Moshiach now!”

Reb Mordechai: This is a present for the new year.

The Rebbe: זאל זיין בהצלחה רבה - May it be with much success.

Reb Mordechai: Two days ago, I had a dream that I asked the Rebbe how to get ready to be mekabel pnei Moshiach?

The Rebbe: אויבערשטער דער אייך זאל גוטע אלע אויף פאלן אליין זאלט איר העלפן המצאות ווי ביז איצטער און זאל זיין בשורות טובות- May Hashem help that you should realize on your own what to do, as with all your good initiatives until now, may there be good news.

The Rebbe then handed him another dollar and said: ‘דאס זאלסטו געבן This you should - לצדקה פאר כפליים לתושיgive to tzedakah for a double portion of blessing.

• 17 Cheshvan 5751:

A little girl went by the Rebbe with her older sister and shouted: "We want Moshiach now!" The Rebbe answered “Amen!” The Rebbe then called back the older sister and asked her: “Do you also want Moshiach?” She right away responded: “We want Moshiach now!" The Rebbe then gave

her another dollar.

• Rosh Chodesh Kislev 5751:

A Shliach went by the Rebbe with his child, and the child told the Rebbe: “Moshiach now!” The Rebbe said: “Amen!” and then handed him another dollar saying: וועסט דאס אפגעבען This you will place - ווען משיח וועט קומעןin tzedakah when Moshiach arrives.

• Rosh Chodesh Kislev 5751:

Reb Dovid Nachshon went by the Rebbe with the sar hachutz (foreign minister) Binyamin Netanyahu. Upon shaking Mr. Netanyahu’s hand, the Rebbe’s face lit up.

Mr. Netanyahu: I came to ask the Rebbe for his Brocha.

The Rebbe: בכל הענינים - In all matters (you should be blessed.) שהתראינו מזמן וגם אז שהי’ מה ענינים, כמה ניתוספו לאחרונה עתה הוא שעדיין משיח לא בא, אזי תעשה משהו ,Since the last time we met - למהר ביאתוmuch has been done, yet Moshiach has still not arrived; so do something to hasten his arrival.

Mr. Netanyahu: We are doing things.

The Rebbe said: כנראה שאין מספיק, כיון אבל בא, לא ועדיין ביום שעות כמה כבר שהיום היום גם להשתדל יש אזי שעות, כמה עוד - יש Seemingly it's not enough, since it is already a few hours into the day and Moshiach has not yet come. However there are still a few hours left, so we should work hard that he should still come today. בשורות טובות. מתוך שמחה וטוב

May we hear good news with joy .לבבand gladness of heart.

The Rebbe then handed Mr. Netanyahu a second dollar, and said: מתוך יהי’ הענינים שכל מקפידים חסידים אצל Chassidim are careful that - שמחהeverything should be done with joy.

• 8 Kislev 5751:

Rabbi Naftoli Rot came by the Rebbe. The Rebbe gave him an additional dollar saying: “Give it to Tzedakah in Eretz Hakodesh and may you have much success for the entire Yerushalayim and have good news.” The Rebbe gave his wife three dollars, one for Hatzlacha, a second to help out her husband in his communal affairs and a third saying: “כאפן אריין משיח ביאת עד Chap arein as !פעולות many activities as possible, before the coming of Moshiach!”

• 15 Kislev 5751:

The Kashover Rebbe went by the Rebbe and said: “I have been the head of the Saad Ha’ruchni for Baalei Teshuva for the past thirty years. Twenty five years ago I was by the Rebbe's Yud Tes Kislev Farbrengen, and the Rebbe gave me a Bracha to continue from strength to strength until the coming of the Goel Tzedek (Moshiach).”

The Rebbe: צדק גואל די איז וואו - אבער but where is the goel tzedek?

The Kashover: He’s for sure coming, he’s already so close.


The Rebbe: ער אז סידור אין שוין דאס שטייט This - וועט זיכער קומען, אבער ווען וועט ער קומעןthat he is surely coming is already written in the Siddur, but when will he come?

The Kashover: “היום אם בקולו תשמעו” (he’ll come today if you do Torah and Mitzvos).

The Rebbe: זאל דער אויבערשטער העלפן. וואס אויבערשטער דער אז תנאי? א זיין מוסיף דארפסטו ענינים, אויבערשטענ’ס דעם דאס איז תנאי א שטעלט היום זיין זאל תנאים, קיין שטעלן ניט דארף איד א Hashem should help. Why do you - !ממשhave to add a condition (that he’ll come today only if we do Torah and Mitzvos)!? This that Hashem makes conditions is His business, but a Jew should not attach conditions to Moshiach coming today! May he come today mammosh!

• 15 Adar 5751:

Reb Laibel Zaintz gave the Rebbe Tanya's which he printed. He then introduced someone who had sponsored a few of the Tanyas’. the Rebbe said: “Hashem should bless you that you should have good news from all your family and also from yourself, for printing as many Tanyas’ as possible before the coming of Moshiach!”

• Beis D'Rosh Chodesh Elul 5751:

Someone came by the Rebbe and blessed the Rebbe that he should be healthy and that we should merit to be Mekabel Pney Moshiach Tzidkenu with the Rebbe leading us!

The Rebbe said:

קיין" נישטא ס'איז אינגיכען, גאר זיין ס'זאל אבער "!צייט אויף צו ווארטן

(But it should be speedily, there is no time to wait!)

• 8 Elul 5751:

A child from a non-lubavitcher family came by the Rebbe and asked what he can

do to bring Moshiach?

The Rebbe said:

."וועסט לערנען אסאך תורה, וועט ער קומען פריער"

(Learn a lot of Torah, then he will come quicker.)

• 15 Elul 5751:

Rabbi Lew brought his daughter whose name is “Shilah,” in front of the Rebbe. The Rebbe said: “ס'שטייט אז ווייסט זי בשו''ט, אז "כי יבא שילה" מיינט מען דאס משיח'ן, זאל מען זעןזיך May we hear good news! She) .צוגרייטן probably knows that the Pasuk says “Ki Yavo Shilo...” Shilo refers to Moshiach. We should see to it to get ready.)”

• 22 Elul 5751:

A man from Australia went by the Rebbe; the Rebbe told him:

כוח''ט, בשו''ט ותלך מחיל אל חיל, און כאפט אריין" איידער משיח קומט, דערנאך וועלן מיר אלע גיין אין ארץ. "ישראל, וועט מען פארשפארן ארבעט אין אוסטרליה

You should be written and sealed for good, you should hear good news, and go from strength to strength, and take advantage before Moshiach comes, and then we will go to Eretz Yisroel, and then we won’t have any work left in Australia.


A man from Israel went by the Rebbe and told the Rebbe:

.כבוד הרבי יבוא לארץ ישראל ויציל כבודה של תורה

(The Rebbe should come to Eretz Yisroel and save the honor of the Torah)

The Rebbe responded:

בשו''ט והצלחה רבה בעיתו ובזמנו. בקרוב ממש עם""משיח צדקנו

(Very soon with Moshiach tzidkeinu. You should have good news and much success in the right time.)


Rabbi Baruch Oberlander introduced a woman from Budapest who worked for Radio Liberty a Russian radio station. The Rebbe told her: “You should report good things and have much success.”

The woman asked the Rebbe: “What will be with the Jewish people in Russia?”

The Rebbe answered: “It will be for them, just like it will be for us, - very soon Moshiach will come and he will gather us all, from all the lands, and he will bring us to Eretz Yisroel.”

The Rebbe then gave her an additional dollar “for the bother of writing this all down,” and reporting it.

(this entire conversation was in Russian)

• 21 Shevat 5752:

A woman went by the Rebbe for dollars and asked the Rebbe about learning in 'Machon Chana.'

The Rebbe said: “To remember that the Nevuah of Chana finishes off with the coming of Moshiach tzidkeinu. So we should all merit to the coming of Moshiach tzidkeinu speedily!”

• 3 Kislev 5752:

A group of women gave the Rebbe a beautifully decorated box with a crown on top, containing the signatures of neshai u’bnos Chabad from around the world, who had accepted upon themselves the kingship of Moshiach. The Rebbe looked at the box and asked “is this for me?” Upon being answered in the affirmative the Rebbe responded “For all these matters you should give tzedaka, and go with much success from strength to strength.”

Shevat 5775 | 53

פון ארויסגיין מ'וועט אויב שאלות: פרעגט און נגלה בעל א צוגיין קומט זי מ'טאר פאטשיילע, דער מיט זיין דעמולט וועט וואס - השבת ביום גלות

דאך ניט טראגן?!

זאגט מען אים: לאז די פאטשיילע אין גלות - און גיי אליין ארויס פון גלות!

טענה'ט ער: ס'איז דאך זיין פאטשיילע, און "צדיקים חביב עליהם ממונם כו'" אפילו א שוה פרוטה, און די פאטשיילע איז ווערט מער משוה פרוטה, ובפרט אז

ס'איז א רויטע פאטשיילע…

זאגט מען אים: בינד די פאטשיילע ארום דעם האלדז - כמנהג ישראל - און טאנץ ארויס פון גלות!

טענה׳ט ער: ווי קען ער איצטער )ביום השבת( ארויסגיין פון גלות - ער דארף דאך באלד מאכן הבדלה, און נאך הבדלה האט ער דאך א שטעלע און דארף פירן א מסחר און רעדן אויפן טעלעפאן וועגן די אלע ענינים וואס מ'טאר וועגן זיי

ניט רעדן בשבת?!

זאגט מען אים: האסט דאך א נפש האלקית, א חלק אלוקה ממעל ממש - וואס דאס איז דיין עיקר, און די נשמה איז קיינמאל אין גלות ניט געגאנגען און קיינער איז אויף איר ניט קיין בעל הבית - איז פאלג אמאל דיין נפש האלקית,

און דיין נפש האלקית וויל אז דו זאלסט שוין ארויסגיין פון גלות!

איי דו האסט אויך א ״מלך זקן וכסיל״ וואס זאגט דיר אז דיין שטעלע און דיין מסחר איז דער עיקר - איז צי דען דארפסטו אלעמען באווייזן אז דער טיפש וזקן

וכסיל איז אויף דיר שליט?!...

־עעפ״כ וויל מען דוקא ליגן אין עוה״ז החומרי, אים איז ניט גענוג עוה״ז הגפון חומריות - גשמיות! שמי, ער דארף דוקא האבן עוה״ז החומרי און מאכן אבער אפילו אזוי - איז עכ"פ שטער ניט דיין נפש האלקית, דיין חלק אלוקה

ממעל ממש!

וויפל א שיעור פטר'ן צייט אויף דער נפה״ב, אפשר וועסטו אמאל א טראכט טאן וועגן דיין נפה״א אויך?!

און אף על פי אז ניט מיט אונזער רצון זיינען מיר געגאנגען אין גלות )כפתגם בעל ההילולא( און ניט מיט אונזער רצון וועלן מיר ארויסגיין פון גלות - איז דאס נאר בנוגע צו רצון, אבער שרייען דארף מען אז מ'וויל שוין ארויסגיין פון גלות,

״עד מתי", דאלאי גלות״!

בו און וואס אין עצב יום השבת, - אז ס'איז דאך קומט מען מיט א טענה מ'דארף דעמולט שטיין בעונג ובשמחה - איז וואס קומט מען מצער זיין אידן אז זיי געפינען זיך אין גלות און דארפן שרייען ״עד מתי״? ובפרט אז דו אליין

האסט דאך געמאנט אז איצטער במיוחד זאל מען שטיין בשמחה גדולה!

און שריי און שטורעם גיי ארום ניט: קיין סתירה אז ס׳איז זאגט מען אים מתוך שמחה וטוב לבב אז מ'וויל האבן די גאולה!

וכפס״ד הרמב״ם, אז "השמחה שישמח האדם בקיום המצוות עבודה גדולה היא". במילא פסק׳נט דער רמב״ם: הערט זיך איין אידן - גייט ארום און שרייט

בשמחה גדולה אז דער אויבעשטער דארף שוין ארויסנעמען אידן פון גלות!

I n the following Sicha, the Rebbe addresses a mainstream Jew, who has a difficult time coming to terms with the imminent arrival of

Moshiach. This Yid, spends time thinking up excuses and justifications for why now, is not the right time to focus on bringing Moshiach. Consequently, this Jew’s whole outlook and excitement about Moshiach is dampened somewhat. The Rebbe, turns to this Yid, looks him in the eye and demands a paradigm shift in attitude.

At times, a person may delude himself into thinking that his actions are in accord with Torah, when in reality he is being motivated by his nefesh habehamis. To quote the Rebbe: “‘True, you have a nefesh habehamis that

deceives you into thinking business takes priority (over bringing Moshiach,) but do you need to demonstrate to everyone else that the nefesh habehamis is the one ruling you? How much time must be thrown away on the nefesh habehamis, before thinking about the nefesh ha’elokis?!”

“You say that today is Shabbos – a happy day, and we shouldn’t dampen the joy of such a day by remembering the pain of Golus. So, demand Moshiach joyfully!”

“The Rambam rules: Listen Yidden! Go out, and scream with great simcha that Hashem must take the Yidden out of Golus!”

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טאנץ ארויס פון גלות!Shabbos Parshas Beshalach - 5746

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Shevat 5775 | 55

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מהרה יגלה אכי''רלרגל יום הבהיר והגדול העשירי בשבט ויהי רצון שיראה

הרבה נחת משלוחיו, תלמידיו, חסידיו ומכלל ישראל וינהיג את כולנו מתוך בריאות הרחבה ונחת ובקרוב ממש נלך כל בני ישראל קוממיות לארצנו הקדושה בהתגלות מה''מ נאו!

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חי׳ה מושקא, דבורה לאה, שיינא, מנחם מענדל, חוה רבקה, דוד, שיינדל גיטל, מנוחה סימא וצבי הירש.

להצלחה בשליחותם - בתוך כל השלוחים -בהשליחות לקבלת פני משיח צדקינו

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