It is told about Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk that once someone entered his home in great excitement and announced that there was a rumor Moshiach had arrived. The tzaddik went to the window, opened it, and smelled the air outside. Afterward, he said, “No, there is no scent of Moshiach in the air.” His students explained that he had to open the window because inside his room, there was always the scent of Moshiach.
Did Moshiach already come in Rabbi Menachem Mendel’s room? Had the redemption arrived? We find similar ideas elsewhere. As it is said in the name of the Alter Rebbe that, “for the lofty souls like Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his companions, the Temple was never destroyed.” Here too, the same question arises: Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai was persecuted by the Romans and suffered through their harsh decrees—how can it be that for him the Temple was never destroyed?
Removing the Veil
The answer lies in a deeper understanding of the concept of redemption. Some view the redemption as a total revolution of reality—a new world, new people.
On a practical level, this is true: the world will indeed undergo great change. But in its inner essence, redemption is not a revolution at all. On the contrary, in the time of redemption, the true nature of the world will be revealed. Redemption will not create a new truth—it will merely remove the veil that prevents us from seeing the truth that already exists.
Chassidut as Preparation
When we understand this point, we also understand the connection between redemption and the revelation of Chassidut. It’s known that the light of redemption began to shine in the days of the Baal Shem Tov. We also know that spreading the teachings of Chassidut is directly connected to redemption, as Moshiach told the Baal Shem Tov that he would come “when your wellsprings—the wellsprings of Chassidut—spread outward.” In truth, the revelation of Chassidut and the ultimate redemption are one and the same.
Chassidut reveals Divine truth. It teaches that G-d is present in everything. It clarifies the essence of Torah and mitzvot, and the deep soul of every Jew. It breathes life into core principles like ahavat Yisrael (love for fellow Jews) and the joy of mitzvot. And yet, Chassidut didn’t invent anything new—everything was already in the Torah long before Chassidut emerged.
So it is with redemption—a novelty that is not a novelty. It is simply the opening of our eyes. While we will fully experience this “eye-opening” when the redemption actually comes, lofty and unique souls can already see this Divine truth, even during exile. Such was Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and such were the great tzaddikim of later generations. This is why Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk had to open the window—because in his room, the light of redemption always shone.
Adapted from the teachings of Rabbi Menachem Brod, Sichat HaShevua
