If the cloud remained over the Mishkan for a long time... the Jews would not travel on. In some cases the cloud would remain on the Mishkan for just a few days. ... There were even cases where the cloud remained [only] from evening to morning. When the cloud rose in the morning they would travel on. Thus, whether it was for two days, a month or a full year, they thus camped at Hashem’s word and moved on at Hashem’s word. (B’haaloscho 9:19-21)
When the Previous Rebbe publicized his proclamation of “L’alter l’Teshuvah L’alter l’Geulah,” (in 5703 (1943)), he was at the same time very strongly involved in building Yeshivos and directed his chassidim to establish new institutions and Yeshivos and to begin construction of new buildings for Torah and Chesed.
There were some who asked the Previous Rebbe: If you say that Moshiach is about to come, why are you involved in projects and building within the golus, and you are making long range plans? Why bother for a short stay?
The Previous Rebbe responded to them:
During the forty years journey that the Jews traveled in the midbar (wilderness) to Eretz Yisroel, there were stops where they camped for an extended time, i.e. in Kadesh they camped for 19 years, while on the other hand there were stops where they camped for a short period, overnight.
Notwithstanding, every time they camped, even for a short stay, they put up the Mishkan with all its utensils, and they offered all the sacrifices.
Here too one can ask the same question: why is it necessary to construct the Mishkan, with all the bother it entails, when in a few hours they will get the sign to move on to a new destination, and then they will have to take apart the Mishkan which they have just now put up? However, putting up the Mishkan was by the command of Hashem, therefore even when it was done for only a day, for an hour or for merely a moment, it was put up in all its details without any hesitation – because this was the commandment of Hashem. As the gemara states (Bechoros 10a): mitzvoso achshevay (the commandment makes it distinguished), i.e. the commandment of putting up the Mishkan gives significance to building it even if it will stand for only a moment.
The Jewish people are “believers the children of believers” – they believe with complete faith in Moshiach’s coming and await him every day.
Notwithstanding, this must not dampen or hinder any plans and initiatives in our avodah in golus, it is necessary to make preparations and plans also for long range projects.
This is how Hashem arranged the process of our avodah in golus.
Therefore, the anticipation of Moshiach’s imminent arrival, and simultaneously, doing all sorts of activities and long range plans, is not contradictory one to the other.
Although the Geulah will come immediately and we’ll be “caught” in the first stages of extended projects and initiatives – we can be assured that with Moshiach’s coming we will also appreciate the great importance of the mere beginnings which we have just started to do in all matters of holiness.
And Moshiach will take us out of golus with miracles that “all flesh will behold.” (Sichas Yud Tess Kislev 5717)
