BESURAS HAGEULO
[This talk refers to the publication, and the Rebbe's subsequent distribution to men, women and children, of two special treatises by the Rebbe Rashab. The first, "Kuntres Eitz HaChaim," was written shortly after the Rebbe Rashab founded the Yeshivah Tomchei Temimim and appointed his son and successor, the Rebbe Rayatz, director. In "Kuntres Eitz HaChaim" he outlines the objective of the founding of the Yeshivah and what was expected from its students. The second treatise was a previously unpublished Chassidic discourse of the Rebbe Rashab.]
...One of the reasons for the publication of the special edition of Kuntres Eitz HaChaim and its distribution to all the men, women and children at the conclusion of the Rebbe Rashab's birthday on the 20th of MarCheshvan (which led into this erev Shabbos)... is to emphasize that all these words of the Kuntres Eitz HaChaim have retained their power and perfection (with even added force) through the leadership of his son and successor, my sainted father-in-law, the leader of our generation, the "director" of the Yeshivah Tomchei Temimim. This is especially true since forty years after his passing "one can fathom the ideas of his teacher."
Consequently, the service of the third generation (from the Rebbe Rashab), the generation of Redemption, has already been completed. Concerning this generation, it is said: "On the third day He will raise them up and we will live before Him."
...May it be G-d's will that: the increased study of the teachings of Chassidus and its dissemination, along with an increase in the study of the revealed parts of Torah; the propagation of Torah and Judaism, including - and with special emphasis on - the establishment of new institutions; and the fortification and strengthening of the existing institutions of Torah, prayer (Divine service) and loving kindness - shall hasten and bring immediately the true and complete Redemption through our righteous Moshiach. Then, according to the Midrash, we will say specifically to the Patriarch Yitzchak, "That you are our father," and thus we will be called "Toldos Yitzchak - the offspring of Isaac."
The reference of the Redemption to Yitzchak gains added importance because of the connection to my sainted father-in-law, the leader of our generation - whose second (and final) name was Yitzchak, since already in his time he declared that all of our service was completed, including the "polishing of the buttons."
He therefore directed and empowered us to "stand ready all of you" to greet our righteous Moshiach. How much more so is this true in our own day.
The relationship between the future Redemption and Yitzchak becomes even more significant when we consider the recent developments involving the "offspring of Yishmael" (discussed in the conclusion of this week's Torah portion). Generally speaking, conflicts among nations - any nation - constitute one of the signs of Redemption. As our sages said: "If you see nations provoking one another, anticipate the footsteps of Moshiach." Involvement of the "descendants of Yishmael" in the conflict magnifies the connection to Moshiach, as specified in the Yalkut Shimoni: "The year in which the King Moshiach will be revealed... the king of Persia will be in conflict with the Arabian king... All the nations of the world will be in turmoil and terror." (Indeed, we have clearly seen how confused and disoriented the nations of the world were, not knowing how to react, groping for solutions, etc.) And G-d says to Israel, "My children do not fear. Whatever I have done, I have done only for your sake... the time for your Redemption has arrived." The Yalkut then continues: "The King Moshiach... will stand on the roof of the Beis HaMikdash and proclaim to Israel: 'Humble ones, the time for your Redemption has arrived.'" As was, and continues, to be proclaimed, especially most recently.
(From the talk of Shabbos Parshas Chayei Sarah, 22 Mar-Cheshvan, 5751)
Further Elaboration
In our days we have completed all the requisite actions and Divine service, in all the details symbolized by the "hundred years," the "twenty years," and the "seven years" associated with the age of the Matriarch Sarah's passing, years which like Sarah's were all equally good.
This is consistent with the words of my sainted father-in-law, the leader of our generation, that we have already polished the buttons and we therefore stand ready to receive our righteous Moshiach. More particularly, since then several decades have elapsed, during which time the Jewish people have cried out "ad mosai - how long must we remain in exile!" (which must also have a limit) May it thus be G-d's Will -- that the true and complete Redemption, through our righteous Moshiach, will occur immediately.
(From the Ma'amar "Vayihyu Chayei Sarah, 5751" - Sefer HaMa'amarim melukat, vol. V p. 60)
The Work of Shlichus and Redemption
The most recent innovation in the work of shlichus* is: to receive our righteous Moshiach in the true and complete Redemption. Indeed, the preparation for the coming of our righteous Moshiach is the most all encompassing aspect of Judaism and includes all the other points and details of the work of shlichus.
As has already been said many times, according to the declaration of our Sages of blessed memory "all the appointed times have passed." According to my sainted father-in-law, the leader of our generation, that teshuvah has already been done, to the extent that all aspects of Divine service have already been completed (even "polishing the buttons"), and we therefore stand ready to greet our righteous Moshiach. The work of shlichus must be to prepare in reality to actually greet our righteous Moshiach.
Thus the goal of today's international convention of shluchim is: to produce good resolutions of how to accomplish the special shlichus of these times: greeting our righteous Moshiach.
...It was already mentioned earlier that my sainted father-in-law, the leader of our generation, had declared that already all aspects of Divine service have already ended and we stand prepared ("stand all of you prepared") to greet our righteous Moshiach.
* ["Shlichus" comes from the word "to send." Thus a "Shliach" is an emissary or messenger and "shlichus" is the mission or purpose for which he is sent. The term "shlichus" here refers to the goal of Chassidism in general, and Chabad in particular, to spread the wellsprings of Torah, increase observance of mitzvos and be a resource for one's fellow Jew, materially and spiritually. Translator's note.]
Signs of Redemption and the Role of Shluchim
We also see (as mentioned many times) that many of the signs of the Redemption have been fulfilled in the events of the world, beginning with the sign (in Yalkut Shimoni) that "the time for your Redemption has arrived" when "the nations incite one another." This has taken place particularly in the Arab countries.
...And we see in reality how it was and it will be that "he will fight the wars of G-d" and be victorious in various situations, and specifically through a war of peace. And "victory" is also an expression of "eternity," connected with the revelation of "Endurance": Nun - revelation of the 50th gate; Tzaddik - the ninetieth year (as Jewish people have designated the year); and Ches - the revelation of our righteous Moshiach, who is connected with the number eight (eight princes of man).
The Final Step: Greeting Moshiach
The shluchim have already begun long ago to fulfill the work of shlichus in spreading the Torah, Judaism and the Wellsprings of the inner teachings of Torah outward, and for a long time have even reached completion in the work of shlichus, according to the announcement of my sainted father-in-law mentioned above. Nevertheless, the true and complete Redemption has not yet actually come. It must be said, then, that there must be something that remains to be done that will bring the Redemption into reality.
What is needed is the following: It is known that "in every generation an individual descended from Yehuda is born who is qualified to be the Moshiach for Israel," and that "one who qualifies because of his righteousness to be the Redeemer and when the time arrives G-d will be revealed to him and send him, etc." And according to the announcement of my sainted father-in-law, the leader of our generation, the singular shliach of our generation, the singular Moshiach of our generation, that everything has already concluded, it's understood that there has begun to be fulfilled the "send now the one You will send," the shlichus of my sainted father-in-law. And therefore it's obvious that the only thing that now remains in the work of shlichus is to greet our righteous Moshiach in actual reality, in order that he should be able to fulfill his shlichus in actuality and bring all the Jews out of exile!
...This then must be the practical lesson that results as we gather now at the opening and commencement of the "International Convention of Shluchim." We must come out with a resolution and an announcement to all shluchim that the work of shlichus now and for every Jew is to their capacity to lead to the greeting of our righteous Moshiach.
This means that all the details of the work of shlichus in spreading the Torah and Judaism and spreading the Wellsprings of the inner teachings of Torah outward must be permeated with greeting our righteous Moshiach.
As emphasized in the program of the convention - "all the days of your life to bring the days of Moshiach." All aspects of Divine service (every day of your life, and in every day itself - in every detail and hour of the day) must be permeated with "to bring the days of Moshiach." It's not sufficient "to increase" (as stated in many places), or that he (the shliach) should stand and wait until Moshiach will come, at which point he will take part and have the satisfaction. Rather he is "to bring." He does all that depends on him to bring "the days of Moshiach." [The word "days" is] in the plural, [meaning] not only the beginning of one day but the days of Moshiach (and not only when Moshiach is "presumed to be Moshiach," but all the days of Moshiach - also the completion of "absolutely Moshiach".)
