From a rational and logical standpoint, there isn't much difference between the period leading up to Gimmel Tammuz and the period after Gimmel Tammuz. Then too, the numerous reports coming from the hospital weren't positive and the reality on the ground didn't match the G-dly truth written in the Rebbe's sichos. Like today, then too, someone who wanted face the cynics or stand down the yetzer hara, needed a firm position and a pure super-rational devotion to what the Rebbe said. Someone to whom "nature" was everything, had a hard time with emuna then too.
This was our goal, to show the common denominator between the days preceding Gimmel Tammuz and the days following it. Emuna, which is the root of everything, did not change; it was the factual data that changed and the factual data don't change the G-dly truth in the Rebbe's words. As Rabbi Zalman Liberow explained it in an interview he gave for the film, "To Chasidim, tests were never something that weakened one; they only strengthened. That's how we were raised. This was clear to my grandfather, R' Mendel Futerfas in Russia and it was clear to me. Whether it was Chof-Zayin Adar or Gimmel Tammuz."
MORE CERTAIN THAN THAT THE SUN WILL RISE
As would be expected, much space was given to R' Yoel Kahn a'h, the one who was the lead expositor at the time. He kept repeating in his inimitable style the point that the purpose and existence of creation is fulfilled only when the Nasi of the seventh generation finishes his job to draw the Shechina down below and actualizes the ultimate purpose of existence, "a dira ba'tachtonim." This is an incontrovertible truth which is why it is clear to Chassidim that any other plan, as realistic as it may be, is out of the question!
Part of the veracity of Torah is that there is a purpose to the world and that purpose is realized when the seventh Nasi is revealed as Moshiach. It cannot be otherwise! "The fact that the the sun will rise tomorrow is connected with the reality of the world and is not absolute. That the Nasi of the seventh generation is revealed as Moshiach is the reality of Torah and far more absolute," he cried.
EMUNA IN STAGES
There's a reason that nobody touched Gimmel Tammuz itself previously. You weren't concerned?
The idea was to convey to the viewer who did not experience Gimmel Tammuz, the events as they happened, how slowly things became clear and the sichos solidified into an ironclad faith. It's not necessary to get into explanations when you see things. This is aside from the advantage of a film, where things look more real; a picture is worth a thousand words. The explanations are incorporated within the events.
The viewer experiences the events starting from Chof-Zayin Adar 5754, gets a sense of the transfer to Beth Israel, hears R' Moshe Slonim wonder, "How is it possible that nature and the situation will insert doubts in inyanei Moshiach, when the entire concept of Moshiach is completely above nature?!"
He feels the nerve-wracking wait together with Rabbi Yitzchok Hendel a'h who expresses emuna and hope that the test won't last long - "Not as long as now; over two years is already too much!" He hears how a reporter tries to dig into the tamim, Elkana Shmotkin and to extract some kind of awareness ("Maybe somewhere in the depths of your heart...") in the event that, r'l, it would end differently, and he, with the innocence of a Chassid, says, "There is no such thought." The ramifications for our time don't need to be stated; they speak for themselves.
After a break with a short clip which expresses the feelings of a boy from Crown Heights at that time, "Yechi Adoneinu, the Rebbe will return. He won't suffer and we won't yearn," the viewer makes a sharp turn to the moving description of Rabbi Yosef Yeshaya Braun from Shabbos, 2 Tammuz 5754, in Beth Israel.
The viewer experiences a chill when he hears the description of the twilight period as Shabbos drew to a close between Beis and Gimmel Tammuz 5754, as R' Braun reviewed a maamar in Beth Israel from Gimmel Tammuz 5718, "Ha'sam Nafsheinu BaChaim."
HOLDING ON TIGHT
Then came Gimmel Tammuz. One after the other, the rabbanim describe the moment they heard the news, the tremendous pain and the immediate holding on tight to what the Rebbe said, so as not to break.
There is no need to go on at length with verbal descriptions. Let's listen to what Rabbi Dovid Nachshon had to say on 6 Tammuz 5754:
BEING STRONG AND ENCOURAGING IN A TIME OF CONFUSION
"In this situation, each of us is going about lost and confused. Oy vavoy to a Chassid who, at least in the first instant, did not experience any confusion. On the one hand, it's the most natural thing for any of us. On the other hand, it's definitely a limud zechus that can be offered for all of us, about the situation we are in now - a terrible situation of doubled and redoubled darkness; one cannot even define what darkness this is... Under these circumstances, you can't come with complaints to anyone. Any Chassid who has a feeling, a statement or a claim, we cannot judge anyone now.
What can help in a time like this, is what the Rebbe said on Shabbos parshas Vayakhel 5752, the last sicha before there will be a "Torah chadasha" from his holy mouth, may it be today - was a clear instruction about Jewish unity.
Now we can understand it. In this difficult time, when each of us realizes this is a critical moment in every sense, obviously, each of us will feel responsible to strengthen his fellow. Even when he doesn't feel he is on the level of a "maven" or "gadol" in the Rebbe's sichos, the very fact that he feels responsible to strengthen his fellow, the Rebbe looks at him and asks: What are you doing now, at this moment? Are you busy with my inyanim and strengthening another or are you sowing doubts, heaven forbid?
PROPHECIES FOR NOW
I made no preparations but I feel an obligation, that the Rebbe wants each of us to do this now, to find the way to strengthen one another and to go to outside with his besura.
We will begin with some questions that are asked. There are constantly difficult and terrible thoughts, which is normal on the part of the body.
We are not on the level of not having questions. They exist, but we need to look for the answers within what the Rebbe said, because the Rebbe did not leave even a single thing unclear. Even for a black time such as this, "For a brief instant, I have abandoned you," as it were.
Why did the Rebbe need to say all the prophecies and reveal them to the outside? Why did he have to do so many miracles for all those seated here? Why did he allow people to recount his wonders, to write the prophecies and publicize them... For many generations, Chabad Chassidim were not occupied with miracles but in our generation, the Rebbe let us print these things. Why?
When you think about it, you realize that it all led to these moments, that when the moment of the "main prophecy," the final one, would come, "The time of the Geula has arrived," I, the seventh Nasi, the final one after which there won't be a galus... At the last moment, when it seems that the faith is being challenged, it's precisely for this moment the Rebbe did all the miracles and wonders, to tell us: Remember all the wonders and miracles. The Rebbe asked and pleaded - so that now, we would believe in him!
The Rebbe said, "Hinei zeh Moshiach ba," he "points with his finger and says, behold, zeh Melech HaMoshiach ba," and he enters the door. Regarding "the time for your redemption has arrived" he says this is a definite prophecy.
MOSHE IS TRUE AND HIS TORAH IS TRUE
Consequently, despite all the calculations about what we are seeing, the darkness does appear dark... but it is impossible for anyone to challenge r'l the emuna that what Moshe Rabeinu - Nasi Doreinu - Moshiach Tzidkeinu said and says, "Behold, zeh Melech HaMoshiach ba, u'kvar ba" - is true with no change.
Furthermore, on the last Sunday of dollars, on 26 Adar I 5752, a reporter from the New York Post went to the Rebbe and the Rebbe told him that the headline of the article should be that Moshiach is coming soon and it's not that he's coming but that he is already on his way.
If you learn the sichos, you see that the Rebbe spoke not only about Moshiach on his way... The Rebbe is already doing everything that Moshiach does among the nations and there is not only his existence but also his revelation. So, Ribono Shel Olam, either we believe that everything that Moshe Rabeinu, Nasi Doreinu, Moshiach Tzidkeinu, told us is all true or Rachmana litzlan...
I won't forget the sight on the night of Shemini Atzeres 5731, when the Rebbe stood here and established balabatim over the world. At that time, the Rebbe stood and cried out that now we should proclaim, "Moshe emes v'toraso emes and we won't abandon it..."
That was an amazing sight. Whoever remembers that moment... that's a moment that is engraved in my memory. The Rebbe asking and pleading... Believe that Moshe is true and his Torah is true, and we won't abandon it...
NOW IT'S FOR REAL
Why all these promises? When the Rebbe gives out dollars, says sichos, issues answers in writing and orally - as was our practice to 'bother' him day after day - is it a big chochma that you are a big believer? That you cry out Yechi Adoneinu?
And now, when for a moment, for reasons of his own, Rachmana litzlan, he closed the door, because of this you run away from him and don't believe him?
A MINIMUM OF RESPONSIBILITY
I said to some who asked: Do you agree that in addition to all the qualities that the Rebbe has: kadosh, tzaddik, tahor, navi, amud ha'olam - first and foremost he is a person with a minimal sense of responsibility? Did the Rebbe ever issue something that wasn't properly edited? Did he leave any things unresolved?
Then how is it possible to say that the Rebbe said those sichos and expressions and he suddenly disappeared? He tossed the keys on the desk and left... Is that appropriate for the Lubavitcher Rebbe, the most responsible man in the world? Even the least responsible person wouldn't do that... Even a store owner... To say about the Rebbe that he took the keys, tossed them on the table and left?!
YOU'RE BREATHING? THAT MEANS THE REBBE IS ALIVE!
If you didn't believe before, why would you believe now?
The Rebbe said that a Rebbe is the "tree of life," i.e. that through him pass all material and spiritual things. Tzaddik HaDor and Nasi HaDor, manna from the heaven. Moshe Rabeinu provides all the gashmiyus to the world... Is bread lacking now? Is somehow here lacking something to eat?
If you don't believe that he is giving the food, if you think that you yourself have your own gashmiyus then, Rachmana litzlan, you didn't believe in him to begin with; you had no hiskashrus.
And if it's clear to you that the Rebbe draws down all spiritual and material good, that's the way it was until now and that's how it will continue, you can't breathe and eat without the Rebbe... because there is no reality without the Rebbe, therefore, you must say that the Rebbe's existence is in a revealed state and everything remains as it was.
WE DIDN'T PAY ATTENTION; NOW THE REBBE IS SHAKING US UP!
On Shabbos, parshas Tazria-Metzora 5751, the Rebbe said that Moshiach is sitting in suffering and waiting in anxious anticipation to be revealed, and we sat like calves... The Rebbe was sitting and hadn't yet revealed all, and we didn't know the health situation. He didn't show it to us then. Each of us went home to rest. If a problem came up, we sent a letter to the Rebbe and everything continued as usual... We continued quarreling with one another, one didn't give in to the other, etc... Each of us needs to make a cheshbon for himself about whether he behaved properly...
The Rebbe wanted to bring the Geula without an interruption. When I say "interruption," I don't mean there is really an interruption; it just appears that way to us. He wanted it to be without this interruption that we see. The Rebbe is making a "maris ayin" so we wake up!
There is a sicha from 5710 in which the Rebbe asks about the pasuk, "See, I give before you today, blessing and curse." The word "anochi" refers both to Hashem and to Moshe, so the Rebbe asks, how could the Nasi HaDor give a curse, the opposite of a blessing?
The Rebbe explains that even if it seems that you asked for a bracha from the Rebbe and it didn't happen, it was the opposite of a bracha, you should know this is the way it was supposed to be... The Rebbe explains that there is a goal that was achieved by things working out that way. The Rebbe wants to wake you up. Moshe, Nasi HaDor, wants to rouse you so you wake up and come to him... The fact that we see everything in this way is because the Rebbe wants to wake us up in this terrible fashion, because until now we didn't wake up. We each went our own way... This is not fooling around.
The Rebbe loves each of his Chassidim with an essential love... The Rebbe loves each one in the most physical sense, then how is it possible that the Rebbe would allow us to go about in such confusion?
Rather, the Rebbe wants to shake us up a bit. The Rebbe is asking, "Cry out to me 'Abba,' at least." Don't sit shiva for me and write, "nishmaso eden." I'm here. This isn't what I asked of you. I announced that I am going to be revealed, you didn't believe that I would be revealed - so at least wake up now!
WAITING FOR US
Jews around the world are waiting to know what is said here at Beis Moshiach [770]. Did they finish with their Moshiach? Burn the flag? Or do they still believe? That is what will set the tone, in this moment and in these days, the emuna is what will decide.
They ask and want to see whether Lubavitch is saying "Our father is alive and what the Rebbe said is true and firm and it will all happen" or chas v'shalom...
The Rebbe revealed his prophecies by showing how everything he said took place, one by one. If you have brains, get out of the nonsense and gloom. True, one needs to be pained by the cheshbon nefesh: Why did I bring on this situation? But it needs to lead to action.
However, to display weakness in emuna to the outside? If you would walk by the Rebbe - is this what the Rebbe would say? Ultimately, the Rebbe will place everyone in a row and ask: What did you say to the world? What I said, is it true or not? We each need to think of that moment which will certainly take place. The Rebbe will be revealed now. How will I look at him when he asks me? What will I answer?
Out there, people are warm and love the Rebbe tremendously and are ready to accept the news and know that Yaakov Avinu did not die. The time has come to wake up, to help one another... It hurts and it's terrible... but each one should say a good word to another... A real feeling of Ahavas Yisrael. G-d forbid, don't fall in your faith at the last moment!
LIKE A FLINTSTONE
People ask: What is left to do? The Rebbe says clearly that the only thing left in the avoda of shlichus is to welcome Moshiach. That's what the Rebbe said; no pshetlach are necessary. And we already had more than enough gloom and doom... This a real act of Satan, the Satan is waiting for the moment when the emuna will fall.
The Rebbe wants "the tribe of Levi" to stand strong like a flintstone at the last moment, not allowing anyone to confuse us. We believe with pure faith as the Rebbe taught us, immediately hinei Moshiach ba.
The Rebbe said on Chof-Ches Nissan "until they cry out in truth." At the time, this sounded like a wishful hope, but now, is there a moment of truth greater than now?
With Hashem's help, we will all welcome the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach. It will be sooner than you think because there is no histalkus and nothing like that. The Rebbe warned us not to say histalkus, that they shouldn't say the Rebbe departed; the Rebbe stands and serves in actual deed.
With Hashem's help, everyone will continue the work even more, the Jews who are thirsty and waiting to hear from us will be amazed about the strength of emuna and everyone together will join in doing what the Rebbe is pleading for now; at least, wake up!
And soon, we will cry out together with the Rebbe, in all the worlds: Yechi Adoneinu Moreinu v'Rabeinu, Melech HaMoshiach L'Olam Vaed.
YOU PROMISED SOMETHING TO US
Back to the film... The Chassidim get themselves together and that same week there were already kinusim to instill emuna and start a series of good resolutions to strengthen emuna and the hastening of the hisgalus. Rabbi Shlomo Rosenblatt [then a bachur on Kevutza] related, "On mivtzaim, there were Jews who were unwilling to put on tefillin, saying, 'You promised something and it didn't happen.' But slowly, the emuna of the tmimim began to stick to them and they joined in even more than before."
Rabbi Aryeh Leib Cohen [also from the Kevutza of 5754] sums things up like this, "What the Rebbe said, doesn't go backward. With emuna peshuta it is obvious that everything that is happening is another step on the way to the destination: the hisgalus of the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach."
REACTIONS
The reactions were quick to come. After the film was shown in 770, the tmimim from all over 770 joined in a Yechi dance. The entire night they didn't stop talking about the video. Many kept saying, "For the first time we understand what went on there. For the first time, we felt what Gimmel Tammuz was about."
There were also reactions that reflected the fact that this is a film that should inspire some real personal accounting, "Where are we?" "Are we also holding by the same strong faith in the Rebbe's prophecy?"
THE LITVAK TRAVELING TO HAKHEL
The big chiddush, which surprised us, the editors, wasn't the excitement between the walls of 770 and yeshivos Tomchei Tmimim but the reaction from further afield.
One small example; a Lubavitcher from the north related, "In my work, I attend a religious computer course. As a Chabadnik, I spread the wellsprings among the participants of the course. There was a Litvishe fellow who had a certain book for 'Chabad insiders,' which writes slander from the Rebbe's secretaries' office and speaks very derogatorily about the Rebbe's secretaries as well as the Rebbe's responses regarding inyanei Moshiach etc. Once he read the book, he didn't leave me alone. He felt that he had 'figured out' the internal differences in Chabad and he greatly disparaged Chassidim and their faith and tried to draw me into debates about Chassidim and Moshiach.
"One day, I went over to him and said, 'You know what? I'll send you something. Watch it and then we'll talk.' I sent him a link to Rega HaMivchan.
"A week went by and he came back to me in shock. 'I didn't know,' he repeated. 'The concept of "Rebbe" is completely different for you than what I heard and how I was taught. To you, it's clear that every word of the Rebbe is holy of holies, a fact which is incontrovertible. It took me time to digest. It's all anchored in the Rebbe's words.'
"After that, he has far more respect for the faith of Chassidim in the Rebbe MH"M, and he plans on joining me on a trip to the Rebbe for Shnas Hakhel."
In the 'Beis Moshiach Ft. Lauderdale' community in Florida, dozens of businessmen and mekuravim from the "broader world", sat and watched the documentary. It generated a lot of excitement and interest and they didn't stop talking about it at farbrengens in the community.
THE RESEARCHER WHO DISCOVERED EMUNA AND WAS ASTONISHED
Another interesting story came to us indirectly. On a Torah forum on the Internet, researchers and talmidei chachamim from all over the world spend time, discussing current topics of Torah and "hashkafa." In this forum, there are many participants who in general look askance at the beliefs of Chassidim, and do not exactly love Chassidus and those who learn it; certainly not their faith in the Rebbe.
One day, someone brought to our attention an interesting discussion on a thread about R' Yoel Kahn. A person quoted what R' Yoel said in the video and concluded, "There's a clip of him saying after the Rebbe's stroke that it is as clear as day the words of the Rebbe that he is Moshiach and it's part of the Oral Torah and whoever doubts this is also doubting whether G-d created the heavens and the earth, no less!"
For the first time, the researcher saw that the belief in the Rebbe as Moshiach as not just the imaginings of a few Chassidim after Gimmel Tammuz, but anchored firmly in what the Rebbe himself said and as the great Chassidim understood it.
The researcher marveled how after Gimmel Tammuz they heard R' Yoel speak differently. "Has he ever explained exactly how it's possible to be mistaken when the Rebbe said this explicitly and just a short while ago, he considered this emuna like belief in the Written Torah?"
MOVING FORWARD
After sustained work of hundreds of hours of editing and selecting materials that we did for a whole year, and because of the feedback that we received, we began to show this film in Chabad communities and Chabad Houses. A few communities already arranged times and places for viewings. In addition, an entire team worked on translating the video into English and French.
A final question. Do you really think this film is suitable for Chabad Houses?
Definitely. A shliach is also made out of physical materials and he has a yetzer hara. What keeps him strong in his emuna can also strengthen a mekurav. If it was just addressing a series of questions and answers about 'chai v'kayam,' maybe you could ask how the same video can be shown all over the world when every Chabad House has different levels of connection with the people there, where they are holding, etc.
However, the film does not deal with the question, "Is the Rebbe alive," but with an earlier and deeper stage - belief in the Rebbe. In other words, the cause and the foundation that leads a Chassid to believe in the fact that the Rebbe is chai v'kaya333333m and is about to redeem us, the answer is: Yes, this principle is suited to all.
By watching the film, the mekurav will understand what motivates you, the shliach, what makes you believe. Not just what you believe but why. It's an opportunity to expose him to the inside, Chabad truth, the emuna. For mekuravim who are somewhat 'inside,' part of a Tanya class, people who are trying to get what Chassidus is all about and tasted a bit of its depth, the film will definitely move them forward, getting them into the inner world of Chassidic faith.
We end the article with a demand of Hashem, as Rabbi Braun ended the interview, "If I can speak not to the video but to HKBH, the fact that Chassidim are still standing in such a situation is not normal, standing strong full force, even after such concealment. I don't know whether there was ever such a thing in history."
To stand before Hashem and say, "We did Your shlichus," we withstood the "rega ha'mivchan" [the defining moment], we continue to stand strong in faith, not one word of the Rebbe will fall to the wayside. We believe with complete faith in the prophecy of Geula, we demand "no more videos!" Enough, we cannot go on with this terrible situation. Stop this terrible test and bring us the complete hisgalus of the Rebbe MH"M!