The Rambam’s wording, “Klal Yisroel will do teshuva and immediately they will be redeemed,” was often quoted by the Rebbe. Together with a yearning and relentless expectation for the imminent arrival of the geula, the Rebbe would regularly stipulate that Moshiach’s coming is connected with Klal Yisroel’s commitment to Yiddishkeit.
In this vein, the Rebbe rejected the Zionist approach of connecting the secular state of Israel with geula, and likewise any projections for redemption that are not anchored in strengthening of torah and mitzvos.
Reb Leibel Shapiro relates:
There was a learned Yid, who was quite secular, who was in yechidus in the year 5721. In a conversation with the Rebbe, this Yid shared with the Rebbe that he had seen a calculation in a Kabalah sefer, that Moshiach is expected to arrive that year, 5721.
The Rebbe was not happy with the prediction. “When a Yid who reads the newspapers and watches television, will do teshuva,” the Rebbe responded, alluding to this man himself, “that’s when Moshiach will come!”
(Yalkut Sipurim p. 76)
