The Maasai Lamelech remarks that at a gathering of Rabbonim and Roshei Yeshiva in Vilna to strengthen Yiddishkeit and Torah institutions, one of the Rabbonim opened his remarks with the pasuk, “Then the G-d-fearing men spoke to one another...” He interpreted it as meaning that we have an obligation to gather together and make plans to strengthen Yiddishkeit.
When the Chofetz Chaim started his drosha, he mentioned, as an aside, what this Rav had said. The Chofetz Chaim pointed out that the pasuk starts with the words, “Then they spoke together...” This implies that this isn’t the beginning of the issue. Rather it is the result of what came earlier. Earlier the Navi stated, “Still harder did your words strike Me... You have said, ‘It is futile to serve G-d, and what profit do we get for keeping His charge and for going about in anxious worry because of the Lord of Hosts?’ And now we praise the bold transgressors. Yea, those who work wickedness are built up. Yea, they tempt G-d, and they have, nevertheless, escaped.”
The Navi is telling us that when the reshoim and the brazen rebels escape unharmed and succeed in building up their institutions, only then do those who fear Hashem gather together to talk one to the other. Now is not a time for talk. Now the reshoim are planting their roots and building firm foundations. Now is a time for courageous action. We have to strengthen Torah institutions and Yiddishkeit!
Rav Shach, zt”l, once related (Shimusha Shel Torah, p. 137) that the Chofetz Chaim constantly awaited the coming of the Moshiach. He actually lived the edict, “I await his coming every day.” It wasn’t just a belief, it was a fact.
Awaiting the Moshiach, said the Chofetz Chaim, should be in the same style as you would await a Shabbos guest. When Friday afternoon comes, everyone knows that the guest is going to arrive any minute. They don’t know exactly when, but they know he’s coming. In the meantime, everyone is busy with his chores getting ready for Shabbos. But they don’t for one minute forget who’s coming. They’re all listening for the doorbell to ring. That’s the way it should be about the Moshiach. We all go about our daily business. Life goes on as usual. But in the back of our minds, we should be anxiously awaiting the sound of the shofar announcing his arrival.
