[This talk was given on Parshas Shemini. The year in which this sicha (talk) was delivered, the Parshas Shemini was read a total of eight (Shemini) times. There is a well-known Chassidic adage, which the Rebbe quotes, that a year in which Shemini is read shemini (eight) times will be a fat (shemini) year. (The word for 'fat,' shemen, has the same root as the word for 'eight,' shemini.) The Rebbe then proceeded in this vein, that, indeed the year 5751 was a distinguished and a fat year. Translator's note.]
The principle accomplishment of this year - which the Jewish people have designated and named "It will be a year of miracles I will show him" - is that it is a year distinguished for being "fat" and filled with wonders and miracles from G-d, visible to everyone. This accomplishment also serves as a preparation for the wonders and miracles of the complete and true Redemption, coming imminently, "as in the days of your going forth from the land of Egypt I will show you miracles" - as mentioned and emphasized many times during the year.
* * *
This Shabbos is the Sefirah of Malchus sh'b'Gvurah, a revelation of King Moshiach within the severity of exile, and also Shabbos Parshas Shemini ... which is particularly connected with our righteous Moshiach - since the "kinor of the days of Moshiach" is made of "eight strings." This leads directly to nine and then ten, which is holy - that is, the perfection of ten achieved in the true and complete Redemption ("upon a ten-stringed instrument"), "a kinor of ten strings" (which is higher than a kinor of eight strings).
The connection should be further emphasized since the birthday of the Rebbe MaHaRash occurs right at the beginning of the month of Iyar, on the second of Iyar. It is well known that his directive and inspiration was m'l'chatchila ariber [Literally, "from the start, go above."]. The Rebbe MaHaRash was the sixth generation (from the Baal Shem Tov), "double the force of three which represents a well-grounded and established idea"; that leads to the seventh generation, the eighth generation, until this generation - the ninth generation (a tripled presumption), which becomes the immediate preparation - without any interruption at all - for the tenth generation which is holy in the true and complete Redemption.
In all of this everyone receives further strength from the extension of Moshe in our generation, my sainted father-in-law, the Rebbe, the leader of our generation, particularly since today we read Torah in his synagogue... From this house of prayer the strength will also reach those outside this house, until the whole world, including the farthest corner (physically and spiritually) of the world. There will then be a fulfillment of "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations," together with "gather the dispersed of Israel, I will yet gather others to him [Israel] beside those of him that are gathered."
A reflection of this has been fulfilled in these times (the year of miracles and the year I will show him wonders), namely "the gathering of the dispersed of Israel" from that country without limitations (not as it was previously, when in order to leave one needed a special connection and a special request), and they are coming to the land of Israel, also without limitations (not as it was previously, as is well-known). This is one of the revelations beyond measure or limit during the end of the time of exile.
Simply put: All Jews, men, women and even children, have the responsibility to increase their efforts to bring our righteous Moshiach in actual reality!
Therefore it's obvious there's no place for relying on others or imposing the work on someone else instead of doing it one's self - but this is the task of every man and woman; everyone must themselves do their job, "to serve my Maker" (for the sake of which "I was created"), and certainly one has the ability (since "I do not ask except according to their ability").
What this duty consists of is also simple: increasing one's Torah and mitzvos. This means learning both the open aspects of the Torah and the inner aspects of the Torah and performing the mitzvos with distinction... All of this should be done with an intense anticipation and desire for the Redemption - "I anxiously await his coming every day."
As we say every day in the prayers: "May our eyes behold Your return to Zion in mercy" and (on weekdays) - "Speedily cause the scion of David Your servant to flourish." This has been mentioned many times.
(From the talk of Shabbos Parshas Shmini, the blessing of the month and the eve of the month of Iyar, 5751)
