The Announcement Of The Redemption

BESURAS HAGEULO

All of the signs mentioned by our sages indicate that we are currently situated at the very end of the period of exile. We have "passed all the deadlines."

We have also performed Teshuvah [repentance, return, a prerequisite for Redemption]. Indeed, my sainted father-in-law, the leader of our generation, declared (several decades ago) that we have already concluded all the service [necessary for Redemption], including the "polishing of the buttons," and we now stand ready ("All of you stand ready") to greet our righteous Moshiach.

Despite the difficult and protracted final exile, which has lasted more than 1,900 years (in stark contrast to the duration of the Egyptian bondage which lasted 210 years), the nature of "the Children of Israel" has essentially transcended exile. Thus, every additional moment we remain in exile is a form "having now come into Egypt," "as if they had that very day entered into Egypt."

The Jewish people, therefore, stand with firm faith and conviction that G-d will immediately fulfill his promise that "I have indeed remembered you" by bringing the genuine and complete Redemption, especially when hearing from the Moses of our generation, my sainted father-in-law, the leader of our generation,

1. Sanhedrin 97b.
2. Talk of Simchas Torah, 5689.
3. Cf. Hayom Yom, among others, 15 Teves.
4. Shemos 1:1.
5. Shemos Rabbah, beginning of our Parsha (8:14), Tanchuma, loc. cit. 3.
6. Shemos 3:16.
7. See Bereishis Rabbah 56:7: "There is no generation in which there is none like Moses." See also Zohar 3:273a. Tikkunei Zohar 69 (112, beginning of side a. 114, beginning of side a). Tanya chapter 44. Ibid. Iggeres HaKodesh, elucidation of sec. 27, end.

BESURAS HAGEULO

that we have already concluded all matters of Divine service and are presently standing ready to greet our righteous Redeemer [Moshiach]. This is particularly true now that we have reached the milestone of forty years concerning which the Torah says, "G-d gave you a heart to know and eyes to see and ears to hear."

Additionally, we are now situated in the fifty first year [5751], which in Hebrew forms the acrostic (It shall be a year of) wonders which I will show him [ubtrt ,utkpb- Niflaos Arenu].

The Jewish people should, therefore, be encouraged and their spirits uplifted by declaring that G-d says daily, and literally, anew, that, "I have indeed remembered you," and that your righteous Moshiach "stands behind the wall" and that "this one is coming."

Accordingly we should prepare ourselves to greet him by increasing our observance of Torah and Mitzvos, in consonance with the ruling of the Rambam (whose anniversary of passing is the 20th of Teves, the night after this Sabbath), that through "one Mitzvah, one can favorably alter the balance for oneself and for the entire world, causing oneself and them salvation and deliverance."

(From the talks of Shabbos Parshas Shemos, 19 Teves 5751)

1. [I.e., forty years since the passing of the Previous Rebbe, a milestone which enables us to fully realize the intention and depth of the teachings that were said forty years earlier. - Translator's note.]
2. Tavo 29:3 [Moses said this to the Jewish people who were about to enter into the Promised Land, explaining that they were now capable of realizing that which they were taught by G-d forty years earlier. Translator's note.]
3. Shir HaShirim 2:9.
4. Ibid 8. See Shir HaShirim Rabbah on this verse (ch. 2:8(b)).
5. Hilchos Teshuvah 3:4.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE REDEMPTION

We have already mentioned many times the words of my sainted father-in-law, the leader of our generation, that aside from the fact that already "all the appointed times have passed," the Jewish people have already done teshuvah and already everything is completed, even including "polishing the buttons." We only need G-d to open the eyes of the Jewish people so that they should see that the true and complete Redemption already exists, and we are sitting already by the prepared table at the festive meal of Livyosan, Shor HaBor, etc.

Therefore it's understood... in this generation and at this time, after every requirement has been accomplished (as mentioned above), one has the complete assurance in the Torah that there will certainly be "(You will remember the day of your exodus from the land of Egypt) all the days of your life... to bring about the days of Moshiach."

There is no need for any interruption, G-d Forbid, between "all the days of your life" and "the days of Moshiach" (which has been the situation for the Jewish people in all the generations before our generation). Rather, "all the days of your life" for every Jew, living physically as a soul in a body, includes in the simple sense (also) "the days of Moshiach." This is without an interruption, since the Redemption is actually coming imminently and immediately at this instant and in this place (even if the condition is one of night, "coming to Egypt"). Thus the last moment of exile and the very last instant of exile become the first moment and the very first instant of Redemption.

1. Sanhedrin 97b.
2. See Bava Basra 74b ff. Pesachim 119b and in other places.
3. Brochos 12b.

BESURAS HAGEULO

And from "the days of your life" at this time and in this place, without any interruption whatsoever, G-d Forbid, (even if he is already older than seventy years, etc.) every Jew will go immediately - totally and completely, "Reuven and Shimon descended, Reuven and Shimon arose," - into the continuation of "all the days of your life.," into the days of Moshiach and the eternal life that then will be.

Practically, this means that the Divine service of the Jewish people now must be "to bring about the days of Moshiach." We must reveal that the situation of "coming to Egypt" in exile is in truth a situation of the "Redemption of Israel." [This is achieved] through his preparation of himself and others for the situation of "the days of Moshiach."

The above includes (particularly in conjunction with the day of passing of the Rambam) strengthening and increasing the study of the Rambam's Mishneh Torah, especially the Laws of King Moshiach, in the last two chapters of the "Laws of Kings" which conclude the Mishneh Torah.

In addition to one's own study of this, one should also influence other Jews around him (men, women and children) in a manner of "raising many disciples," and many more will see and emulate them.

May it be G-d's Will, that through the resolution itself will come imminently and immediately the reward, the actual fulfillment of the Rambam's words at the conclusion of his work, that after there already exists "a king from the House of Dovid, expert in the Torah and involved in mitzvos like Dovid his father... and he will compel all Israel to walk in [the ways of Torah], strengthen its breeches and fight the wars of G-d" - who is the "presumed Moshiach" [b'chezkas Moshiach] - there will already be immediately the "confirmed Moshiach" [Moshiach vadai], who "does all the above and succeeds, builds the Temple in its place and gathers the dispersed of Israel... He will then improve the whole world so that it serves G-d in unity,..."

(From the talk of Shabbos Parshas Shmos, 21 Teves 5752)