The Rebbe told a story from a Midrash at a fabrengen around Hay Teves. Subsequently on the seventh day after the court ordered the books returned to 770, he taught us how to utilize that powerful Midrash in our service.
Abba Yossi, a man from Tzaitiur, used to sit and learn Torah by a spring of water. One day a spirit appeared and said, “Do you know how many years I have dwelled here night and day? And all that time I have never harmed a soul. You should know there is a bad spirit coming who is dangerous and harmful to creations.
Abba Yossi said to him, “What can be done?”
The spirit answered “Go to the town and announce, “Whoever has boards, clubs or pitchforks should bring them here early in the morning. They should watch the surface of the water. When the water roils aggressively, the people should shake, rattle, and clang their vessels with as much noise as they can, and shout, “Victory is ours! Victory is ours!” [Didon Netzach, Didon Netzach] until a blood spot appears on the water.”
Abba Yossi went to the town and delivered the spirit’s message.
In conclusion the Midrash says that if spirits are created not to need help and even, they sometimes need help, how much more should we who are created to need assistance, receive His help from His Holy Sanctuary.
Our Rebbe comments that whoever says these words “Didon Netzach” [“victory is ours”] in our days certainly has in mind the Previous Rebbe’s victory in regaining the books. Therefore, whatever grows from Didon Netzach is our Rebbe’s victory. The victory does not emanate from our own strength and intellect, and certainly not because we are doing what we think is correct, but victory is the Rebbe’s.
And with this intention victory is certainly ours [Didon Netzach’]—certain victory, in an exceedingly nice and peaceful way.
As the Previous Rebbe said, “A Chassid is smart, he doesn’t hesitate and estimate that maybe there is another way, he begins by following the Rebbe’s way. We don’t have to search for a source in Torah of how to achieve victory, the Rebbe found it in a Midrash.
