In major events in Jewish life, the Jewish woman was more prominent than the men.
Mattan Torah: At the giving of the Torah, G-d commanded Moshe Rabbeinu to speak first to the Jewish women, and only thereafter to the men. This was also obvious shortly thereafter when the Jewish women refused to participate in the golden calf – which was the antithesis to Mattan Torah.
The Mishkan: In the donations to the Mishkan the women were the first, and only following them, the men brought their gifts.
The Redemption: The Geulah from Egyptian bondage was in the merit of the righteous women of that generation (Sotah 11b).
Similarly: Our generation is the last of the golus and the first of the Geulah; we are the reincarnation of the generation that was liberated from Egypt, thus the women of our generation are the reincarnation of the women in whose merit the Redemption came about, when they went out of Mitzrayim [Arizal – Shaar haGilgulim hakdama 20. Likkutei Torah & Sefer haLikkutim Shemos 3:4]. (Sefer HaSichos 5752 p. 299)
It has frequently been mentioned that the unique innovation of our generation – the last one of the golus and the first of the Geulah, is that it concludes our Avodah (and that of all previous generations), as the Previous Rebbe expressed it “the polishing of the buttons.” We have to bring the Geulah into reality for our generation and all preceding generations before us.
The generation of Nassi Doreinu has several stages, which can be divided generally into three: 1) 10th of Shevat – the conclusion of the Previous Rebbe’s Divine service on this physical world. 2) The following day, 11th of Shevat – (the first full day after his Histalkus) especially in the year 5711, when a new era began, “the luminary was placed . . to shine” – the seventh generation from the Alter Rebbe, and the ninth generation from the Baal Shem Tov, 3) The period after the Histalkus of the Previous Rebbe’s daughter on “Chof Beis Shevat” 5748.
This period represents the complete manifestation of Hashem's dwelling place in this lowly world, as the Geulah has been accomplished, which comes through and in the merit of the righteous Jewish women and girls.
The lesson for Jewish women and girls in general, particularly the Shluchos who have gathered here from all over the world for the “International Convention of Shluchos,” now being in the last moments before the Geulah, one must raise our own awareness and that of all Jewish women and girls, regarding the great merit they have to actually bring the true and complete Geulah immediately, which comes “in the merit of the women of the generation.”
The main thing is: May it be Hashem’s will, that the Jewish people should immediately and actually be redeemed in the merit of the Jewish women, and “those that repose in the dust should arise and rejoice” (Yeshaya 26:19) including the Previous Rebbe and his daughter, and all tzadikkim and tzidkonios – may it be immediately.
(Kuntres Becho Yivorech Yisroel – Sefer haSichos 5752 p. 361)
