EVEN DIMINUTIVE DEEDS BRING THE REDEMPTION

Translated by Boruch Merkur

It is possible that a minor action done by a little child should be the final “blow of the hammer” that will bring about the redemption! * At first glance though, how could we be hopeful that another small addition in Torah and Mitzvos will change anything? The Jewish people have been awaiting the coming of Moshiach for thousands of years, and throughout all the generations they have already done a huge quantity of Torah and Mitzvos!

EVEN THE MOST INSIGNIFICANT ACTION, 
A “HAIRSBREADTH”

Every Jew is the emissary of G-d Alm-ghty, and since “the emissary of a person is like the person himself,” each Jew is a reflection of G-d Himself (as spoken about above at length). Thus, a parallel can be drawn between the manner whereby G-d completed the act of Creation and the way a Jew fulfills his mission in the world:

In order to complete Creation (“And He finished…His labor”), and immediately bring the world into a state of “and He rested on the seventh day,” only a minor action was done (no more than “the lowering of the mallet”). Similarly, it is important for a Jew to know that it is possible that a single good deed, even the most insignificant action, no more than a “hairsbreadth” in measure, could be the final “blow of the hammer” that completes the mission of the time of exile and brings us immediately (thereafter) to the era that is “entirely Shabbos and tranquility.” At the very least, even diminutive deeds, described as “the lowering of the mallet,” are sure to bring the exile closer to completion. This concept is in line with the ruling of Rambam – that through “a single Mitzva, one tilts his own scale [of judgment] and that of the entire world to the side of favor, bringing to himself and to them [the rest of the world] redemption and salvation.”

From the above we can also derive an explanation as to why we are constantly urging Jews to strive to add another activity, a further addition in Torah and Mitzvos, as well as in disseminating Judaism and the wellsprings outward … for in this manner it is possible to bring about the advent of Moshiach Tzidkeinu one moment sooner.

At first glance though, how could we be hopeful that another small addition in Torah and Mitzvos will change anything? The Jewish people have been awaiting the coming of Moshiach for thousands of years, and throughout all the generations they have already done a huge quantity of Torah and Mitzvos!

WHAT’S WITH 
ALL THE WILD TALK?!

[The following appears in the original draft of this address: Similarly regarding talk about the coming of Moshiach. At first glance, impassioned and fervent talk about Moshiach Tzidkeinu coming literally now is wild, uncouth, for we have already spoken about these matters many times and nothing (apparently) has been accomplished. Where is the sense in continuing to speak about it week after week with such enthusiasm and zeal?! If after all the previous disappointments they still wish to speak about Moshiach Tzidkeinu, at least they shouldn’t scream about it… Let them, rather, speak about it calmly and sedately, concluding with a quiet niggun, even clapping hands if necessary. Of course, being that it is Shabbos, the stringent and the scrupulous, etc., should clap with the back of their hands…

[Woe to this kind of clapping! Woe to this final “blow of the hammer”! Woe to this kind of stringency and scrupulousness (and knowledge of Torah law)!

[The answer to this question, however, is self-evident. Since after so much talk and so many activities, etc., Moshiach Tzidkeinu still has not come, there is no other choice but to behave “wildly,” with spontaneity, but in a manner that is, of course, in accordance with the Shulchan Aruch.]

THE SMALL ACT OF A LITTLE CHILD IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR G-D

According to what we have said above, it is understood that since we are talking about the fulfillment and completion of the mission G-d Alm-ghty has given us – to make for Him, may He be blessed, a dwelling place in the lower realms – G-d is not limited by whether this should be a small action or a large one, or by whether it is done by the greatest of the great or the most smallest of the small. Rather, it is possible that a minor action done by a little child should be the final “blow of the hammer” that will bring about the redemption!

(This message is reminiscent of the well-known teaching of the Baal Shem Tov regarding the ultimate purpose of the descent of the soul into the body – that it could be that a soul descends below and lives seventy, eighty years in order to do a single act of kindness for a Jew. That is to say that although the Jew studies Torah and fulfills Mitzvos, observing both lenient and stringent laws alike, it is possible that the main mission of his soul within the body is in order to do a favor for a Jew [i.e., something incredibly simple].)

The very knowledge of this approach adds to the determination and enthusiasm of every Jew in his service of G-d. Firstly, it strengthens all his activities in fulfilling G-d’s mission for him in the world – to make a dwelling place in the lower realms through fulfilling Torah and Mitzvos, disseminating Judaism and spreading the wellsprings outward to other Jews, and to Gentiles, the Seven Mitzvos of the Descendants of Noach.

And this is to be done not only in a manner of “And he went out,” himself going out to do this mission, but also “And he sent,” to make others emissaries of the Alm-ghty (or to strengthen those who are already emissaries to be more effective and to fulfill their mission in a more revealed way), to the extent that they have the power of “malachim mamash (literally angels),” as spoken about earlier.

(From the address of Shabbos Parshas VaYishlach, 10 Kislev, 5748, muga)