The emphasis on acknowledging the miracles of the Geulah is of utmost importance now, as we approach the end of galus. The Rebbe uses yet another analogy from the Exodus from Egypt: the 40 years the Jews spent in the desert, when we were given “a heart to know, eyes to see and ears to hear” the great miracles Hashem has preformed for us.

Particularly since we stand after the “forty years” of being in the “desert of the nations” —  a term which is a reference to exile, when we were in  territory “uninhabited” by G-dliness which remains under the dominion of the “gentile nations.”

וּבִּפְרַט אַז מְ’הַאלְט שׁוֹיְן נָאךְ דִי “אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה” זַיין בְּמִדְבַּר הָעַמִּים (פוּן גָּלוּת),

Thus we can be in the process of Redemption, but still be in a situation the pasuk describes as “For forty years I quarreled with that generation,” ­— referring to the many instances when the Jews displayed distrust in Hashem while being in the desert.

אִין אַ מַצָּב פוּן “(אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה) אָקוּט בְּדוֹר”,

Now, however, after “forty years,” we stand at the verge of the next part of the verse — “they shall enter My resting place,” which refers to the Holy Land in which the Shechinah, the Divine presence, dwells. “My resting place” is also a reference to Jerusalem, Yerushalayim in Hebrew, which contains in it the word “Shalem – complete,” signifying a level of perfect tranquility which will be achieved at the true and complete Redemption.

אוּן מְ’הַאלְט שׁוֹיְן בַּא “יְבוֹאוּן אֶל מְנוּחָתִי”, אִין אֶרֶץ הַקֹּדֶשׁ וִירוּשָׁלַיִם בִּיז “שָׁלֵם”, שְׁלֵמוּת הַמְּנוּחָה – בַּגְּאֻלָּה הָאֲמִתִּית וְהַשְׁלֵימָה,

It is thereby understood that the Jewish people are already prepared for it and already have “a heart to know and eyes to see and ears to hear” and acknowledge the miraculous events unfolding around them, so much so that one is not ashamed to break out into a lively dance in the street!

אִיז פַארשְׁטַאנְדִיק, אַז אִידְן זַייְנֶען שׁוֹין דֶערְצוּ גְרֵייט, אוּן הָאבְּן שׁוֹיְן דֶעם “לֵב לָדַעַת וְעֵינַיִם לִרְאוֹת וְאׇזְנַיִם לִשְׁמֹעַ”

Just as was the case in the fortieth year after the exodus from Egypt, to which our redemption is likened to].

[אַזוֹי וִוי סְ’אִיז גֶעוֶוען בְּאַרְבָּעִים הַשָּׁנָה נָאךְ יְצִיאַת מִצְרַיִם, וָואס כִּימֵי צֵאתְךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם אַרְאֶנּוּ נִפְלָאוֹת.]

The idea that we are in the generation of Moshiach has been a topic the Rebbe has spoken about frequently since the beginning of his leadership in 5751 (1951), 40 years before this period. This period, however, received even greater importance in this context. The Rebbe, in a footnote, perhaps explains this by making a connection to the “forty years” analogy mentioned above.

It should be noted that forty years have passed since the Histalkus (passing) of my saintly father-in-law, the Rebbe and subsequently, the Rebbe’s ascent to leadership, in the year 5710, as discussed many times.

וּלְהָעִיר שֶׁכְּבַר עָבְרוּ אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה מֵעֵת הִסְתַּלְּקוּת כ”ק מוֹרִי-חָמִי אַדְמוֹ”ר בִּשְׁנַת ה’שי”ת, כַּמְּדֻבָּר כַּמָּה פְּעָמִים.