To mark Yud Shvat 5763, Bar Ilan University had a three day symposium on the topic of “Chabad in the 21st Century.” * Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Wilschansky, rosh yeshiva of the Chabad yeshiva in Tzfas, was invited by the university as the Chabad representative. * In his talk, R’ Wilschansky analyzed the main points of Geula and Moshiach and sets out principles for explaining the subject and “chai v’kayam.”
The Baal Shem Tov was told that when his wellsprings would spread outward, Moshiach would come. Years have passed and we have reached the time that the Rebbe defined as that in which the wellsprings reached all corners of the earth.
We heard things from the Rebbe himself that he defined as prophetic, “Hinei Zeh Moshiach Ba,” and “the time for your redemption has arrived.” The Rebbe defined the time we are in as the time of Geula and brought proofs from the Midrash and from current events.
Let us take a brief look at the topic, based on the Rebbe’s teachings and the things he said which were printed and edited by him.
IF YOU DON’T LEARN, HOW WILL YOU KNOW?
The Rebbe spoke more than once about learning Inyanei Moshiach and Geula. The Rebbe said in the sicha of Balak 5751 that the Torah has the power to change a person’s nature, and therefore, Inyanei Moshiach and Geula we can start “living Moshiach,” i.e. living in a way that is fitting for this period of time.
I won’t quote it all, but the Rebbe spoke about this on a number of occasions: Tazria-Metzora 5751, Balak 5751, Chayei Sarah 5752, etc. The Rebbe also gave the instruction to prepare oneself and the world to welcome Moshiach by explaining the concept of Moshiach as it appears in the Written and Oral Torah. In Tazria-Metzora 5751, the Rebbe even referred specifically to “maamarim and Likkutei Sichos of Nasi Doreinu,” and that is the way to properly understand everything related to the topic of Moshiach. The Rebbe spoke not only about the Geula but also about Moshiach himself, as the subject is addressed in traditional sources.
It’s no secret that when the Rebbe began speaking urgently about the imminent coming of Moshiach, long before 3 Tammuz 5754, that there were differences of opinion among Lubavitchers. Should they speak about Moshiach’s identity or just about his coming? I spoke with a friend at that time, a very learned person, and he told me: When I walk around in my neighborhood where there are many learned Jews, they look at us and think – what happened to them? This makes me feel very uncomfortable.
I said to him: Go over to those people who are sitting and learning (and I’m not going to quibble about how learned they actually are) and ask them whether they ever learned “Hilchos Melech HaMoshiach” in the Rambam. You will be surprised to hear that most or all of them will say there is no such thing. Ask them whether they ever learned chapters 11 and 12 in Hilchos Melachim and you will find out that they did not learn it.
The absurdity is that, for some reason, when it comes to Inyanei Moshiach, people feel they can express their opinions based on their feelings, “I think …” Then others say that so-and-so is a big lamdan and has Daas Torah … But there are explicit matters which the Rambam paskened as piskei halacha!
As for those who actually learned the Rambam and saw that the Rambam writes that “nobody knows what it will be like until it happens,” they conclude that since the Rambam himself says not to deal with the Midrashim and all these things, then they won’t learn Inyanei Moshiach and Geula because the Rambam says not to learn it!
The question is: Why did the Rambam write these two chapters if not for us to learn it? There are things about which he says we won’t know until it happens, but there are things that we do need to know and he wrote about these things in those two chapters of Hilchos Melachim.
BESURAS HA’GEULA: CLEAR NEVUA
In the sicha of Shoftim 5751, when speaking about this present time being the era of Geula and “Hinei Zeh Moshiach Ba,” the Rebbe said this is a prophecy. More than once, he emphasized that this is something that can be pointed at and we can see that Moshiach has come.
When it comes to Moshiach there are many details that will take place until the final stage is reached when Moshiach redeems the Jewish people. We are definitely not at the final stage, but we are certainly in the Yemos HaMoshiach when a number of the things in the Geula process have taken place.
When the Rebbe speaks about the Geula, “Hinei Zeh Moshiach Ba,” and all the other things associated with the coming of Moshiach that he has stated, he leaves no room for doubts. He says it in the clearest way, with an instruction that this be publicized, as well as the fact that there is a prophet of the generation who is saying these prophecies. These are things that the Rebbe himself publicized and had printed.
I was standing in a shul when a yeshiva bachur came and publicly reviewed something the Rebbe said. Someone got up and said to him: It’s forbidden to say that! Yaakov Avinu wanted to reveal the keitz and it was hidden from him and the Sh’china departed.
A debate ensued. I asked him: When Eliyahu comes and announces the Geula, will you also tell him that it is forbidden to say so?
Clearly, there was a time when it could not be revealed, but then there is the right time in which we hear the Besuras Ha’Geula from Eliyahu HaNavi or someone else (there are varying opinions).
WHEN THE MIDRASH COMES TRUE BEFORE OUR EYES
During the Gulf War, the Rebbe spoke about the miracles taking place and said that these are the signs written about in the Midrash Yalkut Shimoni, that when you see all these things, nations sparring with one another, and all the other signs written there, then Hashem says to the Jewish people, “My children, do not fear. Everything I did, I did for your sake,” and “when Melech HaMoshiach stands on the roof of the Beis HaMikdash and announces, humble ones, the time for your redemption has arrived.” The Rebbe said this is the time and this is the Midrash and everything that is happening is to let us know that “the time for your redemption has arrived.”
I had occasion to speak with some friends and someone said: It says not to be involved in Midrashim!
First of all, even if people like myself should not deal with Midrashim, tzaddikim are called “eyes of the congregation” and as it says in the Gemara on the verse, “and Mordechai knew everything that was happening” – he knew down here what was going on Up There, so the Rebbe can know too …
And the question is not a question! The Rambam writes, “Nobody will know it until it happens,” but now, when it is happening, and we see it taking place before our eyes, should we close our eyes and say: No, we closed our eyes and we don’t know?! The Rebbe said about the Midrash that it is talking about the events of the Gulf War!
It is obvious and clear: we need to learn about the Geula and when we do, we see that many s’farim have been written lately on this subject, ever since the Rebbe spoke about the importance of learning Inyanei Moshiach and Geula. Since the Rebbe raised awareness about this subject, because the time has really come, it is a subject that concerns us all. The Rebbe raised awareness of this among musicians, storytellers for children, and even those who produce games.
Many s’farim have been written and there is so much in the Rebbe’s teachings. We see this in things that were said at the beginning of his nesius, and then especially since 22 Shvat 5748 and onward. The Rebbe referred to this as a new era (even earlier, on 5 Teves 5747, the Rebbe said the time of “stand all of you with readiness for the building of the third Beis HaMikdash” had begun).
NASI HA’DOR-MELECH HA’MOSHIACH
In Parshas Shmos, we read that Moshe Rabbeinu asked Hashem, “Shlach Na B’yad Tishlach.” The Midrash says that he meant: send the one You will send in future times, i.e. Moshiach.
The Rebbe explains in the sicha of Chayei Sarah 5752, that Moshe’s request was that he should have a connection with the future Geula, that the first Redeemer should be connected with the Final Redeemer. Moshe’s request was certainly fulfilled, and this is because with the power of Torah which is Moshe’s power, Moshiach will come who is “Hogeh BaTorah” (immersed in Torah study) and he will bring the Geula.
Furthermore, we know that each generation has its nasi who is a spiritual extension of Moshe. The Nasi HaDor is the Moshiach of the generation. As the Chasam Sofer and S’dei Chemed pasken, in every generation there is a tzaddik fit to be Moshiach. When the moment comes that Hashem tells him that he is Moshiach, the neshama of Moshiach will be revealed within him. If so, he has the neshama-extension of Moshe, and at the right time the neshama of Moshiach will be revealed within him. Thus, both come together: Moshe Rabbeinu, the first Redeemer from the tribe of Levi, and Moshiach, the Final Redeemer from the tribe of Yehuda.
As for the Nasi HaDor, as Chassidim, we all know that this is the Lubavitcher Rebbe. That is the way it always was, that it was said about each great leader in his beis midrash that he will be Moshiach. In the Gemara in Sanhedrin it refers to the “house of Yanai,” the “house of Shila,” the “house of Menachem.” Rashi explains that each one said it about himself! That’s why they said it in his beis midrash, because they heard it from him. So too, in our generation, we heard the Rebbe say about himself, more than once, that “Menachem is his [Moshiach’s] name.”
The Rebbe constantly spoke about the Nasi HaDor as Moshiach. Just look at one example, the sicha of Tazria-Metzora 5751, where he brings the Gemara about the tzaddikim that each one said about himself that he is Moshiach, and the Rebbe adds – and we Chassidim will say this about our Rebbe – and he explained this in connection with the Rebbe Rayatz, as he always did.
The Rebbe let us know that we ought to say this about our Rebbe and this appears dozens, hundreds of times in numerous places (“Menachem is his name” etc.).
DON’T BE FAZED
It should be emphasized that when we are discussing the Geula, we are not talking about a keitz, i.e. an auspicious time for the Geula, but that this time, right now, is the time for the final Geula. Since this is the time for the Geula, Moshiach has already begun doing what he has to do. The Rebbe referred to things occurring in the world as some of the activities of Moshiach and he spoke about this at length on Shabbos Parshas Mishpatim 5752. The Rebbe said we should contemplate these things so we can understand what era we are living in and “live with Moshiach.”
There is also the famous sicha about the revelation of the existence of Moshiach that is facilitated by proclaiming “Yechi HaMelech,” which should inform us about how we ought to live.
Then Gimmel Tammuz came. Many people were confused. Others breathed a sigh of relief. Whoever was nervous, thinking that maybe the truth was being said, relaxed; that was the end of that, they thought.
There is a monthly get-together at the diamond exchange where I was asked to speak within the thirty days following Gimmel Tammuz. Someone asked me: what will you do if Moshiach comes and it’s someone else?
I answered: That is an impossible reality. And in order to understand this, let me make it clear – we are not talking about who will be Moshiach, but about Moshiach who is already doing things that affect the world. The process has begun and this is written in the Rebbe’s sichos.
Therefore, there is no need to prove this. On the contrary, if you want to say this isn’t so, go ahead and prove that! If we want to find an explanation for this, we don’t have to invent it. We find the concept of “Moshiach being revealed, concealed, and revealed” in our Torah sources. It happened with Moshe and this is the case with the Final Redeemer too. It is brought in the Chasam Sofer, the B’nei Yissoschor, the Maharsha, in Rashi and the writings of the Arizal, and I don’t think any of them is suspected of being a heretic or a Christian, G-d forbid.
“YECHI HAMELECH” AND “YECHI ADONEINU”
The Rebbe said that proclaiming “Yechi HaMelech” actualizes the bond between the king and his people and reveals the life of the king. This was in the sicha of Beis Nissan 5748 and Toldos and Chayei Sarah 5752. It teaches us what is accomplished by saying “Yechi HaMelech.”
These words were sung to the Rebbe even in Iyar 5751, and especially in 5753 when the Rebbe came out to the public and waited for Yechi to be sung after each t’filla. People stood before the Rebbe and expressed their submission to him, as Moshiach. Chassidim continue to do this.
Some ask: To what extent can we rely on that period of 5753-5754? The answer is simple. At that time, Lubavitchers asked the Rebbe questions about shidduchim, operations, and other important matters. These critical matters were responded to by the Rebbe with a nod of his head. When it came to “Yechi,” the Rebbe nodded his head and waved his hand in strong encouragement.
I’ll give just one example that took place on Chanuka. The Rebbe sat in his place while “HaNeiros HaLalu” was sung. The crowd sang it quickly, discerning that the Rebbe wanted to leave the shul. Nevertheless, after finishing “HaNeiros HaLalu,” the Rebbe waited for them to sing “Yechi” and encouraged the singing for forty seconds before leaving.
In other words, the Rebbe waited for them to sing “Yechi,” so that if someone was uncertain about whether he wanted it, they would see that he did. There were many times that people saw that the Rebbe did not merely encourage them but waited for them to sing it.
EVERY LUBAVITCHER BELIEVES
The topic of Moshiach in Chabad is an essential one. Boruch Hashem, in Chabad everyone holds the same way and remains one family. There are differences of opinion about what should be said to the “outside.” Some think it’s not appropriate even if they believe as such.
Statistics are not our thing, but I will mention that I just attended a “Shabbos SheKula Moshiach,” which was attended by about 1400 people, men and women, young and old. They all came to strengthen this emuna in “Yechi.”
It is important to know that this is the belief of the overwhelming majority of Lubavitchers. Even those people we meet who don’t seem to agree with it, for the most part, will be heard saying the same thing within our own circles. Official people in Chabad attended a number of internal gatherings and they too joined in proclaiming “Yechi.”
It is vital that everyone study the subject and arrive at an understanding about what is a Jewish hashkafa and what isn’t. When the Baal Shem Tov appeared on the scene, and when Chassidus began, there were those who claimed it was not a Jewish hashkafa. The Rebbe explained how we can know that these objections had no lasting significance – from the results. People saw that all those who, according to the Misnagdim, were far from the proper Jewish hashkafa, fulfilled mitzvos punctiliously and went beyond minimal requirements.
Here too, all agree that the Rebbe’s leadership continues and his shluchim continue to go out to the world. The Rebbe wants this and people are doing it.
BELIEVERS, CHILDREN OF BELIEVERS
As mentioned earlier, quoting the Rambam, a person won’t know until it happens. We don’t see the Rebbe now, but we know that Moshiach’s work has begun and the Rebbe is the one filling that role.
Some people have a hard time with this. There is a story that we heard from the Rebbe about the Rebbe Rayatz that they brought a melamed to teach his daughters. He saw that the melamed was skipping “far-out” Midrashim. When he was asked why he did this, the melamed said: I am of the opinion that little children should not be confused. The Rebbe said: In that case, you cannot be my daughters’ teacher!
We were raised with the principle of “Naaseh V’nishma,” to accept things on faith, but that which can be explained needs to be understood. The Torah tells us that Moshe went to Egypt to redeem the Jewish people and he brought them news of the Geula. It took quite some time until they actually left Egypt.
We are talking here about things the Rebbe said explicitly, and if he said that Moshiach has come and is redeeming the Jewish people, then this is what is happening and will continue to happen.
Yechi Adoneinu Moreinu V’Rabbeinu Melech HaMoshiach L’olam Va’ed!
IN THE HALLS OF ACADEMIA THEY ARE ALSO WELCOMING MOSHIACH
R’ Wilschansky’s talk is being published in an anthology called Academia Welcomes Moshiach. The anthology contains articles and interviews with professors and people in academia about the Besuras HaGeula and the Rebbe’s teachings. The following is taken from the introduction:
About twenty years have passed since the Lubavitcher Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach shlita announced our entering a new era in Jewish history, that of the revelation of Melech HaMoshiach and the beginning of the Geula. Till today, this prophetic announcement rings in our ears as we eagerly await its complete realization.
In his talks, the Rebbe informed us that the world, and that which takes place in the world, is ready to accept all aspects of Moshiach and the Geula. In these talks, the Rebbe brought a number of examples, but as time passes and we delve into the study of the era of Yemos HaMoshiach, we are witness to more and more.
The best example of all is a new reality in which the Rebbe’s Besuras HaGeula has managed to pierce the ivory towers of academia. Even within the universities and scientific institutes, the Nasi HaDor’s teachings are heard. Even more than that, science is proving and concluding that the Rebbe is Moshiach.
This anthology focuses on this phenomenon and brings some of that research, articles and the interviews that have been published in recent years. It demonstrates that even “academia welcomes Moshiach.” Not in a theoretical, abstract sort of way, but in a most practical and down-to-earth way – “pointing with his finger and saying zeh” about the identity of the Rebbe as the Redeemer of the Jewish people.