THE MYSTERY OF THE GIFTS – SOLVED!

The message that old Sholom conveyed on his visit was so clear that we all felt a renewed desire to be involved with the only remaining shlichus, “kabbalas p’nei ha’Rebbi Moshiach Tzidkeinu.”  How did we decide to do this? Wait and you’ll see.

“And now,” announced old Sholom dramatically, “I want to bring in a special box in which are special gifts that I will give each of the students.”

Everyone’s eyes turned toward the door.  Micha, one of the workers at the print shop, whom you surely remember from the “Invitations Mystery,” walked in.  Micha was holding a small, closed box that was wrapped in blue velvet.  The mystery of what Sholom would give us was still not solved and everyone was extremely eager for the moment that Sholom would open the box.

But old Sholom was apparently not in a hurry.  He smoothed his suspenders and said, “I want to tell you something.  I am one of the regular readers of Beis Moshiach magazine.  I often can’t wait and my fingers flip the pages to the end where there is the section for the soldiers in Tzivos Hashem.  Since mysteries from my print shop have been printed, I have become an avid reader of that column.

“Now I know that your adventures were written up and thrilled soldiers in Tzivos Hashem for the last long while.  So I would like each of you to stand up and introduce yourself.  This way, I will know you not only from the stories.  For the sake of the readers, let us start from the table on the right, in order.”

The one who sits at the table on the right in the first row is Shmuely.  I looked at him when he began speaking and noticed that he was blushing a bit. 

Shmuely said, “My name is Shmuely and I am Berele’s good friend.  We have solved many mysteries together although the last one, I arranged myself; it was a Kiddush Levana for the soldiers in Tzivos Hashem.  The reason had to do with my plan to surprise Berele with l’chaim and mezonos for his birthday which took place the very next day.  He, of course, did not understand why I had not included him and we almost quarreled over it, but when the intention is good, in the end it all works out.”

Next to Shmuely sat Shloimy.  He remained sitting and after stating his name he said, “Berele reminded me of the museum mystery.  I was looking for my friend, and Yossi’s father told me that his son said that they ‘had gone to live.’  I did not understand that and in the end, when I somehow got to the space museum, I met them there and together we concluded that just like astronauts who get used to using special apparatus to prepare for outer space, we need to start working on learning about Moshiach and Geula so we can live the new Geula reality which is imminent.”

The next one was Sholomke, the shy one of the class.  Surprisingly, he spoke with confidence.  “I remember the mystery of the invitations which is what established the connection with your print shop.  The message conveyed with that mystery was so special and on the mark that I realized that we cannot get used to galus.  Since then, I began talking and learning more about Geula, and the galus reality has become unacceptable to me.”

After everyone finished introducing himself and we reminisced about the Moshiach-related adventures we had had, Sholom announced, “Now we will give out the special gift!”

We all stared at the box which had been opened by Sholom.  He took out the first gift and waved it so we could all see it.  Sholom was holding a spectacular glass stand on which were etched the following words: “From the day I went to cheider, and even before, the picture of the final Redemption started forming in my mind – the Redemption of the Jews from their last exile, a Redemption in such a way that through it will be understood the sufferings of exile, the decrees and the destruction …  And all will be in a way that with a complete heart and full understanding it will be said on that day, ‘Thank you G-d for chastising me.’” These special words were decorated with stunning colorful pictures which an artist had drawn to depict a Geula world that would soon become our daily reality.

“Wow! It’s stunning!” and Moishy whistled his amazement.  We all joined him.  After we had calmed down a bit, Sholom hushed us and said, “Do you know who wrote the words etched in the glass? These are words that the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach wrote in one of his letters. The Rebbe said about himself that even before he went to yeshiva, he was preoccupied with the future Geula. We need to learn from the Rebbe, especially when it is an explicit instruction in the D’var Malchus of parshiyos Tazria-Metzora and Balak.”

After Sholom finished giving a gift to each student, I asked permission to speak. I then stood up and said with a smile, “I think I have still not introduced myself … My name is Berele and I often write of my experiences for my classmates and for all those who read Beis Moshiach.

“I especially remember the time I dreamed of a stroll in Shushan at the time that the Purim story was taking place.  When I entered the home of a boy in Shushan I was very surprised to see that everything looked ordinary and the boy, Mordechai was his name, helped me to understand that it is the time that I live in, in which we are all living now, which is the most special of all.”