ID PLEASE!

Dear Reader sh’yichyeh,

In the HaYom Yom of 6 Iyar, the Rebbe writes: “Our sages said, ‘One should not take leave of his friend other than with a parting word of Torah-law, a d’var halacha.’ Our forefathers, the saintly Rebbes, explained: The parting word should be the kind of Torah teaching that transforms the listener into a mehaleich. Progress, hiluch, means to rise from level to level, with one ascent after another. Such progression embodies the superiority of the human soul over the angels, for this ascent is greatest through an act of goodness; extending a favor to another, a material favor in general, a spiritual favor in particular.”

This HaYom Yom can be connected to another one (10 Adar Sheini): “Before embarking on a journey from your place of residence, arrange a Chassidic farbrengen and receive a parting blessing from your good friends, and as the familiar expression goes: Chassidim never say farewell, for they never depart from each other. Wherever they are, they are one family.”

I was reflecting on how amazing it is that this HaYom Yom (which speaks about “the parting word should be the kind of Torah teaching that transforms the listener into a mehaleich”) is written on Vav Iyar. It reflects the events and special directives of the Rebbe which were revealed on Vav Iyar 5751 (Shabbos Tazria-Metzora), the last time that we heard the Rebbe speak.

Let us give some background. After the Sicha of 28 Nissan (“I have done all I can… I am giving it over to each of you to bring the Geula”), the Chassidim were energized and inspired to go out and conquer the world to bring the Geula. Yet, they felt they were missing new ammunition. They were hoping that the Rebbe would teach us the new and direct path to bring the Geula. In addition, there were Chassidim who realized right away that there really was something that Chassidim can do to bring the Geula that the Rebbe did not do: Identifying the Rebbe as Moshiach and Kabbalas HaMalchus! Obviously, this new idea generated some resistance and skepticism, and people were waiting to hear from the Rebbe on all of the above.

On that Shabbos (Vav Iyar, which is the S’fira of Malchus Sh’b’Tiferes) there were at least three major “teachings that transform the listener into a mehaleich”:

1) The Rebbe revealed what the direct path to bring the Geula is! “The question is: Since we’ve already completed ‘our actions and service throughout the duration of exile,’ what is the ‘straightforward path’ (the easiest and fastest among all the paths of Torah) that all the Jewish people, who have concluded their service, should choose to realize the revelation and coming of Moshiach?

“…The explanation of ‘the straightforward path’ to revealing and bringing Moshiach through ‘Malchus Sh’b’Tiferes’ can be understood in practical terms: As a preface, since our righteous Moshiach is ready to come immediately, but he hasn’t actually come, therefore the final effort required (‘the edge of his clothes’) of every Jew to bring Moshiach must be (not through Kingship in its purity, the concern of king Moshiach himself, but) through ‘Malchus Sh’b’Tiferes.’ That means, the subject of Moshiach (Kingship) as it is found in Torah (Harmony)….Simply put: ‘Tiferes’ refers to learning Torah, and ‘Malchus Sh’b’Tiferes’ refers to learning the Torah concerning King Moshiach and Redemption that is explained in many places…This increase in learning the Torah concerned with Moshiach and Redemption (‘Malchus Sh’b’Tiferes’) is the ‘straightforward path’ to actually causing the revelation and coming of Moshiach and Redemption.”

2) The Rebbe spoke and gave Talmudic sources about the fact that Chassidim should identify their Rebbe as Moshiach: “…And there (at the beginning of the discussion in Sanhedrin 98b about Moshiach): ‘The School of Rabbi Shilah said, Shiloh is his name, as it is written, ‘until Shiloh comes’; the School of Rabbi Yanai said, Yinun is his name (similar to Yanai, [thus] each one explained the name of Moshiach after his name), as it is written, ‘May his name endure forever, as long as the sun, may his name be perpetuated (Yinun)’; the School of Rabbi Chanina said, Chanina is his name, as it is written, ‘I will show you no favor;’ others say Menachem ben Chizkiyahu is his name, as it is written, ‘For far from me is a comforter to revive my spirit.’

“And we (Chassidim) follow their example (in regard to our Rebbeim, our leaders, in particular My sainted father-in-law, leader of our generation): Yosef is his name, as it is written ‘The L-rd will continue [Yosif] to apply His hand a second time, etc., and He shall gather the lost of Israel, etc.’ Yitzchak is his name, as it is written, ‘Then our mouths will be filled with laughter [s’chok].’”

3) The third path is for the Chassidim to announce Yechi in front of the Rebbe and the Rebbe accepts!

The following is a description of the events, told over by Rabbi Dovid Nachshon: “With much excitement, I sent someone to buy a big bottle of mashkeh. (It was customary to send in bottles of mashkeh to the Rebbe before Shabbos in connection with upcoming Chabad events. The Rebbe would call the organizers up at the Shabbos farbrengen to announce the activities and then pour from the bottle that would be taken to the event.) I sent the bottle to the secretariat, and I wrote that this mashkeh was in connection with the farbrengens that would be held in various locations regarding the acceptance of the Rebbe’s sovereignty by the people. However, the secretary immediately said that it was not entirely clear whether or not this bottle would be presented…

That Shabbos evening, everyone in 770 was all fired up, especially after seeing the notices that the Rebbe accepted the signatures with much appreciation, and that everyone must accept his sovereignty. The elders and all those who were not accustomed to ‘unconventional missiles’ came a bit closer… The lights of Tohu began to approach the vessels of Tikkun. The davening was extremely joyous. The Rebbe made very strong hand movements, exiting the Beis Midrash, accompanied by the singing of ‘Sisu v’simchu b’simchas ha’Geula.’ I was standing first in line near the passageway, and the Rebbe gave a very strong hand movement as he passed me. We felt that the issue was heating up in a most unusual manner.

“The farbrengen of the 6th of Iyar, Shabbos Parshas Tazria-Metzora, had begun. Anyone who noticed could see the difference between this farbrengen and the one of the previous week, Parshas Shmini. Then, no one could figure out a thing; there was only tension. This Shabbos, the farbrengen was entirely on Moshiach! The Rebbe began the farbrengen about Moshiach with the singing of ‘Zahl shoin zain di Geula’ and afterwards ‘Sisu v’simchu b’simchas ha’Geula.’

The Rebbe then turned to the three of us, Avi Taub, Shmarya Harel, and me. While the Rebbe would always say L’chaim to us whenever we came for Shabbos, this time, the Rebbe gestured to us in an extremely forceful manner. We felt that the Rebbe was encouraging us to continue more and more with all our strength in our Moshiach activities, and not to be affected adversely in any way. After several sichos, the time at the farbrengen had been reached for the Rebbe to distribute the bottles of mashkeh that had been given in before Shabbos, and for the recipients to make their announcements. The Rebbe called people up with a remarkable expression: ‘The announcements to be made now should be announcements and publicity for the whole world – and the entire seider hishtalshlus!’

“It should be noted that this was a continuation of what he had said at the farbrengen. The avoda must be in a mode of ratzo v’shuv, not as with Nadav and Avihu, which was ratzo only. Even though this avoda is new and innovative in scope, nevertheless, it must be done according to ratzo v’shuv, specifically as a soul within a body, as explained in Likkutei Torah. (when we were at the Ohel, we wrote that we were ready to do everything with self-sacrifice, and the Rebbe said that it all must be specifically as souls within bodies.)

When I heard what the Rebbe said, I understood clearly that the Rebbe wanted me to come up and make the declaration. However, I didn’t have the courage, and I was still trembling. It’s not so simple to do such a thing in the Rebbe’s presence. What if, ch”v, this is not really what he wanted? Seventeen bottles were placed on the table. Everyone got up, made their announcements, accompanied by singing. Suddenly, everything finished and I had not gone up yet, as the secretary had said that he would not present the bottle without asking the Rebbe.

Then, the secretary made a strong gesture with both hands, indicating that I should come up quickly. I understood that this is it – permission was granted. I started to go up and I said to Avi Taub, ‘Come on, we’re always together.’ Avi followed behind me, and stood to my side, with Shmarya standing on the other side. The Rebbe looked at us, took the bottle, and poured half a cup of mashkeh, a lot for Avi and myself. Shmarya was standing on the side, and the Rebbe asked Rabbi Groner, ‘Is he with them also?’ and the Rebbe gave him, as well. Absolute silence reigned.

“Everyone was waiting for this. The tension was unbearable. I was completely numb. I stood at the Rebbe’s right side, Avi behind me, and Shmarya in front of me. I lifted my cup, and made the announcement in Yiddish. This is the content of what I said: Since there have recently been piskei din by rabbanim and battei din in Eretz Yisroel that the time of the Redemption has arrived, and even more recently here there have been piskei din that the Rebbe is Melech HaMoshiach and he must reveal himself and redeem the Jewish people, therefore, we hereby accept upon ourselves the sovereignty of the Rebbe MH”M, to do that which he asks of us with self-sacrifice, and we all hereby declare: ‘Yechi Adoneinu Moreinu V’Rabbeinu Melech HaMoshiach L’olam Va’ed!’”

Rabbi Avtzon is the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Lubavitch Cincinnati and a well sought after speaker and lecturer. Recordings of his in-depth shiurim on Inyanei Geula u’Moshiach can be accessed at http://www.ylcrecording.com