The Moshiach of the generation is the judge and the prophet of the generation. Moshiach’s main prophecy is “L’alter l’Geula” and “hinei zeh Moshiach ba.” * Chapter Thirteen of Rabbi Shloma Majeski’s Likkutei Mekoros. (Underlined text is the compiler’s emphasis.)
Translated by Boruch Merkur
The Moshiach of the generation is the judge and the prophet of the generation. Moshiach’s main prophecy is “L’alter l’Geula” and “hinei zeh Moshiach ba.” * From Chapter Thirteen of Rabbi Shloma Majeski’s Likkutei Mekoros. (Underlined text is the compiler’s emphasis.)
As mentioned above, we are ordered to publicize to all people of the generation that we have merited that G-d has chosen and appointed a man with free choice, one who is inherently vastly superior to the people of the generation. He has been appointed to be “your judges” and “your advisors” and prophet of the generation. This G-dly man is charged with the mission to issue directives and to give advice about the avoda of all Jews and of all people of the generation, in all matters of Torah and Mitzvos, and in general day-to-day life and conduct, as well as in the avoda of “(Know Him) in all your ways” and “All your deeds (should be for the sake of Heaven).”
This individual chosen by G-d also articulates the main prophecy, the prophecy* of “l’alter l’geula – immediately to redemption” and “here he (Moshiach) comes” now.
But together with meriting to have among us such a leader appointed by G-d, each person of our generation has the responsibility to appoint for himself “your judges” and “your advisors” and to follow his instructions and good advice. These terms are stated in the plural (“judges” and “advisors”), referring to judging many cases and giving much advice. In addition, all this guidance and direction comes from (and is founded on the instructions and advice of) “your judges” and “your advisors” – “Who are kings? The Rabbanan” – as well as our Rebbes, the Nissim of the previous generations. This support and foundation also provides the strength – understood by each individual as being good advice (not only as a directive) – that even if one asserts his own view (and even if, according to Torah and Shulchan Aruch, he has support for his position), the rule is that when an individual is in a dispute with a group, the law favors the majority, following the opinion of “your judges” and “your advisors” in the plural.
In fact, accepting and fulfilling the directives of “your judges” and “your advisors” of our generation brings about the embodiment and the beginning of the fulfillment of the prayer, “Return our judges as in former times and our advisors like the beginning,” with the true and complete redemption (as above). [The imminent redemption is close to becoming a reality, as observed from the following logic regarding an idea (thought) first being spoken (speech) and then completed in actuality (action), as follows.] Given that “the end of the deed is first in thought,” certainly now it is already articulated in speech (“niv s’fasayim – the muttering of lips,” the concept of prophecy). Indeed, recently there has been a movement towards expressing these words verbally, especially about how close is the redemption.
NOTES:
*Footnote 116: Not only as a sage and judge but as a prophet, who speaks with certainty. See Maamarei Admur HaZakein HaK’tzarim pg. 355-356.
(From the address of Shabbos Parshas Shoftim, 7 Elul 5751; Seifer HaSichos 5751, pg. 792-794.)