The Key to the Geula is in our Hands
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
This week Shabbos falls on the 27th of Adar. In general the month of Adar is reserved for simcha; “M’shanichnas Adar marbim b’simcha- when Adar enters we increase in joy”. Notwithstanding this fact, by Divine Providence we remember what occurred on this day 22 years ago. On the 27th of Adar Rishon the Rebbe suffered the first stroke, and on this same day two years later, he suffered the second stroke. In general, when we look back on days like these, be it the 27th of Adar or Gimmel Tammuz, our custom is to reflect upon the good memories and what they teach us. We think of the last Sunday before the first stroke, how the Rebbe stood all day giving out dollars. We reflect upon the endless Ahavas Yisroel the Rebbe displayed, addressing each person, each according to his or her specific needs with mesiras nefesh. On the day of Gimmel Tammuz we do the same. We meditate on how the Rebbe is still with us and never departs. We have heard many stories of the greatness of Tzaddikim in general and the Rabbeim in particular, of the miracles at the Ohel and Igros Kodesh all of which have occurred after Gimmel Tammuz.
When we look in retrospect over the many years between the 27th of Adar and where we are now, we ask how do we fit, both all of us in general and each one in particular, into the big picture. True, if we will go to a fabrengen with a desire to be inspired, we will walk away feeling good and uplifted. Nevertheless, on days like these, something calls us from within and tries to make sense of today, to affirm what it means today to be a Chosid. We look for a message that is most relevant to us and how best to integrate that message into the pressing needs of our situation personally, in our communities and globally.
I recently learned the maamar from the Rebbe “B’laila hahu” 5744-1984. The maamar explains that geula is likened to day and galus is likened to night. In the time of the geula we will merit to witness revelations of Hashem. During the galus we do not merit to see these revelations openly. During the day we can see how everything functions and the mind is able to understand and be involved in it’s surroundings. At night, when we sleep we cannot see how the world functions and our minds are not involved or understanding it’s surroundings. What happened to the mind? During sleep the neshama gets elevated. It goes above and gets rejuvenated. This rejuvenation is not felt inside the body. So too during galus, there are great powers at work right now but they are not felt. In a dream there can be two opposites and the contradiction is not felt.
The Gemara in Yoma tells a story of how the non-Jews entered the Kodesh HaKedoshim, the Holy of Holies during the time of the first destruction. They saw the Aron HaKodesh, upon it the Keruvim, which were embracing each other. They didn’t understand it’s meaning and assumed it to be a graven image that the Jews worshipped, G-d forbid. They took the Aron HaKodesh with the Keruvim out into the street and displayed it publicly to mock the Jews. They said that this image is what the Jews worship, G-d forbid.
Hashem is likened to the Groom while we, the Jewish people are likened to the Bride. When we do the will of Hashem by following the Torah and mitzvos, we are then likened to embracing Hashem and Hashem embracing us. The Gemara says that when the Jews did the will of Hashem the Keruvim would face one another. And when, G-d forbid, they would not do Hashem’s will they would turn away from each other. Since it was the time of the destruction when we had become estranged from proper observance of the Torah and mitzvos the Keruvim should have been turned away from each other. Why were they specifically hugging each other at such a tragic moment?
The Rebbe explains that the time of galus is compared to a husband that is travelling oversees. Before he departs he needs to be affectionate with his wife to give her encouragement and strength while he will be away on his long journey. So too by the destruction, Hashem gave all of us special strength to overcome any and all difficulties felt by the destruction. At that moment it was not felt, on the contrary what was felt was it’s opposite, destruction. Nevertheless internally, there was a very high revelation, the Keruvim were embracing.
The days of the 27th of Adar and the 3rd of Tammuz were for us the greatest concealment. At the same time we need to know that it is specifically now that Hashem is giving us the greatest strength and the greatest encouragement. We need to use these kochos to wake up from our sleep, which will wake up the ‘above’ as well.
Before the Rebbe Rashab’s passing on the 2nd of Nissan 5680-1920 he left us a message. He said; “I am going to Heaven and I’m leaving my writings with you”. The Rebbe was saying, that although I’ll be in the highest realms, wherever I’ll be, nevertheless when you will learn my writings, I will be with you from my place, wherever I will be. This is the same thing for us after the 27th of Adar. We have the Rebbe in his Sichos and Mamorim. By learning them we get the inner strength to accomplish what we need to do.
All of this reminds us, as we prepare for Pesach, the importance of getting ready in the best possible way. We should remind ourselves to: open up and study the Shulchan Aruch, the Rebbe’s Haggada, our minhagim and the Rebbe’s Sichos and Mamorim. Also we need to see to it that others have their basic needs for Pesach as we saw by the Rebbe. Everyone should have matzos and arba kosos, the children should all have their own special haggada.
We have the key; it was given to us. By using this key we will break through the night of galus so that the morning light of Moshiach will shine to us, and from us to the entire world.