[486]
"It is the duty of every individual Jew to perfect and prepare that part of the spiritual stature of
Mashiach to which his soul is related."
[487]
[The yechidah of each individual soul is its sublime and innermost essence.] Mashiach is the comprehensive yechidah,[488] and the yechidah which is hidden within every individual Jew is a spark of the soul of Mashiach, who is the all-embracing yechidah.
When a Jew arouses the yechidah within himself, his quintessential Jewish spark, so that it governs his thought, speech and action, this is an act of individual redemption. Through this he uncovers the spark of the soul of Mashiach within him -- and this hastens the advent of the all-embracing Redemption, with the coming of Mashiach.
Likkutei Sichos, Vol. XX, p. 522
Within every Jew there is a spark of the soul of
Mashiach. This is the
yechidah in his soul, which is a spark of the comprehensive
yechidah, viz., the soul of
Mashiach. When an individual Jew unveils the
yechidah within himself, he brings about the speedier revelation of the comprehensive
yechidah, through the coming of
Mashiach.
At that time the innermost dimension (the pnimiyus) of the Torah will also be revealed -- i.e., the yechidah of the Torah.
And through this, in turn, the yechidah of the entire universe will be revealed -- viz., G-d Himself, Who is known as Yechido shel Olam.
From a talk of the Rebbe Shlita on Shabbos Parshas Naso, 5751 [1991]
When a Jew reveals the "spark of
Mashiach" within himself, he thereby brings about the revelation of the comprehensive
yechidah, viz., the coming of
Mashiach -- for [it is axiomatic in the Kabbalah that] "if you grasp a part of an
etzem (i.e., an entity which is one integral essence), you have grasped its entirety." This spark thus contains the entire essence of
Mashiach. Accordingly, it is capable of having the above effect on the universal
Mashiach.
From a talk of the Rebbe Shlita on the eve of Simchas Torah, 5746 [1985]
The capability of
Mashiach to redeem the entire Jewish people derives from the fact that he has a connection with the entire people; i.e., there is a part of him within every Jew.
Thus we find that Moshe Rabbeinu says,[489] "The people in whose midst I am,[490] are six hundred thousand men on foot," intimating that there was a part of himself within every single one of those six hundred thousand.
And it was by virtue of this that he was able to lead them out of Egypt.
From a talk of the Rebbe Shlita on the Last Day of Pesach, 5743 [1983]
In one of the prophecies of Bilaam it is written,
[491] "A star shall go forth from Jacob." In one of its tractates, the
Talmud Yerushalmi[492] explains that this phrase is an allusion to the King
Mashiach. Elsewhere,
[493] the
Talmud Yerushalmi explains it as an allusion to every individual Jew. (The
Talmud there relates that a certain gentile once dreamed that he had swallowed a star; it transpired that he had killed a Jew, for the Jews are likened to stars.)
These two interpretations are related, for within every single Jew there is a spark of Mashiach.
Likkutei Sichos, Vol. II, p. 599
When the Ark is opened before the Reading of the Torah on
Yom-Tov, we make the following request:
[494] "May there be realized in us the verse which states,
[495] 'And the spirit of G-d shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of G-d.'"
Now how can we possibly request that within every single one of us there should be realized a verse which describes Mashiach?
Since within every Jew there is an element of the soul of Mashiach, every Jew can ask that this verse be fulfilled with respect to the spark of Mashiach within his soul.
This prayer is appropriate to every Jew, regardless of his actual spiritual standing. For this spark of Mashiach within him is not the result of his own spiritual labors. (If this were the case, it would be possible to assess his avodah, and accordingly to determine whether or not it was appropriate in his case to request that "the spirit of G-d l rest upon him.") Rather, this spark was created thus by G-d, and the task demanded of the individual is only to unveil it, and to actualize it from potentiality into reality.
From a talk of the Rebbe Shlita on the Last Day of Pesach, 5743 [1983]
This spark is manifest in Jewish children, who are manifestly termed
"Mashiach." Thus, on the verse,
[496] "Do not touch My anointed ones," the Sages teach,
[497] "This refers to the little children who study Torah in their teacher's house."
When a child is born into a Jewish home, he is the element of Mashiach in that home, and when a number of children are born, each of them is a Mashiach in his own right.
From a talk of the Rebbe Shlita on Shabbos Parshas Re'eh, 5741 [1981].
Within the soul of every Jew there is a spark of the soul of the King
Mashiach.
Perceived from the other side, it thus goes without saying that the soul of Mashiach is based and built on the souls of all the individual Jews, regardless of their tribe of origin, and regardless of their actual spiritual state. The very existence of a Jew is connected with the King Mashiach.
From a talk of the Rebbe Shlita on Asarah BeTeves, 5751 [1990]
The key to the Redemption is in the hand of absolutely every individual. Thus the Alter Rebbe,
[498] citing
Tikkunei Zohar, teaches that "even if one
tzaddik in his generation ("And your people are
all righteous"
[499]) would return in perfect repentance,
Mashiach would come immediately."
The Rambam likewise states as a clear halachic ruling[500] that "If a person fulfilled one mitzvah, he thereby tipped the scales in favor of himself and of the whole world, and brought about redemption and salvation for himself and for the whole world."
From a talk of the Rebbe Shlita on Shabbos Parshas Pinchas, 5744 [1984]
It is the task of every Jewish man, woman and child, from the greatest of the great to the smallest of the small, to bring about the Redemption. This mission is unaffected by distinctions of prayer rites
(nussach), ideological circles, or parties: it is the concern of the entire House of Israel.
From a talk of the Rebbe Shlita on Shabbos Parshas Vayigash, 5747 [1986]
It is within the power of every Jew to speed the coming of the Redemption, and indeed to bring about the coming of the Redemption. For his Torah study and his divine service lessen the spirit of impurity in the world, and thereby bring nearer the day which will see the fulfillment of the Divine promise,
[501] "I shall remove the spirit of impurity from the earth." At the same time, his Torah study and his divine service reveal goodness and holiness in the world, and thereby bring nearer the day which will see the fulfillment of the Divine promise,
[502] "And the earth will be filled with the knowledge of G-d."
Likkutei Sichos, Vol. II, p. 599
Every single Jew of our generation -- including "our young and our old, ...our sons and our daughters"
[503] -- is capable of bringing about the sublime revelations of the Days of
Mashiach, which fulfill G-d's ultimate intent in making an abode for Himself among mortals.
[504]
Since in the future Redemption not a single Jew will (G-d forbid) remain in exile, it is clear that the task of bringing about the Redemption likewise devolves upon every single Jew.
And it is self-evident that every single Jew has been given the requisite strength for this, since, as G-d reassures His people,[505] "I demand only according to their ability."
From a talk of the Rebbe Shlita on the eve of Hoshana Rabbah, 5746 [1985]
Why has it been repeatedly emphasized of late, time and again, that bringing about the advent of the Redemption is the task of every individual Jew, great and small alike?
My revered father-in-law, the [Previous] Rebbe, the nasi of our generation, proclaimed, "Immediate Repentance: Immediate Redemption." And even though decades have elapsed since this proclamation and since this auspicious time (ketz), we have still not been saved.
The only possible explanation for this, is that from this time the matter has been passed on from the nasi to every individual Jew. From now on, endeavors to bring about the Redemption are the task of the Jewish people at large -- men, women and children.
From a talk of the Rebbe Shlita on Purim, 5747 [1987]
Every Jew -- man, woman and even child -- ought to augment his divine service in order to bring about the actual coming of our righteous
Mashiach. One should not rely on others, nor should one pass on this responsibility to others; this is the task of every individual man and woman, and every individual man and woman has to fulfill it himself.
What does this kind of divine service consist of? -- Increasing one's study of both the revealed and the mystical dimensions of the Torah, and enhancing one's fulfillment of the mitzvos. In addition, encouraging others to do likewise. And, more broadly, making Torah and Yiddishkeit increasingly widespread, and disseminating the wellsprings of Chassidus abroad, for this in particular secures the arrival of the King Mashiach.[506]
From a talk of the Rebbe Shlita on Shabbos Parshas Shemini, 5751 [1991]
Every activity of a Jew that is connected with Torah and
Yiddishkeit, draws down Divine light and infuses it into the world. Such an activity thus hastens the approach of the future Redemption, which will be characterized by
[507] "the revelation of the [infinite]
Ein Sof-light in this physical world."
When one unveils the life-giving Divine spark within any particular entity, this is the individual redemption of that particular entity. And this particular instance of redemption is a step towards the universal Redemption, for it prepares for the revelation of the glory of G-d in the world in time to come.
Let no man therefore argue: "Since in my heart of hearts I know the realities of my spiritual standing, what value can there be in any particular activity of mine?"
For in truth, every single activity of his, whether in the realm of thought or of speech or of action, has the power to bring about redemption -- an individual redemption and the universal Redemption.
From a talk of the Rebbe Shlita on Yud-Tes Kislev, 5745 [1984]
The Redemption is for all of Israel, and that includes the Jews of all past generations; they too are waiting impatiently for the future Redemption. It is not their fault that they are unable to hasten its approach but are obliged to wait for the finishing touches of "polishing the buttons," which can be attended to only by souls that are clothed in bodies.
This realization highlights the responsibility of our generation to fully complete "our actions and our divine service," for on these the Redemption depends.
From a talk of the Rebbe Shlita on Shabbos Parshas Mishpatim, 5748 [1988]
Three times a day we pray in the
Shemoneh Esreh,[508] "Speedily cause the scion of David Your servant to flourish," and likewise we ask, "May our eyes behold Your return to Zion in mercy."
When any Jew says these words, and means what he says, he no doubt asks himself: "What have I done today in this direction?"
Likkutei Sichos, Vol. XX, p. 384
We are now in the last moments before the coming of
Mashiach. The fact that he has not yet arrived is not (G-d forbid) because the
time is not yet ripe, but because we are still lacking one single deed that will tip the scales, and make the world worthy of being granted the Redemption.
The demand of the hour is therefore that every Jew, great and small, think about the ultimate Redemption to be brought about through Mashiach, and then do something to actualize it, both in his own life and in his encouragement of others.
From a talk of the Rebbe Shlita on 16 Adar, 5747 [1987]
The numerical equivalent of the letters of the Hebrew word
shliach totals 348; add ten, corresponding to the faculties of the soul, and the total comes to 358, which is the numerical equivalent of the letters of
Mashiach.
What does this teach us?
Every Jew is G-d's emissary, G-d's shaliach; his task -- to build a dwelling place for G-d down here among mortals. And this mission will mature into perfection in the Days of Mashiach, when the glory of G-d will be manifest, and it will be clearly apparent that the entire world is indeed a dwelling place for Him.
There are two stages in this mission:
- The "appointment" of the emissary: G-d dispatches a soul to the nether world, and equips it with all the requisite strengths so that it will be able to discharge its duty;
- the individual below utilizes these strengths and in fact accomplishes his mission.
When this
shaliach actually harnesses all ten faculties of his soul toward the fulfillment of his task, he brings the world closer to the state of
Mashiach -- which is the ultimate goal of his mission.
Sefer HaSichos, 5748 [1988], Vol. I, p. 81
What more can I do to motivate the entire Jewish people to clamor and cry out, and thus actually bring about the coming of
Mashiach? All that has been done until now has been to no avail. For we are still in exile....
All that I can possibly do is to give the matter over to you. Now, do everything you can to bring Mashiach, here and now, immediately.
From a talk of the Rebbe Shlita on the eve of 28 Nissan, 5751 [1991]
Notes:
- (Back to text) This phrase translates the Heb./Aram. halachic term, chovas gavra, denoting an obligation which devolves "upon the man," and which cannot be discharged by proxy.
- (Back to text) Meor Einayim (by R. Nachum of Chernobyl) on the conclusion of Parshas Pinchas, quoting the Baal Shem Tov.
- (Back to text) See Vol. II of the present work, p. 5.
- (Back to text) Bamidbar 11:21.
- (Back to text) In the original, asher anochi bekirbo.
- (Back to text) Bamidbar 24:17.
- (Back to text) Taanis 4:5.
- (Back to text) Maaser Sheni 4:6.
- (Back to text) Siddur Tehillat HaShem, p. 184.
- (Back to text) Yeshayahu 11:2.
- (Back to text) I Divrei HaYamim 16:22.
- (Back to text) Shabbos 119b.
- (Back to text) Boneh Yerushalayim, end of ch. 4.
- (Back to text) Yeshayahu 60:21.
- (Back to text) Hilchos Teshuvah 3:4.
- (Back to text) Zechariah 13:2.
- (Back to text) Yeshayahu 11:9.
- (Back to text) Shmos 10:9.
- (Back to text) Cf. the opening lines of chs. 36 and 37 of Tanya.
- (Back to text) Midrash Tanchuma, Parshas Naso, sec. 11.
- (Back to text) See the above passage entitled "When Your Wellsprings Will Be Disseminated Outward" (p. 71).
- (Back to text) Tanya, beginning of ch. 37.
- (Back to text) Siddur Tehillat HaShem, pp. 56 and 58.
Chapter 2: We Want Mashiach Now!