A Taste of Geulah in Our Generation

The concept "A Taste of Redemption in Our Generation" was coined over the years by the Rebbe, who pointed to events occurring in the world (and more) that happened as a result of our standing in proximity to the redemption, and therefore even now in exile we can taste something of their existence in the redemption era.

Those Who Taste It Merit Life

It is brought in the writings of the Arizal that "It is also proper for a person to taste all the dishes that he cooks on Friday in honor of Shabbat, because this is like a person preparing a meal for a king and tasting the dishes to see if they are good, or if they are lacking some seasoning so that he can fix them or prepare other dishes. All this indicates that he welcomes the guest with a pleasant countenance. This is the secret of 'Those who taste it merit life' which was established in the Musaf prayer of Shabbat beginning with 'You established Shabbat, You desired its offerings, etc.' For anyone who tastes the Shabbat dishes on Friday merits supernal life." This is brought as halacha in the Magen Avraham and in the Shulchan Aruch of the Alter Rebbe.

We Are in Friday Afternoon

Already from the beginning of the sixth millennium, which is the Friday of the seventh millennium - "the day that is entirely Shabbat" - and especially and primarily in the years 5750 and 5751 (1990-1991), the time of Friday reached after midday according to the calculation that one day for Hashem is a thousand years, which includes night and day, and in the seven hundred and fiftieth year of the sixth millennium, this is Friday after midday and it is the time of redemption.

We Must Taste From Each Dish

Since we are at the end of the time of exile, the footsteps of Moshiach, with only a few moments remaining until we enter "the day that is entirely Shabbat and rest for eternal life," consequently there must be and there already is the "taste" of matters of redemption.

In our generation, the Rebbe testified that Moshiach is already active in this physical world. These are the many miracles occurring in our generation, beginning with the revealed miracles that occurred during the Gulf War and the liberation of Jews from behind the Iron Curtain, to the signing of the agreement to reduce nuclear weapons, which is a foretaste of the prophecy and destiny of "they shall beat their swords into plowshares," and more. As follows:

"As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt, I will show you wonders"

In the time of the Redemption, miracles will occur, and the Holy One, blessed be He, will show us these miracles, similar to (and even greater wonders compared to the miracles of) the Exodus from Egypt.

As a taste of the miracles that will occur in the Redemption, we were able to witness miracles in the year 5750 (whose Hebrew letters spell out "This will be a year of miracles"), and in 5751 (whose Hebrew letters spell out "This will be a year when I will show you wonders" - the acronym indicating the ability to see miracles) there were even greater miracles. During that year, the Gulf War took place, in which miraculously no one was killed as a result of the 39 Scud missiles that fell in Israel. After that, the Soviet bloc also fell, and this too happened in a miraculous way without war or bloodshed. In our current period, miracles and wonders are occurring throughout the world (to the level of "great wonders," and not only in a way that "He alone does great wonders," where "the one experiencing the miracle does not recognize his miracle," but also) in a way that is revealed to all eyes - a foretaste and example of and preparation for the miracles and wonders of the future Redemption which will come immediately, about which it is said, "As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt, I will show you wonders." — Dvar Malchut Bereishit, Section 13

This year is "(It shall be) a year when I will show you wonders" (as indicated by the acronym of the numeric value of the year that has spread throughout the Jewish diaspora), the year in which the promise will be fulfilled: "As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt, I will show you wonders." And already we have actually seen "wonders" that testify that this is the "year in which the King Moshiach is revealed," and even to the "hour when the King Moshiach comes... and he announces to Israel, the humble ones, the time of your redemption has arrived" (as stated in Yalkut Shimoni), and even to the proclamation that "Behold, this one (the King Moshiach) is coming." — Dvar Malchut Balak, Section 8

This includes also the "wonder" that is happening in these very days: the gathering of Anash and the Shluchim in the country of Russia... that these "wonders" (which have already been seen in actuality) awaken and emphasize that immediately we will see the greatest wonder - the true and complete Redemption about which it is said, "As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt, I will show you wonders," "wonders" even in comparison to the Exodus from Egypt. — Dvar Malchut Va'etchanan, Section 10

Delicacies Will Be as Abundant as Dust

One of the prophecies of the Geulah is that "delicacies will be as abundant as dust," hinting at the material abundance that will not be lacking. In recent generations, says the Rebbe, we are beginning to taste this prophecy:

In recent generations, when Hashem has blessed the Jewish people to receive their livelihood with less effort, with peace of mind and physical rest (more than in previous generations), through the world itself assisting in this. — Dvar Malchus Korach 10

I Will Restore Your Judges as at First

In the time of Geulah, the judges and advisors will return to Israel. As part of the approach to Geulah, already in our time the prophecy begins to be fulfilled through the Chabad Rebbes who are both judges, being leaders, and advisors giving counsel in matters of Torah and physical matters:

We already now hold in the time of fulfillment of the prophecy "And I will restore your judges etc. and your advisors," and moreover: "as at first": there is already a beginning in this...

...after the most extraordinary abundance of "our deeds and service" throughout all generations, it is understood that we are getting closer and closer to this state. And especially in recent generations, when the revelation of the inner dimensions of Torah has been added, beginning with the "mitzvah to reveal this wisdom" in the time of the Arizal, and afterward - "your wellsprings will spread outward" through our Rebbes - through whom "prophecy will return to Israel" (in the language of the Rambam mentioned above), "He revealed His secret to His servants the prophets," they are the prophets of our generation up to "a prophet from your midst etc. like me" (being the extension of Moshe in each and every generation), and they are the "judges" and "advisors" of our generation: both "judges" - being our leaders, and a leader (from the language of elevation) is incomparably above those over whom he is leader (similar to what is written "and he was taller than all the people from his shoulders and upward"), and also our Rebbes who teach Torah to all the people - in the manner of "judges"; and also "advisors" - who give advice in matters of Torah and fear of Heaven, and even advice in physical matters (the role of prophets)...

...and according to the above declaration of the Rebbe Rayatz, that all aspects of service have already been completed, including the service of our Rebbes as "judges" and "advisors" until this day, and "the generation is worthy" in the simple sense - it is understood that the time has already come for "And I will restore your judges as at first and your advisors as at the beginning" in complete perfection (and there is no need for officers, since everything has already been clarified), after the taste and beginning of this through our Rebbes.

— Dvar Malchus Shoftim 1-10

"A New Torah Will Come Forth From Me"

In the Messianic era, a new Torah will be revealed - the Torah of Moshiach - who will teach the people the secrets and inner dimensions of Torah. As preparation for this, in recent generations, the teachings of Chassidus have been revealed, explaining the inner dimensions of Torah, through which we taste the new Torah:

Through the revelation of Chabad Chassidus, clothed in Chochma, Bina and Daas in comprehension and grasp, in a manner that can be understood even in the intellectual faculty of the animal soul - at least in the sense of "good advice" - which is accepted by a person's intellect and emotions, and through the revelation of the inner dimensions of Torah in the Chabad of intellect ("your advisors") - to the point of "those who taste it merit life" (for through tasting one tastes the essence of the thing) - this becomes a gateway ("your gates") and beginning ("your advisors as at first") to the revelation of the inner dimensions of Torah in the future, and through this taste and beginning now - the Jewish people and the entire world become an inner vessel for the revelation of the inner dimensions of Torah that will follow through our righteous Moshiach. — Dvar Malchus Shoftim, section 10

"Kings Will Be Your Nurturers"

In the Redemption, the nations will assist and serve the Jewish people. Already in recent generations and especially in recent years, the nations of the world recognize the importance of the Jewish people and assist them:

The revelation and recognition by the world and the nations of the world of the superiority of Israel strengthens from generation to generation, as we get closer and closer to the true and complete Redemption, when the verse "And nations will walk by your light" will be fulfilled, "And kings will be your nurturers and their princesses your wet nurses," etc. As preparation for this, throughout the generations - even during exile - we see that even the nations of the world recognize that the Jews are the chosen people. As seen in several Midrashim of our Sages [for example: the Gemara in Zevachim, where a king from the nations of the world helped a Jew to be dressed "for honor and glory," "I will fulfill through you 'kings will be your nurturers,'" and more]. It is also known that the nations of the world call Jews in their language (even when they speak among themselves) - "the chosen people." This has increased even more in recent generations, and especially in the United States (and other countries), which is a country of kindness, allowing Jews to do their work with peace of mind and body, and furthermore assists in this, and assists Jews in the land of Israel, etc. And within this itself - this has increased more in recent years, and especially in the past year (the year of "I will show you wonders") and at the beginning of this year (the year of "wonders in it") - regarding the permission to leave and the assistance from that country in the aliyah of our Jewish brethren to the land of Israel, as mentioned above. And it can be said that the path in all this was paved by the actions of the great Jews throughout the generations with the nations of the world, and especially by our Rebbeim [beginning with the Alter Rebbe, who was involved in worldly matters, as known from his efforts in Alexander's victory over Napoleon for the benefit of the Jewish people (spiritually). And it can be said that now there has been benefit for the Jewish people in that country also materially, through the assistance of that country enabling Jews to leave from there, as mentioned above]. — Dvar Malchus Bereishis, section 8

Turning Swords into Plowshares

"And they shall beat their swords into plowshares" is one of the prophecies of the Geulah (Redemption) indicating that in the time of Redemption there will be no wars, and therefore weapons will be repurposed for other tasks. In the year 5752 (1992), Russia and the United States signed an agreement to reduce nuclear weapons and redirect funds to education and charity. The Rebbe attributed this event to the beginning of Moshiach's influence in the world: "In these days, world leaders are deciding and announcing the reduction and elimination of weapons, and increasing matters necessary for the economy of the country and the entire world - the content of the prophecy 'they shall beat their swords into plowshares,' breaking weapons of war to make them into tools for working the land, 'land from which bread comes forth' - this is a clear sign of the beginning of the fulfillment of this prophecy in the true and complete Geulah through our righteous Moshiach." — Dvar Malchus Mishpatim 62

Ingathering of the Exiles

With the collapse of Communism and the breaking of the 'Iron Curtain,' a massive immigration to Eretz Yisroel began. This ingathering is a foretaste of the ingathering of the exiles that will take place in the days of Moshiach, when all the Jewish people will return to Eretz Yisroel:

"(A foretaste of) the concept of 'Vayakhel' - the gathering of all the Jewish people to our Holy Land from the four corners of the earth - has already begun literally, as we see in our time, this year (and already for several years), and even the nations of the world see it - that many Jews have immigrated to our Holy Land. And although in all generations there were some Jews who immigrated to our Holy Land - now this matter is incomparably greater! ...And furthermore - and this is the main thing - that immediately the main aspect of 'Vayakhel' will take place - the gathering of all the Jewish people in the ingathering of the exiles, 'gather our dispersed from the four corners of the earth,' through 'sound the great shofar for our freedom,' a 'great shofar' and a great redemption, and all this - immediately, literally."

Tikkun and Perfection of the World

In large and powerful countries, the governmental systems and regimes are changing for the better, toward goodness, righteousness, and integrity - similar to and preparing for the tikkun and perfection of the world in the days of Moshiach. This includes matters concerning the Jewish people - granting freedom in all aspects related to Judaism, Torah and mitzvos. — Dvar Malchus Bereishis, Section 13

See Also

• Besoras HaGeulah