Portal:Geulah & Moshiach/Introduction

The Future Redemption is one of the fundamental principles of Jewish faith: that a time will come when the People of Israel will return to their land and serve G-d in completeness. Then peace will prevail, and the glory of G-d will be revealed throughout the entire world. The prophecy concerning it was stated and repeated many times in the Torah, the Nevi'im, and the Kesuvim. The description of the Redeemer, the Era of Redemption, and its events were described by the prophets and were explained in greater detail by the sages of Israel throughout the generations. Nevertheless, they said regarding some of the particulars (such as the time of Elijah’s arrival): ‘And all these matters, and those similar to them, no person will know how they will come about until they come to pass.

The anticipation of the Redemption is fundamental to the belief in its coming. A person must awaken himself to look forward to and to request from G-d the hastening of the coming of Moshiach, the rebuilding of the Temple, and the in-gathering of the exiles. Petitions for the Redemption recur dozens of times throughout the daily prayers, as the Redemption is of utmost importance to the praying Jew.

With the revelation of Chassidic teachings, a new clarity was added to all matters connected with the Redemption. The reason for this is that the revelation of Chassidus itself is part of the revelation of the light of Redemption. Therefore, in the teachings of The Rebbeim, strong emphasis was placed on the connection of the Torah and Mitzvos to Redemption in general, as well as on the constant anticipation and longing for Redemption.

This theology found expression among the Rebbeim, in whom the yearning for Redemption permeated their entire being and was manifest in their leadership; most notably in the later generations—beginning with the Rebbe Rashab, who founded Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim and proclaimed in his talks that the students of the yeshiva are the ‘soldiers of the House of David,’ fighting against those who reject that we are on the precipice of Redemption. This awakening was strengthened by his son, the Rebbe Rayatz, especially during the Holocaust, which he described as the ‘birth pangs of Moshiach.’ Our Rebbe, the seventh in the line of Chabad Rebbeim, upon accepting the leadership, declared that our generation is the last of Exile and the first of Redemption, concluding from this that Redemption is not an additional element to the reality and leadership of the generation, but rather interwoven like a thread throughout every aspect of it.

In recent years, The Rebbe Melech Hamoshiach spoke about this subject continuously, declaring that the work of exile has been completed and that what remains is only to greet Moshiach in actuality. And in this vein, he encouraged constantly for over a year the proclamation of his kingship : Long live our Master, Teacher, and Rebbe, King Moshiach, Forever and Ever.