Editing The Eternal Life of the Rebbe (section)

== Sources of the Belief ==
The ideological background for the Chabad belief in the Rebbe's eternal life is rooted in fundamental ideas in Chabad teachings and Torah in general, as follows.

==== The Role of Nasi HaDor ====
In the Torah, the topic of a main Jewish leader, "Nasi HaDor," appears several times. His role is to connect all Jews to Hashem and additionally transmit Hashem's word to them. This topic is extensively explained and emphasized in Chassidic teachings, especially in the Rebbe's teachings, where it's explained that in recent generations, Chabad leaders fulfill the role of Nasi HaDor.

To define the role of Nasi HaDor, the Rebbe's teachings cite the Chazal about Moshe Rabbeinu, "Man of G-d" - "from his middle down he was man, from his middle up he was G-dly." The explanation is that Moshe Rabbeinu perfectly connected both extremes of spirituality and physicality - being completely nullified to Hashem while being a soul within a physical body.

Since the Nasi HaDor's role is to perfectly connect spirituality and physicality, he must be a physical person in this world; and immediately upon the passing of one Nasi, the role transfers to the next Nasi.

The Rebbe further explains that the Nasi in each generation is the Melech HaMoshiach of that generation, and he stands ready to redeem Israel if the generation merits it; and if they don't merit, the role passes to the next generation's Nasi.

==== Our Generation - The Generation of Redemption ====
Our generation, the seventh generation, was declared by the Rebbe immediately at its beginning as the seventh and completing generation of Chabad Rebbes, in which the work to bring redemption would be completed. The Rebbe repeated hundreds of times in his talks that our generation is "the last generation of exile and first generation of redemption."

Over the years, the Rebbe explained that not only will our generation merit redemption - but that redemption events have begun manifesting in this physical world. The Rebbe pointed to various events that occurred as signs of redemption, the greatest being the event of Melech HaMoshiach's revelation and his announcement "the time of your redemption has arrived," which he attributed to his own announcement in 5751. In light of this, the Rebbe determined that the Melech HaMoshiach of our generation is not just a potential candidate for the role (who could pass the role to his successor), but he received the mission and already began acting as Melech HaMoshiach - until the continuation and completion of his mission in the complete redemption.

==== Torah's Determinations Versus World Reality ====
The reason for holding to these explanations as explained in Torah sources, when reality to our eyes appears contradictory - is because the truths brought in Torah have the power to determine reality, even when our eyes see differently. This matter is explained in several places in Torah, and emphasized in Chassidic teachings and the Rebbe's teachings.

One of the main Torah commandments - to listen to the words of the Sages - is written in the verse: "Do not deviate from what they tell you right or left," and Chazal interpret this: "even if they tell you right is left and left is right." This means that the words of the Sages have power to determine (and even change) the true reality in the world, even when it appears opposite, and a Jew must believe in their words with complete faith.

The reason for this is because belief in Hashem is not subject to judgment by our intellect and senses. The measure for determining what we should believe and what not is entrusted only to Torah guidance. Accordingly, there are several cases where Torah confronts reality as described by the senses or science, and determines that we must believe Torah's words even in these cases.

==== As Melech HaMoshiach ====
In Torah sources it's brought that Melech HaMoshiach will have eternal life, and since the Rebbe is defined as Melech HaMoshiach, he is granted eternal life. This was even ruled in a halachic ruling on 11 Nissan 5752 by Chabad rabbis and Torah scholars stating that since the Rebbe is defined as in the presumption of Moshiach, Torah's oath "that his candle will not be extinguished forever and ever" applies to him, and he will live eternal life. This ruling was read to the Rebbe on 11 Nissan 5752 and the Rebbe even encouraged its distribution in a holy response.

==== The Belief Regarding the Rebbe ====
In light of these sources, it's understood that the Nasi HaDor, namely the Rebbe, must be a living person in his physical body in this world - and this fact is a cornerstone in Chabad Chassidic teachings. It's also clear that our generation is the generation of redemption, and our generation's Nasi will be Melech HaMoshiach and has already begun his mission to redeem the Jewish people, a mission from which there is no return. These sources are the foundation for all Chabad Chassidim's belief in the Rebbe's leadership and guidance today; and from them it also arises that this leadership must be of a living person in a physical body.
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