Editing Rabbi Ephraim Yolles (section)

== His Visit on Chol HaMoed Pesach 1982 ==
From the diary of 1982:

18 Nissan 1982

...Afterward, Reb Yolles approached him wearing a shtreimel and tallis, and the Rebbe smiled at him and spoke with him for several moments. Then Reb Yolles followed the Rebbe and went up with him in the elevator. When they exited the elevator, the Rebbe smiled (apparently having spoken with him in the elevator). Then he entered after the Rebbe together with his son-in-law and three grandchildren into Gan Eden HaTachton...  

The Rebbe smiled at him and approached the table standing in Gan Eden HaTachton, with a padded (rubber) chair for the Rebbe at the head of the table.

Then Reb Yolles sat, apparently on the small bench that was there, while the others stood. The conversation's content was: First, the Rebbe asked about his sefer, whether he would publish it ready to use bound. Then the Rebbe told him they would need to count "Sefiras HaOmer" until the sefer would be ready. Then he asked the Rebbe why the Rambam doesn't write about the mitzvah that one must greet their Rebbe on the festival. [This is the reason he comes every year to the Rebbe on Chol HaMoed Pesach]. Then he asked if Eretz Yisroel needs to be prepared for Moshiach by conquering it.

The Rebbe answered: One shouldn't go conquer because this is only through Moshiach when there's a Sanhedrin etc., only then can the land be conquered, but still shouldn't conquer now. And what's being discussed regarding Eretz HaKodesh isn't war but from the halacha in Shulchan Aruch Hilchos Shabbos Siman 329 that if non-Jews siege Jewish cities, even over straw and hay we desecrate Shabbos, and go out with weapons, and this applies even if it would happen chas v'shalom in Brooklyn as well, they would desecrate Shabbos etc. And here it's about pikuach nefesh and even though it's not part of Eretz Yisroel, by returning 'Yamit' and 'Atzmona' 'Chatzar Hadar' the border is 10 km closer to Tel Aviv, Bnei Brak and Kfar Chabad and this is more pikuach nefashos. The Rebbe expressed and said to him "Have you heard such nonsense?! That they're returning the territories, and also regarding Begin signing that in another 5 years r"l hyl"t, he would be together with the Palestinians" and also mentioned regarding Chabad chassidim visiting Begin to register him for a Sefer Torah, and said that Yamit isn't part of Eretz Yisroel and about this the Rebbe said as above that it's not about whether it's Eretz Yisroel but about pikuach nefesh and here there's someone willing to give up pikuach nefesh in order to receive budget for yeshivos... (When the Rebbe spoke about the situation in Eretz Yisroel he spoke strongly and firmly and with his holy hand made a dismissive gesture and struck the... etc.).

Then he asked what is the Rambam's order regarding Moshiach's coming. The Rebbe said it's written that a man from Beis David will arise etc. and will compel all of Israel and will be victorious, and still with all these qualities he's a simple person and only after he actually builds the Beis HaMikdash will he be Moshiach. Then the Rebbe told him regarding "We Want Moshiach Now" that "now" is gematria 57 which relates to "hazan" - the One who sustains and provides for the entire world with His goodness, which is the concept of "harchev picha va'amaleihu" [Chapter 81] both in gashmius and ruchnius. Then he said to the Rebbe that he is an elevated person above all the people and a neshama klalis and the head of Bnei Yisroel. The Rebbe also said "yasher koach" to him for not mentioning "aschalta d'geulah" in the mi shebeirach said in his shul.

They stayed with the Rebbe for about 40 minutes, then stood to leave. The Rebbe spoke with him a bit more and smiled at him, and accompanied him to the entrance of Gan Eden HaTachton, watching him with a sharp gaze until he disappeared among the bochurim. Then the Rebbe went to take the siddur from the table [because they sat immediately after davening and the Rebbe was wrapped in his tallis] and entered his room.