Editing Russia (section)

==== In the Seventh Generation ====
Reb Berel Levy, one of the secret shluchim (emissaries) sent by the Rebbe to Russia, with the local Chabad community

The Rebbe continuously worked in various ways to help the Jews of Russia, whose situation under Communist rule was dire. Among other things, the Rebbe established a network of agents who entered Russia's borders disguised as tourists, and through them, the Rebbe smuggled tefillin, mezuzos, and other holy items into Russia. Some shipments were transferred through Jewish collaborators who worked in various embassies in the Soviet Union. The Rebbe also established the Ezras Achim office designed to help Russian Jews.

In 5716 (1956), a number of Chabad bochurim (young men) in Russia established the organization "CHAMA," which ensured the preservation of the Jewish spark and the spreading of Yiddishkeit in the region.

On the second day of Shavuos 5724 (1964), at the end of a farbrengen, the Rebbe told the crowd to say l'chaim for the merit of Russian Jews. The crowd's response was indifferent, and after a few minutes, the Rebbe said that if they had said l'chaim for the merit of Russian Jews, they could have effected the exodus of all Jews from Russia.

On 6 Tishrei 5727 (1967), the Rebbe prophetically announced that the Soviet Union would collapse, and this would be a breakthrough and preparation for the coming of Moshiach. On Lag B'Omer 5740 (1980), at a parade, the Rebbe spoke about the permission under Russian law to study Torah and that every parent should educate their children in the way of Torah. However, the Rebbe firmly rejected overt struggle against the Russian government, such as demonstrations, which not only brought no benefit but greatly hindered activities for Russia.

The Russian government sent regular investigators to 770 to monitor the Rebbe. The Rebbe knew this and took precautionary measures.

In 5746 (1986), the Rebbe began to take practical steps toward the fall of the Communist regime. He instructed building housing developments for the many immigrants expected to come to Eretz Yisrael as a result. In 5751 (1991), the Soviet Union signed the end of the Cold War with the United States and the reduction of expenditures on weapons production. The Rebbe dedicated a special farbrengen to this, explaining that the event was a taste of the prophecy "they shall beat their swords into plowshares" that will be fulfilled in the Geulah (Redemption).

Later that year, the Soviet Union fell into an economic crisis that threatened to collapse the country. To reduce government expenses, the government agreed to give up its technical control over the annexed countries. The Soviet Union also underwent coup attempts that led to the resignation of President Mikhail Gorbachev. This caused the additional countries to declare complete separation from the Soviet Union and general elections, thus the world's largest superpower disintegrated without war. With the disintegration of the country, the Russian Federation was established, which removed the Iron Curtain and permitted the exodus of all Russian Jews. At the same time, with the disintegration of the country, all restrictions on Jews to openly conduct Jewish life were removed.

The Rebbe referred to the exodus of Russian Jews and their aliyah to Eretz Yisrael as a taste of the Geulah's promise – the ingathering of the exiles.