The Famous Sicha: Difference between revisions

The talk caused great awakening among the Chassidim regarding bringing the redemption, and continues to serve as a prominent topic in Chabad discourse from various aspects of discussing its meaning and how to fulfill its demands. Many initiatives and actions regarding hastening the redemption were done in its wake, some of which received positive responses and encouragement from the Rebbe.

From the day he assumed leadership, the Rebbe announced that our generation would merit the redemption. Our work is to act to hasten the redemption through fulfilling Torah and mitzvos, particularly spreading Judaism and its teachings. Gradually, throughout his years of leadership, the Rebbe increasingly raised the expectation for redemption and increasingly encouraged and pushed to do the maximum to bring it. Over the years, the Rebbe often quoted Maimonides regarding every person's obligation to act, even with a small deed, which has the power to bring redemption: "Every person should see themselves throughout the year as half meritorious and half guilty, and so too the whole world is half meritorious and half guilty... One who performs one mitzvah tips themselves and the entire world to the side of merit, and brings salvation and rescue to themselves and others."

Two days later - on Thursday night, the eve of the 28th of Nissan 5751, after communal evening prayers with the Chassidim - the Rebbe gave the Famous Talk from the prayer platform.

The Rebbe opened the talk by explaining the day's significance while emphasizing its connection to redemption: The year 5751 - whose letters stand for "This will be a year I will show wonders," hinting to wonders that will occur in the redemption; in this year itself in the month of Nissan - about which our Sages said: "In Nissan they were redeemed and in Nissan they will be redeemed," in this month itself on the 27th day which is three times three times three - hinting to a strengthening in the matter of the month (redemption), and in this itself a triple strengthening; the night of the 28th of the month - meaning strength and power; the 12th day of the Omer - corresponding to the number of tribes; the night of the 13th of the Omer - numerically equivalent to "one," hinting to G-d's unity that will be revealed in the redemption; and so he detailed the virtues of the coming days.

During the talk, the Rebbe used stronger expressions, with the strongest being - that instead of the words "has not helped," the Rebbe said "I don't know what to do, since everything I have done until today was in vain and for nothing."

One person (not a Chabad Chassid) suggested to the Rebbe that perhaps it would be good advice for the Rebbe to come to Israel to pray together with Jews at the Western Wall.

And he concluded: Don't be alarmed by my anger, because I'm not really angry.

A woman (not a Chabad Chassidah) cried before the Rebbe: "Rebbe, we relied on you all these years that you would bring Moshiach, and what happened now? The task is too heavy for us, we want you to bring Moshiach."

The Rebbe: If it's impossible for all of the Jewish people, then how can it be possible for me? I am just one person, and you are here... (pointing his holy finger at the people standing around).

The conversation and strong expressions shocked the assembled public, and the echoes of the storm that followed were felt throughout the Jewish world.

In Israel, the talk was heard early Friday morning, and by the onset of Shabbat, news about it had spread, and an emergency gathering was decided upon at the Beis Menachem synagogue in Kfar Chabad for all Chabad chassidim in the country. At this gathering too, rabbis and mashpi'im (spiritual mentors) spoke, trying to understand the Rebbe's intention.

Many became confused following the talk, worried that the Rebbe had supposedly given up on the matter of Moshiach, or that he might stop his activities and leadership of the chassidim. In light of this, there were attempts to approach the Rebbe again and again and ask him to act on the matter.

And as I said and emphasized that the mission is placed upon you to do everything in your power - that each person needs to start acting themselves."

During the Sunday dollar distribution that followed, on the 30th of Nissan, the Rebbe spoke in this spirit with several people passing by - that they should focus on their personal work and not place the responsibility on the Rebbe.

Rabbi Tuvia Plass and Rabbi Zusha Rivkin sent the Rebbe an airline ticket to Israel several days after the talk was given. The Rebbe in response instructed them to return the airline tickets and wrote that: "This is not what was discussed at all, as is even more obvious."

== Establishment of Moshiach Headquarters ==

Subsequently, additional versions of the ruling were written. Additionally, Rabbi David Nachshon and R' Avi Taub were sent by Chabad rabbis to Russia to read the ruling at the graves of our Rebbes.

In addition to the rabbis' rulings, awareness grew among the chassidim about the importance of accepting the Rebbe's kingship as King Moshiach. The idea was first raised the night after the talk by Rabbi Avraham Lipsker who spoke about it in a telephone broadcast, but it gained particular strength at the emergency meeting at 770 on Thursday, the 4th of Iyar. At the end of the meeting, those gathered - about 250 people - signed a form accepting the kingship, in which they accepted upon themselves the Rebbe as King Moshiach and committed to dedicate themselves and act according to his holy will. These signatures were submitted to the Rebbe and received a positive and encouraging response. A photo of the Rebbe's response was hung on the walls of 770 and created much discussion.

Afterward, the matter of signing acceptance of kingship spread to the Holy Land, as well as among Chabad women and girls, with the Rebbe's consent and blessing.

During the week after the talk, several students from the yeshiva in New Haven (among them Dov Menachem Dbrouskin) conceived an idea to create an index of the Rebbe's talks on matters of redemption and Moshiach, to increase the study of redemption and Moshiach topics to bring the redemption. In the talk at that Shabbat's farbrengen, the Rebbe referenced this indirectly - when he explained that studying matters of redemption is the straight, easy, and quick way to bring about the revelation and coming of Moshiach; and added "and in our generation, when there are index books in alphabetical order for all sayings of our Sages etc. (which were added in recent generations and years) - it is easier to find the sayings of our Sages and discussions dealing with matters of Moshiach and redemption."

When Rabbi Chaim Gutnick sent a letter to the Rebbe asking what is the required work that the Rebbe meant in the known talk, the Rebbe responded to send him the talk he gave that Shabbat, Parshat Tazria-Metzora, in which he explains that the straight path to bring Moshiach is through studying matters of redemption and Moshiach.

* Ad Mosai

* Lights of Tohu in Vessels of Tikun

Mashiach Friedman, Days of Tidings, New York 5773, Chapter Three - The Known Talk, p. 57.