The Famous Sicha

The famous talk is a discourse given by the Rebbe on the 28th of Nissan 5751 (1991), in which he expressed his pain about the indifference regarding bringing Moshiach, and placed responsibility on the listeners to act for his coming: "The only thing I can still do is hand this over to each of you - do everything in your power to bring Moshiach in actual reality." Later, the Rebbe referred to this talk as "The Famous Talk," and since then this name has spread among Chabad Chassidim as the title for this discourse.

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.

Background

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."

Approaching the year 5751 (1991), the Rebbe announced that the Hebrew letters of this year stand for "This will be a year I will show wonders," in the language of the verse prophesying the future redemption: "As in the days of your exodus from Egypt, I will show wonders." Later, when the Persian Gulf conflict began and the Gulf War broke out in its wake, the Rebbe called not to fear and promised that this war would have great miracles. The Rebbe emphasized that the war events were an exact fulfillment of the Midrash in Yalkut Shimoni about the "year that King Moshiach is revealed."

After the war ended - in the months of Adar and Nissan 5751 - the Rebbe called to contemplate the revealed miracles that occurred in it, and explained that they were even greater than the miracles of Purim. In a general audience on the 26th of Nissan, two days before giving the Famous Talk, the Rebbe extensively explained the revealed miracles seen in this period, both in the Gulf War and in additional events - such as the dissolution of the Soviet Union - and explained that a Jew needs to recognize these miracles, "until he is not embarrassed to break out in dance because of the revealed miracles!"

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.

Content of the Talk

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.

Then the Rebbe continued and said:

"Based on what was said above about emphasizing the matter of redemption (especially) at this time - a very great wonder arises: How is it possible that despite all these matters - they still haven't brought about the coming of our righteous Moshiach in actual reality?!... Something that is completely incomprehensible!

And an additional wonder - that ten (and many tens) of Jews gather together, and at an auspicious time regarding redemption, and nevertheless, they are not making noise to bring about Moshiach's immediate coming, and it is not impossible for them, Heaven forbid, that Moshiach won't come tonight, and also tomorrow Moshiach won't come, and also the day after tomorrow our righteous Moshiach won't come, Heaven forbid!!

Even when they cry out 'Until when' - it is only because of the command etc., and if they had intended and requested and cried out truthfully, certainly and certainly Moshiach would have already come!!

What else can I do so that all Jews will make noise and cry out truthfully and act to bring Moshiach in actuality, after everything that has been done until now has not helped, and the proof is that we are still in exile, and moreover - in an inner exile regarding matters of divine service.

The only thing I can do - is hand over the matter to you: Do everything in your power - matters that are in a way of 'lights of Tohu,' but in 'vessels of Tikun' - to bring our righteous Moshiach immediately in actual reality!

...And I have done my part, and from here on you do everything in your power.

May it be G-d's will that there be found among you one, two, three, who will devise a plan what to do and how to do it, and moreover - and this is the main thing - that they will act to bring about the true and complete redemption in actual reality, immediately and literally."

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."

Following the sicha

Excerpts from Dollar Distribution, Sunday 30th of Nissan:

The Exchange About Visiting Israel

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.

The Rebbe (with his holy hand): I have always made it clear that I am now giving advice to you, not that you need to give me advice about what I should do.

The person: Heaven forbid, I didn't mean to give advice...

The Rebbe: I don't mind suggestions, but people have started using them to avoid doing something themselves. The Holy One has blessed you with success, you can serve Hashem with your voice (the person was a singer), so why are you looking for work for me? May the Holy One help you!

The person: Heaven forbid, I'm not looking for more work...

The Rebbe: I don't mind people looking for work, but when they use it to minimize their personal work, then – this is not the way!

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

The Exchange About Bringing Moshiach

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 Aftermath of the Rebbe's Strong Words

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

Immediately after the talk, all those present spontaneously burst out crying "Ad Mosai" (Until when), which later turned into singing the tune of 'Ad Mosai', as well as shouts of "Moshiach Now." Rabbi Shneur Zalman Gourary, who stood below the Rebbe's platform, was among the first to receive a dollar for charity after the talk, and when the Rebbe gave him the dollar, he commented on the words: "It didn't touch and didn't harm."

When Rabbi Chaim Boruch Halberstam, who managed WLCC, released the recording of the talk, it was played repeatedly at 770. That night, meetings and farbrengens were held at 770 in an attempt to understand exactly what the Rebbe meant in his demand during the talk. The next day - Friday, when it was customary to go out weekly for the Tefillin campaign - tanks went out to reinforce the activity and spread the topic of redemption. On the tanks' activity report, the Rebbe answered: "Received with thanks and may the activity continue and increase and the time is appropriate and the matter. I will mention it at the gravesite."

During Friday, the edited talk was released by the Rebbe.

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.

The Rebbe Transfers Responsibility

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.

At the farbrengen on the following Shabbat, Parshat Shemini, Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh stood between the talks and called out that since "a tzaddik decrees and the Holy One, Blessed be He, fulfills," they request that the Rebbe decree that the redemption come immediately. The Rebbe opened the following talk emphasizing that there is no place to put the work of bringing Moshiach on him, but rather this is each person's individual work:

"Instead of using this opportunity... for each person to decide for themselves what they need to do, they are using it to search for perhaps finding new work for me...

I have enough work, and there's no need to put more work on me; what I need to do I know myself... and regarding bringing the redemption - I know myself what I need to do, and I am doing in this as much as I can reach, and after everything that has been done until now has not helped to bring Moshiach in actuality (and this is not the place to discuss the reason for this).

Therefore - there is no place to use the time of the farbrengen to search for new roles for me and to put more work on me... I forgo the favor, and it would be better if each person would decide what they need to do.

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."

Further Responses from the Rebbe

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.

The Rebbe responded similarly to letters sent to him requesting and demanding that the Rebbe reveal himself: To a letter from Rabbi Gershon Mendel Garelik and Chabad chassidim from Milan, Italy, who wrote that they "demand with all force and chutzpah that the Rebbe reveal himself," the Rebbe answered: "This is not what was discussed at all, rather a logical response to what I spoke clearly, and in all the above there isn't even one word of response. Since others are also 'answering' in this way, it's clear they don't have even one word of response. And why should I tire them Heaven forbid, let them serve Hashem with joy and good heart, and Hashem will grant them success. I will mention it at the gravesite."

Similarly, to a letter and signatures in this style sent by Rabbi Shneur Zalman Blumenfeld from Peru, the Rebbe responded to the words "all deadlines have passed": "All these are my claims and repeating the claims is not an answer at all. I will mention it at the gravesite."

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."

Actions Following the Talk

Establishment of Moshiach Headquarters

On Tuesday evening, the 3rd of Iyar, a meeting was held at the Chabad Mobile offices in Crown Heights with several dozen activists participating, where it was decided to establish the 'World Headquarters to Bring Moshiach.' The meeting participants signed a report containing the meeting's protocol with the headquarters' plans and names of its members, to which Rabbi David Nachshon added the words: "Long live our master, teacher, and Rebbe King Moshiach forever and ever." The Rebbe's response was: "All this was taken to the gravesite, I will mention it at the gravesite."

The headquarters' first action was calling an urgent meeting at 770 the next day, on Thursday the 4th of Iyar. The headquarters' activists received special responses and encouragement from the Rebbe for their activities.

Rabbinic Ruling

During the emergency gathering at Beis Menachem in Kfar Chabad on Saturday night, where Rabbi Zimroni Tzik was the conference moderator, Rabbi Shmuel Frumer suggested issuing a rabbinic ruling that the Rebbe is King Moshiach. The suggestion was accepted, and at that moment, the secretary of the Chabad Rabbinical Court, Rabbi David Chanzin, announced in the name of the rabbis that the Rebbe is King Moshiach. That evening, the Rabbi of Kfar Chabad, Rabbi Mordechai Ashkenazi, wrote the complete text of the ruling.

Following this, Rabbi David Nachshon and R' Avi Taub flew to New York, to the Rebbe's court, to present the ruling to the Rebbe. On Monday morning, the 2nd of Iyar, they arrived in New York, and Rabbi David Nachshon waited for the Rebbe near the mikvah, and when the Rebbe arrived, he presented him with the ruling. The Rebbe looked and said with a smile: "Thank you, thank you!" and put the envelopes in his coat pocket.

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.

Acceptance of Kingship

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.

Study of geulah and Moshiach Topics

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."

Later, the Rebbe added and said that studying matters of redemption is required not only as a segula to bring Moshiach's coming, but also to live in accordance with the threshold period of redemption, through intellectual contemplation of redemption matters, and practical conduct accordingly.

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.