Various details about the work required of the Jewish people during exile, upon which the redemption depends, are explained in traditional sources. Throughout the years, and especially during the years 5751-5752 (1991-1992), the Rebbe pointed in many of his talks to the completion of the exile's work - bringing up those required details and determining that they have been completed in the final generation.

Work of Refinement

(Expanded article - Work of Refinement)

One of the tasks in exile is the work of refinement (avodat habirurim). With every performance of a mitzvah, a Jew refines the divine spark hidden within physicality and elevates it to holiness. The redemption is destined to come at the completion and conclusion of the work of refinement, when mankind and the entire world will be purified through the perfection of refinement accomplished through human service, making the world worthy of fulfilling the redemption's promises in a literal sense: "And I will remove the spirit of impurity from the earth" - the complete elimination of all evil in the world. As the Alter Rebbe wrote: "The reason the exile has continued for so much longer than seventeen hundred years is known to be for the purpose of refining the 288 sparks, and when all the refinements are completed, Moshiach will come speedily in our days, Amen."

In the year 5751 (1991), the Rebbe announced that this work has been completed:

"The work of the time of exile has already been completed in gathering and collecting the sparks (for which purpose G-d exiled Israel among the nations) throughout the entire world." — Parshat Vayeshev 5751, section 11

"As has been discussed several times recently, after the extraordinary abundance of our deeds and service throughout all generations... we have already completed all the refinements, including the refinement of 'Esau, who is Edom'... Indeed, Esau has already been completely refined, as we see even in our time (the exile of Edom) in the conduct of nations associated with 'Esau, who is Edom,' in a manner of kingdom of kindness (and this conduct is spreading to other countries, as has been seen especially recently) - it is understood that we are now already in a state where the physical body and even the physicality of the world have already been completely refined and purified, and they are 'vessels' ready for all spiritual lights and matters, including and especially - the light of our righteous Moshiach, the light of the true and complete redemption." — Parshat Vayetzei 5752, section 18

Nevertheless, the Rebbe noted that sparks do remain in the world, but not as part of the work of refinement necessary for Moshiach's coming, rather as a special task:

"After 'our deeds and service' of all the Jewish people throughout all generations... all matters have already been completed and perfected also from the perspective (and within) the world... From this it is understood that the continuation of the work thereafter (for as long as our righteous Moshiach is delayed for some reason (completely unknown and incomprehensible)) is not 'the work of refinement' (since the work of refinement has already been completed and perfected), but rather, a special work to bring about the actual revelation in the world." — Parshat Vayishlach 5752, section 11

Spreading the Wellsprings

Extended article - Spreading the Wellsprings

On Rosh Hashanah 5507, the Baal Shem Tov ascended spiritually to the chamber of Moshiach, and asked "When will the Master come?" Moshiach replied - "When your wellsprings (the teachings of Chassidus) spread outward."

Regarding this, the Rebbe also said that the work of spreading the wellsprings of Chassidic teachings has been completed:

"This means that the time (and all aspects of the service accomplished during this time) of spreading the wellsprings outward, which began on the 19th of Kislev 192 years ago, has already been decreed, allocated and completed, and we are now ready for the fulfillment of the promise that 'when your wellsprings spread outward, the Master will come - this is the King Moshiach.' This is one of the reasons for printing the Tanya book... to emphasize practically and openly to physical eyes the completion of the work of spreading your wellsprings outward during the course of 192 years, the end of the time of exile, 'the end of days' ('the left end,' the end of exile), and immediately we come to 'the right end' (the end of redemption)." — Shabbos Parshas Vayeshev 5751, section 11

"In our generation - when there is the completeness of 'your wellsprings spread outward' in all corners of the world, and in a way understood in the intellect of human beings, even of one who is found in the furthest 'outside' possible, and also - the translation of the inner dimensions of Torah and Chassidic teachings in the language of each nation... until recent days - when the Tanya (the Written Torah of Chassidus) has also been printed in 'Braille,' the script for the blind, Heaven protect us." — Shabbos Parshas Shoftim 5751, section 10

Teshuvah

A necessary condition for the coming of the Redemption is Teshuvah (repentance). Regarding the Redemption, it is said, "The matter depends only on Teshuvah." The Rambam also ruled: "Israel will be redeemed only through Teshuvah." In the year 5701 (1941), the Rebbe Rayatz issued a call "Immediate Teshuvah for Immediate Redemption."

The Rebbe explained that in our generation this condition has also been fulfilled:

"Certainly, without any doubt or question, the time of Redemption has already arrived. In the words of our Sages, 'All the deadlines have passed,' and also the matter of Teshuvah (as the continuation of the statement, 'and the matter depends only on Teshuvah') has already been completed in full, including the completion of 'Moshiach comes to bring the righteous to repentance,' through the spark of Moshiach within each and every Jew." — Shabbat Parshat Balak 5751 (1991), section 7

"There is nothing more to wait for, since all aspects of our service have been completed, and Teshuvah has already been done, and the matter depends only on the coming of Moshiach Tzidkeinu himself. 'The matter depends only on Teshuvah' was relevant some time ago, but now (after Teshuvah has already been done) the matter depends only on the coming of Moshiach himself. All that is needed is for Moshiach to come in actual reality, 'pointing with his finger and saying this,' this is Moshiach Tzidkeinu!" — During the visit of Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, 6 Marcheshvan 5752 (1991), section 17

Reason for the Exile

In the Gemara it states that the reason for the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash was because there was baseless hatred (sinat chinam) within it. Accordingly, the Rebbe frequently urged that we should increase ahavat Yisrael and baseless love (ahavat chinam), which serves as a rectification for the cause of the exile; and when the cause of the exile is nullified, the exile itself will be nullified and the Third Beit HaMikdash will be built.

The Rebbe also announced that the rectification of the cause of the exile has already been completed:
"As we stand after the completion of our deeds and our service throughout the duration of the exile, after completing all 42 journeys in the 'wilderness of the nations,' we are already at 'Jordan near Jericho' (the level of Moshiach who 'will judge by smell'), on the threshold of the Redemption, certainly the cause of the exile has already been rectified."
— Parshat Matot-Masei 5751, Section 13

War of the Soldiers of the House of David

Extended article – Soldiers of the House of David

In 5657 (1897), the Rebbe Rashab established Yeshivat Tomchei Temimim. One of the purposes in establishing the yeshiva was so that its students, called "Soldiers of the House of David," would fight against those "who have reproached the footsteps of Your Moshiach" – meaning, those who cool down the faith in the Redemption and the coming of Moshiach – and through victory in this war, to bring about the Redemption in actual reality.

The Rebbe announced that this war has ended and we have reached the stage of victory:

"And with special emphasis in our generation – the third generation to the Rebbe Rashab and his students, the soldiers of the House of David, in which the work of the soldiers of the House of David to bring the Redemption in actual reality through David the Messianic King is 'being completed and finished.' As my father-in-law, the Rebbe, leader of our generation, said during his lifetime in this world, that all the work has already been completed and finished, and we stand ready to receive David the Messianic King, and how much more so after the continuation of the work in a manner that 'Hashem has given you a heart to know, eyes to see, and ears to hear.'" — Parshat Vayeira 5752, Section 13

Polishing the Buttons

Extended article - Polishing the Buttons

On Simchat Torah 5689 (1928), in a talk delivered by the Rebbe Rayatz, he announced that the work that remains now is "polishing the buttons." The meaning of this expression is that all that remains to be done in order to bring the Redemption are small, final actions. The Rebbe used this expression many times over the years.

But at the end of the 5740s (1980s), the Rebbe began to use this expression in the past tense, as an action that has already been completed:

"It has been discussed several times that according to all the signs mentioned by our Sages regarding the end of days (in addition to the general announcement at the time of the Gemara that 'all deadlines have passed'), our generation is the last generation of exile and the first generation of redemption, as testified by my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe, leader of our generation - in connection with his well-known proclamation 'immediate repentance, immediate redemption' - that in his days (decades ago) all aspects of the work were completed, and we only need to 'polish the buttons' and stand ready to receive our righteous Moshiach. How much more so after the abundant work of spreading Torah, Judaism, and the wellsprings of Chassidism outward from then until now... certainly and most definitely we have also finished 'polishing the buttons,' and stand ready to receive our righteous Moshiach." — Parshat Nasso 5751 (1991), section 13

The Required Work Now

Extended Topic – Living Redemption

In light of the Rebbe's repeated statements regarding the completion of the exile work - the Rebbe explained many times the nature of our current work, after we have completed these matters.

This work is explained in the Rebbe's talks from the last period, especially those from the years 5751-5752 (1991-1992) called "Dvar Malchut" - the need to behave in accordance with life in the days of Moshiach, and to recognize the reality taking place around us at the beginning of the revelations of the true and complete redemption. The Rebbe called this work "living with the times of the days of Moshiach."

Matters Remaining to Be Fixed

The Rebbe also addressed the claim that is often heard, that we can see there are still many things requiring correction that remain to be done - so how is it possible that the work toward the redemption has been completed and we are already prepared for it?

The Rebbe answered that this is not a contradiction, since the completed work is the general work of the Jewish people that the Holy One, blessed be He, requires as a condition for redemption. Although the work of the Jewish people throughout the generations has been completed, there may still be particular matters to fix in each person's individual service, but these details are marginal in relation to the completed work of the community and do not delay it; the Jewish people are like a healthy person with all 248 limbs and 365 sinews, and the deficiencies are like a minor, external discomfort in a particular limb. In light of this, even the correction of the remaining details is done easily and joyfully.

Completion of the Exile's Work

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