Do everything you can to bring Moshiach, here and now, immediately

On Thursday night, the 27th of Nissan, 5751 (April 11, 1991), in the course of a rather unexceptional public gathering, the Rebbe SHLITA changed his tone and his topic and emotionally shared the following:

“Because of the unique stress on the Redemption in this time, an astonishing question arises: How is it possible that despite all these factors, Moshiach has not yet come? This is beyond all possible comprehension.

“It is also beyond comprehension that when ten (and many times ten) Jews gather together at a time that is appropriate for the Redemption to come, they do not raise a clamor great enough to cause Moshiach to come immediately. They are, heaven forbid, able to accept the possibility that Moshiach will not arrive tonight, and even that he will not arrive tomorrow, or on the day after tomorrow, heaven forbid.

“Even when people cry out “Ad mosai–Until when will we remain in exile?” they do so only because they were told to. If they had sincere intent and earnest desire, and cried out in truth, Moshiach would surely have come already.

“What more can I do to motivate the entire Jewish people to clamor and cry out, and thus actually bring about the coming of Moshiach? All that has been done until now has been to no avail, for we are still in exile; moreover, we are in an inner exile in regard to our own service of G-d.

“All that I can possibly do is to give the matter over to you. Now, do everything you can to bring Moshiach, here and now, immediately.

“May it be G-d’s will that ultimately ten Jews will be found who are stubborn enough to resolve to secure G-d’s consent to actually bring about the true and ultimate Redemption, here and now, immediately. Their stubborn resolve will surely evoke G-d’s favor, as reflected by the interpretation of the verse, ‘For they are a stiff-necked people; You will pardon our sins and wrongdoings and make us Your possession.’

“I have done whatever I can; from now on, you must do whatever you can. May it be G-d’s will that there will be one, two, or three among you who will appreciate what needs to be done and how it needs to be done, and may you actually be successful and bring about the true and complete Redemption. May this take place immediately, in a spirit of happiness and gladness of heart.”

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Far from “passing the buck” or throwing up his hands in defeat, from that day forth, the Rebbe continued, with increased vigor and enthusiasm, to discuss the imminence of Moshiach’s arrival and to offer suggestions what we could do to get ready for the Redemption.

In fact, the very next Shabbat, the Rebbe said:

“Every Jew, man, woman and child, has an individual responsibility to add to his service with the intent of bringing about the actual coming of Moshiach. One should not try to shift the burden of responsibility to others. Rather, each person should recognize his individual responsibility.

“This service must involve an increase in the study of the Torah, both hidden and revealed and an increase in the performance of mitzvot in a beautiful and conscientious manner…

“In addition to making such increases oneself, one should also influence others to make similar increases. And all of this should be suffused with yearning for and expectation of Moshiach’s coming.

“May our resolutions to involve ourselves be successful and bring about the coming of the ultimate Redemption.”