PARSHAS VAYERA

100 YEARS FROM THE HISTORIC SICHA OF THE REBBE RASHAB

One of the primary accomplishments of the Rebbe Rashab [born on
Cheshvan 20 5621 (1860)] was the founding of the Yeshivah Tomchei Tmimim.

Simchas Torah 5661 (1900) (the beginning of the fourth year since the
founding of the Yeshiva), the Rebbe Rashab spoke to the "Temimim,"
explaining to them their objective and mission; he said to them: "I am
making a covenant with you, the students of Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim –
both with those who are presently studying in...the Yeshiva and with
those who will study in the Yeshiva in the future – I shall be a partner
in your self-sacrificing labors for the sake of a G-d-fearing approach to
the study of Torah ..."
The Rebbe Rashab then continued: "Temimim! ‘Whoever goes out to the
battles of the house of Dovid writes a bill of divorce to his wife’
(Shabbos 56a).
The "House of Dovid" refers to the revelation of Moshiach ben Dovid.
The revelation of Moshiach and the sixth millennium in general, are
called ikvos Meshichah (footsteps of Moshiach). The yovel (fifty year
period) that Moshiach ben Dovid comes, is the period referred to in
Tehillim (89:52): Your enemies, Hashem, have ridiculed and disgraced,
they have ridiculed the footsteps of your Moshiach.
Our Sages teach: If you see one generation after another scoffing
(at Hashem and His Torah) look forward for the footsteps of Moshiach.
What is the reason? Because it is written: Your enemies, Hashem, have
ridiculed and disgraced, they have ridiculed the footsteps of your
Moshiach, and what is written immediately following that? Blessed be
Hashem forever. Amen and Amen. This means, that when one generation of
scoffers follows another, we can expect the coming of Moshiach.
The first generation of scoffers are the maskilim (members of the
‘Enlightenment’ movement), they will educate the second generation of
scoffers... For this is necessary "the battle of the House of Dovid," to
strengthen the faith in the Redemption through Moshiach, and to ease the
"birthpangs of Moshiach."
In the time of "ikvos Meshicha" there are two levels: One category
are "the enemies of Hashem," the old apikursim and maskilim, who do not
believe in Hashem or in the Torah, and their main intent is to ridicule
the mitzvos, particularly the faith in the coming of Moshiach. The second
category are those who believe in Hashem and in the Torah, but without
the holiness of Torah. . .
The second category of those that "ridicule the footsteps of your
Moshiach," has many variations, and even includes fine Torah scholars,
however, their faith in the Redemption is weak. They even rationalize
their lack of faith with reasons of yiras-shomayim (cloaked in piety),
but the truth be told, this is a weakness in the faith of Moshiach’s
coming. . .

(From the Maamer Kol HaYotzei l’Milchemes Beis Dovid (of the Rebbe
Rashab) Simchas Torah 5661.Printed in Sefer HaSichos 5702 p. 141)

THE BATTLE IN OUR TIMES
The category of people who "ridicule the footsteps of Moshiach" are
not in the category of "enemies of Hashem" – on the contrary, they can
be Torah observant Jews, but they cannot tolerate when a Jew says:
"Moshiach is about to come imminently!" because with this they hear the
sounds of the footsteps of Moshiach...
This is the "Battle of Beis Dovid" in our times, to eliminate the
ridicule of Moshiach by going out from one’s own surround- ings, even if
it is in Lubavitch... to go to the "outside" where the scoffers are, and
there to spread the fountains of Chassidus!

(Sichah of 20th Marcheshvan 5745)

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