"Here’s My Messiah"
By Shlomo Even-Rokeach

"Let a little water, I beseech you, be fetched," Avrohom Avinu told his guests – in case they were not yet keeping the Seven Noachide Laws. * Thousands of years later his descendants are still using water to spread observance of the Sheva Mitzvos Bnei Noach. * New initiative results in a flood of positive feedback.
 

The group of Tmimim in the taxi had almost reached their destination when one of them realized they had forgotten to mention the Sheva Mitzvos to the cab driver. After all, they were going on mivtzaim; why shouldn’t they take the opportunity to speak with the driver?

"Here’s your money," said one of the bachurim as he paid their fare. "Do something good with it to hasten the revelation of Moshiach." The gentile cab driver responded with a big smile and said, "I already have my Messiah…"

The bachur was momentarily stunned until the driver removed something from his pocket – a "7 Laws for 70 Nations" card about the Seven Noachide Laws, with the Rebbe’s picture on it. "Here it is," he said proudly. "Here’s my Messiah…"

This story is only one of many being told by shluchim and Anash all over the world involving the Sheva Mitzvos Bnei Noach and non-Jews’ increasing willingness to accept them. These stories demonstrate that when the Rebbe said the world is ready for Moshiach to be revealed, he meant that the gentiles are also ready.

Rabbi Moshe Kastiel is one individual who has discovered that gentiles are also interested in becoming mekushar to the Rebbe shlita. Rabbi Kastiel teaches a class for non-Jews on the Sheva Mitzvos, and was very surprised when some students approached him and insisted on writing to the Rebbe. They told him they had learned about the Igros Kodesh on the Internet, and would not take No for an answer. Despite his initial reluctance Rabbi Kastiel helped them compose their letters, and he saw that many of them received clear answers.

At that point Rabbi Kastiel realized there was a very big problem, one that many other well-intentioned Lubavitchers were also facing: There simply wasn’t enough source material available on the Seven Noachide Laws. The lack was really inexplicable, given that the Rebbe had spoken on the subject so many times, and explained that gentiles play a significant role in preparing the world for Moshiach.

A few years ago, some pamphlets (approved by the Rebbe) came out about the Noachide laws, written by Rabbi Dovid Nachshon and Rabbi Avi Taub. But today they are very difficult to find, and most books on the subject are out of print.

* * *

It all started a few months ago, when Reb Meir Hadar, a devoted Chassid of the Rebbe MH"M from Kfar Tapuach in the Shomron, came up with an idea: The "millennium" was fast approaching, and Israel would soon be inundated with foreign tourists eager for an " Jewish souvenir. Why not use it as an opportunity to spread awareness of the Seven Noachide Laws, and encourage belief in G-d and in "Moses His servant," the Rebbe shlita?

With this in mind Reb Meir contacted his friend, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Ginsberg, mashpia in Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim in Kfar Chabad and longtime contributor to Beis Moshiach, and the two of them decided to further develop the idea. A new brochure would have to be written. They realized that such a project would cost a lot of money, but they resolved to go ahead with it anyway.

The Rebbe always emphasized how spiritual matters should be connected to physical, mundane acts and objects. It was, therefore, decided to include a meaningful token along with the pamphlet. As with any other mivtza, this new project they were working on should emphasize emuna in the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach. After much deliberation they came to the conclusion that the item they would include should be a holy object connected to the Rebbe, as a segula for those who would be observing the Sheva Mitzvos.

It was a well -known fact that the Rebbe gave many dollars for tzedaka to non-Jews as well as Jews. The Rebbe had even once given Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gluckowsky a bottle of mashkeh to give to the Arabs in Israel for introducing the Sheva Mitzvos into their school curricula! The Rebbe smiled and said, "This is for the Arabs," then added, "They may not be allowed to drink wine, but this they are permitted…"

Thus, the holy object would somehow be connected to the Rebbe, but what specifically? Mashkeh and lekach were ruled out because of the problem of chametz. Wine was also rejected because it didn’t "sound good," even if it was mevushal.

At the same time, the Rebbe’s "mikva water," water in which the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach had toiveled, had recently been getting a lot of publicity; many stories were being told about the wonders and miracles it had brought to Jews and, l’havdil, non-Jews alike. In the end, the Rebbe’s "mikva water" was chosen.

The next thing to do was to obtain the Rebbe’s approval. The positive answer they received through the Igros Kodesh (Vol. 19, page 227) was unequivocal (free translation): "As we are now in the month of Adar, every day of which we ‘increase in joy,’ it is understood that all matters connected to Adar result in joy, such as the Megilla having an influence on the entire month. At the very least, may the [intention of the] verse ‘and many of the people of the land became Jews’ be revealed… With blessing for good news to report in all the above."

Another answer they received was as follows (Vol. 10, page 141; free translation): "Surely you will explain to your daughter how fortunate are those who merit to be the first to break down barriers, in a positive sense, that is, eradicating a ‘fence’ and custom practiced by the ‘other side…’ Tell her she now has the opportunity to bring merit to the many and that it depends on her, and as explained in the Zohar on Parshas Naso, page 126a, this is also connected to shalom bayis. With blessing."

With answers like these, the next step was figuring out how to actualize their plan. The workload was divided up: Rabbi Ginsberg would be in charge of the educational content of the kit, and Reb Meir, an experienced businessman, would be responsible for its production.

At that point things began to move quickly, with the Rebbe’s brachos and miracles accompanying them at every step. Rabbi Ginsberg and several colleagues began working on the new brochure. Their efforts were helped in great measure by the writings of Rabbis Nachshon and Taub, whose pamphlets had been prepared according to the Rebbe’s directives.

In the meantime, Reb Meir located a professional service that would translate the material into 15(!) languages. It was now time to think about production, distribution, and marketing. The center of operations was in Ariel, in the Shomron.

Unfortunately, there were lots of technical difficulties manufacturing the kit. But each time the project threatened to run out of funds, the money would suddenly appear from an unexpected source. The answers they kept getting from the Rebbe were also encouraging, such as this one from Volume 9 of the Igros Kodesh: "…I was very distressed to read that your financial problems are causing you to experience spiritual difficulties. It is very surprising to me that a ben Torah and the product of a Chassidic home would be thus affected by a monetary problem… May it be G-d’s will that you find a kosher parnasa easily and with tranquility of mind, and that you be able to report that you are having a positive effect on your surroundings, drawing people closer to Chassidus by spreading the wellsprings outward. With blessings."

One time, after the kits were already assembled, the machine that wraps them suddenly broke down. No one could figure out what was wrong. It wasn’t until someone decided to open one of the boxes that they discovered a problem with the way the bottles were made, which had nothing to do with the machine not working. In any event, the machine started working again after the problem with the bottles was resolved.

Today, Reb Meir is happy to report that the kit is available in eight languages: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Russian, German, and Italian. Translations into eight more languages have been completed, but more funding is needed to publish them.

The finished product is sleek and attractive. The whole kit comes in a small carton, which workers have affectionately dubbed "teivas Noach." (The Hebrew word "teiva" means both box and ark.) A big picture of the Rebbe appears on the front, superimposed over a waterfall. The caption reads "The Miracle Waters," and in smaller letters, "that will bring you blessing and salvation while observing G-d’s seven laws of the sons of Noach."

The brochure opens with a short explanation about the sanctity of water in which a tzadik has immersed, especially the prophet of our generation, the Moshiach of our generation, the Lubavitcher Rebbe. The next page explains how there has to be an appropriate receptacle to receive the "blessings of the L-rd."

On the next page there’s the image of a large globe with the caption, "The world is not a jungle." "Imagine a world without murder, cruelty, or immorality, without dishonest or wrongful acts, a world in which betrayal and adultery are unknown, where idol-worshipping has no place, a world endowed with blessings and filled with meaning, a world that is ruled by faith and justice. Do you believe yourself capable of making such a world? The Holy One, blessed be He, believes you are. That is exactly why these seven laws have been given to the descendants of Noah."

An in-depth explanation of each of the Seven Mitzvos follows, complete with illustrations and practical applications. Everything is beautifully written and well thought out. For example, the mitzva of eiver min ha’chai, against a backdrop of wild animals in their natural setting, is presented under the heading "Respect for all G-d’s creatures": "The Torah gives man dominion over animals and even permits him to eat of their flesh. However, it is absolutely forbidden to cause an animal unnecessary suffering and pain, and it is prohibited to eat flesh taken from a living creature. Man is required to show sensitivity to the suffering of animals, and he must never treat them cruelly." The explanation also calls on gentiles to ease the suffering of the Jews in exile and allow them to fulfill their Divine intent…

The pamphlet then goes on to explain how observance of the Noachide Laws prepares the world for the revelation of the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach and the Messianic era. The last eight pages deal exclusively with the Rebbe and his impact on the world. "Hundreds of thousands, and perhaps even millions of people have returned to the right path under his direct or indirect influence… He performs miracles and wonders beyond nature’s ken." All of the Rebbe’s prophecies have been fulfilled, and everyone is encouraged "to obey his instructions, heed his advice, believe in his prophecies, and share actively in bringing about the final Redemption. And together with positive resolutions and the actual performance of good deeds, by which we will help speed up the Redemption, let us all beseech and even demand of G-d and His Moshiach: We want Moshiach now! We have no strength to wait! Till when?! Long live our teacher and master, the Messiah, for ever and ever!"

* * *

Beis Moshiach recently interviewed Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Ginsberg and asked him several questions about "The Miracle Waters."

Anyone can see from the Rebbe’s sichos, especially those of the last few years, that observance of the Sheva Mitzvos Bnei Noach is an integral component in bringing the Geula. As the Rambam writes, one of Moshiach’s functions is to "correct the entire world and bring it to serve G-d, as it states, ‘For then I will convert the peoples to a clear language, that they may all call upon the name of the L-rd, to serve Him with one accord.’" On countless occasions the Rebbe told us it is both a z’chus and an obligation to raise the public’s awareness of these laws.

Did you know that several years ago the Rebbe conducted a "secret" mission in Eretz Yisroel to get the Arabs to learn about the Sheva Mitzvos? Rabbi Gerlitzky of Tel Aviv and Rabbi Gluckowsky of Rechovot were put in charge. After studying the material, the Arab children were supposed to write a composition on what they had learned. Rabbi Gerlitzky was responsible for having everything translated into Arabic. Unfortunately, on the very day they had an appointment with the Department of Education in Judea and Samaria, the Intifada broke out. According to Rabbi Gluckowsky, they then understood why the Rebbe had been pushing them so hard.

The Rebbe also said that had there been greater awareness of the Sheva Mitzvos Bnei Noach in Germany, the Holocaust could have been prevented.

I’m not a businessman, and I’m not very knowledgeable about all the ramifications of the topics surrounding the Sheva Mitzvos or about publishing. But something clearly had to be done, so I stepped in. The fact that the finished product is of such high quality is just another of the Rebbe’s miracles.

When the Rebbe MH"M said the world is ready, he meant the whole world in the literal sense, not just us. Just talk to any shliach anywhere in the world. They’ll tell you how they can see this on a daily basis.

Secondly, the Rebbe gave us explicit brachos all along the way, like this one from Volume 10 of the Igros Kodesh, page 268: "At the end of your letter you write that you are afraid of the direction in which the Chabad movement is going. You can rest assured that Hashem Yisborach, Who watches over and directs every single Jew with Divine providence, according to the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov – will save the people of Chabad from all the dangers that stand in their way, including libel and slander. The Chabad movement is already used to this [such accusations], having started in the times of the Baal Shem Tov and Alter Rebbe, and continuing until today."

"The Miracle Waters" has also been enthusiastically praised and endorsed by many rabbanim and mashpiim, including Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, Rabbi Dovid Chanzin, Rabbi Mordechai Shmuel Ashkenazi, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gluckowsky, Rabbi Boruch Boaz Yorkovitch, and Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Wilshansky of Tzfas.

And to those who might be concerned that the idea of "holy water" has been so misconstrued by gentiles that it is somehow associated with klipa, the Rambam allays their fears. At the end of Chapter 11 of Hilchos Melachim, in a section once omitted by the censors, he explains that the non-Jews’ mistaken beliefs are "solely for the purpose of paving the way for Melech HaMoshiach." The idea is for the entire world to become familiar with the concept of a redeemer, then, when Moshiach comes, the gentiles will realize they had previously been led astray and will begin to worship the one true
G-d.

There are also many historical examples of holy water being a segula for gentiles. There’s the story in Nach about Elisha the prophet curing Naaman of his tzaraas. When Elisha instructed Naaman to immerse himself seven times in the River Jordan, Naaman was very insulted. "Are not Amana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? May I not wash in them, and be clean? And he turned and went away in a rage." Lucky for him his servants convinced him to do it anyway, even though he didn’t believe it would help. He immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, "and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean." Naaman declared publicly, "Now I know that there is no G-d in all the earth, but in Israel."

There’s a story about the mikva water of the Nasi HaDor acting as a segula for non-Jews in Shmuos V’Sippurim. The story takes place when the tzadik of Ruzhin was fleeing Russia. As he was passing the Austrian border, he came across a town with the unusual name of Sruliva. It turns out that the name was derived from a spring in which the Baal Shem Tov had toiveled, whose waters had brought a miraculous recovery to a gentile boy. All the local gentiles had started using the waters of "the holy spring," and the town was later built around it.

So you see, the concept is nothing new.

That’s silly. Since when are tashmishei kedusha free? Who doesn’t expect to pay for a mezuza or a tallis? Anyway, the Rebbe always stressed that when a person pays for something, it increases its value in his eyes.

First of all, we built a very beautiful Internet site, , which contains everything a person would want to know about the Sheva Mitzvos kit. It also has the complete text of the brochure. Second, we’re in the process of negotiating with a distributor, and third, we’re relying on Anash to get the word out.

Almost everyone comes in contact with non-Jews: fellow employees and workers, lawyers, businessmen, contributors, political figures, etc. The Rebbe explained many times that these contacts, which occur through Divine providence, are for the purpose of promoting observance of the Seven Noachide Laws. "The Miracle Waters" kit makes a very fine gift or token of appreciation that can really revolutionize someone’s life.

So far the reaction has been only positive. Shluchim have been especially enthusiastic, as have many recipients of the kit themselves.

May it be G-d’s will that very soon we will see the fruit of all our labors, with the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach’s revelation. And the cry of "Yechi Adoneinu Moreinu V’Rabbeinu Melech HaMoshiach L’olam Va’ed!" will rise up from all parts of the globe, and in all 70 of the world’s languages…
 

With the Rebbe’s brachos and miracles accompanying them at every step. Rabbi Ginsberg and several colleagues began working on the new brochure.

On the very day they had an appointment with the Department of Education in Judea and Samaria, the Intifada broke out. They then understood why the Rebbe had been pushing them so hard to get the Arabs to learn about the Sheva Mitzvos.