Is
There Any Effort That Is Too Arduous
By
Rabbi Yitzchok Gansburg
In
recent years, the Rebbe emphasized that we can examine the world
around us and see how the world is actually progressing towards
the Redemption. Among other things, the Rebbe said that even the
Baal Shem Tov’s teaching that “the world is G-dliness and
G-dliness is the world,” is revealed in the world today.
Recently,
I decided to explain this concept for those who don’t even have
a minimal knowledge of Judaism. I concluded that there was a need
for a video that would clarify the topic in an interesting and
simple manner. After great effort I managed to put together
$20,000 for the project and I went to a well-known producer and
asked him to make a video production for me.
We
began working together and after getting very involved in the
project, the producer told me that the amount of money I was
prepared to invest would only cover a ten-minute film. This
certainly wouldn’t allow us to convey such a deep subject
properly. He thought we needed $50,000.
I
had no idea where I could obtain such a huge sum of money, but I
decided I had to carry on. As we worked together, I noticed that
the producer seemed bothered by something. Our relationship was
close enough that I felt I could ask him what was on his mind. He
told me that years had gone by since he had his last child and he
really wanted a son.
I
recalled an incident. On Simchas Torah over ten years ago, I saw
the Rebbe motion to one of the people dancing Hakafos to
come over to him. “the Sages say,” said the Rebbe, “that
Hashem judges measure for measure. Until now you have conducted
yourself precisely according to measure, and Hashem has responded
in kind. Begin conducting yourself beyond the exact measure, and
then you can demand that Hashem deal with you likewise.”
I
told this story to the producer and said that I was sure that if
he wrote a letter to the Rebbe and informed him of a resolution
that went beyond the norm for him, and he asked for the Rebbe’s bracha,
that he would be answered in kind. The producer thought about it
and said, “You are right. I will go beyond what I can do and
cover the remaining $30,000 for the film from my own pocket, and
in exchange I will ask the Rebbe to respond in kind and bless me
to have another child.”
We
wrote a letter to the Rebbe, and after putting it in a volume of Igros
Kodesh, I said I was sure that his request was accepted and
that the Rebbe had already blessed him. He nodded and we continued
working on the film.
We
met shortly thereafter and this time the producer’s mood was
greatly improved. There was no happier man than he when he told me
that the Rebbe’s bracha had indeed been beyond the
precise measure...
*
* *
Perhaps
this story is not a general lesson for everybody in every
situation, but we Chassidim did receive a similar directive: Do
all in your power – in a manner of oros d’Tohu in keilim
d’Tikkun – to actually bring Moshiach Tzidkeinu
immediately!
When
it came to the ten mitzva campaigns, despite the Rebbe’s koch
in them, the Rebbe never spoke about them in terms of “do
all in your power.” It’s only regarding Moshiach that the
Rebbe used this expression, and even added that he was referring
to things that are considered oros d’Tohu.
With
all the mivtzaim, the Rebbe sufficed with measured work,
but when it came to Moshiach, which is something that is beyond
measure, we are required to go beyond measure to achieve it.
Evidently,
we haven’t done all in our power yet. The Rebbe isn’t revealed
to all and we are still in exile. There’s no question that we
must galvanize ourselves and wake up the world to the necessity
for preparing for Moshiach, until we merit to see the Rebbe and
the third Beis HaMikdash.
*
* *
If
we want to see a glimpse of light within the darkness, however, we
can observe the Tmimim, the Chayalei Beis Dovid, who
use every spare moment for learning inyanei Moshiach and Geula,
and for hafatzas besuras ha’ Geula. Of course,
this is not at the expense of the sedarim in yeshiva.
But
the Tmimim are not exhibits in a museum for us to observe and
admire. We Anash must follow their example and begin
conducting our lives around one thing only: bringing Moshiach.
Each of us must sit and think for a moment, we must pause in our
busy lives and ponder: When was the last time I went out on mivtzaim?
When was the last time I spoke to someone in my immediate circle
about the besuras ha’Geula? When was the last time I sat
and learned inyanei Moshiach and Geula on my own or
at a shiur? And even when was the last time I sat down with
my children and discussed their preparations for Moshiach’s
coming?
Each
of us must make a personal accounting: Why are the Tmimim the ones
who go out on mivtzaim on Fridays? Why don’t I go? Why is
it that on the way to work I don’t try to talk to Jews who work
on the same street, and try to convince them to put on t’fillin
or to do some other mitzva to hasten the Redemption?
Why don’t I begin every encounter with other businessmen or with
customers by sharing some of the Rebbe’s teachings about Geula?
Of
course, the point of all this is not to just feel bad. After this
accounting, we have to come to the conclusion that we must all go
beyond the norm, even if it’s difficult and seems sometimes like
too big a sacrifice. We must do all we can because we are working
for something that goes beyond the norm: the true and complete
Redemption.
The
Rebbe once said we have to yearn for the Redemption. Perhaps it is
challenging for some of us to yearn for something we haven’t
seen or experienced, but we have all had experiences with the
Rebbe. I am sure that if before everything we do, we think that
this action will hasten the moment in which we will merit to see
the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach, then all the obstacles and excuses
will melt away.
This
is what the Rebbe wrote about yearning to see the Rebbe Rayatz (Igros
Kodesh, Vol. 4, p. 120): “They should contemplate that
this holds up the Redemption, the Resurrection of the Dead, and
seeing the Rebbe Rayatz with the Rebbe his father, etc., etc.
Don’t you yearn for this? Is there any effort that is too
arduous for you, as long as you attain this? And this is meant
literally, not facetiously.”
*
* *
We
call this month Menachem Av, preceding the actual name of the
month with the word Menachem, although one would think that it
would be the other way around, that the actual name of the month
would precede any addition. The Rebbe tells us that this is
because the essential point of the month is actually Menachem,
which is the name of Moshiach, who should immediately come and
redeem us. Only then is there the reference to Av, referring to
our Father in Heaven.
We
mention Moshiach, “whose name is Menachem,” throughout this
month, which arouses our yearning to see his face once again. May
this happen immediately!
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