The Real Way to Bring Moshiach | Letter #23 of Thirty Letters in Thirty Days 5786

Baruch Hashem, okay. We're going to start as we normally do, giving a little tsadaka to the Kehillat Chabad pushka app. Fun, fun. I'm going to make a bracha. Okay. Anyone there in the chat? Hello. Say hi to me if you're there. Um So, that's like 22 people here. Okay. All right. You want to learn a letter? What uh Someone wrote hi. Yitzy70505 wrote hi. Oh, some more people are writing hi. Hello. Hello. All right, good. All right, this is letter number 23. >> [snorts] >> Uh Baruch Hashem Tes Adar Tavshin Tes Adar in Brooklyn shalom u'bracha. Now, we're uh we're up to Tes Adar. We're moving moving through the year. The main letter from Rosh Chodesh Adar the month of Adar in answer to your letter from Rosh Chodesh Adar in which uh the month in which we increase in joy, right? In your letter, you write regarding the ingathering of the exiles. The gathering of all the tribes of Israel. He kavtsu and along the lines of what it's written he kavtsu, which means you shall gather up. U'vamei zeh l'kamen hakones and you come to many conclusions from that. U'main l'am in an answer to them your conclusions, an answer to your conclusions. Okay. It is not 100% certain what the identity of the letter writer is. However, some sleuthing was done >> [snorts] >> and it is highly probably probable that it was Rabbi Avraham Zonnenfeld. I think actually his name was Avraham Elyahu Zonnenfeld. Zonnenfeld. >> [snorts] >> Um who lived in Jerusalem and he was very big into the kibbutz galuyot thing. And he wrote to many Jewish leaders. There are other letters that we have from him regarding similar topics. He wrote a book, maybe even more than one book. He was active basically in trying to discover the identities of the lost tribes. I'm sure that most of you are familiar at least in passing with the idea of the 10 lost tribes. And uh he was very uh attached to this idea that in order to bring Mashiach we needed to identify who the lost tribes of Israel were and bring them back into the fold. And that that would bring Mashiach. And in fact, as as the the Rebbe's letter indicates, he actually expressed uh explicitly that the lack of doing this was delaying Mashiach. Okay, at any rate here's the Rebbe's answer. Aleph. Anu ein lanu ela haTorah hazeis. We have nothing but this Torah before us. U'vaterem l'gashash l'eizeh pe'ulah before we approach any particular activity tzarich l'varer piskei Torah shelanu k'deisha we need to ascertain what the ruling of our holy Torah is regarding it. Im hi m'chayeiv oiv, if it is something that is obligatory oiv l'heivich m'chayeiv oiv oiv or is it something that is forbidden to do? Oiv m'chayeiv oiv oiv or is it something that is optional? Obligatory, forbidden, optional, those are the things we need to figure out according to Torah. V'zehu even l'yachas l'pe'ulah zeh lo and that is the ultimate determining factor for whether we should be involved in an activity. In other words, what does Torah dictate as far as the rules of obligation, of prohibition, what is the psak, the ruling of Torah? So, before we get into a whole discussion, hey, should we go find lost tribes and try to bring them back? I don't know. What does Torah say? What are the rules the rulings of halacha? U'v'nidan nidan niday and in your particular topic of discussion. B'meish kesiv eidus b'einam Yehudim ha'umah hayaponis You write about the Japanese non-Jews. B'chekeres ploni ben ploni ben ha'geulah l'mitza um v'chulu. And so-and-so's investigations regarding their origins. Somebody had a theory that the Japanese are really one of the lost tribes. V'hinei poshet al pishchon Oruch din einam Yehudim l'ha'am l'chol hapratim. According to Shulchan Oruch, again, we can only go according to clear rulings of Jewish law according to Shulchan Oruch, according to halacha. They are not Jewish. U'mizeh gam kein muvan she'aleihem cholim kol hagdaros b'halacha sheb'Shulchan Oruch v'hanigeya l'kabalas geirim v'al achas kamah v'chamah l'hishtadlus l'gayeir. Therefore all of the rules that Jewish law dictates regarding conversion apply to them. As well as whether we should pursue converting them. And you're probably aware that as Jews we do not pursue converts. To the contrary we make it difficult for people to convert. We do accept converts if they're if they are sincere and they are persistent. But we certainly do not pursue people and say, "Hey, could we interest you in conversion?" We don't do that. U'mizeh maskanah p'shutah she'ein makim l'pe'ulah zeh lo shekeisiv eidus. Therefore, it is clear it is a clear conclusion to draw that there's no concept of engaging these in these activities that you write about. I guess he was talking about some type of like mission to Japan to convince Japanese people to convert. And the Rebbe is saying they're non-Jews just like any other non-Jew. I mean, you can receive converts from among the Japanese if individual Japanese people would demonstrate sincere desire to become Jewish. Sure, yeah, just like any other non-Jew. If he demonstrates sincere desire to become a Jew, you could receive him as a convert. But there's certainly no concept to go try to get them to become Jewish. V'al achas kamah v'chamah v'chas v'l'chazek she'zeh ma'akev ha'geulah chas v'shalom v'chulu. And God forbid to say that the lack thereof is holding up the redemption. I told you that earlier that this letter writer said that Mashiach isn't coming because we need we need to identify the lost tribes and I think I have good uh verifiable uh reliable information that the Japanese are probably one of those lost tribes and we got to get the Japanese to convert and that'll bring Mashiach. The Rebbe says look it's all very interesting what you're saying, but we have to follow Shulchan Oruch. And Shulchan Oruch says Japanese people are to be regarded just like members of any other non-Jewish nation. Individuals want to convert, obviously, then whatever rules that Shulchan Oruch dictates about that we would follow regarding the Japanese. But there's no concept to run after them and try to convert them and certainly do not say that Mashiach is delayed because we haven't done that. That's aleph. That was the first thing. Base. Who's ready for base? Ready for base? Okay. regarding what you said about the delay of redemption. Again, it's something connected with the in-gathering of the exiles. So, the letter writer said, you know, the reason Mashiach isn't here yet is cuz we haven't gathered in the exiles. So, the Rebbe says, like, that's your theory. I mean, that's I guess, you know, interesting theory, but um we don't really need that theory. Keep us being status with the day kick. >> [snorts] >> It's surprising that you're searching for uh hidden matters, obscure matters, and strained explanations. Baba Shasha Amra Razal Galloy Sanhedrin side on the base color color kitsum. Ben Adavatola El Machova my some table. Our sages have said clearly in the [clears throat] Gemara Sanhedrin the daf at the design on the base. They say very very clearly that all of the deadlines for Mashiach's coming have passed, and now all the only thing that it depends on is the Jewish people repenting, doing teshuvah, and engaging in good deeds. That's what the Gemara says. So, I don't know why you're searching for this explanation. Aha, I figured it out. It's cuz we need to find the lost tribes and get them back to the to the Jewish people. The Gemara says very clearly what redemption is dependent upon. It's dependent upon teshuvah and maasim tovim, repentance and good deeds. Question of our God Rabbeinu HaRambam Hilchos Teshuvah perek zayin halacha hei. And it's not just the Gemara. It's a matter of halacha in Jewish law. Our teacher the Rambam paskins in Hilchos Teshuvah chapter seven paragraph five. If Tisha b'Av is safe Yisrael teshuvah b'seif galusum Torah has guaranteed that at the end of our exile, the Jewish people will repent and then immediately be redeemed. The HaKadosh Echli all my Japanese instead of going and finding ways to try to influence Japanese people I call the not sale Kacheso access by the Israel but you should use every one of us. It's incumbent upon every one of us to use all of our powers and all of our abilities to cause Jewish people to do teshuvah. Meaning you want to get the Japanese people to self-identify as as lost Jews and and I don't know if you wanted to convert them or if he was even arguing they don't even need conversion. I don't know what he was arguing. But, the Rebbe was saying the Gemara already told us Mashiach is is is dependent on the Jewish people doing teshuvah. There are plenty of Jewish people we know who need to do teshuvah. So, instead of running after the Japanese and trying to make them be Jewish, which who says that's even a thing, there's so many Jews that need our help to do teshuvah. Why don't we focus on that? Not why don't we. We need to. We we are obligated to do. The learning and the learning is not the main thing, rather action is the main thing. She the mice uh the pile the haya yem yemim the fraud call him trying to inner shamble bomb shadow of after shadow. The main thing is to increase in our day-to-day life, increase in Torah observance in our day-to-day life, especially those who are found in the holy land. The letter writer, if we are correct that it is Avram Sonnenstein then like I told you, he lived in Eretz Yisrael. He lived in Jerusalem. And so, the Rebbe was saying there's plenty of work to do right there in Eretz Yisrael to help Yidden do teshuvah. Right? There's plenty of people Jews, identifiable Jews where there's no doubt that they are Jews and they are not observant, and you can be helping them. And that's clearly what the Gemara says that the Jewish people need to do teshuvah in order for for for Mashiach. So, don't uh don't go looking for people who don't even know if they're Jewish, and even if you say you have a reliable investigation that they they may be a lost tribe. Okay, but identifying lost tribes is not something the Gemara says clearly it the the redemption depends upon. And it's not something the Rambam paskins redemption is is dependent upon. But, helping Yidden do teshuvah, the Gemara and the Rambam say very clearly that that that needs to be done in order to bring [clears throat] Mashiach. And especially in Eretz Yisrael. Okay, so that's two. All right. Number one is we have to follow halacha. What does halacha say? Halacha says the Japanese are non-Jews like any non-Jews, and we have to follow the rules of conversion like we would for any non-Jew. Two is why you're looking for new interesting ideas when the Gemara and the Rambam already say that we need to Jewish people need to do teshuvah. The Gemara moving Shakira Shakira claim a Schliemann commission at the Mayan Shakira in America. Since the Jewish people are one structure like it says it's all of Mayan, you are standing together cool come all of you. From the heads of your tribes to your water drawers. From the you know, the highest of the high to the lowest of the low. The Jewish people are standing together. The Jewish people are one entity. The Jewish people are not separate individuals, but rather a single entity. It's a very important concept especially in Chassidus. So, therefore it follows that what had they call to make this the dollar shall I believe in the data become behavior. Any individual Jew who increases in his immediate environment in Torah study and in doing mitzvahs in a beautiful way but that may lead to taste of highest came up that immediately automatically strengthens the entire structure meaning the entire entity of the Jewish people for the goofa Adam begashmius like the human body that if you strengthen >> [snorts] >> any part of the body, you are promoting health in the entire organism. So, here's the deal. You don't have to go around searching for long lost people. You can just do more Jewish in your personal life, and that will also strengthen all Jews wherever they are. Okay? So, that's that's the third point. >> [snorts] >> And finally, dalet, the fourth point. There are four points. Not the four questions, but it's four points. Fourth point. The Gemara of Adam the whole sheet taste of the highest and the show me the taste of office Schliemann's. The real goofs be a yes or Just like a physical body, the more the soul's vitality is revealed, the more the body the more the more the body's health is perfected. I'll get a the yes I say in similar in a similar manner, but even more so the Schliemann the Schliemann that I say the more you add in the soul of Torah. What does that mean? What's the soul of Torah? Believe in the Schliemann of Torah. Learning the inner dimensions of Torah. That means Kabbalah Chassidus. What we call nister, the mystical teachings. That's called the neshama of Torah. So, just like a body, the more the soul is revealed in the body, the healthier the body. >> [snorts] >> So, too, the more we engage in the soul of Torah meaning studying Chassidus the Bahad Sa Min and following not just learning Chassidus, but following its customs that is my safe the goofa the that also strengthens the body of Torah. Body of Torah means nigleh which primarily means the practical observance of the mitzvahs. By the days of Gamba goofa Yisraeli and then also not just the goofa of Torah, but the goofa of the Yisraeli the the Jewish person's physical body. Literally, his his physical body. By the double axle master, there's no need to elaborate on such an obvious matter. And we've said this before. Sometimes the Rebbe says something is obvious, maybe it's not obvious to you yet. The operative word here is yet. But, after the Rebbe says it, it should become obvious to us. So, that's the fourth thing that the Rebbe wants the letter writer to study Chassidus and to follow the teachings of Chassidus and its directives and its customs, and that will by engaging in in the neshama of Torah, that will strengthen the goofa of Torah meaning halachic observance, which will also strengthen the goofa the body of the Jewish person. The Schliemann of this. the coming of Mashiach. With the blessing that you should be able to report good news very soon. That you going to report good news that what that you are conducting yourself with effort, with alacrity, vigor, the required amount to uh strengthen Judaism and mitzvah observance anywhere your hand can reach. In other words, I'll just say bluntly that the Rebbe is sort of redirecting the the energy of the letter writer who he wants to apply himself in areas that the Rebbe feels al pi Torah are not really important areas, but that certainly the desire to bring Mashiach and the passion that the letter writer has are good things and they can be much more productively directed toward what like we mentioned, being mekarev Yidden in Eretz Yisrael, helping Jews to to do to do teshuvah there in Eretz Yisrael, strengthening your own personal mitzvah observance because all Jews are interconnected, and learning Chassidus and following the directives in the in the in the customs of Chassidus. So, all of those things can be uh can become an area of focus and that will bring about what the letter writer wants to bring about. If if indeed that's his uh sincere goal is that he's concerned with bringing Geulah. Um B'shem Kodesh this is Admor Shlita Maskir. Uh it's signed by the Rebbe's secretariat. Yeah. So, bottom line, interesting theories about lost tribes, this is what we got to do to bring Mashiach. Says the Rebbe, let's stay focused on what we know we need to do. What Halacha tells us to do, and you want to bring Mashiach, then help Jews to become more aligned with Yiddishkeit. Help Help a Yid do a mitzvah, that will bring Geulah. And uh you know, I sometimes get into commentary here in this class. I tried to somewhat limit myself, but I'll make the following comment. There's a lot of discussion about how how do we bring Mashiach? How do we really do it? How do we really bring Mashiach? What do we need to do? What activities, if we're really serious, and we are, what activities should we be involved in if we really mean it and we really believe that we have to bring Mashiach? Should we do this? Should we do that? Now, I'm not going to give examples cuz I don't want to put any ideas in people's heads. Honestly, cuz I don't want to put any ideas in people's heads. Okay. [snorts] We need to stick with what we know. And maybe sometimes people get frustrated. I understand it's very frustrating that Mashiach's not here. The Rebbe expressed personal frustration that Mashiach's not here yet and said that it's not understandable why Mashiach shouldn't be here yet. That we have to cry out with desperation, with sincere desperation that we we want we not just uh that uh we want Mashiach, but that there's no reason why Hashem doesn't send Mashiach already. I don't All of that is is is is certainly true. Um that would best be expressed focusing on the things that the Torah defines as ways of bringing Geulah, rather than trying to invent clever new ways. Oh, this hasn't been tried yet. Maybe that's why it hasn't happened. We got to try this. And from time to time I I'll hear people concocting different uh theories about oh, this is the thing that we need to do. Well, you know, sometimes that might sound very interesting and uh yeah, maybe it's a it sounds kind of compelling. You're right, that hasn't been tried. Maybe that's the that's the problem that we haven't tried this or that. But the Rebbe tells us very clearly, and and and nobody cared about bringing Mashiach more than the Rebbe. Nobody was more uh [sighs] um acutely aware of how desperately needed Mashiach is than the Rebbe. And no one urged bringing Mashiach as a as a crucial matter more than the Rebbe. And the Rebbe is telling us there there are the tried and true formulae that we have from our holy Torah, from Chazal, from from Halacha, and that's what we need to stick to. And is it frustrating Mashiach isn't here yet? You bet you. Of course it is. But don't deviate from what we know we need to do. That's where we need to put our energy. Okay. Um Yeah, that's our letter. And um a week from tonight, Sunday night, exactly a week from tonight, is our final letter. Yud Aleph Nissan is next this coming up Motzei Shabbos and Sunday day. Our final letter will be on Sunday night. We will have a live class, live streamed, from the Soul Words House, just a half a block from the AYL. It's also the one-year anniversary of the opening of the Soul Words House. Our first event at the Soul Words House was last year's Yud Aleph Nissan event. And we'll have an event, a live class in our 30th letter. It will be open to women. Obviously, anyone can watch the live stream, but the in-person event will be open to women. And uh I think we're going to do it about 8:00. So, uh plan your carpools. Sunday night, 8:00. Take a break from your Pesach prep. And we will, God willing, see you then. We'll see you there. Okay.