WHO WILL JUMP INTO THE WATER?

Over the years, the Rebbe did what he had to do to bring the Sh’china down to this world. What is demanded of us is to bring out the Nachshon within us, the point of mesirus nefesh. How do we do that? We each need to consult with our mashpia and come up with a plan.

The Rebbe’s main demand in his talk of Chof-Ches Nissan 5751 was “Do all that you can!” The correct and simple meaning of “Do all that you can” is to take action. The Rebbe wants every one of us to get busy doing things, even if it will require mesirus nefesh.

Like many others, I remember the period of time in which the sicha was said. To many people, this sicha was a real downer. There was a general feeling that the Rebbe had said, “I tried and did all I could and was unsuccessful; now the time has come for you to do something.” This is absolutely incorrect and leads to inaction. After all, if the Rebbe supposedly said, G-d forbid, that he had failed, how can we possibly be successful? So what now?

The correct perspective is that the Rebbe moved us into the next phase. During that same period of time, the Rebbe completed his work in preparing the world for the revelation of Moshiach. The next stage requires us to be involved and active. The Rebbe was saying that he did his part and now we need to do our part.

AS IN THE EXODUS FROM EGYPT

This is a repeat of what took place in the first Geula, the exodus from Egypt, “As in the days of your going out of Egypt I will show you wonders.” The same story took place back then. When the Jewish people arrived at the sea after journeying through the desert and the Egyptians pursued them and nearly reached them, they cried out to Moshe to save them. Moshe raised his stick over the sea and nothing happened. The sea did not split even though Hashem had said it would.

When the Jewish people saw this, they cried even more and asked Moshe what they should do. Moshe did not reply. What could he say? He had done whatever he could do and had carried out Hashem’s command. Now it was the Jewish people’s turn to jump into the water, one or two or three of them. Nachshon ben Aminadav jumped into the sea with mesirus nefesh and the water reached his nose and only then did the sea split. Who split the sea? Was it Nachshon? No! Moshe split the sea, but he needed Nachshon to be moser nefesh.

The same is true now. The Rebbe will bring Moshiach. He did all that needs to be done to bring the Sh’china down to earth. What is expected of us is to bring out the Nachshon within us, the point of mesirus nefesh.

How do we do that? We each need to consult with our mashpia and come up with a plan to see what is especially difficult for us. Then, with the mesirus nefesh of “splitting the sea,” we need to carry it out, each in his and her way. The main thing is for everything we do to be permeated with “bringing to Yemos HaMoshiach.”

THE TRUE TEST

If it’s 21 years since the sicha was said and we still don’t see Moshiach, then we haven’t finished the job. The true barometer of our efforts is in the results, and if Moshiach hasn’t appeared until now, then something is apparently lacking in our mesirus nefesh. It’s like we’re standing at the sea and we need to do something beyond the norm. This is not meant just for special people but for all of us.

We all need to be Nachshons. When Nachshon jumped into the sea, although he was the first, he wasn’t the only one. He revealed the point of mesirus nefesh within every Jew. They didn’t just stand there; others followed him. So too nowadays, when the Rebbe asks for two or three people, these are the few Nachshons who have to split the sea of galus. Each of us ought to consider it a privilege and obligation to be the first, second and third. The main thing is we should see results.