The stories of five veteran shluchim from five countries, France, Argentina, Italy, the US, and Scotland, who describe starting out on shlichus. * Each of them was asked: Is there a difference between promoting Judaism and promoting the Besuras HaGeula?
By Yisroel Lapidot
R’ Menachem Mendel Belinov
Shliach, S. Denis, France
A ONE-TIME SHIUR
My shlichus began completely by “chance.” After I married, I went to visit my parents in Paris. Out of the blue, a childhood friend who lives in S Denis called me. He wanted me to come and give a one-time shiur on timely matters. The one-time shiur turned into a regular event and in light of my success, I was offered a job as the permanent shliach in this city.
BRACHA FROM THE REBBE
In 5752, I asked the Rebbe whether I should take the position. The Rebbe answered by circling the suggestion to open a Chabad house and added: Great and outstanding success.
During Chanuka of that year, we rented a small storefront on the edge of the city and officially got down to work.
S DENIS – BEFORE …
Upon arriving here, I found it hard to deal with the reality. There were about 2000 Jewish families but there was never more than a minyan of Jews attending the one shul. As for kosher food, a mikva, shiurim, etc. forget it! Those didn’t exist in the local vernacular.
A TOUGH START
I planned to visit the neighborhood stores to check mezuzos, make connections, and give out brochures but I was summarily ejected from each store I visited. The difficult situation necessitated a massive explanatory campaign. For the first time in the history of the city, there were ads in the newspapers and the radio about the opening of a religious institution. Slowly, the existence of a Chabad house began to penetrate the awareness of the Jews of S Denis.
Our first “big” celebration was a Purim party which was attended by three people.
EXPANSION
In Kislev 5753, I received a response from the Rebbe to rent a new, larger place in the hopes that our activities would expand accordingly. At our second “big” celebration, on Chanuka, we had close to a hundred people. That was more than a 3000% increase over our previous celebration! During that Chanuka party a Torah was donated to the Chabad house, a fact which prepared the ground for the opening of a proper shul.
The “minyan,” which began with only four men, grew into a daily minyan over the years. We are sometimes crowded by dozens of men who attend the minyan.
THE LETTER IN THE IGROS KODESH
One of the events which marked the spiritual change in the city was the Chanuka party of 5754. At that party, which took place in one of the large halls in the city, 700 Jews were in attendance. A famous children’s choir performed, which attracted people from the entire area. The event was a turning point in the strengthening of awareness and Jewish pride in the city and was the impetus for greater expansion.
The day after Lag B’Omer 5754, I asked the Rebbe for a bracha through the Igros Kodesh and opened to, “Do not be sad and downcast. You need to know that everything Hashem does is all for the good.” At one o’clock at night I left the Chabad house feeling uneasy about this answer. The next morning I was called to the Chabad house because of a break-in during the night in which the Torah was stolen as well as other property. The thieves did not leave anything untouched.
BAD THAT TURNED TO GOOD
News of the robbery got out and many television, radio and newspaper reporters were there to see what happened and to hear reactions. In the local magazine the mayor was interviewed about the shocking incident. He identified deeply with our pain and promised to help to the best of his ability. From that point on, we had a warm relationship with him which eventually turned the bad into good.
OFFEN HA’MISKABEL
Throughout my years of working here, I have seen how inyanei Moshiach and Geula not only do not interfere, G-d forbid, with our work, but the opposite. When the Rebbe spoke about “Offen ha’miskabel,” he meant us too; when Moshiach is accepted by us, then it will certainly also be accepted by those we come in contact with.
IDENTIFYING THE GOEL
We see how publicizing the Geula and the identity of the Goel is accepted by the Jews here. I’ll give you two examples. In dozens of stores throughout the city there are giant pictures of the Rebbe which say “Moshiach” underneath. Likewise, in our shul we dance and sing to “Yechi” and this is accepted matter-of-factly by people.
Rabbi Daniel Levy
Shliach, Tucuman province, Argentina
FIRST VISIT
I went to Tucuman for the first time under the auspices of Merkos Shlichus in 5736/1976. At that time, the activities in Buenos Aires had been firmly established and the shliach, R’ Berel Baumgarten a”h and R’ Tzvi Greenblatt had been there for years.
Before I went, R’ Chadakov a”h called together all the bachurim going to Argentina and said, “There is nothing for you in Buenos Aires. They have what they need already. Go to outlying places and work there.”
SPIRITUAL DEVASTATION
The spiritual devastation that we found in this city, which was considered relatively “strong” from a Jewish perspective, was enormous. They had never heard of Jewish holidays like Chanuka and Purim, and Shavuos was altogether a surprise. Of course there was no kashrus, no Shabbos observance, no family purity. In other places it was far worse. It was simply impossible to observe mitzvos under the conditions prevailing there. Throughout northern Argentina there was only one Jew, an old man, who was religious in the simple understanding of the word.
THE FIRST CHABAD CAMP
In the third year that we went, 5738, we were told to visit the rest of the small towns in the area where only a few Jews lived. It wasn’t realistic to start trekking through all those remote places and we thought about how to go about fulfilling this horaa.
The idea was proposed that we make a summer camp for Jewish children in all these places. This was the first Chabad camp in all of Argentina.
The camp was located in Tucuman and dozens of children came from the entire region. As expected, the children loved the counselors and remained in touch with them by mail afterward.
THE COMMUNITY TAKES AN INTEREST
At this point, we had “gotten through” to a certain extent as a result of the activities and the community began taking an interest in establishing something permanent. I was the natural candidate for the position and even before I married, I knew that this would be my place of shlichus.
OUR FIRST PROJECT
After I married, my wife and I asked the Rebbe about it and received his consent and blessing. Along with the consent though, there was a condition, that we build a mikva as soon as we arrived there. The Rebbe included $1500 as his participation in the project.
As soon as we arrived in Tucuman, we lay the cornerstone for the new mikva, while publicizing that this was the Rebbe’s instruction and that he had even contributed money toward it.
Some days later, someone came to us with a request that we give him the money we received from the Rebbe and in exchange, he would give ten times the amount toward the mikva. If that wasn’t enough, he would commit to raising the rest of the money.
That is how we came to celebrate the inauguration of the new mikva less than a year from the groundbreaking.
PROPER CHINUCH
When I arrived in Tucuman, I found an anti-Orthodox Jewish school there. The Jewishness of the school consisted of a class in Hebrew, a little tradition, and that the teachers were Jewish. Beyond that there was nothing. They were not interested in talking about Shabbos, holidays, or any mitzvos.
One of the times that I walked into the school, a teacher said to me that every time she tried to teach about the miracles the Jewish people experienced, like the splitting of the sea, the children did not believe it. I said, “Do you know why they don’t believe you? Because you yourself don’t believe it. If you want, I will show you how to teach something like this to them.”
She agreed and I entered the classroom and began telling them a story about angels and souls and miracles. I kept them enthralled for an hour and a half and the children did not want to go out for recess. The teacher was astounded.
“I can’t manage to keep them quiet for twenty minutes and you have them sitting for an hour and a half and with material like this!”
A CHABAD PRESCHOOL
The demand to bring more Judaism into the school came from mekuravim who realized that what their children were getting there was nowhere near enough. However, the school stonewalled as usual. That is when they decided that Tucuman would have a Chabad preschool.
I looked for a sponsor after whom to name the school and was sent by one of the mekuravim to a wealthy man (who at one time wanted to marry a non-Jew. I sat with him for weeks until he dropped the idea. Today he wears a sirtuk). I did not go enthusiastically. I had a hard time getting used to the idea of starting a preschool and they were sending me to someone whom I did not think would agree to talk to me.
Anyway, I went in and as soon as I began talking he asked me how much money I was asking for. I stated an amount and he told me he was willing to give the entire sum but he wanted the school to be named for the Rebbe.
THE REBBE CHOSE A NAME
I was taken aback by this unusual idea. A preschool named for the Rebbe? I inquired whether this was possible. We called the secretariat and asked and then met with R’ Greenblatt. In the end, the Rebbe chose the name “Gan Menachem” out of several suggestions, and I think this must be one of the first mosdos named for the Rebbe.
MIVTZA MOSHIACH
We are particular about Mivtza Moshiach being done in accordance with the needs of our place. We focus primarily on classes and explaining. We sent three-four books and booklets to all members of the community on the topic of Moshiach and Geula. This enables them to learn about the subject at their own pace.
***
What enabled me to keep going during the hard times at the beginning of my shlichus is the fact that I arrived on 13 Tammuz. Whenever I encountered difficulties, I thought about what the Rebbe Rayatz went through before 13 Tammuz and this is what encouraged me and gave me the stamina to hold on and keep working.
Rabbi Yehoshua Zelig Rivkin
Shliach, New Orleans, Louisiana
STARTING OUT
When I arrived on shlichus, there were 10-15,000 Jews in New Orleans who were served by four temples, Reform and Conservative, and one Orthodox shul. The only store that claimed to sell kosher food was owned by a non-Shabbos observant Jew who could not be relied upon in kashrus matters. Basic food items such as bread, meat, and milk were shipped from New York. And the one mikva in the city was not constructed according to halacha and it wasn’t easy to make it kosher.
AND TODAY …
After decades of work, Lubavitch is felt in every area of Jewish life throughout the state. Many mekuravim joined the Chabad k’hilla and many of them have beards and dress in Chassidic fashion. A new mikva was built with all the hiddurim and there are many stores that sell kosher food. There is even a kosher restaurant in the city and the demand for all things Jewish continues to grow.
CHABAD FOR STUDENTS
After we bought a building in the city, we looked for ways to buy another place that would be near the biggest university in the city.
One day, as I checked out the houses on the streets near the university, a person came over to me and asked me whether I was Jewish. It wasn’t hard to tell since my way of dress was a rare sight in Louisiana. I responded with a question, “And are you Jewish?” It turned out he was and as we spoke, I found out that he was a real estate agent.
He told me that the day before, he learned about a big house for sale located three houses away from the campus. It was a brand new offering and the owner hadn’t even put out a “for sale” sign yet. When we walked into the house for the first time, I could see immediately that it was perfect for our needs. The asking price was $65,000, which was high for those times, but I said I was interested, conditional on the Rebbe’s consent.
THE REBBE’S RESPONSE
The Rebbe’s response was that if we could raise the money, we should buy the house. This wasn’t an easy task, especially when a down payment of 50% of the appraised value was needed. But the Rebbe’s bracha gave me the strength to persevere. Three months after that fortuitous encounter on the street, the second Chabad house in the city was up and running.
JEWISH PRIDE
When the Rebbe spoke about the need to place Chanuka Menorahs in public places, this seemed impossible in Louisiana. All the local “rabbis” and many members of the Jewish community opposed it. Despite the opposition, I announced that since this was an order from the Rebbe, nothing would stop us. We started a massive campaign that was funded by large sums that were intended to help develop the Chabad houses.
Fortunately, the chairman of the Jewish community let me know that he did not oppose the idea although he said he would not collaborate either. Invitations to the public Menorah lighting were sent to all Jews whether through ads in local papers, ads on the radio, or personal invitations. A band was brought in from New York and the results were incredible: At the first lighting there were over 700 Jews present and the following year, over 2000!
FUNDING BY COCA COLA
The Menorah lighting was the largest Jewish event in Louisiana, and Chanuka became a well-known Jewish holiday. Many people lit the Menorah for the first time in their lives and bought Jewish books and Judaica. The event became so popular that the international Coca Cola Company offered to sponsor the entire campaign.
MORE THAN THEY BARGAINED FOR
An Iranian couple who did not have children for many years became involved with the Chabad house. Under our direction, they began observing the laws of family purity and they wrote a letter requesting a bracha from the Rebbe. The Rebbe gave his bracha and referred the woman to medical treatment.
A son was born. A year later, another son was born. A year after that, another son was born. They had children in the fourth and fifth years and they were very happy. At the bris of the last son, the mother-in-law approached and asked me, “Congratulations to your rabbi for the blessings but maybe you can ask him to slow things down …”
YECHIDUS
Before I went on shlichus, I had yechidus and I asked the Rebbe for a bracha that I would not be alone. The Rebbe told me that “being alone” contradicts what the Rebbe Rayatz said that Chassidim are never alone. I say this to people and add that we are never alone and that the Rebbe is with us today as he always was. We continue to write to the Rebbe and see open brachos and clear answers.
BESURAS HA’GEULA
The most talked-about topics in the Chabad houses and nearby shuls are Moshiach and Geula. People, especially Anash and mekuravim, speak openly about the Rebbe being Moshiach and that he is always with us. At the school, the children are educated in this spirit too. Davening begins with Yechi and ends with it too. The same goes for the “HaRachaman” in Birkas HaMazon and the singing of Yechi every Shabbos after Lecha Dodi.
SECRET OF SUCCESS
We see that when we do the Rebbe’s ratzon from beginning to end, we become “keilim,” and the Rebbe is mashpia and our keilim fill up. Whenever we did as the Rebbe instructed, we were successful beyond our expectations.
***
If someone, even a distinguished shliach, were to claim that it is hard to convey the message about Moshiach, I would say to him: There are other mitzvos that Jews have a hard time accepting. Some find it hard to keep Shabbos and others don’t understand why they should give tz’daka. We see that the danger in turning someone off exists even when you present the obligation of these other mitzvos to them. This happens when the right explanation and presentation is lacking.
The same is true for Moshiach. It needs to be explained nicely, without raising one’s voice and without coercion. If someone gets annoyed when hearing about some mitzva, what do you do? You find a better way of explaining it to him.
In 90% of the cases, we see that if someone has a hard time with a mitzva, it is because we did not explain it properly to him. Do we, shluchim of the Rebbe, then decide to compromise and not inform him of the necessity of keeping Shabbos, putting on t’fillin or giving tz’daka? Of course not! We stand firmly and look for a way to explain it again and again until the person understands what the Torah says about the matter.
In a city like New Orleans, it’s enough that a Jew has a beard and dresses like a Chassid to appear odd. Every Shabbos, when Jews walk to shul wearing kapotes, there are people who look at them as if they were aliens. Would we shave because of that? Would we change our sirtuk for something else? Are we afraid that someone might be turned off to Judaism because of it? Of course not! We can’t change things because of what people might say or think. We have to remain true to our message.
The claim that we must keep a low profile because of those who are opposed to Messianism is wrong; the opposite is true. We, who have a number of Chabad houses, a school, a day camp, activities for N’shei Chabad, etc. know that talking about Moshiach does not interfere with the rest of our activities. On the contrary, people help more and become more receptive.
The belief in Moshiach is a mitzvah and is one of the Thirteen Principles of Faith. We, as shluchim, do all we can to explain about Shabbos, kashrus, family purity, etc. and also, most importantly, about the obligation to believe in the coming of Moshiach and the Besuras Ha’Geula that the Rebbe told us, hinei hinei Moshiach ba.
We need to continue publicizing about Moshiach and the imminent Geula. The Rebbe told us to do this and said precisely what needs to be publicized. Every shliach has to figure out how to publicize what the Rebbe said, but nobody has the right to decide what to publicize and what not.
Shluchim need to say it the way it is, and remember who they represent and to know that if they opt to compromise, everyone is affected. Shlichus today is focused on Mivtza Moshiach. This is what the Rebbe wants and nobody can escape it.
There are shluchim who are embarrassed by Yechi. They try to say it’s not important and that it is only being said for political reasons etc. We must make it clear to them: The saying of Yechi comes from the Rebbe and we cannot have the chutzpa not to do as he said. How should we explain this to people? It depends. If you are talking to someone who mistakenly thinks the Rebbe is not with us, tell him that by saying Yechi we will succeed in getting Hashem to bring the Rebbe back to us. If you were successful in explaining that the Rebbe is with us, then tell him that saying Yechi is accepted in the world as a proclamation made before a king.
The Rebbe told us: I did my part and now you take action. Accepting the Rebbe as Moshiach is your job. Let us do it and merit to see the Rebbe and he will redeem us.
Rabbi Rachamim Benin
Shliach, Venice, Italy
STARTING OUT
I made my way to Judaism and Chabad Chassidus with the help of R’ Eliyahu Dovid Borenstein, the shliach in Bologna. After learning in Chabad yeshivos, I went to 770 where I learned for over five years.
TANKIST
As a bachur, I considered it a challenge and holy mission to try and reach those small communities that, due to their smallness, do not have a permanent shliach.
For many years I visited various cities in Italy in a mitzva tank. When the activities became more established, I asked the Rebbe for a bracha and received his positive answer.
Throughout those years, many came close to Judaism.
BRACHA FROM THE REBBE
After my wedding, my shlichus changed. The difficulties in going from town to town led us to the decision of focusing on one place.
I chose Venice because I had worked there previously and the Rebbe’s bracha gave me the official seal of approval to be his shliach.
A PLACE FOR THE CHABAD HOUSE
Venetian Jews make a living primarily from selling artistic creations, especially those made out of glass. The Chabad house is located in a glass gallery. The Jewish craftsman who became interested in Judaism left the place and asked R’ Avrohom Chazan, the shliach in Milan, to turn it into a Chabad house. The excellent location of the store was to our benefit. It is in the center of the Jewish ghetto of Venice and you can’t miss it. Every Jewish visitor to Venice goes to the Jewish ghetto and they can’t help but see the Chabad house.
Venice’s uniqueness is that it is built on the water. There are no roads and those who come by car have to leave it outside the city. The way to get around is in boats that ply the canals. Entry to the Jewish ghetto is by crossing a bridge that goes over a large canal. On the bridge is a sign that directs people to the Chabad house.
A MEETING PLACE
Venice is a tourist attraction which brings tens of thousands of Jewish visitors from Eretz Yisroel and elsewhere. They find the Chabad house a wonderful place to relax, but mainly see it as a symbol of authentic Judaism which is blossoming in the ancient Jewish ghetto.
The Chabad house has a spacious hall that serves as a meeting place for tourists. On the walls are shelves full of Jewish books in all languages as well as explanatory material on the ten mivtzaim, Sheva Mitzvos B’nei Noach, and the Besuras Ha’Geula. Visitors are exposed to Judaism through conversations and lectures that regularly take place.
TOURIST SEASON
During the summer, especially when the tourist season begins in Italy, the number of visitors to the Chabad house swells. Visitors are offered a physical repast in addition to the spiritual nourishment. Of course, Jews who haven’t yet put on t’fillin, will do so. The visitors are amazed by what is accomplished; on a typical day, hundreds of Jews put on t’fillin, some of them for the first time in their lives! We are assisted by bachurim-shluchim who come to help and also study for smicha.
DIVERSE ACTIVITIES
Discussions on Jewish topics between Chabad house workers and tourists are in addition, of course, to the traditional Chabad activities. With Mivtza Chanuka, for example, the Chabad house broke the “shame barrier” by lighting a Menorah in the center of the city. Hundreds of Jewish people were in attendance as well as, l’havdil, gentiles, including many public figures led by the mayor. The event was reported prominently in the local newspapers. At first, the public Menorah lighting was opposed by the local Jewish community who believed in the philosophy of “be a Jew at home and a man on the street.” Today though, the Menorah lighting is expected and the local Jews feel a part of it.
Mivtza Sukkos in Venice is noteworthy for a “floating sukka.” Throughout the holiday, R’ Benin sails among the Jewish homes and tourist spots and invites local Jews and tourists to come in and say a bracha on the Dalet minim.
THE RESTAURANT
For many years, the Chabad house provided a kosher food service for tourists, but the place was not spacious enough for large-scale activities. A restaurant was eventually opened in the center of the Jewish ghetto, which also has enough room to accommodate the outreach work. It is considered an upscale restaurant and attracts not only Jews but gentiles too.
SHABBOS MEALS
Every Shabbos there are meals which are attended by over 100 people. During the meals a nice rapport is established and there are usually guests who remain all night and finally leave toward morning.
The Shabbos meals are free but many participants feel they want to thank their hosts. Erev Pesach, for example, tourists from a kibbutz helped prepare the seder. Working together in the kitchen provides a great opportunity to strengthen their connection to all things Jewish.
The restaurant is open all Shabbos. Light refreshments are served and after Kiddush tourists are invited to a light meal. This explains the singing one can hear nearly 24 hours a day from the Chassidic restaurant.
JUST THE BEGINNING
Oftentimes, an encounter with Chabad in Venice is just the beginning for Jews starting to explore Judaism. They are then referred to the Chabad house in their hometown.
For example, many years ago, I had an interesting encounter in Australia. I was walking down the street when a woman stopped me and asked if I remember her. The woman did not wait for a reply but immediately said, “You should know that it’s thanks to you that my attitude toward Chabad changed completely.” She is a lawyer in Australia who was pleasantly surprised by the reception she got at our Chabad house in Venice. Even though until that time she was not a fan of Chabad, when she returned home she went to her local Chabad house and began regularly participating in their activities.
PUBLICIZING MOSHIACH
The proclamation of Yechi is made proudly at the Chabad house and is done “b’ofen ha’miskabel” just as all activities are supposed to be done.
Through the tourist attractions, we are able to bring Jews back to their Jewish roots. An innocent visit to a restaurant turns into an exceptional Jewish experience which provides the visitor with strong Chassidic messages. Then they themselves become ambassadors of the Rebbe in preparing the world to greet Moshiach.
Rabbi Chaim Jacobs
Shliach, Glasgow, Scotland
THE OFFER
There was a small Jewish community in Glasgow which was disintegrating. The rav of the k’hilla, R’ Yeruchem Rosen, knew that only Chabad could save the situation. He spoke to the shliach, R’ Nachman Sudak and asked him to send a young rabbi to breathe new life into the Jews of Glasgow. I was made the offer and I asked the Rebbe.
The Rebbe’s response was, “If you think you can fill the roles, may Hashem grant you success.” With the Rebbe’s bracha it was clear to us that we would be able to carry out the difficult shlichus in Scotland. That is how we arrived there in 5730.
DIFFICULT CONDITIONS
We encountered a major difficulty in that the community was shrinking as young people left to find jobs elsewhere. Almost none of the mekuravim stayed on to live in Glasgow. We did not despair; we began working with the children who remained.
Our first project was a summer camp. One hundred children got to hear about Judaism, and through them their parents heard about it too. I began giving Torah classes and to organize activities at the shul and we did seasonal mivtzaim. We also had Shabbos parties for children and parents together. It’s interesting that the adults especially enjoyed the opportunity to be together with their children on Shabbos afternoon and to sing Jewish songs together.
CHINUCH
When our children were born, a problem arose in that there was no proper school for them. In the winter of 5733, after nearly four years on shlichus, we went to the Rebbe. In yechidus we asked for guidance about our chinuch dilemma.
One choice was to send the children to the Jewish preschool in Glasgow and supplement that at home. Another choice was to try and make a Chabad preschool and to possibly provoke opposition from the community.
The Rebbe told us to start a Chabad preschool. Surprisingly, the k’hilla was understanding of this. It later became possible to create a Talmud Torah in which hundreds of children were educated over the years.
NO MORTGAGE
Another question we asked in that yechidus had to do with buying a building for the Chabad house. We thought we could manage the payments with the help of loans and a mortgage. The Rebbe said we should buy only if we had the money but not to get involved with donation promises.
Half a year later we saw an open miracle due to following this instruction. Following a global gas crisis, the financial situation in England changed from one extreme to another. If we would have taken big loans, we would have had no natural means of raising the money.
WITHOUT FEAR
Over the years of shlichus, my wife received many detailed answers and words of encouragement from the Rebbe. One time, she told the Rebbe she was afraid to stay at home alone when I was busy and was sometimes out of town. The Rebbe said she had a special shlichus in Glasgow to spread Judaism and Hashem was watching over her.
OFFERING HELP
When we had yechidus on one of the visits, the Rebbe asked my wife whether she was going to speak at the Pegisha that Shabbos. She said she had not been invited to speak.
The Rebbe said: When it comes to spreading the wellsprings, we don’t wait for an invitation but offer to help.
YECHI ADONEINU
The Rebbe gave us a message to convey to the world and we cannot avoid giving it in its entirety. This is our responsibility to the public. We say it because it’s the truth and the words have an effect, as I have witnessed. At my Chabad house we have many Yechi signs and nobody left as a result.
FINDING THE RIGHT WORDS
The right words have to be found for your target audience. I start with the Chafetz Chaim’s Tzipisa L’Yeshua and explain that of all the “g’dolim,” the only one who took the Chafetz Chaim’s message seriously, about demanding and anticipating the Geula in this generation, is the Lubavitcher Rebbe. With every audience, you need to find the right message for them and then they accept it.
In 5744, a large gathering for women took place in Glasgow and the Rebbe was sent the program. The program said that the theme of the gathering is “We Want Moshiach Now.” The Rebbe said this should not be the theme and a more neutral topic should be chosen, though at the gathering itself it could be spoken about.
OUTRAGEOUS CLAIM
What particularly annoys me is the claim that Mivtza Moshiach interferes with fundraising. There is nothing more foolish and false than this and believe me, I have to fundraise plenty. If the donor asks whether we say the Rebbe is Moshiach, we simply explain it just like we explain it to anyone else.