Of course, we (Chassidim) follow their lead (with respect to our Rebbes and N’siim. * There are those who say that Menachem is the name of Moshiach, as it is said, “because the comforter (menachem) is distant from me, even he that should revive my soul.”
In citing this Midrash – that Mordechai in his generation was on par with Moshe in his generation – the Rebbe Rayatz rules that this statement applies to himself: the Rebbe is the revealed Raaya Mehemna, the Faithful Shepherd, of all the people of the generation.
On the occasion of Yud Shvat 5720, the Rebbe MH”M makes the case that a Rebbe’s claim about another Rebbe is equally intended as a claim about himself. This principle is fundamental in establishing what the Rebbe MH”M wished to communicate about his pivotal role in the era of the threshold of Redemption, especially in the wake of Gimmel Tammuz 5754.
When we come to this Big City, the temptations are many. So G-d gave us a great Torah and many precepts. ‘We are kept busy buying the best merchandise — the Torah and Mitzvos. Not only will our life be a full one, a happy one, and a worthy one, but the Torah that we learn and the precepts that we do make us worthy, pure and holy.
This is an important lesson for us in the time of exile. We know that in comparison to the Torah of Moshiach, our Torah learning is trifling. This is emphasized in the Midrash (Koheles 11:8) “The Torah of this world is inanity compared to the Torah of Moshiach.”
According to Jewish law, when must one pray? It is when one feels that he is lacking one of his needs (see Hilchos T’filla of the Rambam). When one feels so strongly about Moshiach that upon hearing it mentioned he feels the need to pray for Moshiach, then we know that he is truly anticipating Moshiach’s arrival.
The Mishna is teaching us that if we live a life filled with and focused on Moshiach (the third Beis HaMikdash, third Geula etc.), the Yetzer Hara cannot get a Jew to sin.
April 11, 2014