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Meeting the Challenge

It's like riding a bike uphill. Unless you keep your feet constantly pedaling, you will start to slide backwards. When living a lifestyle of Torah and mitzvot, one must constantly be active and add in Torah study and Mitzvah observance. You can't remain static, because the moment that you are not growing, you will begin to decline.

This dynamic and active approach to Jewish observance is very prominent in the teachings and conduct of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. "Action is the main thing" is the Rebbe's motto, which he emphasized at every public gathering as well as in private correspondence. Nearly every public address of the Rebbe concluded with a call to action - to establish a new course of Torah study, to donate an additional sum to charity, or teach others to fulfill a particular mitzvah.

Whenever people wrote to the Rebbe reporting their various activities, the Rebbe would express his thanks, and then turn around and demand an even greater achievement. The Rebbe never allowed us to rest on our laurels. For example, if a school reported that they had enrolled 400 students, the Rebbe would encourage them to sign up eight hundred. When someone would bring the Rebbe a book that he published, the Rebbe would give him a symbolic gift - towards the publication of the next book.

On the 28th of Nissan, 5751 (1991), the Rebbe gave one of the most stirring and momentous addresses in all his years of leadership. "I have already done all that I can... All I can possibly do is give the matter over to you. Now, do everything in your power to bring Moshiach, here and now, immediately." The Rebbe did not ask us to give most of what is in us, or the best that is in us. The Rebbe called on us to give it all we've got. To bring Redemption to this world, we need sink our entire selves into this project.

"Do everything in your power." What is included in this demand? The Rebbe spent the next eleven months elaborating and explaining to us exactly the steps required. The first thing is to pray from the depths of our hearts and demand of G-d, "How much longer will we be in exile?" Show Him that we really want to perceive His presence, in a revealed way. Give more charity and increase in acts of goodness and kindness. One of the most important acts of all, study the concept of Moshiach and Redemption, as explained in Torah sources. This will help us visualize the Redemption and live with its reality.

The Rebbe said that if there would only be ten determined people who would be persistent with all their being, the Redemption would certainly be here. Every single one of us has the potential to be part of that quorum.

 

 


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Rabbi Ephraim Carlebach
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