By Menachem M. Sasson

40 years of suffering and galus were replaced with great hope following King Koresh’s declaration, which enabled the Jewish people to return to their land to rebuild the Beis HaMikdash. The first buds of redemption appeared in Bavel, hope gathered momentum, and 70 years after the initial stage of exile, construction of the Second Beis HaMikdash began in the Holy Land. But various obstacles got in the way and three more decades plus a Purim miracle were to pass until the galus Bavel will actually end.

“The Silent Cult”

While various spiritual as well as political factors interrupted that early phase of redemption, the Rebbe Rayatz, in a maamar he published in Yiddish in the pages of Hakriah V’Hakedusha in the 1940s during the tumultuous World War, pointed to a factor often overlooked.

A few years before the Purim miracle, a strong emuna prevailed among Jews regarding their redemption from Bavel and ascent to the Holy Land – as per Koresh’s declaration. Mordechai and the Sanhedrin encouraged the people with news of the approaching redemption, with hope growing stronger, especially as some had already gone to Yerushalayim led by Yehoshua the Kohen Gadol and Zerubavel ben Shealtiel.

But amidst this excitement came skeptics who cast coldness toward redemption. These weren’t agents of the sitra achara working to draw Jews to disbelief, but, conservative Jews, ovdei Hashem, the “frummers,” who gently took Mordechai HaYehudi’s “Besuras HaGeula” and placed it on the top shelf of a dusty library.

They didn’t speak against faith in redemption, ch”v, they simply “silenced” the topic due to internal doubts about the immediacy of redemption. This “silent cult” grew stronger, and beyond Mordechai and some Sanhedrin members, the leadership elite completely silenced the topic of Geula, resulting in confusion and doubt among the masses.

When a Sage is Silent, the Masses Deny

In the holy words of the Rebbe Rayatz:

“Aside from Mordechai and some members of the Sanhedrin, nobody ventured to speak about the coming redemption. Others were completely mute on this subject. It was impossible for them to say that G-d forbid the redemption would not be coming, for they firmly believed in it. They were, however, uncertain as to when it would take place. They also did not believe that Mordechai and the members of the Sanhedrin knew the appointed time. They therefore remained completely silent about the matter.”

“This silence of the believers cast shadows of doubt in the Jewish population at large. These doubts and uncertainties manifested themselves in various ways. Some Jews totally abandoned belief in the redemption, Torah and mitzvos.” (Sefer HaMaamarim Yiddish, the second Maamar V’Kibel Hayehudim)

The Jewish people initially believed in redemption with emuna shleima. But the silence and diversion of attention from redemption led to doubts. The very fact that those who should have strengthened, encouraged, and directed suddenly fell silent created great confusion about faith in redemption until the Purim miracle restored it, and even more strongly, upon which it finally materialized.

Silence Is a Sin

The parallel to our time is hard to ignore: The Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach declared our generation as the last generation of golus and first of Geula. His message “the time of your Redemption has arrived,” and prophecy “Hinei zeh Moshiach ba,” aroused unprecedented faith in Moshiach’s coming since the destruction of the Second Beis HaMikdash.

Now, while we advance toward true redemption with the revelation of Moshiach Tzidkeinu, yet face terrible concealment that allows scoffers a platform, a conspiracy of silence has fallen upon us!

After the Rebbe’s declaration, message, and prophecy, and his repeated requests to publicize this “to all people of the generation,” we don’t have the privilege to be silent. Silence itself causes doubts and erosion of faith, as happened after Mordechai’s declaration. He who is silent – sows doubt!

As the people of Mordechai HaYehudi of our generation, we must speak tirelessly about the message and prophecy that “Hinei zeh Moshiach ba.” Every institution must place Moshiach at the forefront. Every teacher, shliach, publisher, and Chassid is obligated to speak consistently about the Besuras HaGeula. He who speaks out – sows faith!

When We Refused to Lay Low

If everyone had been silent after Gimmel Tammuz, the strong faith in the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach’s message would not have remained so powerful. Thanks to rabbonim, shluchim, tmimim, institutions, and publications who broke the silence about faith in the immediacy of redemption, the world knows what Lubavitch stands for. The refusal to lay low revealed what every Chassid believes in his heart, even when difficult to express openly.

If we break the silence as a united community, we can create massive change and bring countless more Jews to the train of redemption.

The reins are in every Chassid’s hands! To speak, write, and influence devotedly about our generation’s prophecy, that hinei zeh Moshiach ba!

Ah freilichen Purim! 

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