In early spring of 1992, an Israeli cabinet minister called one of the Rebbe’s close aides. The Rebbe has suffered a debilitating stroke weeks earlier, affecting his speech and causing partial paralysis. The Israeli official was calling to check on the Rebbe’s health. He was particularly keen on knowing about the Rebbe’s capacity to speak. What was driving the interest in the Rebbe’s speaking capacity? It turns out that the Israeli government was contemplating some moves in the area of negotiations with the PLO, to which the Rebbe was strongly opposed. They felt that if the Rebbe’s voice was silenced, they would be freer to move forward with their plans unhindered by the Rebbe’s opposition.
This same notion was advanced by many around the world two years later after the Rebbe’s physical passing on the 3 of Tammuz, 1994. The felt that with the Rebbe’s voice silenced, Chabad would be incapable of continuing to operate and the Rebbe’s message would be muted.
They were gravely mistaken. 26 years later, the Rebbe’s voice of guidance, inspiration, moral authority and spiritual leadership resounds louder than ever. Through audio and video presentation of the Rebbe’s talks, along with hundreds of volumes of published teachings, the Rebbe’s voice of clarity and compassion touches the lives of millions. Via the agency of thousands of Shluchim families, along with his many chassidim and adherents, the Rebbe’s empowering and uplifting message is conveyed to every corner of our world.
The Rebbe’s message to our world is that we are on the threshold of a new era, the era of Redemption. It behooves each and every one of us to do what we can to prepare ourselves and those around us to usher in that era through the coming of Moshiach.
Rabbi Mendel Rivkin