Igrot Kodesh · Letter 3292 — Chinuch

B"H,

21 Shevat 5715,
Brooklyn,

To the distinguished Chassid* who fears Hashem,
Rav Gershon Chanoch Henich (Rav G. C. H. Stein),

I greet you and bless you,

I was pleased to receive your letter, in which you discuss the strengthening and the spreading of Jewish observance in the spirit of Tradition. At all times, this has been a necessity and a personal obligation for everyone. But how much more so is this the case — with even greater energy — in this period of profound and intense darkness.

We have not yet attained the true Redemption*, nor even its beginning. Nevertheless, all indications establish that our righteous Moshiach* "stands behind our wall" (his coming is near), in the words of the Rambam*, Laws of Kings, Chapter 11, paragraph 4 — and this is also what my father-in-law, the Rebbe, said.

Moshiach* will be an erudite of the Torah*, fulfilling the Mitzvos* like King Dovid. He will know the Written Law and the Oral Law, lead all Jews on the straight path of the Torah, strengthen the areas where deficiencies still exist. He will wage the wars of Hashem, then rebuild the Beis HaMikdash*, gather the exiles. And he will not content himself with this, but will ensure that the entire world serves Hashem, as it is said: "To serve Him with a single shoulder." Now, this Moshiach* is already "behind our wall"!

Consequently, no one can content himself with his own portion of Torah* and Mitzvos* in general, of Teshuvah* in particular — in the most literal sense — or of observing all the Commandments specifically. One must, in addition, influence one's friends and acquaintances, so that they too access Teshuvah* and put the Mitzvos* into practice in their daily existence — observing Kashrus*, Shabbos*, family purity*, and educating their children according to the Law of Moshe and Israel.

It is this — and only this — that will lead, at the soonest, to the beginning of the Redemption*, and not political ideals, nor the few select Mitzvos* that people choose to practice while, in the Torah, such selectivity does not exist. Subsequently, it will be the complete Redemption, very soon and in our days.

With my blessing,