Rebbe, Where Are You

Copyright Rabbi Eli Hecht
No part of this arcticle may be used or reproduced in any form without written permission from the copyright holder, except for brief quotations in reviews .

Just last night I had a strange experience. In a dream I saw my beloved uncles, the famous Lubavitcher Hecht brothers. They were looking very distressed.  They informed me that they were on a mission of grave importance.

My Uncle Shlomo Zalman together with his younger brothers Moshe and Yankel told me that they had come from Olam Ha-Emes and were looking for the Rebbe! I could hardly believe my ears. Yes, I heard correctly. They were looking for the Rebbe.

"What are you talking about?" I questioned  them. "You came from Olam Ha-Emes to tell me that you can't find the Rebbe?"

They told me the following. "In Olam Ha-Emes there is a big problem. They are waiting to give the Rebbe a special place near the Rebbeiem in Gan Eden, and he can't be found. A search team consisting of the Baal Shem Tov, the Magid and many great tzadikim has turned up empty-handed. Both Rashi and Rambam, who were personally involved with the Rebbe and his Divrei Torahs, are demanding an investigation. Eli, we are here to tell you of this problem."

I have heard that in the past there have been problems with some Tzadikim. When they died and arrived to Olam Ha-Emes, they turned the heavens upside-down. They refused to follow heavenly protocol by demanding an immediate meeting with the all merciful G-D. They refused to be judged or attend trials, and were not interested in rewards. They demanded to see the Creator and refused to cooperate. What they wanted was an end to the Golus.

So G‑d, in his infinite wisdom, dealt with each Tzadik.

One Tzadik was told to wait in Gan Eden for a while and once in Gan Eden the Tzadik forgot to plead his case. I was told that the holy Reb Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev knew of this and refused to enter Gan Eden, causing much commotion on high. At the end, as the Angels were saying Kedushah, the holy Berditchever got so moved with the holiness, that he simply jumped into Gan Eden joining in the Kedushah! Once in Gan Eden he lost his chance.

An outstanding Polish Rebbe told his Chassidim that he had sworn to stand outside the gates of Gan Eden, not entering until the Almighty G-D would grant him an audience. Then he would plead his case and put an end to the Golus.  Do you know what G-D did as this holy soul stood outside the gates of Gan Eden, not budging? G-D simply increased the boundaries of Gan Eden and, zap, the Tzadik was in, and could not present the case.

"The bitter Golus is continuing," said my uncle. We have to do something now! We need the Rebbe to end the Golus!

We have decided to join the search teams and find the holy Rebbe. My uncle Yankel, whose yartziet is this month, told me that in the past he had always been involved in the greatest projects. Now to find the Rebbe was the greatest project of all times.

I then remembered the following phenomenal story.

The Talmud tells of a story where the Angels look for G-D. They travel high into the celestial heavens and to their consternation cannot find him. Then they are told, "If you want to find G-D, you can find him in the tent of Moshe Rabenu studying the Torah." The Angels go down to earth and, sure enough, they find the almighty G-D studying Torah with Moshe Rabenu.

I know that as soon as Moshiach will come there will be a lot of unhappy people. These people will  be unhappy because they were not taught the beauty of Torah and mitzvahs. They will be distressed, very lost and ashamed. They will plead and ask for a second chance to be able to make a choice and became better Jews. They will feel the deep pain caused by their lack of mitzvahs, and by then it will be too late.

The mitzvahs of Golus are of supreme worth. Only now can we make the choice to really become close to G-D. By choosing, we earn the very special rewards of being a faithful soldier. But when Moshiach arrives the rewards for studying Torah and observing Mitzvahs will not be as great as in Golus.

In the past few weeks I have heard of people visiting Chabad houses and speaking of the Rebbe. Newspapers and television shows keep on producing stories about the Rebbe and Moshiach. Chabad Rabbis are  feeling  closer to the Rebbe than ever before. Something is definitely happening.

I believe that the Rebbe is here with us, now more then ever, hurrying us in our holy work. Therefore, we must grab as many Jews as possible and bring them to Yiddishkiet before Moshiach comes. The Rebbe in his great love for each and every Jew doesn't want to leave anyone behind. He doesn't want any Jew to be in pain when Moshiach arrives. The Rebbe is dedicated to the Jewish nation. He is  waiting for us to finish our job before he presents his case to end the Golus.

For the Rebbe, Gan Eden is not a temptation that will stop him from pleading the case for the end of Golus. The only temptation that holds the Rebbe is in  saving  every Jewish soul.

I told my dear uncles to search no more. The Rebbe is here on Earth, in the Chabad houses, helping all Jews. He remains there for just one more moment, performing his last deeds of mercy.

I, too, am trying my very best to get the holy Rebbe to Olam Ha-Emes, to win the case and bring the Moseach, as soon as possible.