ראיון עם חסידים - בית משיח (אנגלית)

Interview with three talmidim of the kvutza of that year, who describe their thoughts and feelings on that momentous occasion.  

Interview with three talmidim of the kvutza of that year, who describe their thoughts and feelings on that momentous occasion.  

Rabbi '''Yaakov Yosef Berger'''  

Rabbi '''Yaakov Yosef Berger'''  

Rabbi '''Chaim Meir Chazan'''   

Rabbi '''Chaim Meir Chazan'''   

Rabbi '''Eliyahu Dahan'''   

Rabbi '''Eliyahu Dahan'''   

The Sefer Torah Shel Moshiach was completed on Friday, after midday, Erev Shabbos Yud Shvat, twenty years into the Rebbe’s leadership. Today, forty-one years later, many people still remember that momentous occasion. As though they just saw it yesterday, they remember how the Rebbe removed the crown from its box. People were certain that he would place it on his head, wave his hand, and call out, "Yidden, the time for your redemption has arrived! Let us go to Yerushalayim..."  

The Sefer Torah Shel Moshiach was completed on Friday, after midday, Erev Shabbos Yud Shvat, twenty years into the Rebbe’s leadership. Today, forty-one years later, many people still remember that momentous occasion. As though they just saw it yesterday, they remember how the Rebbe removed the crown from its box. People were certain that he would place it on his head, wave his hand, and call out, "Yidden, the time for your redemption has arrived! Let us go to Yerushalayim..."  

The writing of this sefer Torah began years before, at the height of World War II, when Jewish blood ran like water and millions of Jews were killed al kiddush Hashem. In Iyar of 5702 (1942), the Rebbe Rayatz instructed that a Torah be written, with which the Jewish people would go out to greet Moshiach. The writing began in secret, on special parchment made from kosher animals that had been shechted. At first, the Rebbe Rayatz wanted to obtain parchment from Eretz Yisroel, but the expense was prohibitive. So he agreed that it should be made in the United States. This, however, was no simple matter, for all skins were taken by the government for military use.  

The writing of this sefer Torah began years before, at the height of World War II, when Jewish blood ran like water and millions of Jews were killed al kiddush Hashem. In Iyar of 5702 (1942), the Rebbe Rayatz instructed that a Torah be written, with which the Jewish people would go out to greet Moshiach. The writing began in secret, on special parchment made from kosher animals that had been shechted. At first, the Rebbe Rayatz wanted to obtain parchment from Eretz Yisroel, but the expense was prohibitive. So he agreed that it should be made in the United States. This, however, was no simple matter, for all skins were taken by the government for military use.  

At that time, an announcement was made: "All the technical preparations for the writing of the seifer Torah have been completed, thank G-d, and the Rebbe shlita invites our fellow Anash and all Jews in Eretz Yisroel to hurry and join in this great z’chus."  

At that time, an announcement was made: "All the technical preparations for the writing of the seifer Torah have been completed, thank G-d, and the Rebbe shlita invites our fellow Anash and all Jews in Eretz Yisroel to hurry and join in this great z’chus."  

A change took place in the month of Teives 5730. 770 buzzed with rumors of great things to be expected on the upcoming Yud Shvat. Three talmidei ha’Tmimim of the kvutza of that time described their sense of what went on:  

A change took place in the month of Teives 5730. 770 buzzed with rumors of great things to be expected on the upcoming Yud Shvat. Three talmidei ha’Tmimim of the kvutza of that time described their sense of what went on:  

After the passing of the Rebbe Rayatz, some people asked the Rebbe to explain a statement the Rebbe Rayatz had said: "It will take place in my time," referring to the Geula. The Rebbe explained that one source says that Shimshon judged the nation for twenty years and another source says he judged for forty years. The Yerushalmi explains that the Plishtim feared him for twenty years following Shimshon’s death. From this we understood that the revelation of Moshiach would take place twenty years after the Rebbe Rayatz’s histalkus.  

After the passing of the Rebbe Rayatz, some people asked the Rebbe to explain a statement the Rebbe Rayatz had said: "It will take place in my time," referring to the Geula. The Rebbe explained that one source says that Shimshon judged the nation for twenty years and another source says he judged for forty years. The Yerushalmi explains that the Plishtim feared him for twenty years following Shimshon’s death. From this we understood that the revelation of Moshiach would take place twenty years after the Rebbe Rayatz’s histalkus.  

In addition, a few months earlier, there had been a yechidus for one of the Tmimim of the kvutza. He told us that from the Rebbe’s words, he gathered that Moshiach would be revealed by Yud Shvat. This was another reason for the tension and anticipation we all felt.  

In addition, a few months earlier, there had been a yechidus for one of the Tmimim of the kvutza. He told us that from the Rebbe’s words, he gathered that Moshiach would be revealed by Yud Shvat. This was another reason for the tension and anticipation we all felt.  

Then on Erev Rosh Chodesh Shvat, the Rebbe announced that he wanted to complete the sefer Torah to Greet Moshiach. That was all we needed to hear!  

Then on Erev Rosh Chodesh Shvat, the Rebbe announced that he wanted to complete the sefer Torah to Greet Moshiach. That was all we needed to hear!  

That Shabbos, Gimmel Shvat, the Rebbe said some unusual things. The Rebbe asked why the hisorerus came from Eretz Yisroel and not from here. The Rebbe quoted the pasuk, "They turned their back to me and not their face," and explained that it is possible to stand near a great treasure, in the middle of the day when the sun shines brightly, and with open eyes, and yet not see anything because the person is looking off to the side.  

That Shabbos, Gimmel Shvat, the Rebbe said some unusual things. The Rebbe asked why the hisorerus came from Eretz Yisroel and not from here. The Rebbe quoted the pasuk, "They turned their back to me and not their face," and explained that it is possible to stand near a great treasure, in the middle of the day when the sun shines brightly, and with open eyes, and yet not see anything because the person is looking off to the side.  

Did everybody realize that Moshiach would be revealed?  

Did everybody realize that Moshiach would be revealed?  

***  

***  

"Erev Shabbos. The beis midrash of 770 was completely full. People finished work early that day. Women finished preparing the Shabbos meals and came en masse. Residents and guests took their places, and the crowd was enormous, looking like the ocean with waves rising and falling. People still kept running in, getting swallowed up in the giant mass of humanity.  

"Erev Shabbos. The beis midrash of 770 was completely full. People finished work early that day. Women finished preparing the Shabbos meals and came en masse. Residents and guests took their places, and the crowd was enormous, looking like the ocean with waves rising and falling. People still kept running in, getting swallowed up in the giant mass of humanity.  

* * *  

* * *  

After the Rebbe walked in with a box, the Torah and the box (we didn’t know what the box contained) were on the table. We knew that the Rebbe Rayatz had said that this Torah would be the one to greet Moshiach, and we knew the yiras ha’kavod with which the Rebbe treated this Torah. It was clear that any minute now we would be going to greet Moshiach.  

After the Rebbe walked in with a box, the Torah and the box (we didn’t know what the box contained) were on the table. We knew that the Rebbe Rayatz had said that this Torah would be the one to greet Moshiach, and we knew the yiras ha’kavod with which the Rebbe treated this Torah. It was clear that any minute now we would be going to greet Moshiach.  

* * *  

* * *  

"A few days before Yud Shvat 5730, the secretary told me that the Rebbe shlita asked to see a Torah crown. I dealt with silver and gold items, so I secretly went to the Rebbe at a time when nobody would notice, and I brought a selection of 6-7 beautiful crowns.  

"A few days before Yud Shvat 5730, the secretary told me that the Rebbe shlita asked to see a Torah crown. I dealt with silver and gold items, so I secretly went to the Rebbe at a time when nobody would notice, and I brought a selection of 6-7 beautiful crowns.  

Afterwards, people were told that the money to buy the crown was taken from the extra money that had been donated for the Torah, and this was according to the Rebbe’s orders.  

Afterwards, people were told that the money to buy the crown was taken from the extra money that had been donated for the Torah, and this was according to the Rebbe’s orders.  

Rabbi Dahan: In the sicha after the siyum, the Rebbe said that small jars still remained, and I was a bit disappointed. After everyone dispersed, we went to our rooms and lay down, in a sad silence. We weren’t depressed, because we were certain that Moshiach had to be revealed any minute anyway, but we were very disappointed. Our expectation was that Moshiach would be revealed at the siyum.  

Rabbi Dahan: In the sicha after the siyum, the Rebbe said that small jars still remained, and I was a bit disappointed. After everyone dispersed, we went to our rooms and lay down, in a sad silence. We weren’t depressed, because we were certain that Moshiach had to be revealed any minute anyway, but we were very disappointed. Our expectation was that Moshiach would be revealed at the siyum.