A few days ago was the anniversary of the statement of a revolutionary concept.
For centuries, people have been taught to believe there can be an ideal time where there is no sickness, no war and complete peace. The Ancient Romans and Greeks didn’t have such a belief. After all, they had a god for war and a god for peace. What would the god of war do if strife were eliminated.? Kind of disrespectful to put the guy out of a job.
Moses met with G-d himself and to with the People of Israel, he discussed necessary wars, concepts of purity and impurity, and became justifiably indignant at the behavior of those who rebelled. Although he had to deal with issues that weren’t always characteristic of this ideal time, called the Geulah or the Redemption, he was the beginning of a long line of leaders, one whom would, in the future, usher in an ideal era of eternal life and everlasting peace.
But after being given the Torah, which contains G-d’s will and wisdom on Mt. Sinai, the world has been in a gradual state of decline. The giving of the Torah to Moses was a high spiritual and moral point for humanity, and as we move farther and farther away from that event, we drop collectively into a lower spiritual level and into a world of increased concealment and darkness.
And yet, we are coming closer to an idea time of complete revelation of good, of that ideal time of total peace. How is it that perfection can be realized in such a dark world? How can we hope for it? And how can we even ask for it?
The Lubavitcher Rebbe said 19 years ago on the 18th day of the Hebrew month of Nissan that we must ask, demand, even cry out for the Geulah (Redemption). He said that if ten people had cried out in full sincerity, then the geulah would be here already, and if ten people can be found now, we can achieve it.
How is this concept revolutionary? Because for centuries, humanity has been waiting for the Redemption. Praying, hoping and dreaming. The Lubavitcher Rebbe comes along and says, “I’ve done all I can do…now it is up to you to bring Moshiach (the Jewish Messiah).”
It is in our hands. That is the new idea. No more waiting. It is time to do something. So what to do? The Rebbe mentioned asking G-d sincerely. You can also give tzedaka (charity) with the intention of bringing the geulah, learning Torah, increasing in acts of goodness and kindness, and having the “holy chutzpah” to ask G-d for this perfection n a time of darkness and to dare to see the good in the world and in others.