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The Gedolim Speak

For Your Inspiration

Motzei Shemini Atzeres, 5744 (September 29, 1983)

Ahavas Yisroel and ahavas Hashem require that we bring every Jew closer, even those who have become distant from Jewish observances. If we perceive that there is an opportunity to bring Jews closer to their Creator, we should make every kind of effort to gather them under the kanfei ha'Shechinah. There is no greater charity than this, and there is no greater kiddush Hashem.

In Eretz Yisroel and throughout the world, there are so many Jews that are desecrating G-d's name. We all understand that chillul Hashem is a very serious matter. If we want to evade the repercussions, we must respond accordingly and increase the honor of heaven. When we bring people that are not observant back into G-d's camp...there is no greater kiddush Hashem.

We should not be influenced by those that write deceptive books and deliver misleading speeches about the need to maintain a distance from wicked people. They make it seem as though this was a reason to avoid gathering people under the kanfei ha'Shechinah. This is complete nonsense. The argument emerges from clouded minds and from a disregard for Torah and Jewish values. These people turn day into night and night into day. They confuse light for darkness and darkness for light. This is not the approach of the Torah; it was not the approach of our teachers; and it is not the approach of chassidus. If the Chasam Sofer and his holy students, zt"l, were still alive today, if they saw the darkness that dominates the world on the one hand and the speck of light that is craving for G-dliness on the other hand, they would go out and travel from town to town. They would establish Torah centers along the way and order the masses to contribute all the money in the world to the cause...

We cannot understand G-d's plans, particularly with respect to the final redemption. The Rambam taught us this principle in the twelfth chapter of Hilchos Milachim. Nonetheless, the prophets say (Micha, 7:15) that the ultimate salvation will resemble the exodus from Egypt. It is very possible that the designated time for Mashiach has arrived. He is held up, waiting for a critical mass of observant Jews before he is able to appear. Because there are not enough of us, the redemption is being delayed, and we remain stuck in this dark and bitter exile.

Those Jews who bring others back to the faith, they are the ones that are bringing the final redemption. When the Mashiach comes, he will point to these Jews and announce, "These are the ones that brought about my arrival. These are the ones that hastened the redemption of the Jewish people and the redemption of the Shechinah. In their merit, we are privileged to all of this splendor."

For more material in Hebrew, click here for a kuntrus written by the Belzer Rebbe. http://oznidberu.com/files/The_Belzer_Rebbe_on_Kiruv.PDF