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A King Without
a Crown
To begin, some basic background is in order—events and facts that need to be elucidated.
The History of Eternal Relevance
How the Jewish world was asleep to this call of the Rebbe is a wonder unto itself, but here is not the time nor the place to examine this issue. What we want to reflect on is the following crucial point: The Rebbe, as a gadol hador, tzaddik, and established prophet, whose prophecies on both a global and individual scale were always faithfully fulfilled,3 would never so much as make a movement that wasn’t in line with the ultimate of truth. So how could we ever doubt and not take seriously the Rebbe’s primary prophecy about the arrival of the geulah and his Heavenly appointment as Moshiach, which he himself attested to! Surely it’s only a matter of time until the Rebbe’s shlichus as Redeemer of the Jewish People reaches its completion.4 If time has elapsed, even a considerable number of years, we are certainly only closer.
From the Living or the Dead:
A Three-Stage Process
The Zohar elucidates a three-stage process of Moshiach’s initial revelation, subsequent concealment in order to receive a higher soul, and final complete revelation.6 In other words, with regard to the Rebbe, histalkus was not a cessation of activity, G-d forbid, but an elevated state to receive an even higher level of life that he needs in order to complete the job he began; for this there had to be a brief period of his “absence.”
The Midrash likewise states that the future Redeemer will be revealed, then concealed, then revealed again.7 This is quoted by Rabbeinu Bechayei8 and the Chasam Sofer on the Torah.9 The latter writes, “This is a great test that the Redeemer [Moshe] was concealed… and so it will be at the time of our righteous Moshiach that he will be concealed after his revelation, as mentioned in the Midrash.”
The King and the People: What You Can Do
Likewise, in the sichah of Parshas Mishpatim 5751, the Rebbe taught:14
“The appointment of Moshiach has already taken place… There only needs to be the acceptance of his kingship (kabalas malchuso) by the people, and the devotion and attachment between the king and the people in a most revealed sense—with the complete and true geulah.”
The following year, in the sichah of Parshas Chayei Sarah 5752, the Rebbe said:15
“The only avodah left to do is to be mekabel p’nei Moshiach Tzidkeinu.” The Rebbe proceeds to explain this as performing all of Torah and mitzvos in a manner of immediate preparation to bring and greet Moshiach.
The attribute of malchus, kingship, as Chassidus explains, needs to be aroused from others; that is, by the speech and deeds of the people, who call forth the leadership of the king—in this case, Melech HaMoshiach—with their total allegiance and nullification to him, since there can be no king without a nation.
This concept is expressed in Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer, which presents the query,16 “If a king does not have armies or camps, what is he king over? If there is no nation to praise the king, where is his honor?” In the language of Chassidus—אין מלך בלא עם.
Similarly, the Rebbe is saying in the first sichah above that it’s not sufficient for Hashem to appoint Moshiach; when the complete geulah occurs, the people will have to formally “accept” his kingship (kabalas malchuso) in order to bring about their absolute attachment to him and his to them.17 In the second sichah quoted, the Rebbe takes the idea of kabalas hamalchus a step further, saying that even before the complete geulah, we show our anticipation to attach and devote ourselves to Moshiach by doing everything in these final days of galus with the intent of bringing about his complete revelation and our subsequent bond to him. In other words, we see how there is a strong connection between the intent, speech and action of the people in their role in revealing Moshiach in the complete sense.
It would seem that the Rebbe’s encouragement to publicize his identity as Moshiach is also tied to the above. In doing so, the Rebbe opened the door for our connection to forge even before his complete revelation, and hasten that time with the people’s eagerness to accept his appointment. It wasn’t enough for Lubavitch Chassidim alone to crown the Rebbe, but the Rebbe strove to publicize the matter worldwide; after all, אין מלך בלא עם, and all of Am Yisrael are the Rebbe’s people and ought to accept his sovereignty willingly.
Standing as One
May our good resolution is this direction alone merit that we behold our righteous Redeemer who will speedily lead us to the complete and true geulah!
