Everyone has heard about the huge gatherings that Chabad emissaries hold around the world for travelers. This has become a phenomenon that encompasses tens of thousands of Jews every year. In many places, as many as a thousand or even two thousand participants gather for these gatherings.
Chabad emissaries are often asked how they manage to attract such large crowds, most of whom have no religious background. How is it that suddenly all the barriers that separate groups and communities here in Israel fall, and everyone gathers together and celebrates the holiday as one family?
The answer is – the Lubavitcher Rebbe. He taught the secret of how to find a path to the heart of every Jew. Every Chabad emissary strives to contain a little of the great love that radiated from the Rebbe to every Jew, wherever he may be. When you love Jews, they do indeed love you back.
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Loving meaning
On Passover, we must convey the message of the holiday to all four sons. One of them is the wicked son, who defies: "What is this work to you?" He excludes himself from the rule – "For you and not for him." The answer given to him in the Haggadah is simply perceived as a harsh statement – "If he had been there, he would not have been redeemed.".
But the Rebbe, in his loving approach to every Jew, expresses surprise at this answer, which could push the wicked son out of the camp. The Rebbe gives this statement a different meaning: "If he had been there, he would not have been redeemed" – only in Egypt did he have the option of remaining in exile and going to perdition, but now that option does not exist. We are essentially telling him: Dear son, you are also a Jew, you cannot separate yourself from your Jewishness, you cannot exclude yourself from the group. So come and be a part of the Jewish experience.
Truly, this is the difference between the Egyptian redemption and the redemption that is coming soon. In the Egyptian redemption, those who did not want to be redeemed were lost. But in the coming redemption, not a single Jew will remain in exile. God promised: "He will not be cast out of his sight." He will take hold of the hand of every Jew and redeem him, as it is said: "And you shall be gathered one by one, the children of Israel.".
Bright day
Friday, the 11th of Nisan, is the day on which one hundred and twelve years ago the holy soul of the Rebbe descended into the world, and we were blessed with his great light. It is a righteous day, a day of joy and awakening, a day of thanksgiving to God Almighty. It is a day on which it is fitting for each and every one to awaken the memory of the personal contact they had with the Rebbe, and to strengthen themselves by studying his Torah and walking in his ways.
Our generation, which has been blessed with the great light of the Rebbe, who has enjoyed the light of his Torah, his insightful advice, his precise guidance, the abundance of his blessings, and his great leadership, deserves to thank the Creator of the world for planting this great soul within us. This is a day for increasing love for Israel, for spreading Judaism, for the acquittal of many in the mitzvot, and most of all – for strengthening the Rebbe’s main passion – the expectation of true redemption and completeness through our righteous Messiah.
A kosher and happy holiday, a holiday of true freedom.
