28 Nissan: Do everything you can to bring Moshiach in actuality

On 28 Nissan 5751 (1991), the Rebbe gave us a holy mission, “Do everything you can to bring Moshiach in actuality.”

Let’s analyze this:

“Do”: Focus on action, which is “the main thing,” as the Rebbe has said countless times.

“Everything”: What?! Everything? That seems somewhat ... undefined. And perhaps unattainable.

Perhaps it means as follows: The Torah tells a Jew to love Hashem “be’chol me’odecho” (usually translated as “with all your might”). Chassidus translates this as “with all your me’od (Torah Ohr 39d, Shoresh Mitzvas HaTefillah ch. 16)” “Me’od” means literally “very much.” To love Hashem properly, one must constantly go beyond one’s limitations. But personal limitations are inherently relative. What is difficult for one person comes easily for another, and vice versa. So “do everything you can to bring Moshiach.” Push yourself to go beyond your normal limits, and then push yourself again. Until he comes.

“You”: That’s right, lil’ ol’ you. And me. Every Jew can bring Moshiach, regardless of position or social standing. Even a small child can bring Moshiach.

“Can”: Every person can do different things, for we all possess different skills and spheres of influence. Each person needs to assess whether he or she is using his time and talents to maximum effectiveness.

“To bring Moshiach”: Our efforts have a goal, and it is forbidden for us to lose sight of it. The goal is that Moshiach actually come and bring the full redemption. This goal must propel us to action, but continue to inspire us even as we concern ourselves with the nitty-gritty details of carrying out the task at hand.

“In actuality”: Our part is to do and do and do. Whether we accomplish, and Moshiach actually comes, is really in Hashem’s hands. But until we do, we cannot rest. Although it hasn’t happened yet, we know that it’s in our hands. We can make it a reality. So that knowledge makes us responsible and accountable. It propels us to transcend our own petty concerns, to reject personal preference and desires and instead embrace this noble cause. For if we choose wisely, our every action could be the one to change the entire physical and spiritual cosmos, to make the final redemption a reality.

Lechaim!