My grandkids sing ‘We Want Mashiach Now’ with gusto.
I have grown up since I was a little child waiting for Mashiach.
My father who was born in Australia during the Holocaust years was taught by his father to wait for Mashiach.
My mother who was born in New York around the same time was taught by her parents about Mashiach. She too transmitted this deep belief to us her children.
My wife’s incredible passion in awaiting Moshiach came from her parents and especially her grandmother Cyla.
My wife’s grandmother Cyla, born into the brutality of Soviet Russia, lived through hunger, persecution, loss, and fear. Her childhood was a treacherous journey: evading anti-Semitic bullies, watching neighbors snatched by the NKVD in the dead of night, and boldly standing up to her teachers to keep Shabbos.
Yet one thing never changed: Cyla's unshakable connection to Hashem. Her faith was unwavering. It carried her further than fear ever could.
(Her story was recently published in a book ‘I’m Not Alone’ and has gone ‘viral’ in the Jewish book scene. See here).
Every family has their story of how Judaism, and its indomitable belief in the coming of Mashiach has coursed through the veins of their family through the thick and thin of life.
And so it has been for our entire nation all the way back for almost two thousand years.
It seems like it is too long. Because indeed it is too long.
Alas, while we believe and feel that it is so close, we have suffered too many devastating setbacks along the way.
The murderous attack on Jews celebrating Chanuka in Bondi, Australia have shaken diaspora Jewry to the core.
I want to focus on one current story that has me crying tears of emotion and inspiration.
Leibel Lazaroff a young rabbinical student who grew up in Texas, to parents who are Chabad on campus rabbi and rebbetzin, traveled to Sydney to study and teach. He was heartlessly shot and severely injured for no other reason than him being Jewish and attending a Chanuka program, barely making it out alive. While he miraculously survived, the medical journey has been arduous and there is still quite a way to go.
At a National Day of Mourning memorial event in Sydney, the following song was sung in memory of the holy martyrs, the senselessly gunned down victims who died ‘Al Kiddush Hashem’ for being Jews, Am Yisrael the people of G-d.
You can watch the clip of the song here.
It is a prayer from the Monday and Thursday prayers.
Gaze down from heaven and see that we have become an object of scorn and derision among the nations.
We have become considered like sheep led to the slaughter, to be slain, to be obliterated, to be stricken and to be disgraced.
These words depict the heartbreaking and tragic story of the Jewish journey from the destruction of the holy temple, through crusades, inquisitions, death camps, gulags, wars against Israel and terrorist attacks.
The prayer concludes
Nevertheless, we have not forgotten Your name. Please, do not forget us.
Despite our persecution, we cling unhesitatingly and faithfully to the Almighty committed to Torah and Mitzvahs and rebuilding the Jewish nation time after time.
We do not get depressed. This is not a prayer that is meant to bring us to a depression of G-d forbid leave us feeling like we have no hope.
On the contrary.
These tragedies and the instinctive resilient comeback and continuity that Am Yisrael exhibits, only accentuate and highlight the two-way love that exists between the Jew and G-d.
It is telling that Leibel, the heroic survivor, performed a solo on the concluding part of the prayer that proclaims our unwavering faith.
Nevertheless, we have not forgotten Your name. Please, do not forget us.
When Leibel says those words ‘we have not forgotten Your name they ring and reverberate bursting with authenticity.
Watch here how Leibel and his mother describe their journey. In Leibel’s words ‘G-d chose me to be shot by a terrorist’.
I cannot watch Leibel’s performance without sobbing.
Not the kind of crying that comes naturally for tragedy. Sadly, we have had many opportunities for that especially on and since October 7th.
These are different kinds of tears. They are tears of overwhelming emotion and inspiration from the pure faith, trust and G-dly resolve that this young man exudes.
What incredible internal strength. What and unshakable commitment.
It is one thing to believe conceptually that all is from G-d and bless G-d for the bad just as for the good.
It is entirely different to implement this in action. To sing, dance and leap forward with positivity, determination, hope and joy even after going through multiple surgeries.
The bravery and heroism of G-d’s people is inspiring and empowering. We are blessed links in an illustrious and glorious chain.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe – who’s anniversary of leadership we celebrate on ‘Yud Shevat’ Wednesday of this upcoming week – proclaimed with conviction and determination at his inaugural address in 1951 that it is our generation that is tasked and will succeed with finally bringing Mashiach.
During the decades of the Rebbe’s talks and guidance, the path was always headed towards the long awaited and highly anticipated destination. The only result that will somehow make it all worth it.
Mashiach!
In 1951 that seemed like a distant goal. In 2026 there are multiple signs that we are nearing the final goal of Mashiach coming.
….Moreover, there are also good and happy signs indicating the imminent coming of Mashiach: a good measure of prosperity;10 a renewal of Torah-study;11 and opening of the “gates of wisdom above and the wellsprings of wisdom below,”12 evidenced also by scientific and technological discoveries and advances; a manifestation and propagation of the mystical teachings of the Torah;13 and also “In the time that Mashiach will awaken, many signs and miracles will occur in the world.”14
lick here for full article
Yet, it is still a work in progress.
And it is eminently hard to wait. It is entirely appropriate that we itch with impatience.
While reading this week’s Parsha Bo about Exodus from Egypt the following realization jumped out at me.
The Torah says (Shemot 12:40)
The total length of time that the Israelites had lived in Egypt and other places as foreigners since God's prophecy to Abraham "between the parts “was exactly 430 years:
And at the end of 430 years, on that very day, all the hosts of God left the land of Egypt. Once the appointed time came, God did not delay the Exodus even by an instant.
The actual time spent in Egypt was 210 years.
Can you imagine. 210 years. The progeny of Yaakov was talking about leaving Egypt. As the years went by things seemed bleaker and less realistic that they would actually leave.
But it did happen.
Like in the blink of an eye.
When the time came, it was not delayed even an instant.
My friends, the Rebbe continuously told our generation that Mashiach’s coming is imminent.
That is the way it will happen for us as well.
It is not hard to imagine how in one instant our lives could change for the absolute better and our entire world be transformed into an island of peace and coexistence with serving and learning about G-d being the sole occupation of humanity.
How will we find out? In the blink of an eye.
I’m imagining that an alert will flash across all platforms. Phones, social media, speaker systems, televisions, newspapers and any other communication mediums.
They will all announce simultaneously,
MASHIACH IS HERE.
I can’t wait for that moment. Till it comes we must do whatever we can to hasten it. And prepare for it.
No one likes being caught unprepared.
Imagine you are whisked into an audience with the king without having advance notice and you are in your sloppy ‘around the house’ clothing without having brushed your hair, your teeth or putting on makeup. You get the picture. It would be quite embarrassing.
It is much better to be prepared.
Especially when entering a meeting with the long awaited anointed one of G-d – Mashiach.
As a faithful leader, and a shepherd of faith, the Rebbe encouraged us and empowered us to take practical steps to be prepared to greet Mashiach in a way that would find us appropriately ‘attired’ in good deeds and strong connection to G-d.
The way to get ready for Mashiach is to learn and educate yourself about redemption and do Mitzvahs to hasten Mashiach’s coming.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Yosef Kantor