“I know that my followers will be strong and remain firm in their faith without this, but I am revealing this to further encourage them. Let them know that this has already been predicted.”
Similar words were heard from the Rebbe’s holy lips many times. With a deep groan, we would say, “Woe! How can a few people stand up against the whole world?”
The Rebbe’s words came true. Immediately after his death, atheism spread in the world as never before since the beginning of time. The leprous plague began to flourish in faraway lands where notorious atheists put together such works as HaMe'asef.324"The Gatherer,” the first modern Hebrew periodical, initiated by Isaac Eichel, Mendel Bresslau and the brothers Simon and Zanvil Friedlander. It was published regularly from 1784 to 1786, and then sporadically until 1811. Its publishers, the “Society of Friends of the Hebrew Language,” were primarily assimilationists, and only revived the Hebrew language to introduce Jews to secular culture. Its first contributors were from Mendelssohn's German school, but it was later dominated by Eastern European maskilim (see Waxman, A History of Jewish Literature, 3:120; also see Machnia Zeidim #4). This plague did not spread to our lands until after the passing of the Rebbe and other great tzaddikim. When it reached our area, the tzaddikim and holy Jews cried out like a whooping crane325Kiddushin 44a. Cf. Targum on Jeremiah 8:7. – but none listen to them, as the nonbelievers already have the upper hand.
Woe is to us! See what has happened in our generation! See the evil decrees that have resulted from their deeds!326This might refer to the maskil, Isaac Ber Levinsohn, who was largely responsible for the harsh conscription laws of 1827 (Posner, The Tzemach Tzedek and the Haskalah Movement [Kehot, N.Y. 1969], p. 14). He was also responsible for the censorship laws (Nevey Tzaddikim, p. 102). See also Tzaddik #127, #132; Kokhavey Or, p. 43, #6. Levinsohn lived in Nemirov and Tulchin in 1822 and 1823. Woe, what has become of us?
As a result of our misdeeds, it all came about as the Rebbe predicted with his holy inspiration. We see that it is still spreading even now. Woe, who knows what will be in days to come?
The Rebbe told us many times that this was predicted by the prophets (see “His Wisdom” #35). It was especially predicted by the Prophet Daniel, who said, “Many will purify themselves and be refined” (Daniel 12:10). He told us that in the End of Days, Jews will be refined in faith, for many will rise up to pervert it. These are the “enlighteners” and atheists of our generations.
It should be easy to withstand this test, seeing that it has already been predicted. But the temptation will be so great that many will stumble and fall to the depths.
We are writing this so that all who desire the truth of our holy faith should know that the Rebbe already predicted this. Let this restore their souls and strengthen their hearts toward God and his holy Torah, as taught by our sages of old.
פַּעַם אַחַת אָמַר לְאֶחָד: "אֲגַלֶּה לְךָ סוֹד, שֶׁיִּהְיֶה אֶפִּיקוֹרְסוּת גָּדוֹל בָּעוֹלָם.
The Rebbe once told someone, “I will tell you a secret. Great atheism is coming to the world (see “His Wisdom” #35, #126).
כִּי מִלְּמַעְלָה יָבוֹא אֶפִּיקוֹרְסוּת בָּעוֹלָם בִּשְׁבִיל נִסָּיוֹן.
“Atheism will come to the world as a test from on high.
וַאֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁאֲנָשִׁים שֶׁלִּי, גַּם בְּלֹא זֶה יִתְחַזְּקוּ בֶּאֱמוּנָה בֶּאֱמֶת, וְיִשָּׁאֲרוּ קַיָּמִים בֶּאֱמוּנָתָם. אַךְ אֲנִי מְגַלֶּה לְךָ זֹאת כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּתְחַזְּקוּ יוֹתֵר כְּשֶׁיִּרְאוּ שֶׁדִּבְּרוּ מִזֶּה מִקֹּדֶם".
“I know that my followers will be strong and remain firm in their faith without this, but I am revealing this to further encourage them. Let them know that this has already been predicted.”
וְכַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה נִשְׁמַע מִפִּיו הַקָּדוֹשׁ כַּמָּה פְּעָמִים. וְהָיָה מִתְאַנֵּחַ מְאֹד עַל זֶה וְאָמַר: "אוֹי, אֵיךְ יוּכְלוּ לַעֲמֹד אֲנָשִׁים מֻעָטִים נֶגֶד כָּל הָעוֹלָם".
Similar words were heard from the Rebbe’s holy lips many times. With a deep groan, we would say, “Woe! How can a few people stand up against the whole world?”
וְהִנֵּה סָמוּךְ מְאֹד אַחַר הִסְתַּלְּקוּתוֹ ז"ל, רָאִינוּ בְּעֵינֵינוּ זֹאת, שֶׁתֵּכֶף הִתְחִיל לְהִתְפַּשֵּׁט אֶפִּיקוֹרְסִית גָּדוֹל בָּעוֹלָם, מַה שֶּׁלֹּא הָיָה כָּזֹאת מִימֵי קֶדֶם. כִּי אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁכְּבָר הִתְחִיל לִצְמֹחַ נֶגַע הַמִּסְפַּחַת הַזֹּאת בִּמְדִינוֹת רְחוֹקוֹת, הָאֶפִּיקוֹרְסִים הַמְפֻרְסָמִים דְּשָׁם כַּמְפֻרְסָם, וְחִבְּרוּ חִבּוּרִים רָעִים בִּפְרָט סִפְרֵי "הַמְאַסֵּף" וְכוּ', אֲבָל עֲדַיִן לֹא נִתְפַּשְּׁטָה הַנֶּגַע בִּמְדִינָתֵנוּ, עַד אֲשֶׁר בְּיָמֵינוּ אַחַר הִסְתַּלְּקוּתוֹ ז"ל, וְהִסְתַּלְּקוּת עוֹד גְּדוֹלֵי הַצַּדִּיקִים הַקְּדוֹשִׁים ז"ל, פָּשְׂתָה נֶגַע הַמִּסְפַּחַת הָרָעָה הַזֹּאת גַּם בִּמְדִינָתֵנוּ. וּכְבָר צָוְחוּ כִּכְרוּכְיָא הַצַּדִּיקִים וְהַכְּשֵׁרִים שֶׁבְּדוֹרוֹתֵינוּ אֵלֶּה וְאֵין שׁוֹמֵעַ לָהֶם, כִּי יָדָם תָּקְפָה בַּעֲווֹנוֹתֵינוּ הָרַבִּים.
The Rebbe’s words came true. Immediately after his death, atheism spread in the world as never before since the beginning of time. The leprous plague began to flourish in faraway lands where notorious atheists put together such works as HaMe'asef.324"The Gatherer,” the first modern Hebrew periodical, initiated by Isaac Eichel, Mendel Bresslau and the brothers Simon and Zanvil Friedlander. It was published regularly from 1784 to 1786, and then sporadically until 1811. Its publishers, the “Society of Friends of the Hebrew Language,” were primarily assimilationists, and only revived the Hebrew language to introduce Jews to secular culture. Its first contributors were from Mendelssohn's German school, but it was later dominated by Eastern European maskilim (see Waxman, A History of Jewish Literature, 3:120; also see Machnia Zeidim #4). This plague did not spread to our lands until after the passing of the Rebbe and other great tzaddikim. When it reached our area, the tzaddikim and holy Jews cried out like a whooping crane325Kiddushin 44a. Cf. Targum on Jeremiah 8:7. – but none listen to them, as the nonbelievers already have the upper hand.
אוֹי לָנוּ מַה שֶּׁהִגִּיעַ לָנוּ בְּדוֹרוֹתֵינוּ אֵלֶּה. וְעַל יְדֵי זֶה נִצְמְחָה הַגְּזֵרָה הָרָעָה בְּיָמֵינוּ שֶׁנִּמְשְׁכָה עַל יָדָם, אוֹי מֶה הָיָה לָנוּ.
Woe is to us! See what has happened in our generation! See the evil decrees that have resulted from their deeds!326This might refer to the maskil, Isaac Ber Levinsohn, who was largely responsible for the harsh conscription laws of 1827 (Posner, The Tzemach Tzedek and the Haskalah Movement [Kehot, N.Y. 1969], p. 14). He was also responsible for the censorship laws (Nevey Tzaddikim, p. 102). See also Tzaddik #127, #132; Kokhavey Or, p. 43, #6. Levinsohn lived in Nemirov and Tulchin in 1822 and 1823. Woe, what has become of us?
וְנִתְקַיֵּם בַּעֲווֹנוֹתֵינוּ הָרַבִּים כַּאֲשֶׁר הוֹדִיעַ אֲדוֹנֵנוּ מוֹרֵנוּ וְרַבֵּנוּ ז"ל הַנּוֹרָא מִקֹּדֶם בְּרוּחַ קָדְשׁוֹ וַעֲדַיִן הוֹלְכִים וּמִתְפַּשְּׁטִים בְּכָל עֵת. אוֹי מִי יוֹדֵעַ מַה יִּהְיֶה בַּיָּמִים הַבָּאִים.
As a result of our misdeeds, it all came about as the Rebbe predicted with his holy inspiration. We see that it is still spreading even now. Woe, who knows what will be in days to come?
וּכְבָר כָּתַבְנוּ מַה שֶּׁאָמַר הוּא ז"ל שֶׁעַל זֶה הִתְנַבְּאוּ כָּל נְבִיאֵינוּ, בִּפְרָט דָּנִיֵּאל שֶׁאָמַר (דָּנִיֵּאל יב): "יִתְבָּרְרוּ וְיִתְלַבְּנוּ וְיִצָּרְפוּ רַבִּים" וְכוּ'. שֶׁכָּל כַּוָּנָתָם הָיָה שֶׁבְּאַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים הָאֵלֶּה יִתְנַסּוּ וְיִצְטָרְפוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בֶּאֱמוּנָה. שֶׁיַּעַמְדוּ וְיָקוּמוּ רַבִּים שֶׁיִּרְצוּ לְהַטְעוֹת אוֹתָם מֵהָאֱמוּנָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה, שֶׁהֵם הָאֶפִּיקוֹרְסִים וְהַמְחַקְּרִים שֶׁבְּיָמֵינוּ.
The Rebbe told us many times that this was predicted by the prophets (see “His Wisdom” #35). It was especially predicted by the Prophet Daniel, who said, “Many will purify themselves and be refined” (Daniel 12:10). He told us that in the End of Days, Jews will be refined in faith, for many will rise up to pervert it. These are the “enlighteners” and atheists of our generations.
וּמֵאַחַר שֶׁכְּבָר הוֹדִיעַ זֹאת מִקֹּדֶם שֶׁזֶּה יִהְיֶה הַנִּסָּיוֹן, הָיָה רָאוּי לַעֲמֹד בַּנִּסָּיוֹן בְּוַדַּאי, אַף עַל פִּי כֵן יִהְיֶה נִסָּיוֹן גָּדוֹל עַד אֲשֶׁר רַבִּים יִהְיוּ נִכְשָׁלִים מְאֹד.
It should be easy to withstand this test, seeing that it has already been predicted. But the temptation will be so great that many will stumble and fall to the depths.
אַךְ אַף עַל פִּי כֵן אָנוּ כּוֹתְבִים כָּל זֹאת, לְמַעַן יֵדְעוּ הַחֲפֵצִים בָּאֱמֶת וּבָאֱמוּנָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה שֶׁכְּבָר הוֹדִיעַ הוּא ז"ל, לָנוּ אֶת כָּל זֹאת מִקֹּדֶם, לְמַעַן יִהְיֶה לָהֶם לְמֵשִׁיב נֶפֶשׁ לְחַזֵּק לִבָּם בַּה' וּבְתוֹרָתוֹ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה, כַּאֲשֶׁר קִבַּלְנוּ מֵרַבּוֹתֵינוּ ז"ל בַּגְּמָרָא וּפוֹסְקִים.
We are writing this so that all who desire the truth of our holy faith should know that the Rebbe already predicted this. Let this restore their souls and strengthen their hearts toward God and his holy Torah, as taught by our sages of old.