Farbrengen Gimmel Tammuz 5756

00:00 Speaker 1 I invite the guest of honor at this gathering, the honorable Prime Minister, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, to address us. Mr. Prime Minister, please.

00:30 Speaker 2 Honored rabbis, distinguished and dear guests, Rabbi Aharonov, Deputy Minister Meir Porush—soon to be Deputy Minister—Members of Knesset Ben-Elissar, Landau, and Shaki, Chabad chassidim and activists. I want to tell you something. I came here tonight to say, on my behalf and on behalf of my wife Sara, who is also here: Many, many of you in this hall, and thousands upon thousands—tens of thousands—outside it, placed your trust in me and my colleagues. I came tonight to say one word to you: Thank you! Thank you for your faith. Thank you for your faith and for the commitment, first and foremost spiritual, of all those who hold the heritage of the Jewish people dear. And I want to thank especially Yosef Yitzchak, Rabbi Aharonov, who did so very much, whose contribution is beyond measure. I also want to tell you that I was deeply moved a few moments ago. It came as a surprise; I did not expect it. Here I am, sitting on the second anniversary of the Rebbe’s passing, and suddenly I see on the screen a meeting I had with him—the last meeting before I returned to Israel from my service at the UN. You could not hear the words spoken there, and I will tell you in a moment what was said. But I had meetings... I had a series of meetings with the Rebbe, and the first was shortly after I arrived at the UN. He told me one thing. He said: “You are going to the house of darkness and falsehood”—that was how he described the UN in those days. “And only one thing will sustain you there: Jewish pride, pride in the Jewish people, the spiritual strength of the Jewish people, the heritage of the Jewish people, the faith of the Jewish people.” And in our last conversation before I returned to Israel, he told me: “You will encounter many obstacles.” He described them with remarkable precision—I must say, almost prophetic precision. But he said: “With the help of that same faith, we will overcome every obstacle.” And indeed, with the help of that same

04:29 Speaker 2 faith, we overcame them. And that is the faith that unites us: faith in the Land of Israel, faith in the Torah of Israel, faith in the people of Israel. Perhaps that was what captured my heart in that first meeting with the Rebbe, and has never left me for a moment since. I remember his shining eyes, his gaze, which penetrated to the very depths of the soul. I have never seen a gaze like that in anyone else. And I remember not only his wisdom and his profound insight into the roots of things, but something else as well. I remember the love, the Ahavas Yisroel, and I think that was the essence of the Rebbe’s strength: that special combination of the heritage of the Jewish people and supreme wisdom with Ahavas Yisroel. The Rebbe tried to unite every part of the people. He knew that we had differences of opinion. He knew there were secular and religious Jews, different kinds of secular Jews and different kinds of religious Jews. But that made no difference to him. He tried to draw people closer, to bring them together, to unite them, to lift the spirit of the people. And I think this is a tremendous mitzvah before us today. I think we need to bring all our forces together again. I tell you, all our forces without exception. And I think we need to reach out to the entire Jewish people, here and throughout the Diaspora, and instill in every movement, every group, every part of society, that same Ahavas Yisroel that lies at the heart of the Rebbe’s legacy. Because, ladies and gentlemen, we face weighty tasks and great challenges today. I am convinced that we can meet them, but only if we know how to unite in a spirit of Ahavas Yisroel and Jewish unity, in a spirit of tolerance and patience with one another, with mutual respect between people. We will bring all our forces together, and we will bring deliverance to the many, many among our people who are waiting for a day of hope, a day of blessing. And I want

07:23 Speaker 2 to tell you, Chabad chassidim: You are doing wonderful work. You are doing wonderful work bringing Ahavas Yisroel and the heritage of the Jewish people everywhere. I meet your people in the Galilee and the Negev, throughout the Jewish Diaspora, everywhere. And today I have just one wish for you: Keep going. Keep going, expand and strengthen all your educational and public work, because it is imbued with the Rebbe’s legacy. And I have one wish for you and for us: We will do everything in our power to safeguard the things we believe in—the Land of Israel and the heritage of the Jewish people, which we will instill, in a spirit of tolerance and love, through the education system in every boy and girl in Israel. But above all, we will instill that spirit of unity. And I want to say just one last thing to you: Go forward and succeed. Be strong and courageous. Together we will work toward the goals we share with the Jewish people. Thank you very much.

09:03 Speaker 3 Ladies and gentlemen, our thanks and blessings go to everyone here with us, and to the distinguished guests on the dais. Honorable Prime Minister, first of all, thank you on behalf of everyone for the good wishes and all the blessings you have showered upon us. I want to return them in kind and tell you: “Bibi Netanyahu” has the same numerical value as “all the blessings.” May you succeed. Second, ladies and gentlemen: Mr. Prime Minister, may the Rebbe’s holy blessing accompany you in your new role, and may it inspire you to succeed in your sacred mission, standing like an unyielding rock in defense of our land, our people, and our Torah. Thank you very much. We would like... Mr. Prime Minister, Avraham Fried. The Prime Minister says he is staying in honor of Reb Avraham Fried. Ladies and gentlemen, we are here together, but before we invite Reb Avraham Fried, it is important to hear the following. Tonight, joy fills our hearts on one side, but sorrow fills our hearts on the other. On the one hand, we are certain that the Rebbe is here with us, lifting us ever higher. On the other hand, our hearts ache because we cannot see the radiance of his holy face or hear his pure voice. But my brothers and friends, the Rebbe’s children: The Rebbe taught us that even in difficult and painful times, we must not lose our joy. On the contrary, joy breaks through every barrier. So with Reb Avraham Fried and Moshe Laufer’s orchestra, let us greet everything with joy. In honor of the Prime Minister. Before a new song, a few words. On the plane to Israel, I looked at the dates of the election. I looked for hints and saw that the election was on 11 Sivan. The victory began on the 12th, and the final victory was on the 13th. And here is something remarkable: The initials for 11 stand for Yosef Aharonov. On the other side is 13, the initials of Yossel Gutnick. So with two Yossels on either side of you, you have 12 in the middle. What is 12? “Binyamin will win.” So I knew. I had

13:04 Speaker 3 no doubt at all. I also found another hint in those dates: Now we must stand firm against every compromise, against every pressure. The initials for 11 stand for Avraham, Yitzchak, Yaakov: protecting the city of the Patriarchs, Hebron. The initials for 12 stand for “Jerusalem, our capital.” And the initials for 13 stand for Yesha and the Golan. I came here to sing tonight, not to speak, so I will be brief. A new song: Moshe Rabbeinu blessed you thousands of years ago: “Of Binyamin he said: The beloved of Hashem shall dwell securely by Him.” A new song composed by Moshe Laufer: “Of Binyamin he said: The beloved of Hashem shall dwell securely by Him.” Hopa! Lu lu lu lu, la la la, lu lu, la la la la la la la la. Ay, of Binyamin, of Binyamin, of Binyamin he said: The beloved of Hashem shall dwell securely by Him. Ay, of Binyamin, of Binyamin, he said: The beloved of Hashem shall dwell securely by Him; He shelters him all day long. Oy, of Binyamin he said, oy, of Binyamin he said: The beloved of Hashem shall dwell securely by Him; He shelters him all day long. Of Binyamin he said: The beloved of Hashem shall dwell securely by Him; He shelters him all day long. Oy, of Binyamin, of Binyamin he said: The beloved of Hashem shall dwell securely by Him; He shelters him all day long. Oy, of Binyamin, of Binyamin he said: The beloved of Hashem shall dwell securely by Him; He shelters him all day long. Let’s stand, from one side to the other. Ay, of Binyamin, of Binyamin he said: The beloved of Hashem shall dwell securely by Him; He shelters him all day long. Ay, of Binyamin, of Binyamin, of Binyamin he said: The beloved of Hashem shall dwell securely by Him; He shelters him all day long. Ay, of Binyamin he said, of Binyamin he said: The beloved of Hashem shall dwell securely by Him; He shelters him all day long. Oy, of Binyamin he said, oy, of Binyamin he said: The beloved of Hashem shall dwell securely

17:00 Speaker 3 By Him all day long. Oy, “Of Binyamin, of Binyamin, of Binyamin he said: The beloved of Hashem will dwell securely by Him all day long.” But “Of Binyamin, of Binyamin, of Binyamin he said: The beloved of Hashem will dwell securely by Him all day long.” So he says “Of Binyamin,” and others know how much [unclear]. “The beloved of Hashem will dwell securely by Him all day long.” I could have—“Of Binyamin he said: The beloved of Hashem will dwell securely by Him all day long.” And sing together: Oy, “Of Binyamin, of Binyamin, of Binyamin he said: The beloved of Hashem will dwell securely by Him.” Oy, “Of Binyamin, of Binyamin, of Binyamin he said: The beloved of Hashem will dwell securely by Him.” Oy, oy. And now a synagogue song, nice and easy. Jerusalem, the light of the world. And who is the light of Jerusalem? Hakadosh Boruch Hu. Ready? Jerusalem, the light of the world, Jerusalem, oy, the light of the world, Jerusalem, the light of the world. Ay, ay, ay, the light of the world. Jerusalem, the light of... Jerusalem, oy, the light of... Jerusalem, the light of... Ay, ay, ay, the light of the world. Ay, ay, oy, oy, the light of Jerusalem, the light of Jerusalem, oy, the light of Jerusalem, Hakadosh Boruch Hu. Ay, ay, oy, oy, the light of Jerusalem, the light of Jerusalem, oy, the light of Jerusalem. Oy, Jerusalem, and Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the light of the world, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Jerusalem. The light of the world. Ay, ya, ya, ay, ya, ya, ay, ya, ya.

21:31 Speaker 3 Jerusalem, the light of the world, Jerusalem, the light of... oy, no, Jerusalem, oy, oy, the light of the world. Jerusalem, the light of the world, Jerusalem, the light of... oy, no, Jerusalem, oy, oy, the light of the world. Ay, ay, oy, oy, the light of the world. Oy, oy, oy, the light of Jerusalem, the light of Jerusalem, the light of Jerusalem, Hakadosh Boruch Hu. Ay, ay, oy, oy, the light of Jerusalem, the light of Jerusalem, the light of Jerusalem. Oh, Jerusalem! [unclear]. Oh, oh, oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Jerusalem. The light of the world. Ay, ay, I love Jerusalem, the light of Jerusalem. Oy, the light of Jerusalem, Hakadosh Boruch Hu. Oy, oy, oy, the light of Jerusalem, the light of Jerusalem, the light of Jerusalem. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Jerusalem. The light of the world. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Jerusalem. The light of the world. Ay, ay. Ay, ay, ay, ay. Ay, ay, ay. Ay, ay. Oy, oy, oy, oy. Oh, oh, Jerusalem. And with this chassidic joy, which breaks through barriers and helps us overcome every concealment and obstruction, we send you off with the blessing, “Go in pea-- peace.” Jerusalem, the light of the world. Go in peace, Prime Minister Mr. Binyamin Netanyahu, together with your wife, Mrs. Netanyahu. We wish him success in the road ahead. The wholeness of the Land, the wholeness of the people, the wholeness of the Torah. May we see the building of the third Beis Hamikdash very soon, with the Rebbe at our head. Amen and amen.

25:37 Speaker 4 Amen.

25:37 Speaker 3 And the orchestra continues.

00:02 Speaker 1 Not in the presence of, or in the shadow of, the inspiration we mentioned earlier. Thanks and blessings to the director-general of the Chabad Oholei Yosef Yitzchak school network in Israel, the Rebbe’s shliach, Rabbi Yisroel Butman of Nahariya [unclear]. Ladies and gentlemen, let us welcome the former Rishon LeZion and Chief Rabbi of Israel, a friend of the Rebbe’s household, the eminent kabbalist Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu shlita. Welcome in the name of Hashem. In his holy sichos on our connection to the Rebbe in the situation we find ourselves in, the Rebbe says: “Anyone who was with the Rebbe in yechidus should picture the Rebbe’s face as it appeared when he entered for yechidus. Those who did not see the Rebbe should picture his face from a photograph that will awaken them to an awareness and feeling of connection.” Let us now watch a video together and relive sublime moments with the Rebbe. Please.

01:30 Speaker 2 5748, the eve of 5 [unclear] 5749.

02:02 Speaker 1 And after those holy words, ladies and gentlemen, all that remains for us to say is: My soul thirsts for you, Rebbe. We are all your children, your students; the Jewish people yearn to see those holy sights again with our own eyes. May our eyes behold your return to Zion very, very soon. Amen and amen. Ladies and gentlemen, it is a privilege and an honor to host the Rishon LeZion once again. He merited a uniquely special relationship with the Rebbe. We all remember the admiring looks the Rebbe gave him year after year when the Rishon LeZion delivered his Chanukah address from the Western Wall. Ladies and gentlemen, two years ago at this time, I had the privilege of meeting the Rishon LeZion there. He arrived in the middle of the night at the holy Ohel and went straight from there to 770, the Rebbe’s beis midrash. He was the first to speak there, with deep emotion, his voice choked with tears. I remember how everyone cried along with him, and how his words encouraged us, strengthened us, and gave us strength, as they always do. Ladies and gentlemen! I have the honor of inviting the extraordinary figure of our generation, a giant of halachah and Kabbalah, beloved and admired, a man of wide-ranging wisdom: the Rishon LeZion, the eminent kabbalist Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu shlita. Please. Honored great rabbis and eminent Torah scholars, honored Rebbes, heads of yeshivos, rabbis, city rabbis and community rabbis; the esteemed director-general of Tzeirei Agudas Chabad, Rabbi Aharonov, who does so much to spread and glorify Torah; our dear and esteemed host—may Hashem watch over him and grant him a long and pleasant life; members of Knesset, new and longstanding alike—may we wish them great success; and this holy and distinguished assembly. Had we merited it—or perhaps I should speak in the singular: had I merited it—we would see the honored Rebbe standing here with us today. Since I did not merit that, we saw him only in an image. We pray to the Creator of the world and hope that we will merit the complete Geulah and see him standing here with us today. Ladies and gentlemen, in this week’s parsha we read: “Then Israel sang

05:56 Speaker 1 this song: Rise up, O well; sing to it. The well that princes dug, that the nobles of the people excavated with the lawgiver, with their staffs. And from the wilderness to Matanah, and from Matanah to Nachaliel.” The well was Miriam’s well. Miriam began with kindness. She began by providing water and food and keeping the children alive. Miriam began with their physical needs, and afterward she educated the daughters and women of Israel to have faith in the Geulah of the Jewish people. “And all the women went out after her with tambourines and dances.” Rashi says they believed that Hakadosh Boruch Hu would perform a miracle, and so they prepared tambourines for the dances. Miriam’s well, a well of water, is a symbol and a sign: “Water refers only to Torah.” But there is one Torah for the Jewish people, one and only one. There is a Torah that flows from a lofty source. There is a Torah given to Moshe Rabbeinu at Mount Sinai, passed down from generation to generation until this day, and it will not change. “The well that princes dug, that the nobles of the people excavated”—that same well of Miriam. That same well mentioned when Yaakov Avinu came and saw three flocks of sheep. Clear water, living water, pure water. We continue with that same Torah, following in the footsteps of our forefathers, of “the nobles of the people” who excavated it, Moshe and Aharon. But that is not all. There are people who stay at home and do not want to come to a place of Torah, a place of holiness. There are people in darkness, in distant places, who do not have the light of Torah to give them life. What do Moshe and Aharon do? What do the true leaders of the people do? What do those who want to dig for water and draw it from the holy well to give the people a drink do? “With the lawgiver, with their staffs”: they take their staffs, go to Miriam’s well, and draw the water to the tents, to the homes. “And from the wilderness to Matanah, and from Matanah to Nachaliel.” America was a wilderness, a desolate land. Europe and other places throughout the world—in America and outside America, Morocco and elsewhere—were a desolate wilderness. If not for that righteous, pure and holy man in whose honor we have gathered tonight, on the occasion of his hilula,

09:04 Speaker 1 who took his staff, drew the water and channeled it everywhere, illuminating the darkness throughout the world. With that staff he brought the clear, pure water that “the nobles of the people excavated,” and “with the lawgiver, with their staffs,” he brought it to every place in the world: “from Matanah to Nachaliel, and from Nachaliel to Bamos.” And if today we see that in every place in the world there is a light of holiness, fear of Heaven, Torah, a spark of love and faith in the Creator of the world, it is through the power of that staff, which drew the water and brought it to the whole world through the Rebbe’s shluchim. Ladies and gentlemen, later in the parsha we will read a verse that our Sages explain in a way that goes beyond its plain meaning. The verse says: “Therefore the poets say: Come to Cheshbon; let the city of Sichon be built and established.” Our Sages say: “Therefore the poets say”—these are those who rule over their inclinations. “Come to Cheshbon”: come, let us make an accounting of the world. “Let it be built and established”: built in this world and established in the World to Come. And “the city of Sichon”—not to be like a wild creature. The plain meaning of the verse is different. It speaks about the conquest of Cheshbon, which was to the benefit of the Jewish people. Ammon and Moav feared Sichon. Our Sages come and explain it in a more accessible way, to bring it into the hearts of the Jewish people. “Therefore the poets say”—those who rule are the tzaddikim. “One who is slow to anger is better than a mighty man, and one who rules his spirit than one who captures a city.” And that is not all. Our Sages say of the verse, “A tzaddik rules through fear of G-d”: a tzaddik decrees and Hakadosh Boruch Hu fulfills it. How does a person attain such power, to exercise influence in this world and the World to Come? To say and rule on matters here, and be heard in Heaven? To rule through fear of G-d? How can that be? When a tzaddik rules, when he overcomes every force and truly rules his own spirit, that power of mastery over his spirit, that power of fear of Heaven, brings him to that state. “A tzaddik rules

12:06 Speaker 1 through fear of G-d”—a tzaddik decrees and Hakadosh Boruch Hu fulfills it. “Therefore the poets say: Come to Cheshbon; let the city of Sichon be built and established.” The holy [unclear] says: There are rulers—great tzaddikim, lofty and exalted tzaddikim. But a tzaddik who remains in his room, sitting and studying Torah—that is good, but he cannot rule. Let us make an accounting of the world. Let us not be satisfied with our own four cubits; let us not be satisfied with our own Chabad Chassidus. Rather, let us influence the world. Let us make an accounting of the world. “Come to Cheshbon,” and then it will be built in this world and established for the World to Come. If we could see the exalted powers of the honored Rebbe—may his merit protect us, you, and all his people Israel—ruling throughout the world: “Let the city of Sichon be built and established,” in this world and in the World to Come. Ladies and gentlemen, since we are discussing the parsha, and as you know, a haftarah was also instituted for the parsha, I would like to offer several interpretations of the parsha and the haftarah. Perhaps by saying this now, I will atone for something I once said. Some years ago, I used to say: Yiftach was an empty man, empty—“Yiftach in his generation.” Well, what can you do? And I would say: The Jewish people come to him in a time of trouble, at a difficult moment. And it says, “Worthless men gathered around Yiftach.” The elders of Gilad come to him and say: The situation is grave. They want to wage war against the Jewish people. The Ammonites are coming to fight the Jewish people. And Yiftach starts setting conditions: “Make me the leader, make me the commander, give me this position.” I thought to myself: Yiftach, our Sages speak of empty men; that is not how one behaves when the Jewish people are in trouble. But for the past four years, I have been doing teshuvah over this, and I say: Yiftach, good for you for what you said, as we will soon see. I was wrong to call him empty from my perspective. Our leaders should learn from that Yiftach, who was called empty, how to conduct himself and how to lead the

15:03 Speaker 1 The people. The Ammonites come to Yiftach and say, “Yiftach, we want to come in and conquer the Land of Israel.” War. Yiftach sends a message to them: “What do you want?” The Ammonites answer: “We have one demand. What is it? When the Jewish people left Egypt, they conquered and took certain places. Now,” the Ammonites tell him, “‘return them peacefully.’ Give back the places you conquered peacefully, in the name of peace. Give all those places back to Ammon and Moav.” Yiftach is astonished. What do you mean, I should give them back? They say, “You want land for peace? We’ll make peace. I’ll give you your land.” And Yiftach—the very Yiftach they called an empty man—look at how he responds. Yiftach says to the Ammonites: What do you want? Sichon conquered Cheshbon, and we conquered it from Sichon. That’s the first point. They aren’t convinced. How does Yiftach convince the Jewish people not to follow the Ammonites’ approach, not to give the land back under the slogan of “peacefully”—“return them peacefully”? Yiftach says: “And now Hashem, the G-d of Israel, has driven out the Emorites before His people Israel, and you would take their place?” He tells them: Hakadosh Boruch Hu performed miracles and wonders for us. He performed miracles and wonders for the Jewish people so that you should take their place? In the Jewish people’s wars here in the Land of Israel, we saw with our own eyes the miracles and wonders in every war: the Six-Day War, the Yom Kippur War, the Scud missiles—miracles and wonders. Hakadosh Boruch Hu performs miracles and wonders and gives us the land so that we should give it back to you? That will not happen. Those are Yiftach’s words. And if I thought he was empty, by my reckoning, I was wrong. Yiftach is right in his approach. Ladies and gentlemen. Ladies and gentlemen. Two or three weeks ago, we were reciting two verses in Hallel.

18:21 Speaker 1 “Please, Hashem, save us now,” “Please, Hashem, save us now.” The second verse: “Please, Hashem, grant us success now,” “Please, Hashem, grant us success now.” Until a few weeks ago, we needed to pray, “Please, Hashem, save us now”—to save the Jewish people. Today we need to pray, “Please, Hashem, grant us success now.” If they follow Hashem’s path, success is assured. A few weeks ago there was a slogan, “So-and-so is good for the Jews,” and it caused a big uproar. “Netanyahu is good for the Jews.” Perhaps the people who came up with that slogan meant something else. As I understand it now, Netanyahu is good on the question of “Who is a Jew?” That is what “good for the Jews” means. Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered now for the hilula, in memory of the holy Rebbe. We must continue on his path, continue sending shluchim throughout the world and illuminating the world. Continue to stand firm for the sanctity of the Land of Israel, the sanctity of the Torah of Israel and the Jewish people. The entire Jewish people must continue with the same enthusiasm we have seen here—an enthusiasm for holiness, an enthusiasm for the fear of Heaven. May he stand in prayer in Heaven so that the Jewish people will be saved, dwelling in peace and security with none to frighten them, and may we merit the complete Geulah speedily and soon. And as the Rebbe would say: very soon indeed.

00:13 Speaker 1 Honored rabbis, my colleague the Minister of the Interior, members of the Knesset, dear friends, faithful community: We gather here this evening filled with the same love—love for the Jewish people, love for the Torah, and love for the Land of Israel. And this threefold cord will not quickly be broken. Two years have passed, and before our eyes stands the radiant, majestic figure of the man, the leader, who loved his fellow Jews, educated his people, and sent shluchim wherever the message and the good news needed to reach: The Jewish people live. That figure will remain in our hearts and memories—alive, guiding, teaching, helping, extending a warm hand, a hand that brings healing and hope. Fortunate are we, the generation that saw this exalted figure. Fortunate are we to have engraved his image in our minds. I had the honor and the privilege of meeting the Rebbe at his residence. It was when we renewed relations with what was then the Soviet Union, and the decision was made to open the gates of redemption so that our brothers could come to the Land of Israel. I brought him the news and said, “Honored Rebbe, is this not the finger of G-d?” He said to me, “It is the hand of G-d.” That mighty hand is what has sustained us, and it will sustain us through the difficult trials we face. But this is also an opportunity to thank you for stepping forward, first and foremost to help our people. Day after day, everywhere, on the front lines and on the home front, you bring light and hope through your work, here and everywhere. And by stepping forward in the recent great national campaign, you made a unique contribution to the great victory. You helped bring about the great change for which the overwhelming majority of the people had hoped. My heartfelt thanks and blessings. Let us all pray that the values that guide you, the values of the Jewish people throughout the generations in the land of our forefathers, will remain before our eyes, and that with renewed strength and clear vision we will know how to lead the people to safe harbor. May you be blessed. Accept our thanks and blessings on this great evening. May you go from strength to strength. The Jewish people live.

05:15 Speaker 2 And we now turn to the honored Foreign Minister and Acting Prime Minister, Mr. David Levy. May you go from strength to strength, with the thanks and blessings of us all for the road ahead, until the great victory: the integrity of the Land, the integrity of the people, and the integrity of the Torah, with the coming of Moshiach, our righteous redeemer, very soon indeed. And we welcome Knesset member Professor Avner Shaki.

00:00 Speaker 1 We are pleased to welcome the honorable Prime Minister and his wife, Mrs. Netanyahu. Let us greet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a victory march. Let us all pray that this will indeed be a complete victory for the Jewish people in the whole Land of Israel, with the Torah intact.

03:03 Speaker 2 And welcome to the honorable Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Mrs. Netanyahu. My teachers and rabbis, distinguished Prime Minister, honored audience, we are proud to present to you these outstanding men, the Rebbe’s shluchim. Two hundred directors of Chabad Houses are seated here on the stage. What makes each of these shluchim special, ladies and gentlemen, is that when he sets out on his mission, the first thing he does not ask about is pay. The shluchim never asked, when the Rebbe sent them, where or how they would make a living the day after arriving at their destination. They went in accordance with the Rebbe’s instruction. Yet before many days pass, the walls of a Jewish home begin to rise and take shape in every place: a shul, a Torah school, a student club, and of course that giant menorah towering over the town square, spreading still more light for Chanukah. The crowning achievement of this wonderful movement in our time is taking in thousands of children from Chernobyl and seeing to all their needs. I have the honor of introducing and inviting the man at the head of Agudas Chassidei Chabad, at the top of this wonderful structure, who directs all this wonderful activity and stood behind the great campaign to save the Land of Israel: the chairman of Tzeirei Agudas Chabad, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak HaKohen Aharonov. Please. Honored rabbis, Prime Minister, heads of yeshivos, mashpi’im, the Rebbe’s shluchim, directors of Chabad Houses in our Holy Land, ministers, members of the Knesset, mayors. I feel obliged to mention a dear friend who would very much have liked to join us here but was unable to: my friend Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Gutnick, who works with great devotion on the Rebbe’s mission to safeguard the Jewish people and the integrity of the Land. Honored audience, two years have passed and we have still not been delivered. Every morning we wake up, and from deep within us bursts a pleading cry to Hakadosh Boruch Hu: How long? We want to be with the Rebbe, and this evening too we

06:44 Speaker 2 cry out and plead: How long? But know this, ladies and gentlemen: the Rebbe, the leader of our generation, has not abandoned his flock. The Rebbe continues to influence and guide us, and we feel it at every step. The Rebbe charged us with the great mission of preparing the world to greet our righteous Moshiach, and we continue that mission with even greater strength and vigor. Our Sages said, “Just as his descendants are alive, so too is he alive.” Indeed, when we look at the two years that have passed and see how the Rebbe’s great work continues to grow on an enormous scale, there is no doubt at all that he too is alive. And not merely “he too,” but above all, he. The Rebbe continues to infuse us with the lifeblood of our mission, with energy, strength, and a living spirit. The Rebbe’s work continues with even greater strength and vigor, and I can tell you that over the past two years another fourteen Chabad Houses have opened in Israel, along with dozens of other institutions. Just a few days ago, a Chabad House opened in Mitzpe Yericho to serve the entire Jericho area. And, ladies and gentlemen, in about ten days there will be a dedication ceremony for the new Chabad House building in Hispin on the Golan Heights. We will deepen our activities throughout the Land: “You shall spread westward and eastward and northward and southward”—also, and especially, in Judea, Samaria, the Gaza Strip, and across the Golan Heights. Ladies and gentlemen, who gives Chabad chassidim this special fire? What moves a young couple to leave Kfar Chabad or Nachlas Har Chabad or a Chabad neighborhood and go to a new place where they have no friends, no Chabad educational institutions, no minyan that davens according to the Chabad custom? What spirit gives life to this entire immense undertaking? It is the Rebbe’s spirit. The Rebbe is with us, and we are with the Rebbe. Dear friends, dear friends, chassidim and Temimim, soldiers of the House of David, admirers of the Rebbe and all who hold him dear: during the month of Sivan, after we received

10:16 Speaker 2 the Torah anew, after Shavuos, something momentous happened in Israel. After the period of darkness we went through in previous years, Hashem showed us great kindness when He stirred a holy spirit from above within His people Israel as they faced an important choice. This people chose what is good, chose life: “Choose life.” At the same time, there are quite a few Jews who are still apprehensive, who have not yet had the good fortune to taste the goodness of “Taste and see that Hashem is good.” And all of us are still awaiting the complete Geulah. We are living in days when we must unite the people and bring hearts closer together. Countless times the Rebbe noted that Jewish unity and Ahavas Yisroel are the key to the Geulah, and now the heart of the Jewish people is awake. We must go out to them and finally bring down all the barriers. We must love every Jew and thereby prepare ourselves and all our people for the complete Geulah. Tzeirei Agudas Chabad is now preparing a special campaign whose aim is to increase unity among our people. We will reach out to every segment of the public and say: We are all Jews. Come, let us sit together, let us talk together, let us all draw closer together to our Father in Heaven. We are brothers, and the Torah, too, was given to us all. I can tell you that an unprecedented unity campaign will begin in the very near future. Seven hundred and seventy such stands—and that is only the beginning—will be set up throughout the country by the Rebbe’s army, whose leaders and commanders are seated here with us on the stage: the directors of the Chabad Houses, together with all Chabad chassidim. A new government has taken office in Israel, and the new Prime Minister, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, is here with us this evening. We—ladies and gentlemen, we wish him great success in the major tasks he has declared and announced. We were glad to hear the Prime Minister say that he considers instilling Jewish values in the people to be of the highest importance. And we remember with appreciation the Prime Minister’s promise at the gathering of Chabad House directors in the holy city of Jerusalem a few months ago that, if elected, he would put Jewish education at the top of the national agenda.

13:43 Speaker 2 We heard the Prime Minister set out his diplomatic policy before the Rebbe, and the Rebbe told him that this was the best approach so that there would be no need to resort to combat, war, and the like, and that “in returning and rest you shall be saved.” Mr. Prime Minister, you merited many descriptions from the Rebbe, who always received you warmly and with a welcoming expression, and bestowed on you an abundance of his blessings. You have every strength you need to follow this new path, without concessions and without withdrawals. And one, ladies and gentlemen, one of his holy sichos. In one of his holy sichos, the Rebbe said: “To prevent war by natural means, it is precisely necessary to instill fear and dread in the opposing side, so that they will be afraid to go to war. But when you give them the areas essential to security, they see that you are afraid of them, and that provokes them even more.” At this very time, the Arabs are demanding that Chevron, the city of our forefathers, which Avraham Avinu bought for full payment, be handed over to them. We are certain that you will guard Chevron with the utmost care, because what happens, ladies and gentlemen—because, ladies and gentlemen, what happens to Chevron will happen to Jerusalem. And we are confident that in the government’s discussions about Chevron, one and only one course of action is taking shape: how to protect Chevron. Many times the Rebbe spoke with sorrow and pain about the fact that while the Arabs are not ashamed to speak of holy lands, Jews are afraid to declare openly that the Land of Israel is the Holy Land, the land given by the G-d of eternity as an eternal inheritance to an eternal people. But you, Prime Minister, were not ashamed before the nations of the world. You spoke before them with Jewish pride. We remember how you stood proudly at the Knesset podium and explained with great conviction that the Tanach is the foundation, the basis, of our right to the Land of Israel. And on

17:13 Speaker 2 And on that, the Rebbe told you: “Your speech gave me great nachas, and may it be Hashem’s will that you continue in this direction.” Now the people of Israel have given you the power, the mandate, to put this policy into practice. We are certain that just as you were not afraid to fight for this position here at home, so you will stand before the entire world and say: The Land of Israel belongs to the Jewish people. Because that is what the Tanach says—the Tanach that the entire world believes in and holds sacred. As Rashi says at the beginning of his commentary on the Torah, if the nations of the world say to Israel, “You are thieves, for you conquered the lands of the seven nations,” Israel answers them: “The whole earth belongs to Hakadosh Boruch Hu. He created it and gave it to whomever He saw fit. By His will He gave it to them, and by His will He took it from them and gave it to us.” This is the true and eternal answer the Torah gives to every claim by the nations of the world concerning our right to the Land of Israel. This Jewish spirit, gentlemen—this Jewish spirit—we must pass on to our children and instill in every member of our people. When the entire people is imbued with Jewish pride, no enemy will be able to stand before... against us, and we will merit the fulfillment of the prophecy of Geulah that the Rebbe quoted to you: “In returning and rest shall you be saved.” And that, Mr. Prime Minister, is your great and fateful mission. Chazak, chazak, venischazek. May it be Hashem’s will that we soon merit the coming of the Redeemer, speedily in our days, amen. Chazak, chazak, venischazek. We say the same to you, the esteemed chairman of Tzeirei Agudas Chabad in our Holy Land, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak HaKohen Aharonov, on behalf of all Anash in Israel: Everyone shakes your hand and says to you, “Chazak, chazak, venischazek.”

00:00 Speaker 1 Ladies and gentlemen, as we just heard in the speech, it was emphasized in detail that the issue of the integrity of the Land of Israel, and the need to stand firm before the nations of the world regarding the Land of Israel, never left the Rebbe’s agenda. On hundreds and thousands of occasions, both in public sichos and farbrengens and in meetings with various figures, the Rebbe stressed that the only way to achieve true peace is through the firm stand we heard about earlier. My brothers and friends, esteemed gathering: Before we invite the honorable Prime Minister, we would like to present a short video clip of the Rebbe’s words on the integrity of the Land of Israel. After that, we also have a surprise for you. We will watch the Prime Minister’s special meeting with the Rebbe eight years ago, when the Rebbe, in effect, foretold his victory in those days. Please, the video.

01:28 Speaker 2 I don’t remember.

01:29 Speaker 3 I heard and saw the…

01:31 Speaker 2 [unclear] over the years, [unclear] two years later, [unclear] begins in Tishrei 5771. [unclear], but I pass on matters like these.

01:49 Speaker 3 I intend to continue exactly [unclear]. I’ve accepted it.

01:54 Speaker 2 That gave me what was best for me.

01:56 Speaker 3 The only one, too.

01:57 Speaker 2 After all, we succeeded in every matter and in every [unclear]. [unclear] Success.

02:09 Speaker 3 I want to share with you the dream we began with: to come and help you, and assist you in getting all the help you can. [unclear]

02:20 Speaker 2 I’m still beginning my struggle.

02:23 Speaker 3 I know. That’s why—

02:25 Speaker 2 [unclear]

02:30 Speaker 3 We understood. In practical terms, that is also a matter of action. I hope to return to you—

02:36 Speaker 2 The other side of it is that I have 119 [unclear] Moshiach. [unclear] Hakadosh Boruch Hu [unclear]. Much success. [unclear] Hakadosh Boruch Hu. Much success.

03:11 Speaker 4 A country belonging to Hakadosh Boruch Hu. Those are the last three words we heard the Rebbe say to the honorable Prime Minister. On behalf of everyone here and the distinguished presidium, I now have the honor of inviting the guest of honor at this gathering, the honorable Prime Minister, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, to address us. Prime Minister, please.

03:56 Speaker 5 Honored rabbis, my esteemed friend Rabbi Aharonov, Deputy Minister Meir Porush—soon to be Deputy Minister—Members of Knesset Ben-Elissar, Landau and Shaki, Chabad chassidim and activists: I want to tell you something. I came here this evening to speak on behalf of myself and my wife Sara, who is also here. I came to tell you that many, many of you in this hall, and thousands upon thousands—tens of thousands—outside it, placed your trust in me and my colleagues. I came this evening to say one word to you: Thank you! Thank you for your faith. Thank you for your faith and for rallying to the cause—first and foremost, spiritually—on the part of all those to whom our Jewish heritage is dear. I want to thank in particular Yosef Yitzchak, Rabbi Aharonov, who has done so very much, whose contribution is beyond measure. I also want to tell you that I was deeply moved a few moments ago. It came as a surprise; I wasn’t expecting it. Here I am, sitting here on the second anniversary of the Rebbe’s passing, and suddenly I see on the screen a meeting I had with him—the last meeting I had before returning to Israel from my service at the UN. You couldn’t hear the words spoken there, and in a moment I’ll tell you what was said. But I had meetings—I had a series of meetings with the Rebbe, and the first was shortly after I arrived at the UN. He told me one thing. He said, “You are going to the house of darkness and falsehood”—that was how he described the UN in those days—“and only one thing will sustain you there: Jewish pride, pride in the Jewish people, the spiritual strength of the Jewish people, our Jewish heritage and Jewish faith.” And in our last conversation before my return to Israel, he told me, “You will encounter many obstacles.” He described them with remarkable precision, I must say, almost prophetic precision. But he said, “With the help of that same faith, we will overcome all the obstacles.” And indeed, with the help of that faith, we did overcome them.

08:00 Speaker 5 And that is the faith that unites us: faith in the Land of Israel, faith in the Torah of Israel, faith in the people of Israel. Perhaps that is what captured my heart at that first meeting with the Rebbe and has not left me for a moment since. I remember his shining eyes, his gaze, which penetrated to the very depths of the soul. I have never seen a gaze like that in anyone else. And I remember not only his wisdom and his profound understanding of things at their root, but something else as well. I remember the love—Ahavas Yisroel—and I think that was the essence of the Rebbe’s strength: that unique combination of our Jewish heritage and supreme wisdom with Ahavas Yisroel. The Rebbe tried to unite every part of our people. He knew that we have differences of opinion. He knew there are secular and religious Jews, different kinds of secular Jews and different kinds of religious Jews. But that made no difference to him. He tried to bring people closer, bring them together, unite them and lift the spirit of the people. I think that is a tremendous mitzvah before us today. I think we need to bring all our forces together again. I tell you: all of them, without exception. And I think we need to reach out to the entire Jewish people, those here and those in the Diaspora, and instill in every movement, every group and every sector that same Ahavas Yisroel that is at the heart of the Rebbe’s legacy. Because today, ladies and gentlemen, we face weighty tasks and great challenges. I am convinced we can meet them, but only if we are wise enough to unite in a spirit of Ahavas Yisroel and Jewish unity, with tolerance and patience toward one another, and with mutual respect. We will unite all our forces and bring help to the many, many among our people who are waiting for a day of hope, a day of blessing. And I want to tell

10:50 Speaker 5 you, Chabad chassidim: You are doing wonderful work. You are doing wonderful work bringing Ahavas Yisroel and our Jewish heritage everywhere. I meet your people in the Galilee and the Negev, throughout the Jewish Diaspora, everywhere. Today I have just one wish for you: Keep going. Keep going, increase and strengthen all your educational and public activities, because they are imbued with the Rebbe’s legacy. And I wish one thing for you and for us: We will do everything in our power to safeguard the things we believe in—the Land of Israel and our Jewish heritage, which we will instill in every boy and girl in Israel through the education system, in a spirit of tolerance and love. But above all, we will instill that spirit of unity. I want to say just one thing in closing: Go forward and succeed; be strong and resolute. Together we will work toward the goals we share with the Jewish people. Thank you very much.

12:29 Speaker 6 Ladies and gentlemen, our thanks and blessings. Speaking on behalf of everyone here and the distinguished presidium, I want to say to you, honorable Prime Minister: First of all, thank you from all of us for your good wishes and all the blessings you have bestowed on us. I want to return the favor and tell you: “Benjamin Netanyahu” has the same gematria as “all the blessings.” It works out. Second, ladies and gentlemen, honorable Prime Minister, may the Rebbe’s holy blessing accompany you in your new role, and, inspired by it, may you succeed in your holy mission to stand like a firm rock in defense of our land, our people and our Torah. Thank you very much.

00:10 Speaker 1 We want to stay for Avraham Fried.

00:12 Speaker 2 The prime minister announces that he’s staying in honor of Reb Avraham Fried. Gentlemen.

00:00 Speaker 1 Moshe Laufer, please.

00:15 Speaker 2 Come, come, King Moshiach. Come, hey, come, King Moshiach. Come, come, King Moshiach. Come, come, King Moshiach. Ai, ai, ai, King Moshiach. Ai, ai, ai, welcome. Ai, ai, ai, King Moshiach. Ai, ai, ai, we love him. Who has given us life, sustained us, and brought us to this time. Who has given us life, sustained us, and brought us to this time. Ai, ai, ai, King Moshiach. Ai, ai, ai, welcome. Ai, ai, ai, King Moshiach. Ai, ai, ai, oh, happy Chanukah. Come, ai, come, King Moshiach. Come, whoa, come! King Moshiach. Come, whoa, come, King, King Moshiach. Come, whoa, come, King Moshiach. Oy, oy, oy, King Moshiach. Ai, ai, ai, yes, welcome. Ai, ai, ai, King Moshiach. Ai, ai, ai, oh, welcome. Who has given us life, sustained us, and brought us to this time. Who has given us life, sustained us, and brought us to this time. Ai, ai, ai, King Moshiach. Whoa, ai, ai, ai, welcome. Ai, ai, King Moshiach, whoa, whoa. Where are you? Where are you going, Moshiach? Will you open the door for me? Come, come, oy, come, come to us, Moshiach. Come, come, oy, come, come to us, Moshiach. Listen! Clap your hands, one. Ai, ai, ai, ai. Ai, ai, ai. Ai, ai, ai. Ai, ai, ai. Who has given us life, sustained us, and brought us to this time, who has given us life, sustained us, and brought us to this time. Ai, ai, ai, King Moshiach. Ai, ai, ai, welcome. Ai, ai, ai, King Moshiach. Ai, ai, ai, whoa, whoa. Ai, ai, ai, King Moshiach. Ai, ai, ai, welcome. Ai, ai, ai, King Moshiach. Ai, ai, ai, welcome, amen. Moshiach, welcome. Thank you very much. Welcome, all of you, holy

04:20 Speaker 2 congregation, brothers, chassidim, dear brothers. The next song is a classic Chabad song. A classic. A song the Rebbe taught us and was very fond of. It’s very fitting. It’s “My Soul Thirsts for You.” We long so deeply to behold Your might and Your glory. Since tonight is an evening of farbrengen, I ask you: let’s sing together. Let your soul sing. My soul thirsts for You. My soul thirsts for You. My flesh longs for You. In a dry and weary land without water. Mmm, mmm, mmm. Oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, ner, oy ner, oy ta ta day, oy, yo. Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah. Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah. Ai, la, lai, la, lai, ta, da, day, lai. So I have seen You in the sanctuary, to behold Your might and Your glory. Oy, so I have seen You in the sanctuary, to behold Your might and Your glory. Oy, so I have seen You in the sanctuary, to behold Your might and Your glory. Ai, ai, ai, ai, ai. Ai, ai, ai, ai, ai. Ai, la, lai, la, lai, ta, da, day, oy, oy. Oy, ai, ai, ai, ai. Oy, ai, ai, ai, ai. Ai, la, lai, la, lai, ta, da, day. Oy, so I have seen You in the sanctuary, to behold Your might and Your glory. Oy, so I have seen You in the sanctuary, to behold Your might and Your glory. Everyone together. A few years ago, I recorded a Yiddish song, “Nisht Gedagt, Yidden,” which we’ll sing later, with Hashem’s help. We Chabad chassidim have an old song with the same message: Don’t worry, friends, dear friends, about what will happen on the way. “Nie Zhuritsya, Khloptsi”—when we get to the inn, to the Rebbe, it will be very good there. There we’ll drink from the waters of life. “Nie Zhuritsya”—please join in.

12:15 Speaker 3 Ai, ai, ai, ai. Rumpi rum, rum papa, yemtsi, rumpi rum, papa. Rumpi rum, papa, ai, ai, ai, ai. Rumpi rum, papa, yemtsi, rumpi rum, papa. Rumpi rum, papa, ai, ai, ai, ai.

12:41 Speaker 4 Thank you very much. Thank you very much.

12:43 Speaker 5 Chassidic singer Reb Avraham Fried, accompanied by Moshe Laufer’s orchestra.

02:59 Speaker 1 I had a beautiful dream. I was in the Beis Hamikdash. Kohanim and Levi’im were offering sacrifices, and the Levi’im were singing Shir Hamaalos. Moshe Rabbeinu was reading from the Torah. The Sanhedrin sat and studied Torah. Ah, there they are calling. [unclear] the menorah. [unclear]. I see a magnificent face. His face shines with a golden light. On his head is [unclear]. Oy, oy, it’s the Rebbe! It’s the Rebbe! Moshiach! And all of us, the whole crowd, are filled with joy. [unclear]. Suddenly, I woke up. Oy, oy, oy, it wasn’t [unclear]. No, it wasn’t [unclear]. [unclear]. Moshiach [unclear]. Oy, oy, oy, sing with joy. [unclear]. We can all go home. [unclear]. Oy, oy, oy, the Rebbe, oy, oy, oy. Oy, no, it wasn’t [unclear]. [unclear]. Moshiach [unclear]. Oy, oy, Moshiach [unclear]. We can all go home. [unclear]. Oy, the Rebbe, [unclear]. I saw a beautiful [unclear]. We arrived in Jerusalem. She says joyfully, “Welcome.” [unclear]. She has known so much sorrow. Ah, what you have endured for thousands of years. Ah, my dear one, you have been [unclear]. And angels are walking [unclear]. They fill the city itself with [unclear]. Ah, they have come [unclear].

07:25 Speaker 1 [unclear]. His beloved, beloved, beloved, beloved [unclear] the Beis Hamikdash. A tzaddik dances with [unclear]. She is already preparing [unclear]. Ah, I suddenly caught sight of her. Oy, oy, oy. [unclear]. They are already dancing [unclear]. [unclear]. Oy, oy, oy, [unclear]. Yes, yes, [unclear]. Two [unclear] on the [unclear], with beautiful little legs, oy, oy, oy, [unclear], oy, oy, oy. Oy, no one can [unclear] this beautiful dream [unclear]. [unclear]. Oy, oy, oy, [unclear]. Yes, yes, [unclear]. Two [unclear] on the [unclear], with beautiful little legs, oy, oy, oy, [unclear], oy, oy, oy. Oy, oy, oy, [unclear]. Yes, yes, [unclear]. Two [unclear] on the [unclear], with beautiful little legs, oy, oy, oy, [unclear], oy, oy, oy. Oy, oy, oy, [unclear]. Yes, yes, [unclear]. Two [unclear] on the [unclear], with beautiful little legs, [unclear].

10:50 Speaker 2 In honor of the gathering, another new song, very fitting for this evening—an evening of unity and Ahavas Yisroel. “Each one shall help his fellow, and say to his brother, ‘Be strong.’”

11:10 Speaker 1 The way.

11:12 Speaker 2 Be strong, be strong, and let us strengthen one another [unclear]. The only way to overcome all the tests and all the obstacles is through “Each one shall help his fellow, and say to his brother, ‘Be strong.’” Moshik Abramovitz.

11:58 Speaker 1 “Each one shall help his fellow, and say to his brother, ‘Be strong.’ Each one shall help his fellow, and say to his brother, ‘Be strong.’ Ay, ay, ay, ay, let’s sing together, ay, ay, ay, ay, be strong. Ay, ay, ay, ay, let’s sing together, oy, oy, oy, oy, be strong. Be strong, be strong, and let us strengthen one another; be strong, be strong, be strong. Be strong, be strong, and let us strengthen one another; be strong, be strong, be strong. Oy, [unclear], oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, be strong. Oy, [unclear], oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, be strong. Be strong, be strong, and let us strengthen one another; be strong, be strong, be strong. Be strong, be strong, and let us strengthen one another; be strong, be strong, be strong. Oy, [unclear], oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, be strong. Oy, [unclear], oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, be strong. Hey! Each one shall help his fellow, and say to his brother, ‘Be strong.’ Each one shall help his fellow, and say to his brother, ‘Be strong.’ Ay, ay, ay, ay, let’s sing together, ay, be strong. Ay, ay, ay, ay, let’s sing together, oy, oy, oy, oy, be strong. Be strong, be strong, and let us strengthen one another; be strong, be strong, be strong. Be strong, be strong, and let us strengthen one another; be strong, be strong, be strong. Oy, [unclear], oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, be strong. Oy, [unclear], oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, be strong. Be strong, be strong, and let us strengthen one another; be strong, be strong, be strong. Be strong, [unclear], be strong, be strong. Oy, [unclear], oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, be strong. Oy, [unclear], oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, be strong. Be strong, be strong, [unclear], be strong, be strong. Be strong, be strong, [unclear], be strong, be strong. Oy, [unclear], oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, be strong. Oy, [unclear], oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, be strong. Ay, ay, ay, let’s sing together, ay, ay, ay, [unclear] be strong? Ay, ay, ay, let’s sing together, ay, ay, ay, [unclear] be strong? Be strong, be strong, [unclear], be strong, be strong. Be strong, be strong, [unclear], be strong, be strong. Oy, [unclear]

15:28 Speaker 1 [unclear], oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, be strong. Oy, [unclear], oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, be strong. Be strong, be strong, [unclear], be strong, be strong. Be strong, be strong, [unclear], be strong, be strong. Oy, [unclear], oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, be strong. Oy, [unclear], oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, be strong! Wonderful, thank you. Reb Avraham Fried, the orchestra, Mr. Moshe Laufer—thank you. We’ll hear more from them later this evening. Ladies and gentlemen, it is a pleasure, a joy, and a privilege to have with us a great friend of Chabad. And I want to stop calling him a great friend of Chabad: he is a true Chabad chossid, devoted to the mission, faithful to every instruction of the Rebbe, and someone who helps with heart and soul, and with modesty, every Chabad activity in Jerusalem and throughout the country. We wish him success both in his particular role as Deputy Minister of Construction and Housing and in his great and vital role in keeping the government together and carrying out its directives and promises. Let us welcome and invite the honorable Deputy Minister of Construction and Housing, Rabbi Meir Porush. Please.

17:41 Speaker 3 With the permission of the emcee, distinguished guests on the dais, our honored Rabbi Aharonov, and esteemed gathering: At this late hour, this is not the time for a long speech, but I will say this: I believe with perfect faith in the coming of Moshiach; and though he may delay, nevertheless I await his coming every day—even though he may delay. And perhaps precisely because he is delayed, each and every one of us has a duty to do more and more to bring more and more Jews close to Torah and the fear of Heaven. That is what the Rebbe instructed, and everyone should leave this gathering strengthened in that holy mission. Together, in fellowship, understanding, and unity, we must work so that we merit the complete Geulah speedily in our days. As is Rabbi Porush’s way: few words and much action. Once again, our congratulations and thanks. And following what we have just heard from the Deputy Minister of Construction and Housing, we wish him success in his role in construction and housing—and that, from his office, he will also help oversee the great construction project in Jerusalem: the Beis Hamikdash. In keeping with what he said about the announcement of the Geulah, we would now like to show you a video presentation about that announcement. And now, ladies and gentlemen, we turn to that same yearning and aspiration: Moshiach, Moshiach, accompanied by a laser-light show to greet Moshiach with great joy.

21:26 Speaker 4 I believe, I believe with complete faith in the coming of Moshiach. I, I believe. I believe, I believe with complete faith in the coming of Moshiach. I, I believe. Moshiach, Moshiach, Moshiach. Oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy. Moshiach, Moshiach, Moshiach. Oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy. Moshiach, Moshiach, Moshiach. Oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy. Moshiach, Moshiach, Moshiach. Oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy. And although he may delay, nevertheless I will wait for him, I will wait for him every day to come. And although he may delay, nevertheless I will wait for him, I will wait for him every day to come, to come, to come, to come, to come. I believe, I believe with complete faith in the coming of Moshiach. I, I believe. I believe, I believe with complete faith in the coming of Moshiach. I, I believe! Moshiach, Moshiach, Moshiach. Oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy. Moshiach, Moshiach, Moshiach. Oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy. Moshiach, Moshiach, Moshiach. Oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy. Moshiach, Moshiach, Moshiach. Oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy. And although he may delay, nevertheless I will wait for him, I will wait for him every day to come. And although he may delay, nevertheless I will wait for him, I will wait for him every day to come, to come, to come, to come, to come.

23:40 Speaker 4 We believe, so I believe with complete faith in the coming of Moshiach. I, I believe. I believe, I believe with complete faith in the coming of Moshiach. I, I believe. Moshiach, Moshiach, Moshiach. Oy, oy, oy, lo, lo, lo. Moshiach, Moshiach, Moshiach. Oy, oy, oy, lo, lo, lo. Moshiach, Moshiach, Moshiach. Oy, oy, oy, lo, lo, lo. Moshiach, Moshiach, Moshiach. Oy, oy, oy, lo, lo, lo. And although he may delay, nevertheless I will wait for him, I will wait for him every day to come. And although he may delay, nevertheless I will wait for him, I will wait for him every day to come, to come, to come, to come, to come, to come, to come, to come, to come. For Moshiach to come.

25:52 Speaker 5 Thank you very much for the presentation, but we all pray that this presentation will, this very evening, turn from something shown to us into something tangible, in actual practice. And following that presentation about our anticipation and the directive the Rebbe gave: “Do everything in your power” to welcome our righteous Moshiach, I have the honor of inviting the deputy secretary of the Chabad Rabbinical Council, rabbi of the Chabad community in Rechovot and shliach of the Rebbe, the distinguished chossid Rabbi Menachem Mendel Gluckowsky. Please. Ladies and gentlemen! As we mentioned, we are all here at a gathering to inspire us, a great moment of unity and togetherness in such an endearing, heartwarming, chassidic event. We want to express special thanks and extend a blessing for extraordinary success to the man who has contributed and pledged to cover a large part of this evening’s expenses: Mr. Aharon Peretz, chairman of the board of directors of Bonei Hatichon. Many thanks, and many blessings. And I want to tell Aharon Peretz that Aharon Peretz is six hundred and twenty-five—if I’m not mistaken, sorry, five hundred and twenty-nine—which in gematria is “extraordinary blessing and success.” Rabbi Gluckowsky, please.

27:52 Speaker 6 L’chaim, l’chaim! Honored rabbis. Directors of Chabad Houses, shluchim of the King. Chabad chassidim. Ladies and gentlemen. As we stand here now on Gimmel Tammuz and see, to this day, the millions of Jews connected to the Rebbe, we ask ourselves: Where does that strength come from? We consider what the Rebbe wants of us, so that we will carry on until we finally merit to see our King here, redeeming the Jewish people. There is a passage in the Gemara about the verse “And Yisro heard.” The Gemara asks: What news did he hear that brought him? What brought Yisro to Moshe Rabbeinu? The Gemara says: Some say it was the giving of the Torah; some say the splitting of the sea; and some say the war with Amalek. When we consider what brought, and continues to bring, the entire Jewish people to the Rebbe, we see the giving of the Torah: the Rebbe’s wisdom and Torah, which we must spread everywhere. To this day, we see how deeply people are moved by it. I remember that when Chabad rabbis would return from Shabbos, we would always go to the Chief Rabbis to convey greetings from the Rebbe. Rabbi Shapira, the former Chief Rabbi, would always ask: “Has another volume of the Rebbe’s Igros Kodesh come out?” I once asked him, “Honored Rabbi, why do you ask specifically about the Rebbe’s Igros Kodesh?” He told me, “When I was a rosh yeshivah, I had books of Torah insights by roshei yeshivah. When I was a rabbi, I needed halachic authorities. But to find a great Jewish leader, a tzaddik, who writes his Torah insights in a way that shows how Torah connects with this world, how Torah is a Torah of life; to see, in every area—livelihood, health, children, education, learning—how Torah illuminates things and gives clear guidance: I have seen that only from the Rebbe. And now that I am Chief Rabbi, I need it every single day, in every matter I deal with.” We sat with Rabbi Eliyahu, the Rishon LeZion, and he asked us,

31:24 Speaker 6 “How does the Rebbe have the time to write all the sichos, maamarim and letters?” One of the Chabad rabbis told him, “Moshe Rabbeinu also wrote thirteen Torah scrolls.” Rabbi Eliyahu, the Rishon LeZion, replied, “How can you compare them? Moshe Rabbeinu led several million Jews in the desert, while the Rebbe is the leader and king of the entire world.” And we must continue spreading the Torah so that everyone will draw close and hear. What news did he hear that brought him? The splitting of the sea: the miracles and wonders, ruach hakodesh. Thousands of Jews walk the streets telling stories about children born to them, about recoveries, surgeries, and the miracles and wonders they experienced through the Rebbe. This continues today, and it is also our job to connect Jews to the Rebbe: to have them send letters, to place letters in the Igros Kodesh, so that they will merit to see clear answers and miracles and wonders from the Rebbe. Personally, before Shavuos—a week before Yom Tov—I was in New York. I traveled to the Rebbe for Shavuos, and it was also my birthday, a special birthday: my fortieth year. I went to the Rebbe’s Ohel. When I arrived, I sat down to write. I wanted to write a letter to the Rebbe, so I sat in the house beside the Ohel, where there is a video room. I sat down to write my letter and ask for a birthday blessing. Suddenly, as I sat down, I saw myself on the video screen, standing before the Rebbe. On the video, I was telling the Rebbe, “This is now the Rebbe’s fortieth year, and the Rechovot municipality has sent the Rebbe a certificate of honor to bless him.” The Rebbe looked at me and said, “This is a dollar for you. This is for the city. This is for the mayor, z”l, [unclear].” I ask you: I come to request a blessing for my fortieth birthday, and the first thing I see when I sit down to write the letter is

34:09 Speaker 6 the Rebbe before me. I see myself telling the Rebbe that it is the fortieth year and asking for a blessing. Doesn’t that tell us that the Rebbe is alive and with us? Doesn’t that tell us that he leads us to this very day? The splitting of the sea—the miracles and wonders. And then there is the war with Amalek: the Rebbe’s leadership. “He fights the wars of Hashem”—and now we, the shluchim, have to carry that out. We have acted, and we continue to act. We stand on the front line against “the taunts of Your enemies, Hashem, who have taunted the footsteps of Your Moshiach.” We received the strength to do this from the Rebbe. He gives us the strength to continue fighting everywhere. Wherever Jews were in distress—whether in Russia, North Africa or Persia, or because of Chernobyl—the Rebbe taught us that we stand at the forefront. We have shown that here in Eretz Yisroel now: we stand at the forefront, and we will continue to stand there. We will continue to insist and demand, without making any concessions, and may we merit to see the entirety of Eretz Yisroel, including the lands of the Keini, Kenizi and Kadmoni, with Hashem’s help. But beyond all this, there is a story about a time when the Rebbe sat at a farbrengen with the rabbi of Poltava, and they discussed what a chossid is. The rabbi of Poltava said he thought a chossid was someone devoted to the Rebbe. The Rebbe sat and thought—this was before he assumed the leadership. After a moment, he said that he thought a chossid was someone devoted to the Rebbe’s work. Not just to love the Rebbe himself, not just to be devoted to the Rebbe himself, but to be devoted to the Rebbe’s work. What is the Rebbe focused on? What does the Rebbe want of us? We need to think about that. The Rebbe told us that we must prepare ourselves and the world for Moshiach, and that this is the final shlichus. The Rebbe told us that this must be done with love, with unity among the Jewish people. After all, we have merited to see in this past month how

36:40 Speaker 6 The Rebbe said on 13 Nissan 5742 that if chassidim are together and act together, they will overcome all the obstacles and hindrances. They will break through all the concealments, and they will succeed in all their endeavors, until we merit to see Moshiach build the Third Beis Hamikdash. This must touch us deeply: both the mission to prepare ourselves and the world, and doing it with love and unity. When the Rebbe said to prepare ourselves, he certainly meant more than just talking in the street. Each and every one of us—I’ve told this story before. When you reflect on the sicha from the last International Conference of Shluchim at which we merited to be present and hear the Rebbe, he said that the main mission remaining now is to prepare the world to greet Moshiach. He told us that to bring this down into practice, to hasten it, each person should undertake to study Torah Or and Likkutei Torah from beginning to end. What does it mean to prepare ourselves? It requires effort and proper contemplation, so that afterward we can go out to the people and prepare them properly too. And devotion to the Rebbe’s work means respecting the frameworks and routines the Rebbe established for us, accepting them, and moving forward together. Through this, when we are devoted to the Rebbe with proper hiskashrus, we will merit to see our King in his revelation. I’ve heard that they are now preparing a special program for every member of Anash, so that each person’s hiskashrus will be expressed through dedication: each person will adopt a Chabad House and help it with his time and effort, his money, and his soul. It’s a special program that is now getting underway, so that everyone will feel that on Gimmel Tammuz we are going to make good resolutions—in studying the Rebbe’s teachings, following the Rebbe’s directives, and helping all the activists and shluchim on the front lines. I just want to conclude that before

39:11 Speaker 6 I returned to Israel after Shavuos, when I spoke with Rabbi Yaroslavsky, secretary of the Chabad Rabbinical Court, I told him I would go to the Ohel to ask for a special blessing for the success of the elections. I went early in the morning, at six. When I arrived, I prepared a letter and sat there in the house. I already knew from experience that the Rebbe also knows how to convey a message through a video. So I asked someone to put on a videotape for me, so I could see the Rebbe before entering the Ohel. Someone put on a tape, and Ariel Sharon appeared on the screen. He asked the Rebbe for a blessing that there be peace and security in Eretz Yisroel. The Rebbe answered him that not long ago, wh--