The Nigun "We Want Moshiach Now" - Part I

00:03 To the earlier installments been near to the union of Negunin. We continue now and we'll begin, if it's Hashem, a new series on the Negun, We Want Mashiach Now. This is a Negun that is related to Tzivas Hashem, as the Rebbe attributed the name Tzivas Hashem to Jewish children the world over. It was in Tishrei Tov Shem Emaleph, late 1980, and the Rebbe many times referred to this Negun and elaborated on this Negun with interesting insights and lessons that we can derive from this Negun. At an address on the first day of Hanukkah to children, Shabbos Hanukkah and Zeis Hanukkah, Tov Shem Emaleph, late 1980, the Rebbe explained why their Negun is indeed the authentic expression of Jewish faith. The Bashem Tev has taught that everything and anything, no matter how small and insignificant, has a lesson for a Jew who encounters it. More need not be said than concerning a song adopted by many Jews and originated by Jewish children whose breath contains no sin, as the Talmud tells us in the tractate of Shabbos. The Rebbe continues, the phrase, We Want Mashiach Now, expresses simply the desire for Mashiach to quickly arrive. But there are many different ways of expressing this besides the word want. For example, wish, desire, hope for, long for, await, etc. While all express the same general theme, that Mashiach should come now, subtle differences exist between them, for there are varying degrees in and reasons for a desire. Consider the millionaire with his overwhelming access of wealth. Such

02:23 a person still desires more, still works tirelessly to increase his fortune. Or look at the person who has all his needs, but still wants more, yearning for an access of riches. And then there's the person who wishes for things simply because they are pleasurable, or because another has them and he, as yet, does not. And finally, there's the desire for things because they are necessities which one is lacking. By divine providence, children have chosen the word want to express their desire for Mashiach, and that is a profound lesson to be derived therein. To understand the differences in nuance and the precise connotations of the word want, let us examine the same word or a derivative of it in a completely different context. The word is wanting, meaning lacking or missing, as in some details are wanting. Indeed, the dictionary definition of want, besides to desire or to wish, is to feel a desire for, as for something absent, needed, to feel the need. Thus, a main difference in nuance between want and any other word expressing desire is a connotation of deficiency. This, then, is the cause of the apathy so prevalent regarding Mashiach. It stems from a basic misconception of their relationship to Mashiach and his coming. He and the redemption are viewed at best with the same desire that one would have for any pleasurable thing. Nice to have, adding the final touch to life, certainly worth waiting for, but something we can get along without. No wonder such a person feels no

04:32 need to do anything to hasten his coming and remains aloof and unconcerned at his delay. To such a person we present the clarion cry of We Want Mashiach Now. Mashiach is not a mere additional luxury, a future state of bliss to be smugly awaited in complacent serenity. Mashiach is an urgent want, a necessity as basic as food and drink, without which we are wanting. Our cries of We Want Mashiach Now, our feeling that his non-appearance is a distinct lack, reaches our Father in Heaven. And then he knows that our pleas for Mashiach are no mere mouthing of time-worn prayers, but a live, urgent request. And in his infinite goodness, he responds and hastens the coming. We shall then, all of us, with our youth and our elders, our sons and our daughters, go to our Holy Land led by our righteous Mashiach, and the redemption will have come. Im Yirtza Hashem, in the next installment, we will continue an additional aspect of this niggun.