Yechi HaMelech
Why do people shout when saying Yechi? It seems as if it is being done to impose and force it on everybody else?
In the years preceding Yechi HaMelech, the Rebbe emphasized that Chassidim should be shouting ad Mosai -- We Want Moshiach Now! In reference to these announcements, the Rebbe constantly asked Chassidim to shout, beg and plead. The Rebbe used the phrase “pounding on the table and shouting ad Mosai.” This can be found in hundreds of Sichos. If one would listen to a tape from a farbrengen where the Rebbe talks about ad Mosai and talks about saying We Want Moshiach Now, one would hear that the Rebbe’s voice is loud and excited, and the Rebbe clearly speaks about shouting the words. Many Sichos conclude with the Rebbe saying that the crowd should shout ad Mosai. We understood that there was a point in shouting the words and not just saying them. The same applies to Yechi HaMelech. The following are points from three particularly relevant Sichos.
The first is from a Sicha from 5741 in Likkutei Sichos, vol. 20, p. 458. This Sicha was said during Chanukah. The Rebbe is discussing the idea of the war against the learning & Torah which exists in every generation. In our time, says the Rebbe, there is a special emphasis to fight the war with the phrase “We Want Moshiach Now!” as was announced with a loud voice after the Pesukim were recited [before the Sicha began]. In footnote 16 of the Sicha, concerning the words ‘in a loud voice’, the Rebbe refers to the 11th Maamar in Kuntres U’Mayon This Maamar discusses davening in a loud voice. The following is an excerpt from this Maamar:
(Nechemia 9:4) What, we may wonder, is the meaning of “great voice?” The Talmud cautions us (Berachos 24a) that those who worship with loud voices are “small in faith”, and whoever raises his voice in prayer is of the “false prophets!” Rashi supports this with ‘They called with great voice (I Kings 18:28). Still it is customary to worship aloud on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, as Bais Yosef (Orach Chaim 101) States. In Magen David by Radvaz, No. 9, “Let me tell something wondrous I derived from our sages’ words. Words man utters leave an impression in the atmosphere. They pierce the air and heavens to rise. If the words are good and proper, and are uttered in sanctity, they are presented to Him ‘who spoke and created the world’. Therefore all Israel are accustomed, when crying out in distress, to call in strong voice, to make a strong impression, to pierce the atmosphere... But the scornful strictures of the sages about prayers out loud? Rashi explains that it appears from the shouting that the worshipper is uncertain whether Hashem can hear a whispered prayer, so he feels it is safer to shout, therefore the sages describe this person as “small in faith”. Another simple reason is that loud prayers disturb others in worship. All this applies to regular worship which should be whispered. But in a time of distress the inward spark that binds man to Hashem is revealed in every man in simple faith in Hashem who works wonders. The fear of disturbing others is no concern here, for if anything, one’s spirited and impassioned worship will move others, arouse them to repent as well. This sort of prayer must be with “great voice”. Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are designated to awaken the inwardness, the essence, as is explained elsewhere, and worship must then be with an inward awakening of the heart and great voice”.
Since Moshiach is something which we cannot live without, and there is no greater distress and pain than the pain of Golus, shouting is the most appropriate thing at such a time.
Another significant Sicha on this subject is found in Likkutei Sichos, Parshas Tetzaveh, vol. 16, p. 341. The Rebbe discusses the fact that at the bottom of the garment which the Kohen Gadol wore, there were bells which made noise. The Rebbe discusses the spiritual significance of this. At the end of the Sicha, the Rebbe says that people have a question [which does not relate specifically to Moshiach, but to Mivtzoim in general. This can be related to the tumult about Moshiach as well]. Although it is understood that we have to go out to the streets to bring people closer to Yiddishkeit, people ask why this has to be with so much noise and with so many announcements. [The idea of using the Mivtza tanks which make so much commotion and attract so much attention does not seem to be in line with the traditional Torah way of acting.] The Rebbe answers this question by saying that we are now at the end of Golus. This era can be compared to the bottom of the Kohen Gadol’s garment. Just as there must be bells at the bottom of the garment which make a lot of noise, so too, at the end of Golus, we must make a lot of noise.
The way to bring a Jew to Kedusha is by going out to the streets with a loud noise. By making a commotion in Kedusha, this counteracts all of the noise which exists in the world related to unholy matters.
We therefore see that this is something which was not just recently initiated by some “extremists”, but the Rebbe has always emphasized the idea of going out to the world with a commotion and a tumult. This is the Rebbe’s unique approach to end Golus.
The third relevant Sicha is found in Sefer Hisvaaduyos, Shabbos Parshas Tzav, 5748. The Rebbe speaks specifically about the idea of screaming and shouting We Want Moshiach Now because we cannot live without Moshiach. One should not only scream and shout to Hashem, but to people as well. The Rebbe says that when someone walks over to another person, the first thing to do is shout Moshiach Now! It should be shouted so loud that the other person screams it also. This may raise a question, says the Rebbe. We know that if we want to have influence over someone, it is best to act in a calm way. First one should say hello. Then he should ask about the welfare of the person and his family. He should then inquire about his business, and only then discuss the elementary issues of Yiddishkeit. Finally, one can talk about the end of days and behold, Moshiach is coming! But to walk over to someone and immediately shout Moshiach Now! seems to contradict the saying, “The wise speak gently.” What kind of impression will this make? The Rebbe says that when someone hears a normal person suddenly shout Moshiach Now, this will bring out the depths of that person’s Neshama, and he will also shout Moshiach Now because he will see how much one cannot live without Moshiach.
From this we see that despite those who say that shouting about Moshiach disturbs people, the Rebbe’s approach is that shouting will have an influence on others making them realize the urgency of the matter, and they themselves will begin to shout.
Please Note: Some of the Q&A's are a continuation from the previous one.