אות - רכ

The Rebbe once told someone, “I will tell you a secret. Great atheism is coming to the world (see “ His Wisdom ” #35, #126) .

“Atheism will come to the world as a test from on high.

“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 crane 325 Kiddushin 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! 326 This 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.