1

Yasher koach. May you receive a kesivah vachasimah tovah for a good and sweet year together with the entire Jewish people. And may we merit a matter of fundamental importance, the coming of the True and Complete Redemption in the immediate future.

Signs of the Redemption have already become manifest. Indeed, many years ago, our Sages stated, "All the appointed times [for Mashiach's coming] have passed and the matter depends on teshuvah alone." And as the Previous Rebbe explained, we have already turned to G-d in teshuvah. All that is necessary is to "stand together prepared [to greet Mashiach]."

We have been standing in such a state of preparation for an extended period and therefore, the True and Complete Redemption should come in the immediate future. And "with our youth and with our elders... with our sons and with our daughters," we will proceed to Eretz Yisrael, to Jerusalem, to the Beis HaMikdash, and to the Holy of Holies which contained the Even HaShtiah, the stone which served as the foundation for the entire world.

And from the Holy of Holies, holiness will spread throughout the entire world. "And G-d will be King over the entire earth", "And G-d will reign forever and ever."

Again, may you receive a kesivah vachasimah tovah for a good and sweet year.

[After descending from his platform, the Rebbe Shlita said:] In the present year, three different matters which often come, each reflecting a state of completion, are combined. Frequently, these three matters are separate and in this year, they are combined.

1. On the verse, "And they shall be seven perfect weeks for you," the Midrash relates that the weeks of the Counting of the Omer are "perfect" when, each week, the counting of the Omer begins on the first day of the calendar week and thus, the conclusion of each week of the Counting of the Omer is on Shabbos.

2. This is a leap year, when a thirteenth month is added.

3. Every year, there are two months -- Cheshvan and Kislev -- whose number of days varies. This year, both those months are complete, including thirty days.

This present year combines all these three states of perfection, being complete in regard to the months of the year (the addition of the thirteenth month), the days of the months (for the months of Cheshvan and Kislev are complete), and the weeks of the year (because of the weeks of the Counting of the Omer.) The latter factor is associated with the bringing of the two loaves of bread offered on the holiday of Shavuos, "the season of the giving of our Torah." This, in turn, relates to "the new [dimensions of the] Torah which will emerge from Me." May we merit the revelation of these new dimensions of Torah with the coming of the True and Complete Redemption in the immediate future.

May each and every individual receive a kesivah vachasimah tovah for a good and sweet year of open and revealed sweetness together with the entire Jewish people.