A sacred silence filled the room, broken only by the Rebbe’s voice. Sefarim were piled on the table, from which the Rebbe, the Chukei Chaim of Shomrei Emunim, cites sources supporting his remarkable predictions about what would unfold during the period of Ikvesa D’Meshicha. Ahead of his yahrtzeit on Monday evening, the fifth of Elul, when masses of Jews are expected to visit his kever on Har Hazeisim, HaRav Yisrael Pinchas Tirnauer shares revelations from the Rebbe’s sichos delivered from 2010–2012.

The Gemara (Sanhedrin 97b) mentions the “Wars of the Taninim” that will take place ahead of the Geulah. Based on the Yalkut Shimoni regarding Mordechai’s dream, the Rebbe explained that this refers to a worldwide religious war that will erupt before the war of Gog and Magog.

The central force behind this war, as the Rebbe foresaw many years ago, would be Persia — modern-day Iran. The Rebbe noted that the gematria of “Milchemes Tanninim” is exactly equal to “the war between Yishmael and Eisav.” Explaining the words of Targum Yonasan ben Uziel — “This is Persia, which is destined to fall and will have no standing” — he said that Persia would suffer a decisive defeat from which it would not recover, and that from there the yeshuah of Klal Yisrael would emerge.

The Rebbe added a remarkable point: The country had always been known as “Persia,” until one day its name was changed to “Iran.” The Rebbe explained that Hakadosh Baruch Hu brought about the name change in order to sweeten the decree, since the harsh nevuah was stated specifically about “Persia.” Therefore, he said, “B’ezras Hashem, they will have no power over Israel.”

In a sichah on Erev Rosh Hashanah 2012, his final year in this world, the Rebbe called upon Jews in the Diaspora to move to Eretz Yisrael. “It is true that in Eretz Yisrael we need rachamim, but outside Eretz Yisrael we need much more rachamim. After all, it is written, ‘On Har Tzion there will be refuge, and it will be holy.’”

The Rebbe recommended that even those unable to move to Eretz Yisrael purchase apartments there so they would have a place of refuge at the time of the Geulah.

The Rebbe emphasized complete confidence that there would be no further Galus or destruction of Klal Yisrael, chas v’shalom. He pointed to the open nissim in Eretz Yisrael, where thousands of missiles and bombs had fallen while causing relatively little damage, compared with the 1948 War, when much smaller bombs fell and caused severe casualties.

“At the time of the Geulah, we will see even greater nissim,” he promised. “Even if they drop atomic bombs, the bomb will remain suspended in the air in order to show Hashem’s power to the world.”

The Rebbe closely followed world events, viewing them as signs of the collapse of the spiritual powers of the nations. He pointed to the fall of the rulers of Iraq and Egypt as a clear fulfillment of the words of the Baal HaTurim on the passuk, “Before all his brothers he fell” — when Yishmael falls at the End of Days, Ben Dovid will arise.

Regarding regional tensions, Rav Chaim Tzvi Feldman related that the Rebbe told him that he was not afraid of Egypt or Turkey, although he foresaw that there would yet be a “big game” with Turkey and warned of tunnels from Egypt. The Rebbe repeatedly emphasized: “Whoever is in Eretz Yisrael will be saved from all harm.”

The Rebbe concluded his words with a stirring call: The air is already fragrant with the scent of Moshiach, and our task is to hold fast to the craft of our forefathers — tefillah, teshuvah and strengthening our emunah — so that we may merit to greet Moshiach Tzidkeinu with rachamim and revealed chesed.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)