Cosmic questions such as the purpose of exile, the role of the individual Jew in ending it, and the indicators of the Redemption in our generation, are illuminated in this outstanding compilation by rich chassidic insights.

This skillfully constructed work was undertaken in response to a call by the revered Lubavitcher Rebbe, that Jews everywhere escalate the process of Redemption by (among other things) studying subjects related to the coming of Mashiach, in both the legal and the mystical dimensions of the Torah.

Accordingly, the reader is here provided with a masterly translation of classic teachings on these subjects by the Rebbe and by earlier leaders of the Chabad-Lubavitch chassidic movement. For both the mind and the soul, this eminently readable anthology is a veritable feast.

Table of Contents

Publisher's Foreword
Introduction
Part One: Exile
Prologue: The Anguish of Zion
Ch. 1: The Spiritual Side of Exile
Pregnancy / Outward Self-Nullification / Divine Energy through Intermediaries (i)-(ii) / The Materiality of Man / Divine Service by Way of War / Divine Service by Way of Awe / Safety Fences and Regulations / The Additional Day of Yom-Tov in the Diaspora / The Distinctive Quality of Israel is Not Evident / A Dream / A Battle between Beasts / The Concept of Exile in Man's Divine Service and in the Torah / The Soul was Not Exiled (i)-(ii) / The Length of the Exile (i)-(iii) / Comparative Chronological Table / The Length of the Exile (iv) / "Lebanon" will be Felled by a Mighty One / With Him In His Distress (i)-(iii) / Yaakov Avinu Planted Cedars in Egypt / The Butchers' Market / G-d Regrets Having Created Exile / "Exile Comes to the World" / Four Reasons for Thanksgiving

Ch. 2: The Aim and Purpose of Exile
Descent for the Sake of Ultimate Ascent / Seeking Sparks (i)-(iv) / Elevating and Refining the Seventy Nations / Purifying the Lands of the Gentile Nations / A Dwelling Place Among Mortals / A New Light Revealed (i)-(ix) / Uncovering the Inner Dimension of the Torah / Your Taskmasters Will Be Charitable / I Will Raise My Eyes / My Righteousness Will Be Revealed

Ch. 3: Exile has its Merits
Parched, My Soul Yearns for You (i)-(ii) / Revealing the Potential for Self-Sacrifice (i)-(iii) / Revealing the Soul's Transcendent Potential / A True Union / Loftier Perceptions / The King on his Travels / The Possibility of Repentance / Your Seed Shall Remain / Halachic Regulations / Nostalgia for the Days of Exile (i)-(iii) / G-d Calculated the End of the Exile

Ch. 4: The Approaching Footsteps of Mashiach
A Paradox / Working on the Lower Levels of the Soul / Reason Can Be Misleading / What Counts is the Deed / The Final Beirurim / The Hem of Aaron's Robe / Gathering In All the Camps / A Generation Reincarnated / Moshe Rabbeinu Contemplates Our Generation / The Righteous and the Wicked / The "Lightweight" Mitzvos / A Long Wait / The End of the Tunnel is in Sight! / A Painfully Tight Shoe / Yearning for Those Footsteps

Ch. 5: "With the Advent of the Footsteps of Mashiach..."
"Insolence will Increase" (i)-(ii) / "Youths Will Put Old Men to Shame" / "The Face of the Generation will be Like the Face of a Dog" (i)-(ii) / "Upon Whom Can We Rely? – Upon Our Father Who Is In Heaven"

Part Two; On the Way to the Redemption
Prologue: A Daily Entreaty
Ch. 1: The Light of Mashiach
"When Your Wellsprings Will Be Disseminated Outward" / The Revelation of Chassidus in Recent Generations / "Those Who Savor It Will Merit Eternal Life" / The Torah at All Its Levels / Dressing Up for the Wedding / Serving G-d Tranquilly / To the Corners of the Earth / An Easy Task / Our Duty to Disseminate the Wellsprings (i)-(viii) / Déjà Vu / Mashiach will Come to Wherever Chassidus is Being Studied

Ch. 2: The Festive Meal of Mashiach
The Revelation of the Radiance of Mashiach / Thirteen Questions and Answers about the Festive Meal of Mashiach / The Four Cups of Mashiach / The Dance of Mashiach

Ch. 3: The Sefer Torah of Mashiach
A Sefer Torah with which to Greet Mashiach / Excerpts from Letters of the Rebbe Rayatz / The Sefer Torah is Completed

Ch. 4: As the Redemption Draws Near
Grant Salvation to Your People / Clapping on Shabbos and Yom-Tov / Elijah's Cup / The Twelfth of Tammuz / The Advance of Scientific Discovery / The Exile Transformed: A Foretaste

Part Three: On the Threshold of the Redemption
Prologue: A Prayer for Compassion
Ch. 1: Here He Stands Behind Our Wall
Mashiach is Waiting for Us / It's Our Wall that is Obstructing / A Glance by Mashiach / The Afternoon of Erev Shabbos (i)-(iii) / To Polish the Buttons (i)-(iii) / We Are Nearing the Summit / Rousing Fellow Jews to Repentance / The Birthpangs of Mashiach / All the Appointed Times have Passed / Immediate Redemption (i)-(iv) / The Time for Your Redemption has Arrived! / Every Minute is Precious (i)-(iv) / The Weak will Say: I am Strong (i)-(ii) / The Bottom of the Wheel / Build till the Last Minute (i)-(ii) / Golah and Geulah: Exile and Redemption / G-d's Salvation Comes in a Blink / A Special Time / How Things Will Look / A Desperate Last Struggle

Ch. 2: Our Generation will Generate the Redemption
At Twilight on Sabbath Eve / The Redemption will be Credited to Whoever Completes It (i)-(ii) / "Is the Generation Worthy?!" (i)-(v) / A Dwarf on the Shoulders of a Giant / The Jewish People Will Ultimately Repent / The Lowest Edges of the Tabernacle / The First Red Heifer and the Tenth

Ch. 3: Signs of the Redemption
The Signs in Tractate Sotah / Quiet Revolutions (i)-(iii) / The Collapse of the Iron Curtain / The Gulf War / The Nations of the World are Helping / The Nations of the World Opt for Benevolence / Not Yet the Beginning

Part Four: Yearning for the Redemption
Prologue: My Soul is Lovesick for G-d
Ch. 1: I Await His Coming Every Day
G-d Will Act for Him Who Waits for Him / With Hope Like This, We Deserve to be Redeemed (i)-(ii) / "Did You Yearn for the Redemption?" / "To Bring the Days of Mashiach" / Cosmic Repercussions (i)-(iii) / Living with the Concept of Mashiach / "All One's Days in Repentance" / Awaiting His Coming / The Effect of Anticipating / Speaking About Mashiach / Peering Out of the Ark / Getting Ready for Shabbos / "The Beis HaMikdash will be Speedily Rebuilt" / "A Nazirite on the Day that Mashiach Comes" / No Hard Feelings / This, Too, Has an Answer / Waiting Every Day (i)-(ii) / "Next Year in Jerusalem!" / A Redemption that is Tangible (i)-(ii) / The Shofar of Mashiach / Jewish Style / A Poor Businessman

Ch. 2: We Want Mashiach Now!
"Because They Did Not Demand It" / The Answer to a Prayer / Birthpangs / Father: Enough! / Mashiach Now (i)-(ii) / But Why in English? / How Much Longer? (i)-(ii) / Brain vs. Heart (i)-(ii) / "Carry Me Out of Egypt" / "They Groaned and Cried Out" / "Why Have You Mistreated This People?" / "Why Should We Be Deprived?" / The Subject of the Request / Thirsting for Dear Life / "Be Not Silent!" / "Even the Bird has Found a Home" / Self-Sacrifice for Mashiach / A Life-Threatening Danger / A Jewish Bondman / Striking One's Son

Ch. 3: Bringing the Redemption -- An Individual Obligation
The Spark of Mashiach Within Every Jew (i)-(viii) / The Key to the Redemption is in Everyone's Hand (i)-(vi) / Particular Redemption and Universal Redemption / Why Should They Have to Suffer? / A Leading Question / Thinking and Doing / The Gematria of Shaliach and Mashiach / Do Everything You Can!

Ch. 4: Catalysts of the Redemption
Unearned Love / A Letter in a Sefer Torah / Unity / Faith / By Virtue of Pious Women / Printing the Tanya / Directives for the Three Weeks / The Dissemination of Yiddishkeit (i)-(iv) / Ufaratzta: Bursting All Bounds / Early Impressions / A Time to be Innovative / Education (i)-(ii) / Conquering the World / Kashrus and Family Purity / Torah Study (i)-(ii) / The Study of Mishnayos / Studying About the Redemption (i)-(ii) / Rejoicing in the Redemption / Speed / Letters about the Redemption / Action is Superior / Until All the Souls are Born (i)-(iii) / Halachic Decisions on the Redemption / Tzedakah: Charity (i)-(ii) / Self-Sanctification / The Seven Noachide Laws / The Power of Joy / The Observance of Shabbos / The Tefillin of Rabbeinu Tam / Teshuvah: Repentance

Founders of Chassidism & Leaders of Chabad-Lubavitch
Glossary