" בניסן נגאלו ובניסן עתידין להיגאל "—just as our ancestors were redeemed in Nissan, so too will we be redeemed in Nissan. As we enter this glorious month, our hopes are higher than ever for the coming of Mashiach. We have been learning about the days of Mashiach in the Daf Yomi, and we see events unfolding in the world at large. It is up to us to do our part. Chazal teach us that our forefathers were redeemed from Mitzrayim in the merit of their emunah, and we, too, will be redeemed through our emunah. But what kind of emunah do we need? When the women brought their copper mirrors as donations for the Mishkan, Moshe Rabbenu initially did not want to accept them. However, Hashem told him that these mirrors were more precious to Him than anything else—more beloved than the menorah, which represents Torah, more than the mizbe'ach, which represents tefillah, and more than the shulchan, which represents tzedakah. What was so special about these mirrors? The men in Mitzrayim were suffering terribly. They had lost their will to continue, feeling that all their labor was in vain. The women used these mirrors to beautify themselves and encourage their husbands, giving them the strength to carry on. They reassured them, reminding them that there was a future—that Hashem runs the world. Their chizuk empowered their husbands to persevere and fulfill Hashem's will, even under the most trying conditions. The Tikkunei Zohar describes how Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, when looking into the future, saw the generation before Mashiach and lamented, " ווי מאן דיזדמן בהאי זמנא "—Woe to those who will live in that time. Yet, he also said, " זכאה מאן דמשתכח בההוא זמנא וקיים בהימנותא "—Fortunate are those who will be in that time and hold strong in their emunah. Our Rabbis have told us that we are living in the עקבתא דמשיחא , the final generation before Mashiach. We are the very ones that the Zohar was speaking about. One might ask: throughout history, our people have endured immense suffering—the Holocaust and many other persecutions. By contrast, today, baruch Hashem , we live with religious freedom. Why, then, did the Zohar express such concern for this generation? A great rabbi once explained that while, as a nation, we may have it good, if we examine individual households, we will find so many struggling with personal challenges. The pain people carry is often hidden. Just the other week, in a single day, I was approached by eight different individuals seeking chizuk. One had just been told that his wife might lose her pregnancy. Another had suddenly and tragically lost her husband. One had been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Another was at risk of going to jail. One had a sick child, another was struggling with business problems, and yet another was facing shalom bayit issues. Late that night, as I was leaving shul, a husband and wife approached me. The woman began to speak about her daughter, who was having an extremely difficult time with shidduchim. At first, I expected the conversation to be like the others I had that day. But then she surprised me. She wasn't downcast at all. She told me that, eight years ago, she started a nightly emunah conference in the zechut of her daughter finding a shidduch. Today, over 400 women participate. And through it, she has gained an unshakable emunah—like a pillar of fire. She is so grateful to Hashem for all He gives her each day. She goes to other people's weddings with complete joy, celebrating without a trace of jealousy. Her emunah is contagious. Wherever she goes, she uplifts others, infusing them with strength and faith. This is exactly what the Zohar meant: Fortunate are those who live in this time and have emunah. Today, so many struggle with personal darkness. But those who find a way to rise above it and praise Hashem, despite their hardships, shine the brightest. In previous generations, our ancestors were like burning torches, illuminating the world with their Torah and mitzvot—but they lived in broad daylight. In contrast, we may be but small flames, yet we are burning in the thickest darkness. Though we may not reach the Torah and mitzvah observance of previous generations, we have an extraordinary opportunity. We can shine with our emunah, something so precious to Hashem. May Hashem strengthen our emunah and grant us the merit to greet Mashiach in this great month of Nissan. Amen.