On Shabbos, August 17, 1991 (7 Elul 5751), during the reading of the weekly Parsha “Shoftim,” the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach Shlita explained the significance of a generations leader.
The Torah states (Bamidbar 21:21): “And Yisrael sent messengers to Sichon, king of the Emorim...”. Rashi, based on the Midrash Tanchuma, comments on these words as follows:
In other places, it is mentioned that Moshe Rabbeinu sent the messengers: “And I sent messengers from the wilderness of Kedemoth...” [Devarim 2:26], “And Moshe sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom” [Bamidbar 20:14], and concerning Yiftach, it is stated: “And Yisrael sent messengers to the king of Edom” [Shoftim 11:17]. These expressions align with each other: Moshe is Yisrael, and Yisrael is Moshe. This teaches us that the leader of the generation equals the entire generation because the leader embodies everything.
Many times over, the Rebbe explained clearly the importance of the leader of the generation and his standing compared to all Jews in his generation. From other talks of the Rebbe, we know that the leader of the generation is the Rebbe himself. Therefore, Moshe Rabbeinu = the leader of the generation = the Rebbe = the entire generation.
In the Rebbe’s own words: (point 12):
He, the leader of the generation, is the tzaddik of the generation and the foundation of the world, as it is said: “The tzaddik is the foundation of the world” [Mishlei 10:25]. Like the “Even HaShetiya” (the cornerstone which is the foundation of the Beis HaMikdash, see Talmud, [Yoma 53b]), it remains in our physical world unchanged, even without change during burial, unlike the “Aron HaKodesh” (the Holy Ark which was buried, see Yoma 54b). As a judge and prophet existing eternally in every generation, he symbolises the continuous Divine power upon which the existence of the entire universe depends.
Here, the Rebbe states clearly that the leader of the generation, who is also the Prophet and Judge of the generation, exists eternally in the physical world. This means his presence in the world signifies that the world exists, and if, G-d forbid, he were absent even for a second, the world could not exist. Thus, it is evident that after 3 Tammuz, when we do not see the Rebbe, we are nevertheless 100% sure that the Rebbe remains in his place without any changes. The example of the “Even HaShetiya” is very illustrative, as we do not see it either, but we know it remains in its place in the Beis HaMikdash.
The only assumption that could refute these words would be the existence of another leader of the generation, a tzaddik fulfilling the same role. However, since the Rebbe informed us (first in 1951 and many times since, including prophetically) that our generation and its leader are the last generation of Exile (Golus) and the first generation of Redemption (Geulah), there are no grounds for such an assertion!