The kabbalist, the holy Tzaddik Rabbi Aharon Stern shlit"a—born to holy and pure parents, the kabbalist, the holy Tzaddik Rabbi David Stern shlit"a of Bnei Brak—shared wondrous words of holiness about the complete Geulah and the greatness of judging all of Am Yisrael favorably.

In a derashah delivered by Rabbi Aharon Stern shlit"a, he said: “Many people show me videos of rabbis speaking about false ‘famous ones.’ Listen carefully: I lived in Yerucham. The Rosh Yeshivah there was Rabbi Chaim Man, the son-in-law of the Rosh Yeshivah of Chevron, Rabbi Hillel Zaks, who was the grandson of the Chafetz Chaim. He told me that he heard from his grandmother—the daughter of the Chafetz Chaim—that there is a tradition received from the Tzaddikim that in the future, the test that took place in the days of Eliyahu HaNavi on Mount Carmel will return (I Kings 18:36–37). It will be a test in which the prophets of the Baal and the prophets of truth will each bring a bull as an offering—but the fire will not come down for Eliyahu; rather, it will come down for the prophets of the Baal.”

“The tradition from the Tzaddikim on this matter is that the test of Emunah will be difficult, and many will become confused and run after the prophets of the Baal. But whoever runs after the prophets of the Baal will lose the Geulah, while whoever remains and clings to Eliyahu HaNavi will merit the Geulah.”

“The Chafetz Chaim asked about this: If so, what is difficult? After all, we know a test is destined to come upon us—and when it arrives, we will know not to run after the prophets of the Baal, but to remain with Eliyahu.”

“The Chafetz Chaim answered: Before the Geulah there will be people with the appearance of Tzaddikim, and they will perform tremendous wonders. Yet there will also be rabbis by whom such wonders will not be seen. But the truth is that those who perform the great wonders will draw their power from a source that is not from holiness—and whoever follows them will forfeit the Geulah. And whoever follows the ‘ordinary’ rabbis, even if he does not see miracles, will merit the complete Geulah.”

Rabbi Stern shlit"a continues and says: “I found in the name of Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin that they asked him: How will we know who is a true Rav and who is not?”

Rabbi Stern answers: “First I will tell you my own words, and afterward I will return to the words of Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin.

“It seems to me, based on the words of the Mishnah: ‘Moshe received the Torah from Sinai and transmitted it to Yehoshua; Yehoshua to the Elders; the Elders to the Prophets; and the Prophets transmitted it to the Men of the Great Assembly’ (Pirkei Avos 1:1)—that the Torah of Am Yisrael is passed down through a chain of tradition, where one Rav authorizes and appoints the Rav after him. Therefore, if a Rav arises who has no authorization, do not follow him.”

“Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin said that before the complete Geulah, many rabbis will arise who will judge Am Yisrael favorably—even those who are far from Torah and mitzvos. And this is a good thing, because Am Yisrael is going through tests that it is not certain the greatest ones of earlier generations would have withstood. But one must look closely: Do those rabbis who judge Am Yisrael favorably also speak in defense of Torah scholars?”

“‘If you saw a Torah scholar commit a transgression at night, do not think negatively of him by day—perhaps he did teshuvah. Perhaps? Do not let it enter your mind—rather, certainly he did teshuvah!’” (Berachos 19a)—if that Rav speaks in defense of everyone, that is fine. But if you speak in defense only of those far from mitzvos, while about the rabbis who sit and learn Torah day and night you know how to say only negative things—after such people it is forbidden to go.

“Everyone needs to do teshuvah; everyone goes through tests. ‘For a Tzaddik falls seven times and rises’ (Mishlei 24:16). Rabbi Yisrael of Ruzhin says that one who judges everyone favorably is a true Tzaddik. But one who judges favorably only those who are far away, while against those who are Hashem’s people and who fear Hashem he has many complaints—it is forbidden to follow him.”

My friends, judging favorably is for all of Am Yisrael. And whoever judges another person favorably merits that there will be no harsh judgments upon him—Hashem also judges him favorably, and no one can harm him for evil.