The following shmuess was delivered by the Rosh
Hayeshiva in Teves of this year. We have brought it to our
readers during the Three Weeks because of its timely
message.
One of the Thirteen Principles of Faith, which the Rambam
established as our basic emunah is: Ani ma'amin
bevi'as haMoshiach . . .
Regarding this, the Rambam wrote (Hilchos Melochim
11:1): "One who does not believe in Moshiach, or does
not await his arrival -- not only does this person defy our
nevi'im, but he actually defies the Torah and Moshe
Rabbenu as well." The Rambam teaches us that it is not
enough to simply believe that Moshiach will appear whenever
Hashem so decides. We are commanded to actually await
Moshiach's arrival at any and all times.
What does it mean "to await Moshiach at every given moment?"
It indicates that we live with constant hope and
anticipation: Maybe, maybe this very moment will herald
Moshiach's arrival!
We can better understand this concept with the following
moshol:
A father travels away from home to a foreign destination and
his children long for him terribly. Behold! The day arrives
when the children know that perhaps their father will return
that day. The children stand and await him every second:
"Maybe Tatty is coming today! Maybe even in an hour he'll
already be here!"
When the telephone call comes that their beloved father is
indeed close to home, the children crowd up to the window.
Maybe they can already sight their long-lost father from
afar! The stronger their desire to see him, the greater
their anticipation will be.
I remember many years ago, when the dreaded children's
disease polio spread among our families, R"l. As soon
as a child was discovered with even the slightest symptom
that could possibly signify his having contracted the
disease, the doctor was immediately summoned. It was
imperative to receive an early diagnosis, for that increased
the chances for a cure. I remember how the stricken families
would stand at their doorsteps, breathlessly waiting for the
doctor to come running!
That is what "waiting for his coming" means, and that is how
we are commanded to await Moshiach. One who does not await
Moshiach's arrival is considered as having denied the Torah
and Moshe Rabbeinu. What an awesome thought!
The mashgiach, HaRav Chatzkel Levenstein zt"l (Ohr
Yechezkel, "Emunah") adds: Today, in our generation, it
is not enough to simply wait and hope for Melech Hamoshiach.
We must realize that Yemos Hamoshiach have already
begun, As it is written in the novi (Doniel 12:1):
"At that time, the great Heavenly Prince Michael will stand
up, and there shall be a terrible time, such as never was
since our birth as a nation until that time."
How do we know if Yemos Hamoshiach have arrived? If
the terrible times have arrived. What more terrible times
have we seen than today's day and age, continues Reb
Chatzkel, when tragedies and frightful occurrences surround
us as individuals and surround Klal Yisroel as a
whole, dreaded illnesses, many horrible accidents and death
is rampant, and everyone fears dying from diseases whose
ferocity gets worse as time goes on, cures are slim,
sicknesses claim young and old, women and children, a person
can be alive and well one day, and by the next day, find
himself in mortal danger, R"l. Doctors diagnose him
as deathly ill and his life now hangs by a mere thread.
These are the times of eis tzoroh."
In addition to all the cholim today, the yoke of
golus Yishmoel has been cast more heavily upon us
than before. The Arabs' desire is simply to murder us all.
Their hatred is compounded by the many Jew-haters "our own
brothers!" whose hatred towards us as shomrei Torah
umitzvos, has grown tremendously. We are plagued for
being religious by our own brethren who at the same time
show partiality towards the Arabs, justifying the actions of
the latter. Such a situation has never arisen since the
beginning of our existence. These are all signs that the
days of Moshiach have indeed arrived.
Yet, we must realize that all this is not merely a casual
sign to signify that Yemos Hamoshiach have begun.
These difficult times are actually part of the preparation
and manner to arouse the hearts of the yerei Hashem.
(Only) through this awakening will Hashem be able to
fulfill His promise of: "Hinei Onochi sholei'ach lochem
es Eliyohu Hanovi . . . " (Malachi 3:23), sending our
long-awaited redeemer.
This is Hashem's manner of bringing salvation, which
originates from within us. First, He seeks our part: our
awakening, our his'orerus. And only afterwards, when
we have done ours, will He bring the yeshua. We find
this concept in gemora Brochos (7a), when Hashem
spoke to Rabbi Yishmoel. "Bless Me, My son Yishmoel," to
which Rabbi Yishmoel responded, "Kevosh ka'asecho --
Conquer Your anger, O Hashem."
Hashem must have our bakoshos and our supplications,
and only then can He shower us with salvation. Only after
Rabbi Yishmoel pleaded with Hashem to conquer His anger, did
Hashem react. Only after the world has straightened itself
out in repentance, can we merit the fulfillment of the
posuk (Malachi 3:1): ". . . and suddenly, the Master
whom you seek will arrive at His Abode."
Hineni sholei'ach mal'ochi . . . -- Behold, I am
sending My angel, and he will clear a way before Me, and
suddenly will arrive at His Abode the Master Whom you seek,
and the angel whom you wish for" (ibid.).
Metzudos explains as follows: At the time of the Future
Redemption, Hashem will send His angel from Heaven who will
destroy the sinners and rebels from this earth. He will
purify it before Hashem will descend to rest His Shechina
upon This World.
The novi continues: "And who can endure the day of
his coming, and who will withstand his appearance? For he
[the angel] will be like a refining fire, and like fuller`s
soap, and he will sit, refining and purifying, and he will
purify the children of Levi" (2-3).
Explains the Metzudos: Who will be able to endure the
arrival of that angel who will be clearing a path? He will
be like a burning fire, removing all impurities, and like a
heavy detergent which rids clothing of its stains. The angel
will destroy and finish off all the traitors and rebels.
From all of Klal Yisroel, only the tzaddikim
will remain. Few in number will be those who will indeed
endure until Hakodosh Boruch Hu will reveal
Himself.
In light of the above, Hashem must introduce the eis
tzoroh of terrible trials and tribulations, to bring the
handful of shomrei Torah umitzvos and servants of
Hashem to honestly and truthfully prepare themselves to be
worthy of withstanding this Great Day and thus be saved.
We find a similar concept in the Torah. When
Hashem brought the mabul upon this world, already 120
years before He commanded Noach to build an ark. This, to
publicize the advent of a flood and that only those who will
be inside the ark will survive. Let people read the warning,
and take heed!
It is likewise in today's troubles and tribulations, the
likes of which have never arisen since Klal Yisroel's
inception. In our present-day golus of Yishmoel and
Edom, no one considers saving the Jews a worthy cause, no
one grants us any right to merely exist upon this earth. The
nations of the world seek our destruction, and all the
politics of the day are of passion and lust and hunger for
murder.
In precisely such trying times, Hashem is furnishing for us
the path of our salvation, and the ark to which we can hurry
to and be rescued. Yet this, only by proper preparation on
our part.
Therefore, in what paths should we now travel? Says the
novi (Doniel 12:1): "At that time, your nation
will be rescued; only those who are inscribed in the
book."
Which book, that who will be inscribed in?
Answers the novi (Malachi 3:16): "Oz nidberu . .
." Then, all the G-d fearing men will speak to each
other, and Hashem will hearken and He will hear, and He will
write in the Book of Remembrances before Him, for the G-d
fearing ones and those who highly value His name.
By gathering together and awakening ourselves to understand
why all these events are taking place; why all these
terrible tragedies occur; we do not attribute anything to
chance; we contemplate that, "Man does not knock his finger
down upon this earth, if it has not been preordained from
Above" -- and everything is certainly Divinely planned; we
realize that Hakodosh Boruch Hu is exhorting us to
learn from each decree, from every death, from all the sagas
of pain and suffering!
We open our ears and listen to the Call of Heaven! We wake
up, and make a reckoning of our deeds!
Only thus can we merit to be listed in Hashem's Book in
which all those who will be spared are inscribed.
How simply and clearly is our obligation spelled out for us,
says the Ohr Yechezkel. Strive to be from the group of
yerei Hashem who will merit salvation!
First of all, one must know his Torah obligations and accept
upon himself ol malchus Shomayim. Reb Chatzkel quotes
the Chossid Ya'avetz who explains the following Chazal
(Ovos 2:13): "Hevei zohir biKrias Shema
uveTefilloh" -- One should be exceedingly careful with
these two obligations. Just as in the physical world --
while it is nice to enjoy all types of foods and delicacies
-- bread and water are absolute necessities. Without these
two basics the world does not go around.
So it is in spiritual matters: Krias Shema and
davening are the spiritual bread and water of man.
Krias Shema is the acceptance of ol malchus
Shomayim, without which one cannot be counted among the
ranks of Klal Yisroel. Tefillah is the official
announcement and personal recognition that everything one
receives is solely from Hashem, without Whom one cannot
survive. Both are the basic building blocks upon which man's
entire ruchniyus is built. We can conclude then, that
our goal must be to perfect our avodas Hashem to the
highest degree.
And what is the advice to be successful in avodas Hashem?
"Busy yourself with Torah!" says Morenu HaRav Yehuda
Leib Chasman zt"l. "One who is osek beTorah
merits special Divine assistance in his battle against
the yetzer hora."
The power of Torah is such that it gives one the strength to
resist the yetzer hora's mighty persuasions. All the
yetzer hora's power is a result of built-up
imagination: breathtaking palaces full of all the profits,
enjoyments, and honors one might experience from the
pleasures of This World. As a result, one forgets his
obligations in This World and is blinded to the point that
the real Truth takes on a distorted picture of nothing but
discomfort and trouble.
However, by toiling in Torah, one will experience the true
pleasure derived from talmud Torah: the greatest
pleasure of all. One will actually sense the feeling of,
"The righteous sit, crowns upon their heads, basking in the
rays of the Shechina."
This is the most powerful weapon by which to slaughter the
yetzer hora: Satiate your soul with the celestial
pleasures of the World to Come, and thus do away with all
gravitation towards empty cravings and earthly
aspirations!
This is the proper preparation we require to ready ourselves
for the Day of His Arrival. It draws nearer every day, and
we must merit to exist when our King will finally appear!
May we truly be zoche to witness our Master`s sudden
arrival at His Abode, with the coming of Moshiach,
bimeheira beyomeinu, omein.
The above appeared in the Nisan -- 50th edition, of the
Kol Hatorah journal, published bi-annually. It has
been translated with permission.
