Yearning for the Final Redemption, Am I? - Part 7

Where will Mashiach reveal himself from?

(ו) כַּד יְקוּם וְיִתְגְּלֵי בְּאַרְעָא (וירא קי''ט ע''א, רכ''א) דְּגָלִיל, בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ הוּא אֲתָר קַדְמָאָה דְּאִתְחָרְבָא בְּאַרְעָא קַדִּישָׁא, וּבְגִין כָּךְ, יִתְגְּלֵי תַּמָּן קַדְמָאָה...

Zohar, Shemot 13

He shall reveal himself in the land of Galilee because in this part of the Holy Land the desolation (Babylonian exile) first began, therefore he will manifest himself there first…

Can one return to G-d after Mashiach is revealed?

רמב"ן על דברים ל׳:ו׳:א׳

(א) ומל יקוק אלקיך את לבבך זהו שאמרו (שבת קד) הבא לטהר מסייעין אותו מבטיחך שתשוב אליו בכל לבבך והוא יעזור אותך ונראה מן הכתובים ענין זה שאומר כי מזמן הבריאה היתה רשות ביד האדם לעשות כרצונו צדיק או רשע וכל זמן התורה כן כדי שיהיה להם זכות בבחירתם בטוב ועונש ברצותם ברע אבל לימות המשיח תהיה הבחירה בטוב להם טבע לא יתאוה להם הלב למה שאינו ראוי ולא יחפוץ בו כלל... וכן נאמר ביחזקאל (לו כו כז) ונתתי לכם לב חדש ורוח חדשה אתן בקרבכם וגו' ועשיתי את אשר בחקי תלכו והלב החדש ירמוז לטבעו והרוח לחפץ ולרצון וזהו שאמרו רבותינו (שבת קנא) והגיעו שנים אשר תאמר אין לי בהם חפץ (קהלת יב א) אלו ימות המשיח שאין בהם לא זכות ולא חובה כי בימי המשיח לא יהיה באדם חפץ אבל יעשה בטבעו המעשה הראוי ולפיכך אין בהם לא זכות ולא חובה כי הזכות והחובה תלויים בחפץ:

Ramban on Deuteronomy 30:6:1

(1) AND THE ETERNAL THY G-D WILL CIRCUMCISE THY HEART. It is this which the Rabbis have said, “If someone comes to purify himself, they assist him” [from on High]. The verse assures you that you will return to Him with all your heart and He will help you. This following subject is very apparent from Scripture: Since the time of Creation, man has had the power to do as he pleased, to be righteous or wicked. This [grant of free will] applies likewise to the entire Torah-period, so that people can gain merit upon choosing the good and punishment for preferring evil. But in the days of the Messiah, the choice of their [genuine] good will be natural; the heart will not desire the improper and it will have no craving whatever for it... And so it is declared by Ezekiel, A new heart will I also give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will cause you to walk in My statutes. The new heart alludes to man’s nature, and the [new] spirit to the desire and will. It is this which our Rabbis have said: “And the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say: ‘I have no pleasure in them’ — these are the days of the Messiah, as they will offer opportunity neither for merit nor for guilt,” for in the days of the Messiah there will be no [evil] desire in man but he will naturally perform the proper deeds and therefore there will be neither merit nor guilt in them, for merit and guilt are dependent upon desire.

Is he superhuman?

The Jewish Mashiach is truly human in origin, He is born of ordinary human parents and is of flesh and blood like all mortals (see Aryeh Kaplan Anthology Volume I, The Real Messiah, pages 274 – 276 and Rav Schwab on Prayer, pages 495-497).

How would one describe him?

He is a leader of the Jews, strong in wisdom, power and spirit. Also, he will bring eternal peace, love, prosperity and moral perfection to the entire world (see Aryeh Kaplan Anthology Volume I, The Real Messiah, pages 274 – 276 and Rav Schwab on Prayer, pages 495-497).

Why should I yearn for Mashiach?

Rav Chaim Kanievsky emphasizes, “The primary reason why we should anticipate Mashiach’s coming is so that G-d’s Name and glory will be widespread and recognized throughout the world - as we said on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, “All shall come to serve You... they shall bless Your glorious Name... and shall accept the yoke of Your Kingship upon themselves” (Rav Chaim Kanievsky on the Three Weeks by Rabbi Avraham Yeshayahu Shteinman, page 225).

משנה תורה, הלכות מלכים ומלחמות י״א:ז׳

(ז) וְכָל הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלּוּ שֶׁל יֵשׁוּעַ הַנּוֹצְרִי, וְשֶׁל זֶה הַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִי שֶׁעָמַד אַחֲרָיו, אֵינָן אֶלָּא לְיַשֵּׁר דֶּרֶךְ לַמֶּלֶךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ, וּלְתַקֵּן אֶת הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוּ לַעֲבֹד אֶת יקוק בְּיַחַד: שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "כִּי אָז אֶהְפֹּךְ אֶל עַמִּים שָׂפָה בְרוּרָה לִקְרֹא כֻּלָּם בְּשֵׁם יקוק וּלְעוֹבְדוֹ שְׁכֶם אֶחָד" (ראה צפניה ג, ט).

Mishneh Torah, Kings and Wars 11:7

(7) And all the doings of Jesus the Nazarene and that of that Ishmaelite who came after him are nothing but to pave the way for the King Messiah and prepare the entire world to worship G-d together, as it says, “For then I will turn to the peoples a pure language, that they may all call upon the Name of the Lord, to serve Him with one consent” (Zephania 3:9).

Rav Yisrael Meir HaKohein was once quoted as saying:

כולנו מבקשים לראות פני משיח, אבל נבדוק בעצמנו למה אנחנו מחכים לו. לפלוני דרוש משיח כדי לצאת מצרת הפרנסה הקשה עליו, לפלוני כדי לרפא חולה שיש לו בבית, לזה אין שידוך, ולזה אין נחת מהילדים. והקב״ה הבוחן לבבות משיב ואומר: פרנסה אתן לך, רופא אשלח לך, שידוך אסדר לך, ואת משיח למה לך להטריח? האם בשביל זה אנו צריכים שיבוא משיח? צריך לבכות על כבוד שמים, על צער השכינה שבגלות, על זה צריכים לערוג ולהתפלל...

“Why do we wait for Mashiach? Because we need a livelihood, a cure for a disease, someone in our family needs a shidduch? No! Hashem knows our innermost thoughts, and He says to us, ‘I can send you those things without sending you Mashiach!’ Instead, each one of us must cry for the lack of כבוד שמים, honor of Heaven and for the ‘pain’ of the Divine Presence which is in exile (see Tikkunei Zohar, page 37a) and then Mashiach will surely come.”

If you cannot access the video, click here.

On April 8, 2018, R’ Yeshayah Levin said something very similar at the funeral of his son Yisroel:

The tragedy took place on Chol HaMoed Pesach... We have to ask ourselves, “Why did all of Klal Yisrael before Yom Tov Sheini have to hear such devastating news?” Those who know the family and Yisrael had to cry when they heard such a story. Even those who didn’t have incredible heartache that two Jewish families – besides the choson and kallah – has such distress. Why does everyone in the world feel their pain?

According to my understanding, the explanation is שְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ בְּגָלוּתָא – the Divine Presence is in exile - and no one is crying for Hashem. Every day people are davening, “Send Moshiach so that I won’t have to undergo my difficulties.” Whose crying for Hashem? Hashem was driven out of His house because of our transgressions...

... Hashem caused tremendous pain in our nation this year at the Yom Tov of the Geulah. He wants us to wake up. Hashem is talking to us: “You want to bring Moshiach? Start crying for Me that I’m in exile.”

see ArtScroll Yoma 57a, note 3. See also Maharsha, Chiddushei Aggados on Yuma 57a “השתא ברי טמאים כו'”; Tosafos on Sukkah 45a, “אני ו...” and Bamidbar Rabbah 7:10.

In the winter of 5678 (1918), the Chofeitz Chayim was told about the joy that was spreading to Jewish homes everywhere over the signing of the Balfour Deceleration. He broke out crying and could not understand everyone was so happy because, after all, Hashem had promised [to Yaakov Avinu]: “You shall spread forth to the west, east, north and south” (Bereishis 28:14). This promise said the Chofeitz Chayim, is like an I.O.U. from Hashem and when the time comes, He is certain to pay it. But people are giving thanks now for what amounts to just a small part of Hashem’s promise. Everyone is rejoicing over the Deceleration and thinking of it as if it were the Redemption. He lamented, “They are settling for less… They do not look forward to more… Oy, what has happened to us?!” And he kept on crying (Chafetz Chaim on the Torah - Volume 1, page 212)

[see also Kol HaTor by Rabbi Hillel Rivlin of Shklov, chapter 1, page 53 #2; chapter 4, pages 75 – 76. In addition, see What to Expect from the Transition Phase of the Messianic Era, The Final Showdown and Michtav M’Eliyahu volume 3, Golus v’Geulah, pages 204 – 205 ד"ה ירידתה של מלכות אדום].

Three times a day we recite:

סידור אשכנז, ימי חול, תפילת שחרית, עמידה, משפט א׳

(א) הָשִׁיבָה שׁופְטֵינוּ כְּבָרִאשׁונָה וְיועֲצֵינוּ כְּבַתְּחִלָּה. וְהָסֵר מִמֶּנּוּ יָגון וַאֲנָחָה. וּמְלךְ עָלֵינוּ אַתָּה יקוק לְבַדְּךָ בְּחֶסֶד וּבְרַחֲמִים. וְצַדְּקֵנוּ בַּמִשְׁפָּט. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יקוק, מֶלֶךְ אוהֵב צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט: בעשי"ת - הַמֶּלֶךְ הַמִשְׁפָּט:

Siddur Ashkenaz, Weekday, Shacharit, Amidah, Justice 1

(1) Restore our judges as in the beginning, and our counsellors as in the beginning times, remove from us sorrow and groaning, and reign over us, You, O Lord alone, and in loving kindness and mercy, justify us in judgment. Blessed are You, O Lord, the King Who loves righteousness and judgment. (From Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur replace the conclusion with the following: King of Justice.)

What is the main emphasis of this blessing?

אבודרהם, סדר תפילות החול, תפילת עמידה כ״ד

(כד) השיבה שופטינו ...ומלוך עלינו אתה יקוק לבדך שנאמר והיה יקוק למלך על כל הארץ ביום ההוא יהיה יקוק אחד ושמו אחד...

Abudarham, Weekday Prayers, Amidah 24

and reign over us, You, O Lord alone, as it is written: "And the LORD shall be king over all the earth; in that day there shall be one LORD with one name."

The whole world should know of His existence!

In Ma’ariv we say:

תהילים ק״ו:מ״ז

(מז) הוֹשִׁיעֵ֨נוּ ׀ יקוק אֱלֹקֵ֗ינוּ וְקַבְּצֵנוּ֮ מִֽן־הַגּ֫וֹיִ֥ם לְ֭הֹדוֹת לְשֵׁ֣ם קׇדְשֶׁ֑ךָ לְ֝הִשְׁתַּבֵּ֗חַ בִּתְהִלָּתֶֽךָ׃

Psalms 106:47

(47) Deliver us, O LORD our God,
and gather us from among the nations,
to acclaim Your holy name,
to glory in Your praise.

If you cannot access the video, click here.

This verse from Tehillim flows beautifully with the Medrash:

ויקרא רבה ט׳:ז׳

(ז) לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא כָּל הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת בְּטֵלִין וְקָרְבַּן תּוֹדָה אֵינוֹ בָּטֵל...

Vayikra Rabbah 9:7

In the future, all korbanos will annulled except for the korban Todah.

What is the ultimate outcome of our Creator gathering us from among the nations?

תהילים פ״ו:ט׳

(ט) כׇּל־גּוֹיִ֤ם ׀ אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִׂ֗יתָ יָב֤וֹאוּ ׀ וְיִשְׁתַּֽחֲו֣וּ לְפָנֶ֣יךָ אדושם וִ֖יכַבְּד֣וּ לִשְׁמֶֽךָ׃

Psalms 86:9

(9) All the nations You have made
will come to bow down before You, O Lord,
and they will pay honor to Your name.

מחזור אשכנז לראש השנה, תפילת מוסף, יום ראשון של ראש השנה, קדושה מ״ב

וְיֶאֱתָֽיוּ כֹל לְעָבְדֶּֽךָ וִיבָרְכוּ שֵׁם כְּבוֹדֶֽךָ. וְיַגִּידוּ בָאִיִּים צִדְקֶֽךָ. וְיִדְרְשֽׁוּךָ עַמִּים לֹא יְדָעֽוּךָ. וִיהַלְלֽוּךָ כָּל אַפְסֵי אָֽרֶץ. וְיֹאמְרוּ תָמִיד יִגְדַּל יקוק: וְיִזְבְּחוּ לְךָ אֶת זִבְחֵיהֶם. וְיִזְנְחוּ אֶת עֲצַבֵּיהֶם. וְיַחְפְּרוּ עִם פְּסִילֵיהֶם: וְיַטּוּ שְׁכֶם אֶחָד לְעָבְדֶּֽךָ: וְיִירָאֽוּךָ עִם שֶֽׁמֶשׁ מְבַקְשֵׁי פָנֶֽיךָ. וְיַכִּֽירוּ כֹּֽחַ מַלְכוּתֶֽךָ. וְיִלְמְדוּ תוֹעִים בִּינָה: וִימַלְּלוּ אֶת גְּבוּרָתֶֽךָ. וִינַשְּׂאֽוּךָ מִתְנַשֵּׂא לְכֹל לְרֹאשׁ. וִיסַלְּדוּ בְחִילָה פָּנֶֽיךָ. וִיעַטְּרֽוּךָ נֶֽזֶר תִּפְאָרָה: וְיִפְצְחוּ הָרִים רִנָּה. וְיִצְהֲלוּ אִיִּים בְּמָלְכֶֽךָ. וִיקַבְּלוּ עֹל מַלְכוּתְךָ עֲלֵיהֶם. וִירוֹמְמֽוּךָ בִּקְהַל עָם. וְיִשְׁמְעוּ רְחוֹקִים וְיָבֽוֹאוּ. וְיִתְּנוּ לְךָ כֶּֽתֶר מְלוּכָה:

Machzor Rosh Hashanah Ashkenaz, Musaf, First Day of Rosh Hashana, Kedushah 42

And all shall come to serve You and bless Your glorious Name, and throughout the isles they shall declare Your righteousness. And peoples will seek You, who knew You not before; and they will praise You, those who live in every part of the earth, and they will say, always, “Magnified be Adonoy.” And they will offer to You their sacrifices, and they will abandon their idols, and they will be humiliated with their graven images, and they will turn with unanimous accord to worship You. And they will fear You— as long as sun is upon them— those who seek Your Presence, and they will realize the power of Your Kingship, and they will teach— those who have gone astray— understanding [of God]. And they will speak of Your might, and they will uplift You causing You to be uplifted above all, and they will fervently beseech Your Presence and crown You with a crown of glory. And the mountains will burst out in joyous song, and the isles will exult in Your Kingship, and they will accept the yoke of Your kingdom upon themselves, and they will exalt You in the assembly of peoples. Those from far-off lands will hear of this and they will come, and they will tender unto You the crown of sovereignty.

We want His Name to be Made Great Again!

Sometimes, a person needs to ask themselves, “Am I in this world to sanctify G-d’s Name or my own?” The prophet gives us the proper mindset.

ישעיהו מ״ט:ג׳

(ג) וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לִ֖י עַבְדִּי־אָ֑תָּה יִשְׂרָאֵ֕ל אֲשֶׁר־בְּךָ֖ אֶתְפָּאָֽר׃

Isaiah 49:3

(3) And He said to me, “You are My servant, Israel in whom I glory.”

משנה תורה, הלכות מלכים ומלחמות י״ב:ד׳

(ד) לֹא נִתְאַוּוּ הַחֲכָמִים וְהַנְּבִיאִים יְמוֹת הַמָּשִׁיחַ. לֹא כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּשְׁלְטוּ עַל כָּל הָעוֹלָם. וְלֹא כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּרְדּוּ בָּעַכּוּ''ם. וְלֹא כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּנַשְּׂאוּ אוֹתָם הָעַמִּים. וְלֹא כְּדֵי לֶאֱכל וְלִשְׁתּוֹת וְלִשְׂמֹחַ. אֶלָּא כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיוּ פְּנוּיִין בַּתּוֹרָה וְחָכְמָתָהּ. וְלֹא יִהְיֶה לָהֶם נוֹגֵשׂ וּמְבַטֵּל. כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּזְכּוּ לְחַיֵּי הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא...

Mishneh Torah, Kings and Wars 12:4

(4) The Sages and the Prophets did not long for the days of the Messiah because they wanted to rule the world or because they wanted to have dominion over the non-Jews or because they wanted the nations to exalt them or because they wanted to eat, drink and be merry. Rather, they desired this so that they would have time for Torah and its Wisdom. And there would be no one who would oppress them or force them to be idle (from Torah). This, in order that they may merit the World to Come...