Dear Friends:
"Ready or not, here I come."
Remember how we used to play hide and seek a long time ago?
G-d is hidden during our Exile. We can't find Him. We know He is here, but we don't know how to find Him. Or maybe it's the other way around? Maybe we are the ones who are hiding. As the Torah says, "the man and his wife hid from G-d among the trees of the Garden...." [1]
But right now, my friends, the game is over. We'd better be ready, because He is going to find us very soon, and when He does ... watch out!
On Wednesday morning, April 8 the Children of Israel will recite Birkas ha Chama, the Blessing of the Sun. The fact that it will take place on the day before Passover is extremely unusual. The Ostrovster Admor, who lived some two hundred years ago, reportedly said that this occurred only a few times in history, including immediately before the Exodus from Egypt and before the original miracle of Purim. The Ostrovster apparently predicted that its next occurrence, which is in a few days, would be a prelude to the Final Redemption and the coming of Moshiach ben Dovid. Others say this is not so, and the dates come out wrong. I am not in a position to comment on this, but let us for a moment try to understand a little about the Blessing of the Sun and what it could mean when it falls on the day before Passover. What difference does it make when it falls?
We bless the sun when it stands in exactly the same POSITION it did at its original creation and at the exact TIME of week at which it was created. This happens only once every twenty eight years, when the universal clock is set back to zero with the return of the sun to its starting point.
Every twenty eight years, the world begins anew.
In fact every day the world begins anew. As we say in the Morning Prayers, "In His goodness He renews daily, perpetually the work of creation."
So too, every month also the world begins anew with the appearance of the New Moon. As we say, "To the moon, He said it should renew itself as a crown of splendor for those borne [by Him] from the womb."
The renewal of the sun, however, is a renewal of all creation, because it involves a return to the original work of that First Week. But on that first week of creation everything was spoiled only two days later when Adam and Eve rebelled against G-d in the Garden of Eden. So G-d gives us a new chance every twenty eight years, when the universe is renewed in purity. But, each time, that new beginning is immediately spoiled again, because mankind is still rebelling against G-d.
But when Birkas ha Chama falls out on the day before Passover, all that changes. Why? This time, before mankind has a chance to spoil the renewed perfection of the universe, the holiday of Passover intervenes! Passover is a holiday of freedom from spiritual and physical slavery. On Passover, the Children of Israel CRY OUT TO OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN: "Get us out of this agony! Save us! We have no power to save ourselves! We are being destroyed here! We are at the forty-ninth level of depravity, drowning in impurity and idol worship! Save us, our Father! Save us, our King!"
And when that CRY OF AGONY comes immediately after the universal clock has been reset to zero, it intervenes BEFORE the rebellion has a chance to ruin the perfection of creation! Then the invincible power of creation retains its purity because it is joined with the invincible power of Passover. The children are freed from slavery and the world is infused with salvation from Heaven!
Someone told me that Iran has fifty-five locations in which uranium is being processed. They are all under cities so they can't be bombed. Israel - as well as Jewish communities around the world -- is surrounded by enemies. The "ultimate weapon," apparently invincible, is aimed directly at our people. The world is jumping up and down, licking its collective lips as it prepares to carve our tiny, apparently defenseless nation into little pieces.
Is that what you think, nations of the world?
Well, Pharaoh also thought so just before his entire army was drowned. Haman also thought so before he was hanged from his own gallows. Hitler, may his name be ground to dust, also thought so before he shot himself in the Berlin bunker.
Iranian worm, are you bigger than G-d? Are you threatening the Ruler of the Universe and His beloved children! Just wait and see what G-d has in store!
"For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the wicked people and all the evildoers will be like straw and that day will burn them up, says G-d, Master of Legions.... But a sun of righteousness will shine for you who fear My Name, with healing in its rays...." [1]
Ready or not, here I come!
G-d is coming out of hiding. The game is over, my friends.
Creation will be reset in a few days, but this year the power of Passover will immediately overpower the evil inclination as the Children of Israel cry out to our Father in Heaven: "Ana Hashem, Hoshia Na,"
Please, our Father, Save us Now!
Please, our King, save us Now!
"And on that day G-d saved Israel from the hand of Egypt and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore... Moses and the Children of Israel sang this song to G-d, and they said, "I shall sing to G-d, for He is exalted above the arrogant!" [1]
READY OR NOT, HERE I COME!
My friends, let us prepare for the coming Redemption!
Soon the earth will be purified and the rule of evil will end. The Children of Israel with all our friends will live in a world of peace and harmony in which the Light of G-d will emanate from Zion and the Temple will shine from Jerusalem!
May we see it this year!
Roy S. Neuberger
