B"H

THOUGHTS FOR THE MONTH OF SIVAN

Dear Friends:

Between cyclones and earthquakes, droughts and tornadoes, rising oil prices and declining economies, wars and terrorists, burgeoning anti-Semitism and a government of Israel obsessed with hatred of Torah and determined to give our beautiful Holy Land away to our enemies, the world looks terribly bleak. 

We are coming to Shavuos, the day on which the Children of Israel stood at Mount Sinai "as one man with one heart" to receive the Torah from the mouth of G-d.   Moses walked through a cloud of darkness as he climbed Mount Sinai; we are also walking through darkness.  It seems the road to the top must pass through darkness. 

But King David says, "though I walk in the valley of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me." [1] It is important, my friends, that we work hard to avoid depression.  It is easy to succumb to hopelessness and despair, especially if one reads the headlines, or - worse - the stories under the headlines!  It may seem there is no way out of the problems.  But for us Children of Israel there is always a way out - not an escape through drugs or fantasy G-d forbid - but a way to survive in this world with the knowledge that life is eternal for one who cleaves to the Almighty G-d.

At the end of Shabbos, when we need reassurance before entering the coming week, we read these words: "Whoever sits in the refuge of the Most High, he shall dwell in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of G-d, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my G-d and I will trust in Him.'  For He will deliver you from the ensnaring trap, from devastating pestilence. With His wings He will cover you and beneath His wings you will be protected...." [2]

My friends, there are words in Megilas Rus - which we read on Shavuos - that shake the very foundations of heaven and earth.  I have discussed this before, but it is always good to repeat words of strength and truth. 

Boaz awakes on the threshing floor, suddenly aware that Rus is lying at his feet in the darkness.  She explains why she is there, and he replies in these words of Himalayan portent: "And now my daughter, do not fear....  While it is true that I am a redeemer, there is also another redeemer closer than I.  Stay the night.  Then in the morning, if he will redeem you, fine!  Let him redeem.  But if he does not want to redeem you, then I will redeem you, Chai Hashem. [3] Lie down until the morning." [4]

My dear friends, as the late Shlomo Carlebach might have said, please open your hearts.  I have heard the following explanation of these words. [5] When Boaz speaks to Rus, it is as if G-d were speaking to the Children of Israel, saying the following: "Stay the night.  Stick it out through the terrible darkness of Exile.  Do not give up and do not fear.  Have bitachon, faith in Me.  The Redemption is coming soon.  If your own deeds and mitzvos can redeem you, well and good, you will be redeemed by them.  But if not, even if you lack the merit to save yourselves, even if you seem to be irretrievably lost in an endless maze of confusion, darkness and sin, I promise that I will save you!"

Children of Israel, we may be stumbling and staggering in the darkness, leaderless and filled with pain, tormented by tragedy, sorrow and the hatred of the world around us, but G-D PROMISES HE WILL REDEEM US, DARKNESS OR NO DARKNESS!  THIS IS THE PROMISE OF SHAVUOS.  THIS IS THE PROMISE OF THE TORAH.  THIS IS THE PROMISE OF OUR G-D.

Where is Moshiach?  Does it appear that he is nowhere to be found? 

"Even ma'asu habonim haysa le rosh pina," [6] the stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.  The place where you least expect him, in the way you least expect him, at the time you least expect him .... that is where and how and when Moshiach ben Dovid will come.

My dear friends, I feel gratified to tell you that my new book, 2020 VISION, will be released soon in English and distributed by Feldheim Publishers.  This book, which I am calling a novel, represents my idea of what we can expect in the years ahead.  We all hope that Moshiach ben Dovid will come through a peaceful process.  Right now it doesn't look so hopeful; the world is volatile and extremely dangerous.  But no matter what happens, the Children of Israel will find protection under the wings of G-d.   That is what 2020 VISION is all about, a story about survival amidst a world in upheaval.

I am happy that 2020 VISION is, with G-d's help, being released so close to Shavuos. It is my hope that 2020 VISION will give strength and encouragement to our people and hasten the arrival of the day on which we all stand before G-d once again in unity, accepting the Torah forever and dwelling in eternal peace in our Holy Land.  "On that day G-d will be One and His Name One." May we see it soon, in our days!

Roy S. Neuberger

 

© Copyright 2008 by Roy S. Neuberger

[1] Psalm 23

[2] Psalm 91

[3] This is an oath in the Name of G-d

[4] Megislas Rus 3:11-13

[5] Based on the writings of the Ben Ish Chai

[6] Psalm 118