B"H
THOUGHTS ON LEMONS AND BULLDOZERS
Dear Friends:
We are approaching the Three Weeks. Events are unfolding fast. It seems clear that we are indeed in the countdown to the Final Redemption. We would be wise to take these signs seriously.
I don't often do the shopping, but last Erev Shabbos my wife asked me to pick up six lemons. I'm not too good with prices, but this time the numbers triggered a mental alarm.
"Did you say $7.12 for six lemons?"
I went outside and called my wife.
"Is that the right price for six lemons?"
"No, it must be some mistake. Why don't you go back and tell them."
My friends, it was not a mistake. Six lemons cost $7.12!
Recently there was a bulldozer attack in Yerushalayim. It happens that our family is somewhat connected to a woman who was killed in that attack. Somewhat connected! We are all connected. The ones who wield these weapons should know that those who live by the sword will die by their own sword. It is not conjecture; it is certain.
The second blessing in the weekday Shemoneh Esreh concerns Resurrection of the Dead. We should all know, my friends, that those holy Jews whom the haters take from this world will return in triumph and purity while the haters will be destroyed forever, for G-d promises us that He will "maintain His faith to those who sleep in the dust."
The president of Iran is threatening Israel with long range missiles. The missiles will fall upon his head. That is not conjecture; it is certain.
I heard recently that Americans studying in yeshivos in Israel are leaving because of the sinking dollar and rising shekel. They cannot afford to live there. This is a terrible blow, for our only merit is in the Children of Israel increasing Torah, especially in the Holy Land. What saves us and our Holy Land is the merit of Torah, the more Torah the more merit, the more life. This is another effect of the war upon Israel from the Children of Ishmael, the Moslem world. The price of oil is strangling the entire world.
Our sages said the following: "Before the [coming of Moshiach] there will be [general impoverishment] ... [travel will be dangerous] ... even Torah scholars will have no peace from the adversary... If you see a generation that is becoming [impoverished], expect the [Moshiach] ... all judges and officers [will] cease from Israel (there will be general anarchy; the government will not govern) ... If you see a generation upon which numerous troubles come like a river, expect the [Moshiach]." [1]
My friends, is this not a description of our times? Are we not seeing inflation and poverty, anarchy and danger, troubles flowing over us "like a river"? Things are proceeding exactly as our Sages said they would in the days before the coming of Moshiach.
This is both a sign of hope and a sign of danger.
Hope: we are living in the age of Redemption and we can actually look forward to its imminent fulfillment. We personally can look forward to the end of Exile and the days of Moshiach, the rebuilding of the Holy Temple in Yerushalayim!
Danger: the tests are prodigious. If we fail to take this process seriously we are in imminent danger of catastrophe, G-d forbid!
"Ulla said: May [the Messiah] come, but may I not see him! And so said Rabbah: May he come, but may I not see him! [But] Rav Yosef says: May he come, and may I merit [even to suffer the worst degradation in order to be present at the advent of the Messianic era]. Abbaye asked Rabbah: "Why [do you not want to see the Messiah's arrival?] Is it because [you fear] the travail of the Messiah? But it was taught ... 'What can a person do to be spared the travail of the Messiah? .... One should occupy himself in the [study of] Torah and in acts of kindness."' [2]
This is our challenge. It is huge, but if it were not possible, our Sages would not have told us how to accomplish it. If we were not able to survive Exile, then G-d would not have put us through it, for He does not expose us to challenges that we cannot surmount. Am Yisroel Chai, the Nation of Israel lives! Just as our Nation survived the challenges of the Exodus from Egypt, during which many perished, so we will survive the challenges of the Final Exodus and the final Redemption from slavery. But our task is to "occupy ourselves with the study of Torah and acts of kindness."
This is our ONLY ticket to survival! This is no game, my friends; this is life itself.
I mentioned earlier the "bulldozer" incident in Our Holy City of Yerushalayim. I want to address through this medium our enemies. We are not haters, but they are haters. I want them to know, and we should also know this: hatred will consume the haters, and they will be destroyed by their hatred. I don't mean metaphorically, but literally. "When the wicked bloom like grass and all the doers of iniquity blossom, it is to destroy them until eternity!" [3]
I heard an amazing story, which I have verified with the honored Rabbi Elchonen Zohn, the beloved head of the Chevra Kadisha of Queens, New York. Rabbi Zohn's father is a 92-year-old Rosh Kollel in Yerushalayim, who had the honor and privilege to spend time with the Chofetz Chaim ZT"L shortly before the great sage left this world in 1933. Several weeks ago, the Chofetz Chaim came to Rabbi Zohn in a dream, and said the following: "The Redemption is close. Publicize this and prepare yourself."
My friends, is this not incredible! We must "prepare ourselves" by doing teshuva, eliminating sinas chinom (unwarranted hatred among ourselves), and coming ever closer to Our Father in Heaven. The signs are very strong that the Final Redemption, the Coming of Moshiach ben Dovid, the Rebuilding of the Temple and our eternal return in peace to the Holy Land are imminent!
I want to ask forgiveness for an error in the previous newsletter. I used the phrase, "under the burning sun of Eretz Yisroel," with the thought that the sun of Israel refines us through its purging heat. But a reader explained that it sounded as if I were criticizing the Land of Israel, G-d forbid. I ask forgiveness for that. There is nothing bad about the Land of Israel. It is a land "flowing with milk and honey," a land of perfect beauty and simcha for all of the Children of Israel. Indeed, blessings flow from the Holy Land to the entire universe. If there is any imperfection, it is ours, and that is why our teshuva is imperative!
This is the season of teshuva, my friends! May we return to Torah and acts of kindness, unity and love among the Children of Israel, unity among us and with our Father in Heaven! May our teshuva reach the greatest heights, and may we soon hear "in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate ... the sound of joy and the sound of gladness, the sound of groom and the sound of bride, the sound of people saying, 'Praise Hashem ... for His mercy is forever,' bringing thanksgiving offerings to the Temple of G-d , for I will return the captivity of land as at first, said Hashem." [4]
May we see it soon in our days, this year!
With tremendous hope,
Roy S. Neuberger
© Copyright 2008 by Roy S. Neuberger
[1] Talmud Tractate Sanhedrin 98a (Artscroll translation)
[2] Ibid.
[3] Psalm 92
[4] Jeremiah 33:10-11
