I heard from my teacher and father-in-law, who was the chief disciple of Rebbe Yechiel Michal of Zlotchov, that once when the Baal Shem Tov was traveling on the road, he stepped into a wooded area to pray the afternoon prayer. His disciples were dumbfounded to see him hitting his head against a tree, crying and screaming. Afterward, they asked him what had happened. He explained that he had seen, with divine inspiration, that in the generations before the coming of the Moshiach there would be a multitude of rabbis, and that they would be the very ones who would impede the redemption. [Otzar Chayim]
11 comments:
It's a interesting subject to say the least. A friend of mine and I discuss that we think that the rabbanim don't discuss enought the issue of the impending geulah. We hear them say that Jews should concentrate on doing mitvos. We recognize this and believe that they are correct in this aspect, yet there is something that still bothers us. We think and feel that they really should speak more of the geulah and that that in doing the mitzvos we will usher in the redemption and they should speak of it more than the occasional times they do so.
I believe that the world will see the geulah sooner than later and that many rabbanim have the power- more than they realize to actually inspire a world wide proactive part in bringing the geulah. What do you think about this Devorah?
I think many rabbi's are hesitant to speak about mashiach and geulah because there are so many "rationalist" Jews who guffaw at the notion. It's almost as if they would mockingly say "mashiach" while doing finger quotations in the air. I have learned to keep my mouth shut at shul because such talk is frowned on in this highly educated, 'rationalist' community where divine retribution does not apply to modern times and where nothing, NOTHING trumps a college education. The Disengagement was overwhelmingly supported. I went to Gaza to be with the Jews of Gush Katif and was invisible to some when I returned home. I was in pain from this for a long time. We aren't allowed to bring up the topic of Israel -- at all -- in our official (shul)community emails! Maybe this type of behavior is not so rare... I hope not.
I think the validity of this message from the Baal Shem Tov can be seen today easily. How many Rabbis do you know that personally push for the Jewish population in their community to make aliyah to Israel? I don't know about Australia, but in America they actually try to talk you out of going if that what you want to do. Oh, they have all kinds of reasons that make sense, but the bottom line is that Hashem has given us the land of Israel again after 2000 years of yearning for it. The response from the Rabbonim? Its not perfect there yet so just wait! Imagine the change that would be affected if the Rabbonim all pushed for their congregants to go. Of course not everybody could, but we would see an ever increasing amount coming to Israel and there would be changes made for the positive here, which would make others want to come. It would be self reinforcing. I'm here to tell you, even with all its warts, Israel is 1000 times better to live in for a Jew than America.
yonatan, i dont think this quote has to do with rabbis wanting people to move to israel. that is your opinion that israel is 1000 times better to live in.
i personally love to live in a community where religious jews and secular jews pray in the same shul, say hello to one another, and dont have 1/10th of the animosity they have in israel. nevermind the freeloading give me give me, mentality of food stamps, insurance, housing that exists in israeli religious culture. why would i want to live with jews in israel who thinks its ok to sit in kollel all day while their kids have no money, send shaliacks to my community to fund them, and live off the taxes of jews in israel to support them? i do not care to live with people like that. jews wearing costumes of eastern european jews that shun other jews for not dressing like them. when the ideas moved forward from R. Amsalem permeates israeli culture, where people get up and take responsibility to work and suppor their families, when the ultra orthodox know that they have taken din torah, and added several thousands stringies on top of it and expect others to keep them as well, i will not move to israel. and sir for you to consider this a prerequisite for mashiach to come, then you are entitled to your opinion, you are entitled to be a fanatic, and you are entitled to be wrong.
Dr.M you said "...10th of the animosity they have in israel. nevermind the freeloading give me give me, mentality of food stamps, insurance, housing that exists in israeli religious culture...."
I live in Boro Park, I venture to say that over half the Jewish community live on medicaid, section 8 housing, WIC, etc.. I know because where I work all the children having public assistance.
Dr.M you said "...10th of the animosity they have in israel. nevermind the freeloading give me give me, mentality of food stamps, insurance, housing that exists in israeli religious culture...."
I live in Boro Park, I venture to say that over half the Jewish community live on medicaid, section 8 housing, WIC, etc.. I know because where I work all the children having public assistance.
base on information in the press I would say that it is a lack of true faith in Hashem that is lacking in the religious communities and Israeli society that is the problem.
Ex: 1: Yeshivas cheat on their true student number to get more government support . Dishonesty.
2: Nearly 2,000,000 live below the poverty line in Israel. Why?
The duty of parents and the state is lacking. The common good ????
3: It seems more trust in USA protection over God's .
4: The wall of shame ghettoes Israel.
5: Racism is prevalent.
6: the destruction of settlements.
7: Trade in military goods to the nation. It does not serve peace.
And the list could go on,and on.
Israel must be a nation model to the world.It starts at home.
Mashiach has not come for the same reason the Second Temple was destroyed: sinat chinam. The vitriol in some of these comments - directed at Jews by Jews is like a knife in our collective gut. We don't have to worry about the Palestinians or anyone else destroying us -- we do it just fine on our own.
Here's an interesting article on this subject:
"The End of the Rabbi as Mr Nice Guy" by Shmuley Boteach
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-shmuley-boteach/the-end-of-the-rabbi-as-m_b_801710.html
Rabbi's shouldn't be afraid to tell the congregation they belong in Israel. It's not as if this is an unknown concept to Jews. We read over and over how we belong in the land. But so many very successful Jews do not want to leave - to them it's unheard of. Some came back from visiting last summer and complained about the price of things, cab driver's cheated them, it was dirty, they don't know the language -- you'd think they took a trip to New York! To me this is such a tragedy. That Jews can afford to live in Israel very comfortably and don't want to go - they want to stay HERE! The rabbi's are hesitant to push it too much because it might make these people "uncomfortable" and he could lose his contract...
Tidbits, I believe you
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