Because we need reminding, this is the world we live in.
Text by J. Immanuel Schochet
The time appointed by G‑d for the Messianic redemption is a closely guarded secret.1 Nonetheless, we are offered many hints to recognize its proximity: when certain conditions come about, await the imminent coming of Mashiach.
Most of these conditions are quite disturbing, clearly displaying a situation of the very “bottom of the pit.”2 One major source describes the world-condition in those days as follows: increase in insolence and impudence; oppressing inflation; unbridled irresponsibility on the part of authorities; centers of learning will turn into bawdy houses; wars; many destitutes begging, with none to pity them; wisdom shall be putrid; the pious shall be despised; truth will be abandoned; the young will insult the old; family-breakup with mutual recriminations; impudent leadership.3
Other sources add: lack of scholars; succession of troubles and evil decrees; famines; mutual denunciations; epidemics of terrible diseases; poverty and scarcity; cursing and blaspheming; international confrontations nations provoking and fighting each other.4 In short, it will be a time of suffering that will make it look as if G‑d were asleep. These are the birthpangs of Mashiach, bearable only in anticipation of the bliss that follows them.
“When you see a generation ever dwindling, hope for him… when you see a generation overwhelmed by many troubles as by a river, await him.”5 “When you see nations fighting each other, look toward the feet of Mashiach.”6
Little wonder that some sages expressed apprehensions about those days in terms of, “Let [Mashiach] come, but let me not see him.”7 The prevailing attitude, however, is to await his coming in spite of all, even if thereafter we shall merit no more than sitting “in the shadow of his donkey’s dung!”8
The troubles and agony of chevlei Mashiach (birthpangs of Mashiach), however, are not unavoidable:
“What is man to do to be spared the pangs of Mashiach? Let him engage in Torah and acts of loving-kindness!”9
Moreover, there are also good and happy signs indicating the imminent coming of Mashiach: a good measure of prosperity;10 a renewal of Torah-study;11 and opening of the “gates of wisdom above and the wellsprings of wisdom below,”12 evidenced also by scientific and technological discoveries and advances; a manifestation and propagation of the mystical teachings of the Torah;13 and also “In the time that Mashiach will awaken, many signs and miracles will occur in the world.”14
19 comments:
For the last sentence, what “many miracles” are occurring in the world? This golus just keeps going and going with so much suffering. It honestly seems it will not end anytime soon. Hashem, have mercy and don’t make us wait another 5 or 20 or 50 years. We need Moshiach today. The world is a complete disaster and a disgrace to Hashem’s holiness.
Yes, the world is a mess. But open miracles do occur. I've seen them in my own life and in the lives of people around me. It seems to me the hashgacha pratis is more obvious now than it was even in the previous shmitta cycle (7-8 years ago). I'm not saying life is easy, it's not. But it seems to me that open miracles occur more often. It seems to me that this is a sign that Moshiach is coming soon. I hope and pray he comes very soon.
what scares me is that i stopped anticipating moshiach coming...when pple state ,' maybe this pesach,etc.' i think, 'yeah, right.'
Please help.. praying i do... kindness too i do... but how to keep that up..
'do acts of loving kindness'
How when the people, like family and others are downright rude to you, and you are old...
and you try to do the best for them, but they still treat you like your ... stupid - or such.
How to carry on being kind, after all, even i have feelings..
a-non
How true Shira but we also know that Chazal tell us that when we will be at our lowest with feelings of no hope is when Moshiach will suddenly appear. That's great. May it be already!
But, as far the benefits of technology - that's only good to a point.
There are many benefits but when those innovators start getting too big, they think they're gods and start thinking of anti-G-D ways to come up with insane tech, which go against normalcy. These are trying times, to say the least.
The world is a disaster alright. But then it always was, we just forget because of the daily torrent of ‘bad’ news, or are still too young to know and/or remember the perils of the past.
Oldun
Oldun, yes we've had wars and famines etc, but we've never had a world where truth was absent, and basic decency is seen as a weakness. Where men pretend to be women and the rest of us are told to address them as "they" or "them" because they are "non binary". Our world is ridiculous on every level. You can't believe anything at all these days. Our food is poisoned, the crops are sprayed with poison, we have drag queens performing for kindergarten children.... I could go on and on, but no matter how old you are, you have never seen a world like this.
To all the people who speak of the suffering going on today: true, there is plenty wrong in the world. But I keep thinking of Jewish history and how horrific it was for the Jews living in previous generations. Religious persecution like blood libels, The Inquisition, pogroms, the Nuremberg Laws, Ghettos, the Holocaust ... I mean, by comparison we have it good! America has been good to the Jews (for the most part), and we now have the State of Israel! As crazy, degraded, debauched, and absurd as the world has become, conditions for the Jewish People are not nearly as bad as in past eras.
So, why does Moshiach HAVE TO come now because we just can't wait another 5, 20, 50 years? I think about the Jews starving and tortured in Auschwitz saying to themselves - "if Moshiach is going to come, now might be a good time."
P.S. I'm not trying to be combative. I just want to understand why so many people today think they simply can't wait another minute.
It is very obvious that the time for Moshiach’s arrival is imminent. Many of the points Devorah just stayed proved it. We ate at a time where immorality and absent of truth and Godliness is the worst ever. All this immorality will not suddenly disappear on its own and the world is at the lowest level of Tumah. All these signs that were predicted by our chachamim are all here! This is one of many major proofs that Moshiach will be here imminently!
It has more to do with the spiritual corruption and suffering in the world which has never been this bad. Obviously, Moshiach will end all physical suffering and all spiritual snootiness.
Moshiach will be here sometime between today and the end of Sukkos. I am confident about this.
The AI developers say that in about one year, we will no longer be able to discern if what we see, hear, or read is true or not. What AI will produce will be so sophisticated that we won't be able to tell the difference. I think this is when we will see Moshiach--those of us who cling to the only truth there will still be in the world--the Torah.
To discern between the counterfeit and Truth… you don’t study the counterfeit, you study the Truth…. And when the counterfeit shows up you’ll be able to recognize it from the Truth because you’ve studied the Truth.
Stay in the Torah and it will be our guide…
I heard that in the end of time we will lose our feeling that we can wait for moshiach to come. We will want him immediately that’s why it says moshiach will come in a generation that we will all be asking for him to come Hashem took away that “relaxed” feeling so we will urgently beg Hashem to send moshiach now! Malky
I read that some big tzadik said moshiach will come on a ordinary Monday. Malky
Definately close. The war of Gog of Magog has begun with Russias invasion of ukraine. Its only a matter of time before it escalates into ww3. And so Moshiach ben joseph should already be working in the galilee. At the end of the war moshiach ben david appears.
The difference etween now and previous generations is this:
Rashi says that the greatest sign of the imminent arrival of Moshiah is when EY gives of its fruit generously. B"D Israel has a billion dollar produce export market.
B"D everyone under the age of 75 was born into this reality. So maybe it does not amaze us, yet for nearly 2000 years it was seen as messianic.
For Lisa, I think it's ok to give yourself a break. From your previous comments, I understand that you've been through a lot. It is indeed emotionally draining waiting for Moshiach, and you're allowed to be kind to yourself. Same to a-non. If possible, try to have an 80-20% rule. Spend only up to 20% of your time with people who are not positive to you and whom you can't avoid. The rest try to spend with positive people, or if there isn't anyone, alone but doing something you enjoy. Also say bircot hashachar with kavana, towards the end, b'einei Hashem veadam.
I found this:
https://www.dirshu.co.il/%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%9E%D7%A6%D7%90-%D7%97%D7%9F-%D7%91%D7%A2%D7%99%D7%A0%D7%99-%D7%90%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%A7%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%95%D7%90%D7%93%D7%9D-%D7%A1%D7%92%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%9C%D7%9E%D7%A6/
Let me know if you need help with it, bli neder.
Today is an ordinary Monday, Be"D.
L.L.
Thank you L.L.
I have to say, as when i posted this, its like a miracle happened. Perhaps some one did pray for my cry of help...
everything changed!!
I can only say it was a Miracle...
Family and friends turned loving and understanding and kind.
Gd bless you L.L,
a-non
:))
That should have said Sefer Shoftim, Mishneh Torah of the Rambam (not Shoftim in Tanach).
L.L.
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