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Monday, May 27, 2024

The Suffering of the Last Generation

Text below was transcribed by Nava from the Dreaming of Moshiach Blog, in 2007.

This is  exactly where we are now, in case you didn't realize.  How do I know this ? Isn't it obvious to everyone? Just look at the insanity everywhere. Look at the aggression towards Israel and the Jews, even from their own allies. Look at the weather, the lies... we have all the signs.  We just need to hang in there a bit longer.


In Gemara, Chazal tells us that three divisions of sufferings came down to the world. 

The first division of suffering was placed on the generations of the seven holy shepherds: Avraham, Yitzchak, Yaakov Avinu, Moshe Rabenu, Aaron HaKohen, Yosef HaTzaddik, and Melech Dovid, zs'l. 

The second division of suffering was placed on the remaining generations, excluding our generation.

The third division of suffering was placed on our generation, the last generation. 

The first two sufferings were a gradual process but the last suffering, the third, is the hardest and harshest. Whether it's an illness, unnatural death in a family, livelihood, divorce, finding a spouse, having children, etc....every Jew, regardless where, when, what, who, why, is suffering! 

This is the reason Chazal wrote in Gemara that if a person is not suffering in the generation of the End of Days, know that this person is not a Jew!

If someone tells you he is not suffering, he is not the son/daughter of Avraham Avinu, zs'l. 

Why is this very harsh decree occurring specifically in our generation, all at once and so numerous?

The suffering is a necessity required before the arrival of Moshiach Tzidkenu. Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, zs'l, explains it further in the Zohar HaKadosh, as follows: 

When Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, zs'l, (Rashbi) was hiding in the cave, he wrote the Zohar HaKadosh in Ruach HaKodesh (Divine Spirit). Thru Ruach HaKodesh, he saw that in the last generation will be in a large fire and he cried for us and said, ווי לון מאן דגרמי דיוזיל ליה - Oy to the people who will live in the last generation. Rashbi saw that our generation will transgress the Torah and commit adultery, lust, promiscuity, stealing, heresy, secularism, etc. He cried because he saw that we will need to go thru so many tests and suffering. 

But why so much suffering in our generation? Why does the Yetzer Hara (evil inclination) have so much power in this generation, more than in all past generations? 

It is because HKB'H is so merciful and so generous! The Zohar HaKadosh explains: Every soul comes into this world only for the reason to correct past lives for sins committed. HKB'H saw throughout all generations that many souls were unable to correct themselves and remained unworthy to enter Gan Eden. Even though they were reincarnated as humans, animals, in-animates, plants, food, etc., and also placed in Gehenom or Kaf Hakela. Yet, they were still unable to correct their souls. Even after so many reincarnations, these souls were unsuccessful in their tikun and were placed in Heichal HaNeshamot (hall of souls). 

The Zohar HaKadosh continues and says that HKB'H revealed Himself to the souls placed in Heichal HaNeshamot and the neshamot cried to HaShem, "Merciful Heavenly Father, help us correct ourselves, we want to succeed in cleansing our souls, we reincarnated as humans, plants, animals, we went thru Gehenom, Shaol Tachtit, Kaf Hakela... but we still have not properly corrected our souls...". 

When Merciful HKB'H heard this, He said, "I'll place you all in one generation, a generation that will have much confusion, tests, suffering, and hardships, a generation where the truth will be absent, a generation where one will be easily trapped by the evil inclination. There will be many opportunities to get trapped into terrible sins; everything will be available to you in split seconds. It will be a generation that will feel exhausted from trying to do Teshuva, the evil inclination will be very powerful and adultery, lust, temptations, promiscuity, stealing, heresy, secularism, etc. will be everywhere." "BUT, despite all these hardships, all neshamot that will succeed to pass these difficult tests and continue to have Emunah, will be tremendously rewarded and will merit to live in the Geula." 

This is the reason the holy Rashbi also said  "Overjoyed is the person who lives in that generation." Although it's difficult to comprehend, it's important to know:  all people in this generation: you, me, him, her, them.... are all from Heichal Ha-Neshamot. 


23 comments:

  1. does this include mental illness isolation depression etc?

    -yehuda

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  2. Yes it includes all suffering.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The more someone suffers, the stronger their cries will be.

    If you find yourself crying, then that is the time to pray. Pray through your tears. Your prayers go straight up, no obstacles to block them. That is the best time to start begging for Geula.

    ReplyDelete
  4. ‘All gates have been closed since the destruction of the Temple, but the gate of tears has not been closed’ – and tears are an expression of sadness and sorrow. The celestial beings appointed over the gate of tears break down all the iron locks and bars, and let these tears pass through. The prayers of the afflicted penetrate and reach the holy King…. Thus the prayers of the afflicted person do not return to him empty, and the Holy One takes pity on him. Blessed is the man who in his prayers sheds tears before the Holy One.”

    – Zohar II:165ab

    ReplyDelete
  5. so like when moshiach comes their will be no mental illness or anguish?

    -yehuda

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Obviously not. There will
      be no suffering at all whatsoever. No back pain, no one with chronic migraines, no foot pain, no arthritis, no people in wheelchairs, no one with heart problems, no one with vision problems, no depression. No need for doctors as there will be no illnesses or health conditions. Everyone restored to complete perfect health as it was meant to be (just like by Adam and Chava). We will revert back to Gan Eden down in this world. And only in a world of Gan Eden can you have techiyas hameisim. Pulling neshamos from the afterlife back down to this beautiful, perfect, holy world filled with only joy!!

      -Malka

      Delete
  6. It will disappear when Moshiach comes

    ReplyDelete
  7. Yikes! So, we're THOSE neshamot. Oy, it's like saying, hey, we're the dunce class, but we get to be dunces together! So, let's ace the exam!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm confused sometimes about different things written...according to certain sources nothing will be different, only that Bnei Yisroel will live in peace and according to other sources everything will change ....miraculous things like women will have 6 babies at a time and be able to have children even in old age. People will live forever, ect. Which source is correct?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You have a lot to learn. Start with this excellent lecture about how great the messianic era will be.

      https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6Gj0Fzud-kk

      -Sarah

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    2. You just be new to this blog and to the concept of yemos hamoshiach which starts when Moshiach will be here very soon. It’s going to be an amazing time for Klal Yisrael (and the world). All you need to know if no more suffering will exist in the world. Only constant great rejoicing and a lot of kedusha!

      -Yisrael

      Delete
  9. This fills me with hope. Thank you for posting it. 💗

    ReplyDelete
  10. Prayers for the Iranian Jew, Arvin Netanel Ghahremani, 20, who is slated to be executed by the Islamic Republic. He is certainly suffering as well as his family:
    "Arvin Netanel ben Sonia Tziyona"

    Thank you,
    Rifky

    ReplyDelete
  11. There are always so many interpretations, all depending how one see the Geulah in his own eyes.
    The one thing we must not forget 'every Jewish neshamah has a portion in Olam Habah'. The Messianic age will be of pure bliss.
    No more suffering in any way! Let's cry out to Hashem that He not delay and send us our righteous Moshiach, in a blink of an eye.
    Amen!

    Baruch

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amen! It will certainly be very soon that it will sure seem like “the blink of an eye”!

      -Shlomo

      Delete
  12. Happy week to all.


    Rabbi Simon Jacobson.. New video..




    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jaUDdqI6wo

    Sc



    ReplyDelete
  13. The “different phases” of yemos hamoshiach are opinions and refer mainly to techiyas hameisim possibly starting a while after Moshiach arrives and not at the very start. Everyone agrees that all pain and suffering will end right away. No righteous Jew will still be in any type of pain or tzar as soon as Moshiach arrives soon. Everyone will be completely healthy. The Torah says “there will be no distractions in the times of Moshiach”. We will be able to serve Hashem with great joy, perfect health, and having everything we need. Nothing would stop us from learning a lot of Torah every day and fulfilling all 613 mitzvos! Moshiach will be here before you believe it!

    -Yehuda

    ReplyDelete
  14. @Yehuda May 28 2024 9:38Am

    I have heard it said that when Mashiach comes, we will spend 40 years in a world very similar to this one.
    We will still go to work, but international wars will stop.

    It will only be after 40 years that other changes happen.

    So there are many traditions as to what will happen.

    Let's hope we find out today!

    * My above post of May 28, 2024 at 8:54 AM I meant to write "Custom" not "Customer".

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There is no opinion that holds we will be suffering for 40 years when Moshiach comes and that everything remains the same except for no more wars (that is silly). All suffering ends right away for Klal Yisrael. The only opinion about 40 years is that, at the very latest, techiyas hameisim would be 40 years later (but that is unlikely as the Zohar says techiyas hameisim before 5790 and the Leshem says before 5787. The Zohar is never wrong on a positive prophechy). Everyone holds that all suffering will end as soon as Moshiach comes. And that will be very soon since we are about to welcome Moshiach!

      -Eliezer

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  15. Yikes London Male: I can envisage a whole bunch of readers losing their minds over another 40 years of potential suffering.
    Wasn't there something about MBY dying and 40 years later we get MBD ?

    If anyone has any further information about these 40 years please tell us.

    ReplyDelete
  16. @Devorah

    The Rabbi who told me (Rabbi Stepsky) said that it was one opinion that he had heard.

    It was an idea that the Geulah Shleimah will see a "repeat" of the Exodus, the 40 years from leaving Egypt to arriving in Eretz Yisrael.

    But it is just one opinion.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I think we are seeing a repeat of the Exodus, except we're getting an abbreviated version of it. for example... the plagues... our plagues are a bit different but we still have plagues - covid, hail, locusts/crickets etc.
    So maybe 40 years turns into 40 days for us.
    Just my thoughts on this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 40 days is over. When Moshiach comes, we’re going straight into an incredible era of great joy for all of Klal Yisrael. The end of all suffering.

      A time coming extremely very soon when we will all be able to fulfill all 613 mitzvos in Eretz Yisrael without any distractions.

      -Ahuva

      Delete

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