Appreciation energetically uplifts you and those who love you. Take the time to send a thoughtful note of appreciation to someone today.

Mozelle Forman, LCSW

Has anyone else forgotten what day of the week it is?  Do you want your news delivered in 30 seconds or less even though you know by the time you finish reading the article or listening to the broadcast the news will be obsolete?  Is anyone else confused about when to wear a mask, what to touch, what to sanitize, what to avoid, and who it is safe to hug?!  Welcome to 2020!

The New Normal

We are living in a time of uncertainty, a time where everything we counted upon is unfamiliar or gone.   We are waking up and stumbling through a day that seems like yesterday, only it is not. We are  looking for answers that no one can provide, checking our phones, or wherever we get our news from, grateful that no one else has passed on. We have survived the great pandemic of 2020.  And we are tired.  We do not want to be part of an historical era, an unprecedented time in world history.  We want to go back to normal.  However, we are having a hard time defining what is normal and feeling normal ourselves.  What was “normal” no longer is, and what is “normal” today, probably will not be “normal” tomorrow.  And who knows if the kids go back to school in the Fall?  Our entire sense of equilibrium is off.

In order to maintain our equilibrium, we need constancy and familiarity – something we can depend on, something with permanence.  We need to be able to plan, as planning is an antidote to anxiety.  We need to have guidelines and remedies to problems, should they arise. And we need to be able to make decisions that help to keep us and our loved ones safe.  Yet living in a post-pandemic world, we are very short on all of the above.

Our ever-changing world requires us to process, digest, and assimilate new realities into our consciousness.  We need to cultivate an acceptance of the new “normal” and adapt to that.  Ideally, our psyches can make these assimilations as needed over time.  Yet, we are being asked to adapt to changes on a daily basis, knowing that these changes may be obsolete tomorrow.  We are being asked to go forward into the unknown, to abandon that which we have depended on as truth and “normal” and to suddenly have the skills necessary to navigate the new reality.  I heard someone compare what we are experiencing now to building a boat while being out at sea in the middle of a storm.  Like those seafarers, we are learning on the job under the most difficult of circumstances.  We may be feeling stressed, anxious, overwhelmed, angry, frustrated, afraid, inadequate, tired, and confused in varying degrees and at various times.  Experiencing these feelings for a prolonged period of time is considered a “traumatic event,” which puts our brains and bodies into survival mode.

Operating in Survival Mode

Survival mode means there is no long-term or medium-term plan. We are forced to focus on getting through the next 24 hours. The end of the week feels like a long way off. When you are stuck in survival mode, you feel like you will never be able to dig yourself out of the hole.  You are exhausted most of the time, barely finding the energy to get through your day, let alone to do the things that you love and bring you joy. You often find yourself snapping at those you love most, only to be filled with guilt afterwards. It feels like someone has sucked all of the color out of your world.

Living in survival mode for too long literally wears a person down.  Anxiety and depression can set in even after the immediate threat or danger is gone.  In some cases, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder could set in.  PTSD is characterized by intense feelings of distress when reminded of a tragic event, as well as physical reactions such as nausea, sweating, or a pounding heart, nightmares, loss of interest in daily activities, avoiding the activities, feelings, thoughts, or places that remind you of the distressing event, and feeling detached from people.  If you or a loved one are experiencing any of these symptoms for an extended period of time, seek the counsel of a mental health professional.

But all is not lost.  You know the expression, “when life gives you lemons make lemonade.”  In the same vein, after a traumatic event many people may experience Post-Traumatic Growth. Sonja Lyubormirsky, who practices “positive psychology” explains that PTG  is “triggered by highly stressful life events that pose a significant challenge to an individual’s assumptive beliefs about the world. They emerge from this challenge with renewed belief in their ability to endure and prevail, with improved relationships and a deeper sense of compassion.”  In essence, they move from surviving a traumatic event to a desire to thrive.

When a person is thriving, they are experiencing a sense of development. They see themselves improving, and they have a sense that they are succeeding at mastering something. They are feeling good about life and are bringing purpose and compassion into their life.  There is a huge difference between surviving and thriving. Surviving means that you continue to live or exist, especially in spite of danger or hardship.  Thriving means you are prospering, flourishing, succeeding, growing, and developing. Surviving is being stuck – as in sheltering in place. Thriving is engaging with the world around us with purpose and joy.  Thriving can only occur when we have a sense of security and equilibrium – a feeling that the world is predictable and consistent.  We need answers to vital questions that are unavailable to us.  Almost every conversation that I have had in the past few months, though, has ended with one of us saying, “I just don’t know.”

Tips for Thriving – Not Only Surviving

So, what is the secret to thriving in uncertain times?

• Manage your physical health –Trauma and survival mode both take a toll on your physical health. To feel better, take care of your body. Get plenty of sleep every night. Exercise every day. Eat well and avoid alcohol. Manage stress with meditation, yoga, or other relaxation techniques.
• Create a routine – Ground yourself with a daily routine. When you have goals to accomplish, make lists and tackle them one small, manageable piece at a time. Find time for enjoyable activities like reading, cooking, or doing whatever you enjoy.
• Consistently let go of expectations – If the expectations placed upon you by society, family, friends, peers, colleagues, or even yourself, are causing a great deal of stress, practice self-compassion. Listen intently to your feelings and do not judge yourself if you cannot fulfill everyone’s expectations.  Create an inner dialogue of positive self-talk. For example, say things to yourself such as, “This is difficult and uncomfortable, but it only temporary.” “I can use my coping skills and get through this.” “It’s ok to feel this way, it’s a normal reaction.” “This won’t last forever.”
• As thriving implies growth and success at mastering something, try something you have never done before or learn something you assumed would be too difficult – Maybe you have always wanted to cook a whole chicken, or knit a cool scarf, or build a sturdy table, but you thought it was too difficult. Push beyond your comfort zone and try something you assumed would be too challenging. The world has so much to offer you. Never stop exploring the endless opportunities for expansion available to you.
• Practice radical gratitude by showing your appreciation for the people who support you – Appreciation energetically uplifts you and those who love you. Take the time to send a thoughtful note of appreciation to someone today.
• Laugh as much as possible and get up and dance when you feel too serious – The health benefits of laughter and dancing, both emotional and physical, have been well documented. Studies show that children laugh 300 to 400 times a day, and adults only 17.5 – so tap into your inner child and get the giggles.  Better yet, dance while you laugh or laugh because you’re dancing.  Movement releases stagnation. Where else would the phrase “shake it off” come from?

Remember Our Legacy of Trust in Hashem

And lastly, remember from whence we came.  The Jewish nation was forged when we proclaimed the words, “Naaseh ve’nishma” – we will do and we will listen – stated when we were presented with the Torah.  Our wholehearted leap of faith, our commitment to the Torah and to Hashem began in a place of uncertainty.  We did not know what we were agreeing to. We did not preview the Torah before we accepted it.  With trust and conviction, we simply jumped in.  That ability to trust and to move forward without all the facts, which is the legacy we inherited from our forefathers, is what we need now, and what will help us to thrive in these uncertain times.

Ellen Geller Kamaras

Are you aware that there is an organization that has provided over 11 million meals to community members in need in both Brooklyn and the Jersey Shore? Our very own Sephardic Food Fund (SFF) has done just that and continues its vital work in helping community members during these trying times.

Now you just may be wondering how SFF relates to softball.

For those of you who live on the Jersey Shore or migrate from Brooklyn to the greater Deal area for the summer, I bet you cannot wait to return to some semblance of normalcy and to have some fun!   Are the beaches, boardwalks, and ocean breezes calling to you?  Yes, I agree that the Jersey Shore will have a different vibe to it this year. We will all have to focus on staying safe, complying with the State and CDC guidelines, and navigating what has opened and what remains closed due to COVID-19. But, certainly, fun will also be in the air.

Summer Softball

One of the most exhilarating and favorite activities that is available and will get you moving this summer is the M&S Community Premier Summer Softball League (The M&S Summer League). Started by two brothers, Max and Sam Sutton, in 2008, the M&S Summer League is one of three leagues in which community men, ranging in age from 18 to 50+, play softball on the Jersey Shore in the evenings.  The M&S Summer League has become a cultural experience. Its players are competitive, and it is run with the utmost professionalism, including nightly highlights, shows, and league websites with statistics that range back to 2008.  It is so popular that there is even a waiting list to join.   Max and Sam became co-hosts on The M&S Show, providing information and engaging interviews on all softball-related matters.  Stay tuned for podcasts produced by the brothers on the Jewish Radio Station!   Fortunately, the 2020 summer draft took place, teams were formed, and the League is back!

Now here is where SFF comes in!   While Max and Sam are psyched about this coming summer’s softball league and are looking forward to the Jersey Shore’s summer activities, they do not want to lose sight of our brothers and sisters who are less fortunate or have not fared well during the pandemic.

SFF Offers Hesed with a Heart

The SFF discreetly identifies community members who are in need, and even more discreetly provides them with a debit card that looks like an ordinary credit card that enables them to shop without shame at all supermarkets, butchers, bakers, and fruit stores.  SFF’s goal is to ensure that families and individuals who are experiencing financial difficulties receive the sustenance they require by providing them with the ability to put food on the table, while  keeping their dignity intact.

Unfortunately, many of our community members were sick with COVID-19 or suffered financial losses during the pandemic, which heightened the urgency for our organizations to step up to the plate.  Community hesed institutions such as Sephardic Bikur Holim and Mitzvah Man, to name only two (and there are so many more) have bolstered and aided our brothers and sisters who have experienced a wide range of difficulties and crises before and during the pandemic.  Ever since I started writing for Community Magazine three years ago I have been inspired by the level of hesed and commitment to the community exhibited by community members, which I learn about as I conduct my interviews with different members of our community.

As Jews, we are aware that we are obligated to take care of each other. I was moved by a Talmudic commentary I found explaining that a suitable place for a Jew to live is one whose community takes care of its members’ spiritual and physical needs.  Well, isn’t that exactly what our community has done and continues to do?   If someone is hungry, how can she even attempt to address her spiritual needs?   One of our greatest physical needs is nourishment, and SFF ensures that people receive food of their own choice with dignity.  The Torah considers preserving the dignity and self-respect of the receiver as a cornerstone of tzedakah.  Did you know that the Rambam created a list of eight levels of giving and related them to the degree that the donor is sensitive to the needs and feelings of the recipient?

SFF does exactly that. It addresses the needs and feelings of those in the community who may be embarrassed to ask for help.

That is why SFF was founded in 2003 by its President, David Sitt, and Vice President, Elliot Sutton, with Rabbi Raymond Sultan.  Its model and mission: “The Sephardic Food Fund is a community-supported effort dedicated to discreetly identifying the needy in our midst and providing for their nutritional needs while keeping their dignity intact. The Food Fund is almost entirely staffed by hand-picked volunteers.”

SFF – A Lifesaver for Community Members

“No matter how hard we tried every month, we were getting deeper into debt,” one mother describes as her experience before she found SFF. “We were constantly worried about the bills and how we were going to pay them. We were eating three-dollar chicken on Shabbat, and really it was just scraps. I couldn’t bear to serve it to my family. Then suddenly, like an angel, Sephardic Food Fund came along, and now we are able to feed our family without worry. The providing us with a credit card and the way this organization is run is with the utmost dignity and respect for us, and we greatly appreciate it.”

Donation Options for Customized Giving

SFF’s Donation options (https://thesff.org/) allow for donors to give according to what their  budget can afford. Donors may select the category of recipients they would like to help, and can sponsor, for example,  one week’s meals for a particular family size or composition.  One might choose to sponsor a single parent who is divorced and underemployed, and her four children, for a week or a month, or for any timeframe he or she can afford. Or donors may choose to sponsor food for the elderly, etc. For more information, please contact SFF at: sffsponsorafamily.com. ‎

As you safely enjoy the summer re-opening, playing softball, and enjoying picnics and barbecues, please take a few minutes to remember those who are less well-off and open your hearts, wallets, and souls to SFF’s clients.  Max and Sam will be actively spreading the message this summer and asking their league members to reach out to friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues to support this outstanding organization.  They will do anything in their power to ensure that the SFF will be at the forefront in all league-related activities. The SFF will be prominently featured on team uniforms, the website www.MandSBaseball.com, the league Instagram  @mands_baseball, and so much more.

Wishing you a healthy and safe summer!

Michael Mishaan

ולא תחללו את שם קדשי ונקדשתי בתוך בני ישראל אני ה’ מקדשכם.

You shall not profane My holy name, that I may be sanctified in the midst of the Israelite people -I am the LORD Who sanctifies you:

(Vayikra 22:32)

In his masterwork Sha’areh Teshuvah (3:158), Rabbenu Yonah explains that Gd’s essential reason for sanctifying the Jewish nation with the Torah and mitzvot, and the reason He set us apart from the other nations as a people, is so that we could bring honor to His name. As a party to a bilateral covenant with Gd, we must sanctify Him, just as He has sanctified us.  By definition, then, a mitzvah is not a mitzvah unless it fulfills that requirement.  And so if an act or omission does the opposite, and profanes Gd’s name, then the individual undermines our mission to serve as an example and lead the world to recognize and draw closer to Gd.

This means, then, that all of our behavior, and certainly each and every mitzvah we perform, must be done in a respectful manner, and in a way that brings honor to Gd.

As the COVID-19 crisis began to unfold, every hour brought more dreadful news about the rapid spread of the virus, and about the drastic, desperate measures being taken to combat it.  The barrage of news from a hostile media included posts, programs, and articles featuring isolated cases of visibly observant Jews failing to adhere to social-distancing rules.  There was also footage of the F.B.I. seizing boxes of surgical masks in Williamsburg.

This negative publicity increased simmering hostilities towards Jews.  The distress was felt by Jews everywhere, including in our community.

It was readily apparent that the false narrative of an uncaring and selfish Jewish community would need to be countered.  This was not just a matter of stopping, or even slowing, anti-Semitism.  It was a matter of sanctifying, rather than desecrating, Gd’s name.

Many Jews answered the call and set out to write a much different narrative, and bring glory to the Jewish Nation, and to Gd.

Helping Out on the Front Lines

The lightning speed of the virus’ spread gave rise to the fear that the health system would be overwhelmed, and incapable of handling the number of ill patients. And so besides the urgent need to “flatten the curve” through social distancing, it was especially important to provide support for frontline healthcare professionals.  Hospital staffers were serving multiple shifts without time to run out for a meal. They were putting in long, grueling days without rest and without food.

Already by the end of March, many in the Jewish world had mobilized to step in and help.   Lakewood Bikur Cholim set up a vast operation of food preparation and delivery focusing on hospitals in Ocean and Monmouth counties.  Kosher19, a start-up, would eventually deliver over 10,000 kosher meals to 169 hospital units throughout multiple states.  Closer to home, aside from the ongoing efforts of our community institutions, many individuals raised money for kosher restaurants to prepare and deliver meals to hospitals.

Still, there was more to be done.

The frantic rush to feed and equip all these professionals meant inefficiency. There were times when multiple donors were catering meals on the same day, with no meals being provided at all the next day. Hospitals were awash with food, but most of it was not kosher, so religiously observant Jewish staff members could not eat.

In speaking with a number of individuals involved in this effort, there emerged several good reasons for the Syrian community to organize its own relief effort.  First, coordination among Jewish donors, at least in several hospitals serving our community, could improve efficiency and better provide meals and masks where and when they were needed.  Second, our experience in dealing with all types of Jews and non-Jews uniquely positioned us to serve as a bridge to society at large.  Third, a single organization would synchronize and amplify individual efforts, making for a more resounding kiddush Hashem.

Honoring the Memory of a Matriarch

And so SYNC – Standing with Your Neighbors against COVID-19 – was established, in memory of my dear mother, Rose Mishaan, Shoshana Rose bat Esther, a”h, who passed away in her sleep at the age of 96 early one Shabbat morning during the early stages of the COVID-19 lockdown.

My mother was a great-great-grandmother many times over, and a matriarch who presided over a family with diverse talents and diverse opinions.  She possessed many great qualities and inspired people with her “can do” attitude.  During the shivah, which I spent alone, on a beach chair in an empty room, in the middle of a lockdown, I could barely keep up with the steady stream of texts, emails, and WhatsApp messages expressing sympathy and consolation for my loss.  The deluge of wishes came as no surprise, given how many lives she had touched during her 96 years.

It was only fitting, I thought, to honor my mother’s memory with a project which would help untold numbers of people..

The concept was received with great enthusiasm.  A committee of volunteers and advisors was assembled.  Adults, teenagers, and families from all over the Brooklyn, Deal, and Manhattan community were enlisted for daily deliveries.  Generous donations began to flow in from all corners of our community.

In April and May, SYNC arranged for delivery of thousands of kosher meals to three hospitals serving the Syrian community – in Brooklyn (Maimonides), Deal (Monmouth Medical), and Manhattan (Weill Cornell).   Working with reliable hospital personnel, SYNC ensured that kosher medical professionals regularly received kosher food, and that meals for entire emergency rooms were delivered when necessary. SYNC made it very clear to hospital administrators that we cared about non-kosher staff, too, and stood ready to feed them should the opportunity arise.  As our patient representative at Maimonides told me, “SYNC was the first and only Jewish organization to inquire about the needs of the non-kosher staff and to provide kosher meals to the entire emergency room.”

SYNC has also delivered kosher meals to police departments, and has delivered hundreds of surgical masks to Monmouth Medical.  At Ocean Township’s Memorial Day ceremony, Mayor Christopher Siciliano presented our masks as a gift to the Catholic War Veterans and to the Jewish War Veterans.  SYNC also cosponsored a Zoom town hall meeting with Mayor Siciliano that drew 285 participants and reflected our community’s civic engagement.

At the time this article is being written, the virus’ spread has slowed considerably.   Doctors are no longer working double shifts, and hospitals no longer need food and masks. Many of our partners and others have wound down their charitable operations.

But SYNC’s efforts have just begun.

The economic impact of the lockdown is still being felt every day in and outside our community, and the recovery is only in its very early stages.  As we sift through potential projects, SYNC is reviewing proposals from food banks and shelters for battered women.  We are also speaking with fundraisers who donate to widows with large families who are hesitant to request help.

Making a Statement

The obligation to sanctify Hashem’s name requires us to show gentiles that our mission is to help not merely Jews, but all of mankind.  In a time of crisis, that means being in “SYNC” with relief efforts.  We are making a loud, clear statement to our neighbors that our community stands with them. And, we are making a loud clear statement to ourselves that we are SYrian Neighbors against COVID, that we have been given a special mission by Gd to look out for all His creatures.

Our Instagram handle (@SYinSYNC) and our domain name (www.SYinSYNC.com) were chosen for this reason.  When typing in those letters, one is reminded that he or she is in SYNC with helping others, both in and outside our community. It is our hope that the crucial message of kiddush Hashem will thereby be internalized.

Please visit our website at www.SYinSYNC.com to learn more.  There you can find pictures and videos, and sign up to volunteer or donate by credit card or PayPal (email reference: info@magendavid.net).  Checks can be made payable to “Congregation Magen David of West Deal” and sent to 395 Deal Road, Ocean, New Jersey  07712.  Please indicate “SYNC” in the memorandum of your payment to ensure that your payment is properly allocated.

Although our community should and must continue to provide for its own, kiddush Hashem demands that we lead by example and demonstrate concern for the general public.  Especially during a crisis of epic proportions, we must set aside some of our charity funds for the purpose of demonstrating that, as the “chosen people,” Jews are “in SYNC” and actively involved in alleviating poverty, illness and distress wherever they may be found.

Please join us.

Rabbi E. C. ABoud

Much has been written about the time period preceding Mashiah’s arrival. Our sages have elaborated in great detail on the specific characteristics of that generation and the extraordinary events that would take place at that time. As this month’s article demonstrates, these descriptions lead us to the inevitable conclusion that we are living today in the pre-Messianic era.

Our Generation

In his later years, the Hafess Haim, z”l, (1838-1933) often referred to his times as the generation before Mashiah, noting the occurrence of all the signs mentioned by the prophets. He eventually published a pamphlet entitled Waiting for the Redemption, seeking to raise the Jewish public’s awareness of the onset of the pre-Messianic era, and the need for spiritual preparation.

In anticipation of the imminent restoration of the Bet Hamikdash, the Hafess Haim urged Torah scholars, and especially kohanim, to learn and teach the laws pertaining to the Temple rituals.  He also published a series of scholarly works elucidating these laws, and established a kollel devoted to this area of study. As a direct result of his pioneering efforts, many yeshivot today include the laws of the Mikdash in their curricula.[i]

It must be emphasized that when the Hafess Haim and others speak of  “the generation before Mashiah,” they do not refer to a particular number of years after which Mashiah will arrive.  The precise point at which Mashiah will arrive remains unknown, never to be revealed before his actual arrival.[ii]

Describing the Generation before Mashiah

Drawing from the words of the Prophets, the Talmud gives the following description of the pre-Messianic era:

“In that time, the words of our sages and those who fear sin will be disgusted and disregarded, the pursuit of truth will be scarce, the world at large will be sinners and nonbelievers, insolence will thrive, the young will shame the elderly, the elderly will stand for the young, children will stray from their parents, all will do as they please and no one will give rebuke, the face of the generation will resemble that of a dog…” (Sanhedrin 97a)

This passage, in many ways, describes the unfortunate state of the world in our times. The groups that have defected from Torah Judaism during the past two centuries openly “disgust and disregard” the sacred words of our sages, dismissing our traditions as “outdated” and “irrational.”[iii] The “pursuit of truth” has been replaced by the pursuit of vanity, and has become so “scarce” that a full eighty percent of world Jewry is not religiously observant.[iv] “The world at large” is indeed full of “non-believers” who deny the existence of a Creator. And the alarmingly rampant immorality and indecency (exacerbated in no small part by the Internet) render our generation comparable to a dog, which has no feelings of privacy or shame.[v]

Our generation resembles a dog in a different sense, as well.  Rabbi Yisrael Lipkin of Salant[vi], z”l (1810-1883), founder of the Musar Movement, noted that when a dog walks with his owner, it generally walks ahead, giving the impression that it leads and directs the owner.  It is only when it reaches a fork in the road and must wait for its master that it becomes clear that the master, and not the dog, is the leader.  In the pre-Messianic era, Rabbi Yisrael explained, the leadership, the “face of the generation”, will resemble that of a dog.  Leaders will only give the impression of leadership – while in truth it will be their constituencies who are showing them the way.

Sure enough, in our times, politicians pander to the people’s preferences, sometimes changing their platforms several times to conform to the latest opinion poll.  While the leaders try to give the impression of guiding and directing the masses, in truth, it is the people who choose the direction which the leaders then feel bound to follow.

World Developments

The Industrial Revolution in the early nineteenth century brought with it a fundamental change to the world and human life.  What used to take months to accomplish can now be done in mere seconds. A traveler can journey from one end of the earth to the other in less than 19 hours[vii], people can amass and lose enormous fortunes practically overnight, wars are fought and decided in a matter of days, and countries rise and fall in rapid succession. Our sages[viii] explain that as Mashiah’s arrival draws near, Hashem “rushes” to complete all the events that must take place before the end of days, when the world will begin a new chapter in the existence of mankind.

The spiritual forces of impurity are working “overtime” and with extra vigor in a final, desperate surge of power before their final elimination with Mashiah’s arrival.[ix] The lust for wealth, rampant immorality and widespread atheism that characterize our generation are all manifestations of this process. Just as a candle shines brightest before it extinguishes completely, the forces of evil similarly shine with unprecedented force just prior to being extinguished.

Our Last Stop in Exile

The events of the twentieth century have dramatically changed the face of the Jewish nation. The Holocaust obliterated the flourishing communities of Eastern Europe; nearly all Middle Eastern Jews were forced out of their resident countries; Israel has been rebuilt to an extent that has not been seen since the Second Commonwealth, with millions of Jews settling in their homeland. How do we explain these dramatic upheavals?

A story is told how one morning, while reciting the shaharit service, Rav Haim of Volozhin (1749-1820) – the most illustrious disciple of the Vilna Gaon – suddenly burst into heartrending tears. The students watched in astonishment, wondering what could have provoked such an outbreak of emotion. A few minutes later, Rav Haim again burst into tears.

Though initially hesitant to explain to his students what had happened, Rav Haim realized that if he beheld this vision in public, it is apparently meant to be revealed.

“Know my sons,” he whispered, “that a day will come when all the communities and great yeshivot of Europe will be destroyed and uprooted. They will be rebuilt in America – the Jews’ last stop in exile before Mashiah.”

After more prodding from his students, Rav Haim revealed the reason for his second outburst. “I have also foreseen the terrible suffering and destruction that will take place before they are resettled there!”[x]

Rav Haim foresaw the calamity of WWII and the subsequent rebuilding of Jewish life in America – over a century before these events occurred. More importantly, this episode bids us to view the Holocaust and the resettling of the Jews in America as a part of Gd’s master plan to bring us to the Messianic era.

Furthermore, our Sages[xi] have alluded to the Jewish settlement of Eress Yisrael that will occur in the period before Mashiah. Indeed, after centuries of near desolation and foreign rule, Israel has, in a matter of just several decades, become a sovereign Jewish State and home to nearly 40 percent of the world’s Jewish population – yet another indication that we are living in pre-Messianic times.[xii]

Other Events

Elsewhere, the Talmud foresees the suffering that the Jewish people will endure prior to Mashiah’s arrival:

“In that time, a great wave of suffering and harsh decrees will afflict the Jewish nation, all the wicked among the Jews will die out; even the Torah scholars will have no peace… and many will despair of the final redemption.” (Sanhedrin 97b, 98a)

It has been foreseen by the prophets[xiii] that the suffering preceding Mashiah will reach an unprecedented magnitude. The commentators explain[xiv] that throughout the different periods of persecution the Jewish nation has endured, there had always been a safe haven to run to – away from affliction. In the end of days however, there will be no escape, as all the nations will unite as one common enemy against the Jewish Nation.

The Purpose of Suffering

Our Sages give a number of reasons for the suffering that will precede Mashiah.  Primarily, it will inspire a process of repentance through which the Jews will become worthy of redemption, and the sinners who fail to repent will be eliminated.[xv] Others[xvi] claim that in the period before Mashiah the Jews will spiritually deteriorate to the point where Hashem will need to hasten Mashiah’s arrival, before they reach the level at which redemption is no longer possible.

Ways to Be Saved

This information should not lead us to fear and despair, Heaven forbid.  It should rather inspire us to increase our commitment to Torah, so that Gd will spare us the suffering that will precede Mashiah.

How specifically can one save himself from these horrors?

The Talmud[xvii] lists several particular missvot that help a person escape the suffering of pre-Messianic times, including involvement in Torah learning, kindness, and ensuring to eat three meals on Shabbat. These missvot, in particular, have the ability to protect a person from suffering before Mashiah’s arrival.

The Two Times for Mashiah’s Arrival

Although the prophet Daniel[xviii] designated a specific time for Mashiah’s arrival (albeit in an indecipherable way), the Jews’ repentance could bring Mashiah earlier – even today! The Talmud[xix] relates that Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi once met Mashiah, and Mashiah announced that he would be coming that very day. When the day passed uneventfully, Rabbi Yehoshua asked the prophet Eliyahu to explain why Mashiah had misled him.  Eliyahu answered that indeed, if the Jews would wholeheartedly repent, Mashiah would come that same day.

The Talmud[xx] says that the present world will span a period of six thousand years, and Mashiah will come some time during the last two millennia – thus guaranteeing his arrival by the year 6000.[xxi] We are now in the year 5769, a mere 231 years away from that “deadline.” Hopefully, through our sincere efforts to repent, we will be deserving of welcoming Mashiah even before then, speedily and in our times, Amen!

Next Month:  Mashiah ben Yosef and Mashiah ben David

[i] Kol Kitvei Hafess Haim, vol. 3, pp. 60-63.

[ii] Letter from Rabbi Elchanan Wasserman (1875-1941); see preface to Bet Hasho’eva by Rabbi Shimon Shwab, zt”l.

[iii] Tsipita Li’yeshu’a, chapter 1.

[iv] Simpletoremember.com.

[v] Bet Hasho’eva, pp. 112,117.

[vi] Bet Hasho’eva, p. 124.

[vii] Flug Revue 4/2004, p. 22.

[viii] The Hafess Haim and others; see Bet Hasho’eva, p. 162.

[ix] See Osserot Aharit Hayamim, p. 89, and Kovess He’arot, p. 146.

[x] Sefer Avi Hayeshivot, p. 110.

[xi] See Sanhedrin 97b and 98b, and Malbim’s commentary to Yehezkel, chapter 38.

[xii] Jewish Virtual Library.org.

[xiii] Daniel chapter 12

[xiv] Bet Hasho’eva p.164

[xv] Sanhedrin 97b and Sefer Even Shelomo, 11:6.

[xvi] Bet Hasho’eva, p.182.

[xvii] Sanhedrin 98b, Shabbat 118a.

[xviii] Daniel, chapter 12 (see commentaries).

[xix] Sanhedrin 98a.

[xx] Sanhedrin 97b.

[xxi] Sefer Nessah Yisrael, 27.