The Comforting Words of Hashem: Hope in Turbulent Times

Though no one knows exactly when or how it will happen, it's natural to hope that current events might lead to the fulfillment of prophecies we have anticipated for millennia. Every Jew on earth has a role to play..

Let us be inspired by the comforting words from the Midrash (Pesikta Rabbati, Chapter 36), which seem as relevant today as when they were first written: "Rabbi Yitzchak said, in the year when the Messiah will be revealed, all the kings of the nations will provoke one another, etc., and the king of Persia will destroy the entire world, and all the nations will be frightened and bewildered, and they will fall on their faces, seized with the pains of childbirth..

"And Israel will be frightened and bewildered, and they will ask, 'Where should we go?' And He will say to them: My children, do not fear, everything I have done, I have done only for you! Why are you afraid? Do not fear; the time of your redemption has arrived! Unlike the first redemption, the final redemption will not be followed by suffering and subjugation."

Can there be any greater words of reassurance? These words from our Father in Heaven offer comfort in our times of distress: "My children, do not fear, everything I have done, I have done only for you! Do not be afraid; the time of your redemption has arrived!" This Midrash should fill us with a sea of comfort amidst the sea of troubles we are submerged in.

What Happens When the Messiah Comes?

The Midrash continues: "When the Messiah is revealed, he will stand on the roof of the Holy Temple, announcing to Israel: Humble ones, the time of your redemption has arrived! If you do not believe, see the light that has shone upon you, as it says, 'Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of Hashem has shone upon you..

"This light shines upon you alone, not upon the nations of the world... At that moment, Hashem will illuminate the light of the King Messiah and that of Israel, and all the nations of the world will go in darkness and gloom, and they will all come to the light of the Messiah and Israel, etc., and they will lick the dust under the Messiah's feet... and they will all come and fall on their faces before the Messiah and Israel, saying, we will serve you and Israel, and every Jew will have 2,800 slaves."

Finding Comfort in Times of Trouble

Let us remember the comforting words of our Father, the merciful Father, who never forgot us and has guarded us throughout our exile: "Do not fear; the time of your redemption has arrived." Do not fear..

Amidst witnessing horrific events, we must fortify ourselves with faith and full trust in Hashem, who thousands of years ago promised us that all nations would unite with Iran, i.e., Edom and Ishmael, and they together would attempt to ascend to Jerusalem..

As brought in the Zohar, Genesis 119: 'The children of Ishmael are destined to stir together with all the nations of the world to go to Jerusalem, as it is written, 'And I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle.' And all nations will join and make a pact of peace, but will turn against Israel to destroy them, because they have established a kingdom for themselves. Yet, it will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved from it,' (Ramaz on the Zohar, ibid). Is it not explicitly written? 'But he will be saved'!

Those who observe the commandments know they are not dependent on the goodwill of the nations of the world, but only on the Creator of the world. They know they need not fear, but take actions as our fathers did in the past. The main thing we must strengthen is faith, believing completely that everything is in His hands, He has done and will do all deeds, and we have on Whom to rely..

The Midrash states about the generation of the Messiah, that it is 'precious and beautiful, and I am pleased with it, and I desire it, and I will support it.' How encouraging this is. Perhaps we should read what Hashem Himself thinks about the generation of the Messiah. These words will uplift and encourage us from the depths of despair.

At the beginning, the Midrash describes what the days of the Messiah will look like, and what we should expect. 'Israel said before Hashem: Master of the Universe, because of the Torah you gave me, called the Source of Life, I will enjoy your light in the future. What does 'in Your light we see light' mean? What light does the community of Israel expect? It is the light of the Messiah, as it says 'And Hashem saw the light, that it was good' (Genesis, 1:4). This teaches us that Hashem foresaw the Messiah and his deeds before the world was created, [and hid it] for the Messiah, for his generation, under His Throne of Glory..

Dialogue Between Hashem and Satan

"Satan said before Hashem: Master of the Universe, to whom is the light that is hidden under Your Throne of Glory? He replied: To the one who will ultimately disgrace and humiliate you! Satan said: Master of the Universe, show him to me. He said: Come and see. When he saw him, he trembled and fell on his face, saying: Surely, this is the Messiah, who will cast me and all the ministers of the nations into Gehenna, as it says, 'He will swallow up death forever, and Hashem will wipe away tears from all faces' (Isaiah, 25:8)..

"At that time the nations were stirred. They said to Him: Master of the Universe, who is this in whose hand we fall? What is his name? What is his nature? Hashem replied: He is the Messiah, and his name is Ephraim, My righteous Messiah. He raises the stature of his generation, enlightens the eyes of Israel, saves his people, and no nation or language can stand against him... All his foes and enemies are shattered." Here we see the immense joy and fulfillment of all expectations that will be in the days of the Messiah.

Dialogue Between Hashem and the Messiah

The Midrash presents a dialogue between Hashem and the righteous Messiah: "Hashem began to make conditions with him and said: Those whose sins are hidden with you now, will eventually bring upon you a burden of iron... Do you desire this? The Messiah replied before Hashem: Might this suffering span many years? Hashem said: By My life and the life of My head, it is only one week I have decreed upon you. If your soul is troubled, I will drive them out now. He said before Him: Master of the Universe, with joy in my soul and gladness in my heart, I accept it, so that not one among Israel should perish."

The Midrash continues that not only will those alive now be saved, but also those who have already died, and not only they, but even those who died since the days of Adam the first man until now, and not only they, but even the unborn, and not only they, but everyone that came to mind to be created and was not created. For this I want! For this I accept!

Dialogue Between Hashem and the Princes of Nations

Now let us hear the statement for which we have come. 'At that time his foes and the princes of the nations said: Let us attack the generation of the Messiah, that they should not be created at all. Hashem said to them: How can you accuse that generation, which is precious and beautiful, and I am glad in them, and I desire them, and I will support them, as it is said, 'Behold, My servant, whom I uphold' (Isaiah, 42:1). And how can you accuse them?! I will destroy all of you... and not one soul will be lost! Therefore it is said, 'for with You is the source of life, in Your light do we see light' (Midrash, Pesikta Rabbati, Chapter 36).

So if we have hesitated and wondered how to define the generation in which we live, here is Hashem's own perspective, seeing this as a splendid and appealing generation, unwilling to lose even one soul. Hashem desires and wants every soul, to the last one, 'and not one soul will be lost!'

Those who ponder deeply will understand how important it is for us to bring back our wandering siblings and lead them back to our Father in Heaven. Throughout history we have borne this responsibility, and after what occurred on this Simchat Torah, when many from our generation woke up to the true reality – it is clear this obligation presses upon us all the more..

Blessed is the one who brings children back to their Father, who does not want to lose even one soul.

From the newsletter 'Kol B'Rama' – The Bulletin of Ramat Elchanan