Awaiting the Arrival of Moshiach

t is said about Rav Moshe Teitelbaum zt”l, the Yismach Moshe, that his longing for Rabbi Shimon Schenker IMoshiach to come was incredibly Associate Principal, Yeshiva University intense. He is quoted as saying, “If I High School for Boys had known in my youth that in my old age Moshiach still had not come, I would not have physically survived due to the pain [his delay] would have 2) How does one become a person Rambam writes that this Gemara caused me. My soul would have left who truly believes in and awaits is not just an inspirational concept, me. However, it is only because of Moshiach’s arrival? rather it teaches that “whoever does not believe that Moshiach will come, my trust and hope in Hashem that he Many people are accustomed to or one who does not eagerly await will come that I have survived until reciting daily the version of Rambam’s 1 his coming is a kofer (heretic) in today.” This is the delicate emotional 13 Principles of Faith printed in most the prophecy and Torah of Moshe balance we all strive for on Tisha sidurim. There it says, B’av. On the one hand, we are sad Rabbeinu.”4 אֲ נִי מַאֲמִ ין ּבֶאֱ מּונָה ְ ׁשלֵמָ ה ּבְבִיאַת הַמָ ׁשִֽיחַ , that we are still in exile, while at the It is apparent from Rambam that it is וְאַף עַ ל ִ ּפי ֶ ׁשיִתְמַהְמֵ ֽ ּהַ, עִ ם ָ ּכל זֶה אֲחַ ֶה ּכּלֹו same time, we look toward the future not enough to believe that Moshiach ּב לְכָ יֹום ֶ ׁשיָבֹוא. hoping and believing that Moshiach will come but to eagerly await his I believe with perfect faith in the coming will come. arrival every day. This is clear from the of the Messiah, and, though he tarry, I This idea is punctuated by Chazal in Pesikta D’Rav K’hana,5 paraphrasing will eagerly await daily for his coming. 6 the Talmud Yerushalmi, Berachos2 and from the verses in Yoel and 7 Eicha Rabbah3 stating that Moshiach This belief is not just a mystical Tzephania, “Master of the Universe, was born on Tisha B’av. This is not concept or G-d forbid, Jewish myth, when will You judge the nations of the merely a description of past history. it is in fact an obligation. The Gemara world? Hashem answers, when you On the contrary, the intent is that states: eagerly await My (and by extension, Moshiach’s) arrival.” It is said about אמר רבא: בשעה שמכניסין אדם לדין אומרים every year Tisha B’av generates a Rav Shmuel of Salant that every day לו: נשאת ונתת באמונה, קבעת עתים לתורה, new impetus for the coming of the ,when he would pray Shemoneh Esreh עסקת בפריה ורביה, צפית לישועה... .redemption just prior to reciting the blessing of מסכת שבת דף לא. While we wonder at and are inspired Es Tzemach David, which asks for the by the lofty spiritual level of Rabbi Rava said: At the moment that a person coming of Moshiach, he would pause, Teitelbaum, one must ask two is brought before the Heavenly court, then look right and then left, then questions: they say to him: Did you deal honestly continue praying. His students finally 1) To what extent is one’s obligation in business? Did you have set times one day asked him why he does such to believe Moshiach is coming? Is it for learning Torah? Did you engage in an odd thing when he davens. He enough to believe that he will come or producing children? Did you anticipate answered that he knows that Moshiach is there also an obligation to eagerly the salvation (coming of the Moshiach)? will come today, and he doesn’t want await his arrival? Shabbat 31a to make an unnecessary blessing, so

32 Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary • The Benjamin and Rose Berger CJF Torah To-Go Series • Tisha B’av 5775 he pauses to see if he sees Moshiach as the King of the universe. Rav individual doesn’t eagerly await the coming before he makes the blessing. Shimon Schwab, explains that we see coming of Moshiach and merely Rav Ezriel Tauber8 challenges us to this idea from a passage that we say knows he is coming, it is a sign that think about the parameters of this every day in our morning prayers. In the individual is spiritually stunted. mitzvah. What is unique about the “Yehi Chevod” we say: That person is disconnected from the ultimate goal that the Creator וְיֹאמְרּו בַ גֹויִם ה’ מָ לְָך ה’ מֶ לְֶךה’ מָ לְָךה’ יִמְ ֹלְך coming of Moshaich that it is it not has for our world, our people and לְעֹולָם וָעֶד:ה’ מֶ לְֶך עֹולָםוָעֶד. אָבְ דּו גֹויִם enough merely to believe in the for us as individuals. His goal is to מֵאַרְ צֹו: coming of Moshiach? Why do we need create a world which will crown Him to eagerly await his arrival as well? And the nations will say, Hashem was King, fulfill His commandments, and King, is King, and will be King, Hashem He provides three unique approaches: eradicate evil in order to give everyone will be King forever more, the nations of their just reward in the World to the land will be lost. Approach #1 – Personal Come. This sentiment is known Growth Rav Schwab explains that this verse widely as the pervasive attitude of the doesn’t G-d forbid mean that when Chofetz Chaim, as illustrated in the Rabbi Dovber Schneuri, the Mittler Moshiach comes, all the nations of the following beautiful story: Rebbe of Lubavitch and son of Shnuer world will be destroyed. It means that Rav Simcha Bunim Alter, the Gerrer Zalman of Liadi who was the author when Moshiach comes, the concept of Rebbe, writes12 that his father Rav of the Tanya, writes that in the times “the other nations,” which segregates Avraham Mordechai Alter, known as of Moshaich, people will still be able and separates different kinds of the Imre Emes, met with the Choftez to perform the commandments and people, will be eradicated from the Chaim at the first Kenessiah Gedolah learn Torah as we do now. The times world. Everyone in the world will be in Vienna in 1923. The Chofetz Chaim of Moshiach will be different because united under one common banner of said to the Imrei Emes, “We say (in in the world as it exists currently, serving the Master of the Universe.10 Kedusha of Shabbos Shacharis) to there are so many outside stimuli Accordingly, each one of us needs Hashem that ‘we are awaiting you,’ but and distractions that prevent us from to desire and await the coming of is this really so? Are we really waiting? reaching our potential. This includes Moshiach so that all beings will We have to feel as if we are lacking and wars, suffering, and anti-Semitism. recognize the Creator. desiring this!” The Chofetz Chaim However, when Moshiach comes, then raised his hands and asked again, we will revert back to a time similar Approach #3 – Inspire the “Are we really waiting?” He told the to Adam in the Garden living in an Generation following parable: “We need to await ideal environment enabling us to his arrival like a father and mother who be engaged in holy actions and to Rav Moshe Chaim Luzzatto writes are yearning for the arrival of their only reach our potential.9 Therefore, Rav that prior to the end of the days of son whom they haven’t seen in a long Tauber expands, we need the times Moshiach, before the next stage of time. They know that at any minute he of Moshiach to be upon us in order history, the Jewish people need to might arrive, so every carriage and train for us to achieve our greatest spiritual become perfected. Moshiach’s arrival that passes by, they think might be his. heights before we go to the World to will inspire the chosen nation to However, even when they realize that Come for eternity. spiritual greatness and will destroy sin their son was not in the carriage or on and the evil inclination. When people the train, they still wait for him.” Approach #2 – World are confronted with the physical So far we have seen the levels that Recognition of the Creator truth of a Melech Hamoshiach, they our gedolim and Chazal who are will be spiritually overwhelmed and so spiritually engaged have reached Even if individually we reach our uplifted to refocus on their spiritual in terms of their connection to the potential, that still is not enough. growth and less on their physical and Moshiach. The question is, how can The ultimate goal is for all people, mundane needs.11 regardless of race, creed or nationality, an average person begin to reach such to recognize and to coronate Hashem Based on the above approaches, a level and how should one direct their Rav Tauber explains that when an

33 Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary • The Benjamin and Rose Berger CJF Torah To-Go Series • Tisha B’av 5775 Chiya producing a sefer Torah for אליהו הוה שכיח במתיבתא דרבי יומא חד mind to begin to intellectually and children to be taught with. Each and ריש ירחא הוה נגה ליה ולא אתא א”ל מאי ?spiritually connect with Moshiach every step of the production of those טעמא נגה ליה למר אמר ליה אדאוקימנא Torahs and the teaching of it were לאברהם ומשינא ידיה ומצלי ומגנינא ליה וכן Approach #1 – Living for completely free and unburdened from ליצחק וכן ליעקב ולוקמינהו בהדי הדדי סברי Hashem any intention except the intention תקפי ברחמי ומייתי ליה למשיח בלא זמניה to teach Torah. After he caught the א”ל ויש דוגמתן בעולם הזה אמר ליה איכא Let us turn our attention to the deer, he didn’t say, “Maybe I can use ר’ חייא ובניו גזר רבי תעניתא אחתינהו לר’ Gemara in Bava Metziah 85b, where ”.some parts of the deer and sell them חייא ובניו אמר משיב הרוח ונשבה זיקא אמר we learn two amazing stories about Every part and detail was completely מוריד הגשם ואתא מיטרא כי מטא למימר Rebbi Chiya that on the surface seem focused on the mitzvah lishma, for its מחיה המתים רגש עלמא אמרי ברקיעא מאן .to be unrelated own sake. That is why Rebbi Chiya’s גלי רזיא בעלמא אמרי אליהו אתיוהו לאליהו The Gemara states: prayers were so powerful, his prayers מחיוהו שתין פולסי דנורא אתא אידמי להו were also not for himself but rather כדובא דנורא על בינייהו וטרדינהו כי הוו מינצו ר’ חנינא ור’ חייא אמר ליה to bring about the greatest amount of בבא מציעא פה: רבי חייא לרבי חנינא: בהדי דידי קא מינצית honor for Hashem in this world.13 דעבדי לתורה דלא תשתכח מישראל מאי Eliyahu was regularly in Rebbi’s עבידנא, אזלינא ושדינא כיתנא, וגדילנא This is one way that we can begin to academy. One Rosh Chodesh he was נישבי, וציידנא טבי ומאכילנא בשרייהו ליתמי, connect with longing for Moshaich. late. He explained that he first had to ואריכנא מגילתא וכתבנא חמשה חומשי, We need to develop our prayers and wake Avraham, wash his hands, and lie וסליקנא למתא ומקרינא חמשה ינוקי בחמשה longing for Moshiach such that it is him down again after he prayed. He then חומשי, ומתנינא שיתא ינוקי שיתא סדרי, not for our own benefit, and what we did the same for Yitzchak, and then the ואמרנא להו: עד דהדרנא ואתינא - אקרו will gain from Hashem or Moshiach, same for Yaakov. Rebbi: Why don’t you אהדדי ואתנו אהדדי, ועבדי לה לתורה דלא rather what it will do to accomplish :wake them at the same time? Eliyahu תשתכח מישראל. the goals that we mentioned earlier, If they would pray at the same time, this בבא מציעא פה: would bring Moshiach prematurely. to bring the greatest glory to the When R. Chanina and R. Chiya argued Rebbi: Is there anyone living today with Creator.14 in Torah, R. Chanina said: how do such a power of prayer? Eliyahu: Yes, Rebbe Nochum of Chernobyl once you argue with me? If Torah would be Rebbi Chiya and his sons. Rebbi decreed came to an inn in a village. At chatzos forgotten from Yisrael, I could restore it a fast. He asked Rebbi Chiya and his (midnight) he got up and said Tikun through my analytical skills! sons to lead the prayer. When they said Chatzos. He sat on the ground and Rebbi Chiya: How do you argue with ‘Mashiv ha’Ru’ach,’ wind blew. When wept and cried over the destruction me? I ensured that Torah will never be they said ‘Morid ha’Geshem,’ rain fell. of the Beis Hamikdash. He was so forgotten from Yisrael! Rebbi Chiya When they were about to conclude the loud the owner of the inn got up planted flax, and wove traps from the Berachah ‘Mechayeh ha’Mesim,’ the as well. The owner asked him what flax. He caught deer, fed orphans the world shook. In Heaven, Eliyahu was he was doing, and he told him that meat and made parchments from the lashed with fire for having revealed their he was davening to Hashem that skin. He wrote five Chumashim and went power of prayer. Eliyahu appeared to the Melech Hamoshiach should to a city without teachers for children. them like a bear of fire to distract them. come quickly. When the Jew just sat He taught one Chumash to each of five Bava Metzia 85b (translation from staring at him with a blank look, the children, and one order of the Mishnah dafyomi.co.il) Rebbe said to him, “Don’t you want to each of six other children. He told The Maharsha asks, why is it that Moshiach to come and for us all to go them to teach each other what each had Rebbi Chiya has the power to create to Yerushalayim? He answered him, “I learned. Because everything was done such powerful prayers, that he can don’t know I have to ask my wife.” He for the sake of Torah, this ensured that it bring the Moshiach prematurely came back and said, “My wife said we would never be forgotten. like our forefathers? The Maharsha can’t abandon our ducks, so we are not Bava Metzia 85b (translation from explains that the key is in the first interested.” The Rebbe answered back, dafyomi.co.il) passage in the Gemara about Rebbi “What about when the Cossacks steal

34 Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary • The Benjamin and Rose Berger CJF Torah To-Go Series • Tisha B’av 5775 the “Tochacha,” the rebuke found in with pictures of gedolim. Once, a Rebbe Nochum of Chernobyl Parashas Ki Savo. Rav Moshe Shapiro student in the yeshiva who was new to 1730-1787 explains that the Ramban means Judaism came into his office to speak Rabbi Menachem Nochum to say that these curses affect every with him. He innocently asked Rav Twerski of Chernobyl was aspect of our physical day and are Freifeld who all the people on the wall the founder of the Chernobyl pervasive in our life. It will only end were. Rav Freifeld sharply answered Hasidic dynasty. Orphaned when Moshaich comes and ends the him, “They are part of a long lost tribe as a child, he was raised by his current exile. Rav Shapiro writes: of beings that are very rare today, they uncle Rabbi Nochum, who sent “[In exile] our lives are antithetical to are called people.” What Rav Freifeld him to be educated in one of what they should be in every aspect. meant to say was that those who truly the highly acclaimed yeshivot Man is not a man, friendship is not connect to the Creator, the source in Lithuania. After his marriage friendship, truth is not truth, and of all life, have a greater sense of life’s he earned his livelihood as a pleasure is not pleasure. Nothing is the purpose and their own potential. teacher of young boys, while way it should be.” It should be His will that we should continuing his intensive Without a Beis Hamikdash and G-d’s continue to work on ourselves and studies of Torah. With the presence being seen and felt on a Hakodosh Boruch Hu will send the advent of Chassidism, Rabbi daily basis, we have largely lost touch Melech Hamoshiach and we too will Nochum became a disciple with man’s purpose and role in this all become “people” like those on Rav of the Baal Shem Tov, the world. When we mourn on Tisha Freifeld’s wall. founder of Hasidism. After the B’av, we mourn not only that we are Baal Shem Tov’s passing, R’ 1. Zakai, Likras HaGeulah p. 88. in exile, we mourn for ourselves that Nochum accepted the Maggid 2. 2:4. we are not who we should be. Rav of Mezritch as his mentor. His Shapiro notes a comment from Rav 3. 1:51. book Me’or Einayim (Light of Chaim Vital in the introduction to 4 Hilchos Melachim 11:1. the Eyes) was published after his his work Shaarei Kedusha, that in his death, and contains a collection 5 Nepachim letterbeis . day, he was witnessing individuals of his homilies concerning 6 4:12. that were not successfully attaining the weekly Torah portions “ruach hakodesh.” Therefore he wrote 7 3:8. and selections of the Talmud. his work to help achieve that goal. If 8 Pirkei Machshavah, 13 Principles p. 362. The book gained widespread today someone wrote that in a sefer, acceptance as one of the major 9. Toras Chaim Parshas Vayechi. we would think they were joking, but works of Hasidic thought. 10. Rav Schwab on Prayer, pg. 165. really we should be crying that we have a hard time relating to that kind 11. Sefer Maamar Haikarim s.v. B’geulah. your ducks and all your possessions?” of holiness. This gives us a glimpse of 12. Meir Einei Yisrael, Section Three p. 680. He went back and asked his wife, she what we continue to lose as long as 13. In his commentary to the Gemara there. said, “Ok, daven for Moshiach that he we do not have Moshiach to end our 14. See Nefesh Hachaim 2:11. See also Sefer should come and take the Cossacks to bitter exile. In order to really want 15 Matnas Chaim by Rav Matisyahu Solomon Yerushalayim.” Moshiach to come, we have to want Shli”ta p. 5, who uses the concept of davening to end this reality in order to go back for the sake of the Creator to answer the Approach #2 – Mourning to an earlier time in which we can question of why on Rosh Hashana we don’t Ourselves experience Hakadosh Boruch Hu, ask for any specific items even though that is the day we are being judged for physical items. see his open miracles and reach our The Gemara,Sotah 49a, writes, “From potential as individuals as a nation and 15. Cited in Likras Hageulah p.101. the day the Beis Hamkidash was as a world.17 16. 28:42 and S’forno there. destroyed… every day, curses (klalah) It is said about Rav Shlomo Freifeld 17. Ra’ih Emunah p. 312. increase more than the previous day.” zt”l, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Sh’or The Ramban in Devarim16 explains Yoshuv, that his office was adorned that these are the curses found in

35 Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary • The Benjamin and Rose Berger CJF Torah To-Go Series • Tisha B’av 5775