by Rav Sh. Yosef Veitzen yeshiva.org.il, translated by Hillel Fendel.
Response to the fifth challenge: Hard to believe, isn't it? Quite natural…
We continue with our series "The Certainty of Redemption," which notes three different approaches towards the national-historic process the Jewish Nation is currently experiencing. One holds that the Ingathering of Jews in the Holy Land is not a significant Redemption development, as the State of Israel is not run by a Torah government. Another view holds the opposite: The State of Israel is definitely the fulfillment of many Biblical prophecies, and we are on a one-way journey of undetermined length towards Redemption. The third approach is that the current situation is a bona-fide opportunity for Geulah (Redemption) - depending on our national and personal behavior.
Many challenges have been presented to the second approach, and Rabbi Shlomo Yosef Veitzen, the Rabbi of the Binyamin community of Psagot, responds to four of them here, here, here and here. A fifth challenge, and his response, are presented below.
Challenge #5:
It appears that the throes of the processes we are currently experiencing strengthen our fears and skepticism. Looking around us, there is much to frighten us into thinking that our attempts at rebuilding our State and bringing about the Redemption might actually not succeed. The cultural processes taking place in Israel sometimes give the impression that the country faces a truly existential danger. Willingness to fight even necessary wars is decreasing, and this stems from a deep spiritual crisis regarding our Jewish identity. Some among us have truly and finally despaired of the State, and many religious Jews no longer even refer to it as the Beginning of the Sprouting of our Redemption [as appears in the Prayer for the Welfare of the State]. Who can say what will be?
Response:
1. The Faith-Based Minority
Fact: Only a small portion of the Nation of Israel sees what has happening during these last decades, and continues to happen, as an irreversible Divine process. On the one hand, there is the "secular" camp that, in any event, barely if at all connects G-d with history. On the other hand, many among those who do "proclaim the Name of G-d" still relate to our national reality as one of Exile. They believe that nothing substantial has changed just because we have relocated from the impurity of the lands of the Gentiles to the holiness of the Land of Israel. Only a minority of Jews believe whole-heartedly in the absolute and unique greatness of our period in history. The Vilna Gaon, known as the Gra, writes in his work Kol HaTor that this situation is not surprising, and is even alluded to in Psalms 126, the most famous of the Shir HaMaalot chapters. It refers to G-d's returning of the exiles of Zion, and states that the Gentiles will say, "G-d has done great things for these people [Israel]" – and only afterwards does it tell us that we, too, will say: "G-d has done great things for us."
"Small in faith" – this is how the Gra terms those who don't see, or refuse to see, the Redemption. Really, why is it so hard to see the greatness of the period in which we are living? The Gra explains that the reason is because our Redemption of today is one that must come hiddenly, "under the radar." It cannot come with open miracles and wonders, as people generally think it will come. The Prophet Yeshayahu (60,22) says about the Redemption, "In its time, I [G-d] will hasten it." The Talmud explains that though this verse appears to be self-contradictory, in fact it indicates two different forms of Redemption: "If Israel is meritorious, I will hasten it; but if not, then it will come in its time."
We are currently in a Redemption of the latter kind, which involves suffering and tests along its way to completion. The main test, as we have explained, is that of our faith and trust in Hashem. As written in Kol HaTor:
We must know in advance [that] to the extent that the work for the Ingathering of the Exiles and the rebuilding of Jerusalem will increase, the Sitra Achra [the "other side," that of impurity, in Kabbalah] will increase as well... with its main weapon: the prevention of truth and the prevention of G-d's sanctification.
This is why it is written, "Your enemies have taunted the footsteps of Your Messiah" (Tehillim 89,52) – and during the period of the Footsteps of Messiah, the "other side" grows even stronger, striking with blinders even those who grasp the Torah.
It is also brought in the name of the Vilna Gaon that the ultimate, End of Days war of Gog and Magog is meant to open the eyes of those who are short on faith. The chief mission that he assigned to his students was to raise a generation of children and students great in faith, and who will be able to illuminate the eyes of all of Israel so that they can see the enormity of the wondrous processes that we are undergoing.
As such we must know, dear brothers and friends, that what we are going through now, with so many question marks enveloping our society, and where no one can tell what direction the State of Israel is headed – all this is just a stage in the "preparation of our hearts" for the absolute recognition and understanding of the Divine Redemptive process – and our thanks for it as well. These events, and those of the preceding decades, will lead the entire nation to proclaim: "Behold, it is here standing just behind our wall!" (Song of Songs 2,9). The Nation of Israel will finally see Who it is that is hiding behind and guiding everything that is happening to us.
2. The Book of Lights
How can we reconcile the situation of Redemption, which we understand as a wondrous reality of Divine Providence and great spirituality in our nation, with the much less exalted state that we see before our eyes?
The processes we are undergoing are very different than anything we have experienced in previous ages, and cannot be likened to any past period in the rich history of the People of Israel. The lights that have shined in this generation of Israel's history brought about phenomena and processes in the nation that are totally unique to the generation of Redemption.
What is the nature of the new movements sprouting up in our nation? How will they develop? Will we undergo additional crises, and how will we overcome them? We can learn and answer these questions only with a profound understanding of the so-special reality that will obtain in the period of Redemption.
Rav Kook writes (Igrot HaR'ayah, Letter 378):
If a person will come to innovate heavenly, supernal matters regarding teshuvah (repentance) in our times, without considering and looking at the “revealed end” [the many signs of the Redemption we see in this generation] and the dawning light of salvation – he will not be able to come up with any aspect of the truth of the Torah of truth… G-d's initiative to begin to apply the light of redemption [in a manner that is] hidden in concealed treasures… -- certainly all the calculations that arise in human hearts [will not succeed] against this supreme counsel of G-d "Who speaks well of Israel" to prepare [in this way] the light of redemption for the rest of His people, all of whom are destined to return from their sins.
Rav Kook carries out this great work of studying the Redemption Generation in countless places in his writings, many of which are concentrated in his great work Orot, Lights. One who studies this book will find there answers to many contemporary questions. Rav Kook, who wrote Orot approximately a century ago, anticipates and foresees the period in which we find ourselves now. But in truth, these are not his own original ideas. We find many references to "the pangs of Messiah" in many early Rabbinic sources, and Rav Kook explains that these are spiritual pangs and great soul aspirations – sometimes contradictory – that run to and fro among different Jewish souls.
For instance, we read in the Talmud that Rav Yosef describes the times of Redemption in the lowliest of terms, with reference to a donkey's excrement, and others speak there of "great brazenness" that will be prevalent. In Orot, Rav Kook took these ancient Rabbinic terms referring to Redemption, and gave them meaning that is relevant to our generation.
One who views our generation superficially will certainly see many things that clash with our concepts of Redemption. But if we look more profoundly, and see the "dawning light of salvation" that is upon us, will understand how every single process and phenomenon we are undergoing strengthens and reinforces our understanding that we are in the Generation of Redemption.
We will continue next week with a response to yet a sixth challenge to the view that we are surely in a one-way historic national Redemptive process.
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