Rabbi Kessin on the Extraordinary Aspects of the Redemption Process

21st Century #57 | Extraordinary Aspects of the Redemption Process 

EXTRAORDINARY

   

Rabbi Kessin begins speaking about "Hashem "gathering" us from the ends of Heaven to Him." He explains it in the terms of Kibutz Galios. 

Could it actually means something else? Since it is speaking of the End of Days.

I also read about "gathering" in a Torah article I read over Shabbos. But this "gather(ing)" was in relation to "death and dying”. 

So I gathered (sic) some of the sources of "gather" from various places in the Torah and propose: 

Perhaps this "gathering" of us from the ends of Heaven really relates to the very end of days in the phase of "Techias HaMeisim”? It is explained that in order to proceed to the Seventh Millenium (...culoh Shabbos) there will be a resurrection of neshomas and bodies, and of those who remained alive at this time, they too will experience a "death (a kiss of Hashem) and then an immediate resurrection". Then all of us purified will proceed into the great Seventh (of eternal Shabbos). 

The Bible uses terms that seemingly indicate different stages or aspects of death. In particular it makes a distinction between “died” and “gathered.” 

"G–d will "gather you" you and "take you" to Himself" 

"Aaron shall be gathered to his people" "Aaron is “gathered” and then he also dies" 

We are told that Miriam was “gathered” and separately that she died. But the word “gather” in her case is interpreted differently. “And Miriam was shut up without the camp seven days; and the people journeyed not till Miriam was gathered.” "Did Miriam recover and was gathered to join the journey, as commonly interpreted? Or was she “gathered” as part of the process of death?" 

Yechezkel (Ezekiel 38:8): "From many days you will be remembered; at the end of the years you will come to a land [whose inhabitants] returned from the sword, gathered from many peoples, upon the mountains of Israel, which had been continually laid waste, but it was liberated from the nations, and they all dwelt securely."