Yes, as in the Parsha, we are going into exile and then comes our redemption!
EXILE
By Roy S. Neuberger
“Yosef died and all his brothers and that entire generation…. A new king arose over Egypt, who did not know of Yosef.” (Shemos 1:6-8)
So Golus began.
It all started with machlokes, a fight between the brothers!
Several weeks ago, the high court of the European Union decided to uphold Belgium’s ban on shechita, kosher slaughtering of animals. It is well known that our enemies have more “rachmonis” on animals than Jews.
- In the Third Reich -- May their names be erased! -- they loved their vicious dogs.
- In England, infamous for its frigid hatred of Jews, “humane” societies provide adored pets honor and respect.
- In the U. S., the infamous Rubashkin case began with the pretext that animals were being mistreated.
Esav loves animals; Esav hates the Children of Israel.
“Halacha hi … It is a given fact that Esav hates Yaakov.” (Rashi on Bereishis 33:4)
My friends, it all goes back to the beginning. Nothing has changed since Gan Eden except that the rebellion has become worse in every generation. There is one rule and one alone, as we saw clearly in Gan Eden at the beginning of time.
The one mitzvah is: do what Hashem commands!
Hashem created a perfect world. If we want to live happily and peacefully in His world, we have only to listen to Him, to do everything His way. This goes for all mankind, all the children of Adam and Chava. Non-Jews have seven mitzvos and Jews have six hundred thirteen, but we all have to listen. Otherwise, there is tragedy, sickness and death.
“A number of years ago, a potential convert was asked … how he understood the concept of Olam Haba. He replied that his reason for wanting to become a Jew had little to do with the promise of eternal life. Every religion promises a glorious future existence after death. However, only the Torah offers true fulfillment in this world. Only a Torah lifestyle takes every single moment of life and makes it holy. [Rabbi Chaim Yisroel Belsky commented:] ‘This is spirituality for us. Not some spiritual high, [but] rather a Jew’s every action is to be directed by the Torah: how we do business, how we tie our shoes.’” (Rav Belsky, Artscroll/Mesorah, p. 507)
Mankind in its arrogance thinks it is brilliant, but actually, “What are we? What is our life? What is our kindness? What is our righteousness? What is our salvation? What is our strength? What is our might? What can we say before You, Hashem, our G-d and the G-d of our forefathers? Are not all the heroes like nothing before You, the famous as if they had never existed, the wise as if devoid of wisdom and the perceptive as if devoid of intelligence? … Man has no superiority over beast, for all is futile.” (Shacharis, based on Koheles 3:19)
There is only Torah. If mankind lives by Torah, then he will live. If not ….
The European High Court hates Hashem and His Torah and His representatives in the world, meaning the Children of Israel. They want to step on us as they have from the day when their father Esav tried to kill Yaakov
Nothing has changed, except that their time is now drawing to an end. “When the wicked bloom like grass and all the doers of iniquity blossom, it is to destroy them until eternity.” (Tehillim 92)
The words of the Prophet ring out through the ages.
“But on Har Tzion there shall be a remnant, and it shall become holy. And the House of Yaakov will inherit its inheritors. The House of Yaakov will be a fire and the House of Yosef a flame, and the House of Esav like straw. They will kindle among them and consume them … for Hashem has spoken…. Then saviors will ascend Har Tzion to judge Esav’s mountain and the kingdom will be Hashem’s.” (Ovadia 1:17ff)
May we see it soon in our days!
Gan Eden: The Garden of Eden
Olam Haba: The World to Come
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