Reb Neuberger: EXTREME WARNING

“I KNOW MOSHIACH IS CLOSE 

BECAUSE THEY ALL HATE US!”

We must be aware of what is happening. The predictions of our Noviim, Chazal and our gadolim are quickly coming to pass. What appear to be the final chapters in Ikvos Hamoshicha seem to be in the process of fulfillment. The nations are surrounding us personally, our communities and our Land, in the most hostile and threatening manner. 

This week we read the terrifying Tochacha, which begins, “I will assign upon you panic, swelling lesions and burning fever….” The Tochacha continues: “But if you will not listen …. You will be struck down before your enemies. Those who hate you will subjugate you …. [and] I will scatter [you] among the nations….”

The possuk says three times “the nations surround me.” I believe that is keneged the three wars before Moshiach which were predicted by the Chofetz Chaim zt”l. The words of Tehillim provide our survival strategy. Please listen carefully, my friends, because our lives depend on this. Our one strategy, is “b’Shaim Hashem ki amilam … in Hashem’s Name I will cut them down.” (Tehillim 118)

There is no other way to survive unless we publicly invoke Hashem’s Name and act at all times as the loyal servants of the King of the Universe. We must not be ashamed or embarrassed. Our entire being must be devoted to magnifying and glorifying the Name of Hashem, as it says in Kaddish, “Yisgadal v’yiskadash … May His great Name grow exalted and sanctified in the world that He created ….” 

I thought of a moshul. Every day we read the Akeidah. We could understand the Akeidah in the following way: Avraham Avinu speaking to Yitzchak Avinu is as if kaviochal Hashem is speaking to us, as if Hashem is taking his beloved son – Am Yisroel – to the Akeida. 

And we ask Hashem, “Tatty, why am I being taken to the mizbeiach? Am I the korban?” 

It feels as if we are – chas v’Shalom – about to become the korban for the entire world, G-d forbid! The knife is suspended over us …. 

But no! Hashem reassures us and says, “I Myself will seek out the lamb for the offering!” 

“I will find a substitute for you. Do not be afraid!” 

I believe that, at the last minute, events will come to pass as described in the Kedusha of Shabbos Mussaf: “And He will let us hear, in His compassion, for a second time, in the presence of all the living … [the words] …  I am Hashem your G-d.” 

The Torah says, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad nor do anything to him ….” Then the ram appears and becomes the korban! And then Hashem utters the cosmic words, “By Myself I swear! …. I shall surely bless you ….” 

Why does Hashem say, “by Myself?” What does that mean? 

I think it may mean that, at the end of history, when all appears lost, Hashem Himself, Avinu Malkeinu … our Father and King, will suddenly save us and provide a “ram” instead of us! He Himself will come to save us as He “personally” saved us in Mitzraim. 

Please be aware of the huge implication of Hashem’s second bracha, where He says, “By Myself I swear.” Radak says that these words form an irrevocable oath: “Just as I am eternal, so is My oath eternal.” According to the Artscroll “Bereishis,” this is the only formal oath taken by Hashem in the entire story of the Patriarchs! It is “completely unconditional.” Thus, even should [Bnai Yisroel] sin grievously [in the future], they will never be completely destroyed nor permanently fall into the hands of the enemy. (Ramban) Additionally, the next possuk has the double loshon, “I shall bless you,” which, according to the Midrash, signifies a double blessing, one for the father, Avraham, and one for the son, Yitzchak, meaning all future descendants!

My friends, if I am correct, the fact that we as a nation may be compared to Yitzchak being offered as a korban is the greatest sign of hope that could ever be. Whatever “ayil … ram” Hashem is preparing to be brought as a korban instead of us … we will understand when it happens, just as Avraham Avinu suddenly saw the ram caught in the thicket. But we have to know that Hashem will save us just as He saved Yitzchak. 

“Ma’ase avos siman l’banim!” 

We should gain strength from this: that our story follows the guarantee of this oath that can never be broken even by our own weaknesses. The closer the nations come -- the closer the knife comes to Yitzchak -- the closer we are to the fulfillment of the unbreakable oath uttered by the Master of the Universe. 

Today I spoke to a man who is regarded as not quite mentally normal, but I think he is perhaps brighter than all of us. He said these exact words to me: “I know Moshiach is close because they all hate us!” May we soon see the day when all of Hashem’s blessings will be revealed in front of the entire world!

Rendering of the Second Temple in Jerusalem

Ram

GLOSSARY

Chazal: Rabbis of the Mishnah and Gemora

Gadolim: The greatest rabbis

Ikvos Hamoshicha: The birth pangs of Moshiach 

Kaviochal: as if to say….

Korban: sacrifice brought in the Holy Temple

Mitzraim: Biblical Egypt

Mizbeiach: Altar in the Holy Temple

Moshul: parable

Noviim: Prophets

Possuk: sentence in the Torah

Tehillim: Psalms

Tochacha: chapters of warning and admonition in the Torah