IS IT REAL?
A few weeks ago I discussed the Ships of Kittim. The question concerned whether the current world military and political situation is in accord with navua and the words of Chazal.
And then, during Yom Tov, one of our granddaughters said something so brilliant that it practically knocked me off my seat. What did she say?
“Maybe President Trump is ‘Magog.’”
Why? I asked.
“His motto is ‘Magog’ … Make America Great Again!”
My friends, this is not silly; this is serious; it has the ring of truth to my ears because, in today’s world, we are seeing navua unfold before our eyes.
There are many words in the World of Torah with double meanings which reflect the truth of contemporary events. Here are some examples: the word “rasha;” the word “chamas;” the word “aza” (which describes the process by which the “tziporen” ingredient of the ketores is refined). There is a certain possuk in Tehillim which has a double-meaning-word which is so powerful that I cannot mention it publicly. (If you meet me, I will tell you privately.)
During the Yomim Tovim, I was privileged to hear divrai Torah from the charismatic Rabbi Fully Eisenberger, the kiruv genius who presides over the Jewish Resources Center at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Rabbi Fully was speaking about the reality of the events which the Torah discusses. For example, he is frequently asked: “Rabbi, do you really believe that the sea split? …. Do you really believe that events described in the Torah really happened? … Do you really believe that events predicted for the future will really happen?”
Rabbi Fully gave a beautiful moshul: imagine we are having a conversation one hundred and fifty years ago and I tell you that one day your children’s children will be able to fly to Eretz Yisroel. They will enter a metal tube with wings. It will fly 40,000 feet above sea level and you will land ten hours later in the Holy Land.
“What! Are you crazy?”
Speaking of airliners, Rabbi Fully gave another moshul. We are on a plane above the Atlantic Ocean. Suddenly, there is terrible turbulence. Those who are placidly sipping their cool drinks suddenly fear for their lives. “Help! Are they sure that all the screws holding the wings on the plane were screwed on tight?” Then they grab their Tehillim and vow to quadruple their contribution to Rabbi Meir Baal ha Nes! Meanwhile, in the seat behind them, a man with a long beard is calmly saying Tehillim as he has been for hours with not a trace of panic.
Which one are we? Are we the scaredy-cat or the baal emunah? Do we really believe that we are in Hashem’s hands? That is the question as the world trembles and quakes around us. “They do not know nor do they understand. They walk in darkness. All foundations of the earth collapse.” (Tehillim 82)
Recently, in Manhattan, my wife and I found ourselves in the midst of a raucous demonstration with crowds of threatening people around us. If the police had not been prepared and had not blocked off cross streets, things could have gone way out of control. Wherever one turns, the world seems on the brink of chaos.
My friends, if any of us looks back over his life, one can see the Hand of Hashem in every event. You know my story. I grew up in a world of assimilated Jews who loudly proclaimed their “emancipation” from the derech of their grandparents. How my wife and I escaped from this torture chamber is a story of one miracle after another. I am sorry to say that my childhood friends have mostly led ruined and bitter lives.
Today we stand in the middle of Sefiras Ha Omer, midway between the depth of Mitzraim and the celestial height of Har Sinai. If we contemplate where we once stood, then we can believe that Hashem makes miracles for us every moment.
In my book, From Central Park to Sinai, I speak about how I used to climb high mountains in Wyoming. I would constantly be amazed how, after only a few minutes of climbing, the world below me would suddenly seem so far away. Hashem can elevate us in one second to dizzying heights!
We are all on that shaky airplane. Our hearts are pounding as we grab for the Sefer Tehillim. “Ana Hashem Hoshiah na … Hashem please save us now!”
My friends, we do not have to fear! Everything which our neviim and Chazal predicted is coming to pass. We can believe that “ata vachartanu … Hashem chose us from among all the nations.” They hate us because they know we are holy. All we need do is dive into the sea of Torah like Nachshon Ben Aminadav.
Yes! We will see Moshiach!
Yes! We will see the Bais Hamikdosh!
Yes! We will see a world of peace and justice!
Yes! We will sit “each man under his vine and fig tree and none will make [us] afraid.” (Micah 4:4) May we see it soon in our days!
Street Demonstration
GLOSSARY
Baal emunah: someone who has confidence in G-d
Bais Hamikdosh: Holy Temple
Chazal: rabbis of the Mishna and Gemara
Divrai Torah: words of Torah
Kiruv: return to the Torah
Magog: one of the participants in the Final War of History
Moshul: parable
Navua: prophesy
Tehillim: Psalms
Yomim Tovim: Jewish holidays (specifically referring here to Passover)
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