For a long time now, the concept of Mashiach and the anticipation of his arrival has become more and more of a mainstream discussion. An ever-increasing number of people are debating this concept, and if there was ever a moment of anticipation this year, undoubtedly Pesach would have been that defining moment.
Alas, we still find ourselves in the galut (exile) and the final redemption is still not here. As the curtain comes down on 5780, and we ponder the year gone by, there seems to be only one topic – COVID-19, COVID-19, and more COVID-19. I can strongly advocate for how this invisible menace of a virus disrupted our lives, brought in its wake an existential crisis, and revolutionised this world in preparation for Mashiach. However, I think we may have missed some other earth-shattering acts on the world arena. Indulge me, and let me take you back a couple of thousand years ago to the stage of early history.
Scene one: Once upon a time in the year 1775 BCE, there lived a mighty king called Nimrod – effectively he ruled most of the civilised world. In this sophisticated setting, a consortium of like-minded fellows plan and devise to use their combined ingenuity to go to war against G-d Himself! Herewith blossoms the first globalist regime in history.
The people pool their resources, and build a tower as high as the sky. There, they will wage war and destroy G-d so that they will reign forever after, happily.
Meantime “back at the ranch”, a little boy is born. Abraham is his name. From a very young age, he understands that this world isn’t one of chaos and darkness, but one overseen and guided by a much greater force.
And so, young Abraham begins to seek out this G-d, and though life deals him hard blows and G-d tests him over and over again, he sacrifices his comforts in service of the principles of love, brotherhood, and truth, and succeeds beyond expectation.
At one point, Abraham confronts Nimrod and his cronies, and emerges from a fiery furnace unscathed and triumphant. And oh, the Tower of Babel? That comes tumbling down in a mysterious confusion of languages, and its goals get lost in the dust of the annals of history. Some much for globalism!
Scene two: Abraham has two sons – Yishmael and Isaac. G-d promises Abraham that he will be a leader of nations and through his descendants, the world will be blessed.
Though the boys are 14 years apart, Sarah senses the growing wickedness of Yishmael and asks Abraham to banish him from their home. “He shall be a wild man, his hand against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him.” (Genesis 17:14) It’s not until the twilight of Abraham’s life that he gets nachas from this wayward son, as ultimately, Yishmael repents and returns home physically and spiritually.
Scene three: Abraham’s son, Isaac, has twin boys. One, Jacob, is a scholar and a dweller of the tents, and the other, Esau, a man of the field. In his formative years, Esau turns wicked, and G-d doesn’t want Abraham to experience anguish.
Abraham dies five years prematurely so as not to experience the shame and heartache of a wayward grandson. Esau despises his brother after selling him his birthright and then, for most of his life, he seeks to kill Jacob. Jacob flees at the behest of his mother to avoid this wrath, until that fateful day when they meet again as Jacob makes his way back from Lavan to the promised land laden with family and wealth. “Let’s go up together,” says Esau in a spirit of reconciliation. “No” replies Jacob, “my family is too young – go ahead, I’ll meet you later.”
Intermission – end of the first half. Drop the curtain.
Fast forward 4 000 years. The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob have wandered the globe, they have settled in almost every country on earth. They have set up shop wherever fate will have them dwell. In each place, they do their best to teach the truths their forefathers ascribed to – truth, peace, honesty, and belief in a higher creator.
Alas, brothers Yishmael and Esau give them no peace – they are continually persecuted, annihilated, and relocated. And until of late, the descendants of Yishmael and Esau make sure that Jewish lives remain miserable, unstable, and unpredictable.
Scene one: Talk of globalism and a one-world economy is headline news again. Again, those in power are conspiring to build another great Tower of Babel. This time, it’s clothed in the assertion that everything morally wrong is really alright, and who needs a moral compass anyway?
As time passes, the evil intentions of the world’s leaders are coming to the fore, the ugliness of power, corruption, and dishonesty make their mark. And if you listen carefully and read between the lines, you will see and understand that this “Tower of Babel”, the dream of the globalists, is falling apart, and will soon be relegated to the history books once more.
“Back at the ranch” the tiny little nation of Abraham is becoming a start-up nation, spreading knowledge, kindness, and morality to the world. The faithfulness of Abraham is flourishing, and we have become a light unto the nations.
Scene two: The beginning is embedded in the end, and the end is embedded in the beginning. There comes a time when Esau makes amends, and reconciliation is the air. This ruddy man, who wields power and influence in the field, (Trump) befriends Israel, and assists his brother, Jacob, and family in reaffirming their home, that which was promised to Zayda Abraham so long ago.
Finally, Jerusalem is our capital for all to see. The Golan Heights are ours. Esau helps fight the evil that threatens Abraham’s people (remember Qasem Soleimani?).
Scene three: The similarity is uncanny. As the curtain comes down on 5780, brother Yishmael begins to make his way back home too. History is flipped upside down, and the unimaginable is becoming reality. Funny (or not?) they called it the Abraham Accords, hey?
The finale: What an extraordinary year! COVID-19, Esau, Yishmael … just open your eyes, and you will see the redemption unfolding. Mashiach is knocking at our door.
While the world goes topsy turvy, let’s draw strength from our timeless, divine Torah. Let’s step up to the plate as the children of Abraham, and commit to making this world a better place.
This year, let’s turn our eyes heavenward and beseech the almighty that the dawn of 5781 will bring the curtain down and we will see the finale of this incredible show. This will be the arrival of Mashiach, and the dawn of an age of peace, harmony, and health as promised way back to the father of all nations, Abraham.
Shana tova u metukah!
- Rebbetzin Aidel Kazilsky is a radio and television host and an inspirational speaker who teaches the wisdom of Torah, and applies it to contemporary times.
