Saturday, January 8, 2011

Moshiach 5771?

The following comment was left on my post from the Ramchal:
Ari appreciate if you wrote on the significance of the torah codes of rabbi glazerson and the holy spirit of mordec hai elyahu ztzl connecting him to YIOSEF!I believe thev soul of yosef ie the nrn is divided among 2 maybe 3 people someones tikkun is the neshamah anothers the ruach anothers the nefesh , pollard is definitely connected to one of the lower 2 . Also a blog about the korean threat lilit , atomic holocaust , barak obama 5771 ! in glazersons torah codes . It looks like this really is the year !!!!!!!

This is my response:

You may have noticed that my posts have been sparse - few and far between. I was asked to comment on different predictions and events that are going around the Moshiach blogoshere. First, I would like to proudly tell you that it has been six months since I have looked at any blogs, other than my own. Rosh Chodesh Av was that turning point for me. It has also been a year and four months since I have looked at news websites on the internet. I am extremely proud of this accomplishment, as I was totally hooked before. The irony of it was that I only started being interested in the news as a result of reading the autistic books. While I can say that my obsession about Moshiach had some positive results, some of the results were undesirable - resulting in a tremendous waste of time, from a few different perspectives. What I can say is that I learned a big lesson - we must wait for Moshiach every day and know that he can come at any moment. But I think it is extremely unhealthy to always be looking and/or believing that "This is it!" I refuse to look at any autistic sites ever again - I believe they are totally bogus and if there is anything there, it is coming from the side of tumah (impurity). Predictions based on Torah codes are pure conjecture. Even codes that you find after the fact, as far as I am concerned, are in question. You can find Torah codes talking about the Christian version of Moshiach as well. To me, this is just an example of Hashem showing possibilities and maintaining free will. I have come to firmly believe that Moshiach's advent, at least in the stage we are in, is a gradual process. We can see the process if we take a purview of history. We can even see the process speeding up in recent history. I don't believe we will see any instant miraculous type of movement in the process until after Moshiach ben Yosef himself actually reveals his identity. Moshiach ben Dovid's advent is miraculous and fast, as per the Or Hachaim on the passuk in the bracha of Bilaam (דרך כוכב מיעקב וקם שבט מישראל). To believe that Moshiach will come this year, as far as I'm concerned, is fine. To say that he will definitely come this year is simply foolish. The autists said he would come in 5768. When that didn't happen, they changed it to 5769. Frankly, no one can say when he will come. Will he come this year? I hope so. I can't give a lot of credence to any predictions. We simply don't know, and the nature of the world is that the end is always changing, because it is dependent on our free will choices. The Jewish people as a whole must choose their path, and depending on their choices and the way Hashem must respond to those choices, that will determine when and how and what and where. The process will continue in any event. The speed of the process, however, does depend on us. As far as Rav Mordechai Eliyahu - That was another disappointment, as he had the watches which were supposed indicate Moshiach's arrival when they hit twelve. Well, they've hit twelve, and we are still waiting. I'm sick of hearing about signs and significance. I am happy to talk about the Moshiach process. I had the chance to sing and speak last night to a seminary, and they enjoyed my discussion on Moshiach. I made it clear, however, that it is a process, and we can't know when it will reach its peak. I do believe it is gaining momentum, and I do believe that Pollard is connected to Yosef. But to what degree? How significant would it be if he was released? I don't know. Anyone who will predict will look foolish when he is freed and nothing happens. What is the point of all these predictions? What do we gain? A deeper sense of connection to Hashem? A deeper yearning for Moshiach? Study the Ramchal and learn about what life is about. You will naturally want Moshiach. You will want that time when we can experience spirituality openly and serve Hashem without the distractions of the world we now know. You will want to see a time when the moon is full, when the Jewish people completely reflect a higher reality, where our relationships are whole and perfect again, where the lion lies with the lamb, and one nation will not lift a sword toward another. The study of what life is all about will awaken within you a desire for a world where that goal is feasible and attainable. Guessing that the time will come this year will not. It will just paralyze you from accomplishing what you can in your life. Let's stop wasting our time on the internet and start learning and teaching others what life is really about. That is what will bring Moshiach.

9 comments:

sara said...

You're right!
Thanks for the breath of fresh air and a healthy perspective.
S.D.

Devorah said...

You're right in what you say... but remember there are many people around the world who (1) are stuck at home due to illness etc and (2) are stuck in places without Torah/rabbis/Jewish community.
For these people, the internet is their only source of chizuk. For this reason, I continue to blog about Moshiach, although at times I feel just as you write....

Anyway: Moshiach 5771 sounds good to me!

moriyasplace said...

Thanks for sharing your Torah thoughts. Thanks for your reminder that we should all be doing our avodah as Torah-committed Jews.

Ari Goldwag said...

Sorry, Devorah, didn't mean to come off as so mussar-like. Just airing my upset. I know there is a lot of tikkun happening, and you are doing a great job! Keep on spreading good Torah.

Sara & Moriya - thanks for your encouragement.

Ami F said...

Well said!!

Chaya said...

Kol Hakavod, Ari! I agree 100%! Thank you for the inspiration.

Anonymous said...

Please please dont give up now ! we are so close we need your blogs there almost prophecies !

Ari Goldwag said...

don't worry. I don't give up so easily. :)

Dave said...

As Baba Sali and others have predicted Moshiach did already arrive in 5771, but he has yet declared himself openly. Each person needs to recognize Moshiach for himself. This may not be that easy, since he will appear as an ordinary man, still incognito, until most people acknowledge him. The way to recognize him is thru his words or the message that he brings - the message of peace, brotherhood and justice. See http://www.moshiachishere.org/