What does it mean, that we've stepped through the Sha'ar Nun — the Fiftieth Gate? And what does it matter for most people of the world?
As Reb Dov Bear explained earlier, it has to do with the 50th Jubilee (in Hebrew, Yovel יובל) Year since Ezra (of Ezra and Nehemiah), known as the Sofer (the Scribe). We have just finished 49 years since the reunification of Yerushalayim, my beloved city, and are living in the 50th year. It also so "happens" that the Hebrew year 5727/1967 was the last Yovel year.
To take in the more full explanation, read here and here. Don't forget to come back!
During Erev Shavuoth, I attended a shiur at a friend's house by Rabbanit Esther KiTov, who teaches I believe is the widow of Rav Eliyahu KiTov, where she regaled us with her experiences as a young teenager at the time of the Six-Day War, along with our hostess' mother-in-law (sorry, no audio or video — it's not allowed on Hag). R' Pinchas Winston also tells the story in the video below. But don't sell him short; I believe this is the shiur to beat all shiurim, until now (skip to 3:30 to the beginning of the shiur).
R' Pinchas Winston helps us appreciate the wondrous times we are in! (H/T Shirat Devorah)
The main thing for us Jews now is to Desire Redemption — which includes doing something to show how much we desire it! Begin now by appreciating the times we now find ourselves in. Know that every deliverance we ever experienced only comes when there is a massive expression, through action as well as thought, of ratzon רצון (will) on the part of the contemporaneous Jewish collective (yes, the entire people alive in any given time — even if it is a small number, such as went out from Egypt/Mitzrayim. Which, if you look around, you see that the number of Jewish men in the world is similar to what it was then, if you assume a normal number of women and children.). The theme throughout is:
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R' Winston has told us for many years that one must desire the very dust of Eretz Yisrael, as it says in Tehillim 102:14-15:
| 14 You will rise, You will have mercy on Zion for there is a time to favor it [her]*, for the appointed season has arrived. | יד אַתָּה תָקוּם תְּרַחֵם צִיּוֹן כִּי עֵת לְחֶנְנָהּ כִּי בָא מוֹעֵד: | |
| 15 For Your servants desired its stones and favored its [her]* dust. | טו כִּי רָצוּ עֲבָדֶיךָ אֶת אֲבָנֶיהָ וְאֶת עֲפָרָהּ יְחֹנֵנוּ: |
It is no different now. As one of the audience members in the video says toward the end: "It would be fair to say that if you're not "doing your hishtadluth" [making an effort], you don't have the ratzon."
May we all get the ratzon and merit to see it through to the end.
May we all get the ratzon and merit to see it through to the end.
* I inserted this word, not only because the Hebrew words call for it, but also in keeping with my belief, given many words from the Torah, that the Land has a personality and desires our return, both to her and to HaShem. -CDG
ReplyDeletebs"d
Rebitzen (Rabbanit) Esther KiTov, talita, is the daughter-in-law of
haRav Eliyahu KiTov, zz"l of Book of our Heritage fame. She is married to Rav E. Kitov's son and is one of our most treasured and talented teachers.
Esther Linder
CDG THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS! I am in the middle of a draft post with another geula blog that Rabbi Winston is going to proof and approve. I hope to get this out before Shabbos!
ReplyDeleteMs. Linder, thank you so very much for providing the crucial information I needed about Rabbanit Esther KiTov. She teaches in my neighborhood several times a year in addition to her regular work, but I was never clear on her relationship with Rabbi KiTov. Of course I had opportunities to ask along the way, but was too embarrassed. We all love her dearly.
ReplyDeleteShe doesn't know about my blog and I have no idea whether she would read even if she did!
GoldieZP, thank YOU! I look forward to your post!
Why is this blog named "Chava HaAchrona"? My name is Chava so it piqued my curiosity.
ReplyDeleteChava,
ReplyDeleteIf you will look more closely, the blog is named "Hava haAharona." Pronounced the same way, but with no Cs. It's all Hebrew to me, anyway. ;)
My name also happens to be Chava, too. I keep myself separated from the character (did I invent her or was it just a natural outcome of the thought, that there ought to be an Aharona to balance out the Rishona? Not exactly sure how to explain that...) by using the alternate spelling for her and the blog.
Many thanks for asking.
In relation to geulah, the subject of this post, there is an interesting event. The mother of the 13 years old murdered Jewish girl makes a clear connection between the Arab mastering of the Temple Mount and the continuation of killing of Jews by Arab terrorists.
ReplyDeleteThis isn't a simple matter, but the beginning of awakening of Jews realising that the weak presence of Jews on Har Habayt means that the nation is continuously subject to suffering. A post in October 2015 on this blog outlines in its comments the significance of mastering Har Habayt.
The PM Bibi understands well the power related to The Temple Mount, bringing Rabbi Glick along.
It appears that H' is pressing Am Yisrael leaving no alternative but to take over the area or the suffering servant will have increased punishment. The reality of terrorism in Yisrael points to this fact.
The war of Gog and Magog appears starting on Rosh Hashanah 2015, when the violence commenced in Jerusalem, thus the Shekhinah started descending. This fact gives power to whoever is on Har Habayt, that is why we see an increase in terrorism and the world community siding with the Palestinians
The killing of the 13 year old girl did awakened many Jews to see the fundamental importance of mastering the Temple Mount area.
Things are moving rapidly, the Brexit being another sign of Edom's impending end. Geulah unfolds as we speak.
What may be the next big event of redemption? See Rabbis Mizrahi, Anava, Messin talking about the final struggle between Edom and Yishmael, and the fall of the world greatest power.
Y.
So, it is happening! Today 12 July 2016 a group of 200 Jewish people were permitted to enter the compound of The Temple Mount with the main purpose to strengthen the Am Yisrael presence there.
ReplyDeleteThis is a new development of geulah unfolding when the understanding that without mastering the Har HaBayt Israel will be continuously punished by H' (Hallel's mother expressed in clear words this fundamental issue).
From now on the entire nation will be gradually galvanised to have its heart, The Temple Mount, living for Yisrael.
Do not fear, Mashiach is watching over us!
Y.
As the time passes we see less and less interest of Am Yisrael in the process of geulah. That sets the kind of Mashiach's arrival, al chamor.
ReplyDeleteThe events of terrorism in France show the judgment being done by H' to the world. We'll see even more when the UNESCO cultural body, that has become a political tool, will severe the Jewish links to The Temple Mount. Those nations voting pro Muslims will suffer the consequences of giving the sanctuary of H' to terrorism. Then the world will be engulfed in a destruction never ever seen on this planet. It's just a matter of a couple of months. Don't plan anything beyond Rosh Hashanah 5777.
Y.
Ad matay Yisrael? Another gay pride parade in Jerusalem on 21 July 2016? Your sins are already flooding overboard. Geulah of great suffering is opening up. So far it was the prelude, stabbing, homemade bomb attacks, etc.
ReplyDeleteTears!
Store food and water before Rosh Hashanah 5777.
Y.
Hey, Y, whaddaya mean YOUR sins are already flooding overboard???
ReplyDeleteAre you a Jew, or not? Do you live in Israel, or not? Too many Jews living outside the land, as well as non-Jews, participate too much in "our sins" to point the finger at us that way. Like saying to black people, "you people."
Anyway, tell us something we don't know.
We might want to look at these articles:
ReplyDeletePlease Pray - Tomer Devorah
What's So Important about Morality? - Going Home...To Yerushalayim
...and from whence they come, there is more. I don't have time to search through all the blogs today.
This is more like most of us in Israel feel. If people want to criticize us for the sins of our leadership, then they ought to stop supporting their own leadership's part in them, whether direct or indirect.