Geula: Hastened, or On Time?

The Prophet Isaiah refers to the full redemption of our people and says in the Name of the L-rd, "In its time, I shall hasten it" (Isaiah 60:22), b'ita achishena. Rashi explains that if the people of Israel are worthy, then the Geula will be hastened (achishena). And if not, G-d forbid, the Geula will come on time (b'ita).

"On time" is liable to be a rough scenario, when the people of Israel haven't woken up from their spiritual slumber, forcing Hashem to bring the redemption with a harsh and heavy hand. 

My beloved rabbi and teacher Rav Shalom Arush spent almost the entire day today out in the field pleading with Hashem. He told me yesterday that as much as he hates doomsday prophecies, there is a severely stern judgment hovering above our people around the world. But he also told me that this is the month of Adar, a time conducive to teshuva from love. If each of us does what he or she can to strengthen and spread emuna - starting with ourselves and our families, then friends and the broader community - we can overturn the gzera kashe - the severe decree. The Geula doesn't have to come with strife - it can come with singing and dancing. 

A compassionately hastened redemption depends on masses of people turning to Hashem in emuna and personal prayer. This is the alternative to a Geula "on time" that defies the scariest adjectives in our lexicon. That's why I'm knocking myself out running around the world trying to spread emuna as fast as possible. Once the missiles start flying, everything else will be meaningless. Let's avoid that.

Beloved brothers and sisters, you will be asked in the Heavenly Court what you did to spread emuna in your area. What will you answer?

Try Psalm 137: "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, may my right hand wither!" Here's Meydad Tasa singing it...