Summary

The happiness of Adar extends into the month of Nissan, as those two months are special days when the Jewish people experienced miracles on Purim and Pesach. Although Mashiach can come any day, the month of Nissan is the prime time for his arrival. Mashiach is waiting for us a lot more than we are waiting for him. If we are honest with ourselves, we may find that we are similar to the wife of the farmer in the parable. We are well aware that we are in constant danger. Many communities report an alarming rise in assimilation in general, and in intermarriage in particular. The key to the redemption is repentance. With the coming of Mashiach the world will turn into a place of peace and prosperity without any wars and quarrels. "I believe with complete faith in the coming of Mashiach, and although he may delay, nevertheless I wait for him to come every day."

Special joy in Adar and Nissan

This Shabbos we are going to recite the blessing for the month of Nissan that starts next week. The Talmud (Ta'anis 29a) teaches that when the month of Adar enters one should increase in happiness. Rashi explains that the period of this happiness extends into the month of Nissan, as these two months are special days when the Jewish people experienced miracles on Purim and Pesach. The reason for our special joy during this period is, first of all, to commemorate what happened at the times of the exodus from Egypt and when we were saved from Haman.

Prime time for Mashiach

But it is more than that. The Talmud (ibid) further teaches that once a special event has taken place on a certain date, we can expect similar events to occur on the same date. With this insight we gain a better understanding of another statement in the Talmud (Rosh Hashanah 11a): "In the month of Nissan our ancestors were redeemed from Egypt. In the month of Nissan we are going to be redeemed." Although Mashiach can come any day, the month of Nissan is the prime time for his arrival.

Mashiach waiting for us

We constantly pray that G'd shall put an end to our long and bitter exile and send us Mashiach to redeem us. But are we really longing for a change in our situation and looking forward to the redemption? Most of us live in a comfortable home, make a living and strive to educate our children so that they too will be able to make it in this competitive world of ours. As my late father used to say, Mashiach is waiting for us a lot more than we are waiting for him. On top of this, there is always the fear of the unknown. We know what we have. How much do we know what till take place when Mashiach is going to come?

Farmer's wife parable

If we are honest with ourselves, we may find that we are similar to the wife of the farmer in the following parable. This farmer was a simple but G'd-fearing person, living on the plains of Russia. One day he came home to his wife and told her that the Rabbi had said that soon Mashiach would come and take them all to the land of Israel. "This is terrible", said his wife. "Don't we have enough problems already? Who is going to tend to our chickens and look after our geese? You better go straight back to the Rabbi and tell him that we can have no part in this. It will be a real disaster." When the husband returned to the Rabbi with his wife's message, he told the farmer to go home and tell his wife that any day the Cossacks could come and plunder their farm and steal all their fowl. Obviously, they would be much better off when Mashiach will come and take them to the land of Israel. After the farmer related the Rabbi's response to his wife, she contemplated what he had said and understood that he had a valid point. Suddenly, she exclaimed, "I have a perfect solution. Let Mashiach come and take the Cossacks to the land of Israel and everything will be fine." As we hear this parable, we smile knowingly. But if we are honest with ourselves we are probably not that different than this good woman. Are we totally comfortable and at ease with the thought that when Mashiach comes we will be expected to leave the comfort of our home, and give up the security of our business? Are we really ready to face a somewhat unknown future under Mashiach in the land of Israel?

Constant danger

We are well aware that we are in constant danger. The last few weeks we have spoken about the threat that Iran poses, not only to our brothers and sisters in the land of Israel, but for the security of everyone worldwide. The growing Muslim population all over Europe has created a situation that is a major threat and danger for the Jewish communities in all European countries. Even for those of us who live in North America, we are all aware that there are cells of terrorists who are only waiting for opportunities to strike.

Assimilation and intermarriage

Our spiritual situation is no better. Hundreds of missionary groups use every opportunity to ensnare those that are weak in their faith, and bring them to convert to the Christian faith. Thousands of Jewish youths have fallen prey to the various cults of the Far East and elsewhere. Many communities report an alarming rise in assimilation in general, and in intermarriage in particular.

Key to redemption is repentance

If only we had a better idea of what to expect when Mashiach comes we would feel more comfortable about it. The truth is that many of our prophets speak about it extensively and the Talmud also discusses it at length. The Rambam (Laws of Repentance 7:5) sums it all up in a few sentences and writes that the key to the redemption is repentance. Once the Jewish people returns to G'd they will immediately be redeemed and G'd will gather us from all over the world to the land of Israel. Later (9:2) the Rambam explains that when Mashiach comes he will be the king that rules the Jewish people. He will be wiser than King Solomon and a prophet in the league of Moses. Under his rulership the Jewish people will be totally independent and all forces of evil will cease to exist. He will teach the Jewish people the ways of G'd and even the nations of the world will seek his advice and guidance. But otherwise, says the Rambam, the world will continue to exist as we know it without any change.

Peace and prosperity

If we internalize the words of the Rambam, we will realize that with the coming of Mashiach the world will turn into a place of peace and prosperity without any wars and quarrels. Everyone will be able to grow intellectually and spiritually and live in peace and harmony with all of mankind.

Twelfth principle

As we enter the month of Nissan, the month of redemption, this is something we should keep in mind. And at the same time, let us strengthen ourselves in the twelfth of the Rambam's thirteen principles of faith: "I believe with complete faith in the coming of Mashiach, and although he may delay, nevertheless I wait for him to come every day."

These words were based on a talk given by Rabbi Avraham Kahn, the Rosh Yeshiva and Founder of Yeshivas Keser Torah in Toronto.

These words were based on a talk given by Rabbi Avraham Kahn, the Rosh Yeshiva and Founder of Yeshivas Keser Torah in Toronto.

Shalom. Michael Deverett