Missed Predictions
Two years ago, the Gerrer Rebbe said that Mashiah would come within 2 years.
A commenter named Mike commented here:
It is now 2007 and no Moshiach. ANYONE who tries to guess when Moshiach will return is playing a loosing game. Such greats even as the Rambam and many more illustrious sages have also been mistaken. Look what this issue did to Chabad. Please turn your thoughts and efforts to something else. When Moshiach comes we will know it. Until then, well, we won't.
Mike
Mike's feelings are common. We've been burned before.
Was the Gerrer Rebbe incorrect here? Bimhilat Kevodo, I have to unfortunately say - yes. Some may explain his words to be referring to some spiritual realm - and that may have or may not have occurred - but the physical act of Mashiah coming did not occur, and we have not experienced what was predicted in the time that it was predicted. May it occur soon.
That being said, we are so much closer than any of the sages of the past, and that is agreed to by all present-day sages. This is why I cling to these statements. When I go to Shamayim, I will be asked "Tsipita Lishu'a?", and these predictions - when given by a recognized rabbinic authority - are one way of expecting Ge'ula. If the predictions don't pan out, I don't give up hope. I still believe in his arrival every day.
And so, I will not turn my thoughts and efforts to something else, as Mike suggests. I will continue posting on the subject as I see fit.
I will now make an XGH-like warning:
If, by reading this blog, your Emuna in Mashiah is diminished due to failed predictions or for any other reason, then do not read this blog.
לתקן באתי ולא לקלקל
As for me, I will believe nonetheless.
posted by yaak @ 4/08/2007 06:33:00 PM
11 comments
11 Comments:
Rabbi Akiva, zs'l, was also wrong when he said that moshiach arrived. We are all desperately waiting for moshiach and even if he delays, and he is very delayed, I'll continue waiting for him.
good post - very inspiring
great pshat. I always understood the predictions not coming true as it was a zman mesugal of sorts - mashiach could/should have come then, but we were not worthy. I never liked that pshat though.
Looking at it your way is great. predictions not true? so what. tzipita l'yeshua...
Yasher koach, Yaak -- this is our job. The Ramabam takes the trouble to add "even if he delays, I await him [Moshiach]" which hints that the waiting game is part of the test.
Besoros tovos.
Part of a dvar Torah I heard at Moshiach's Seudah Ahron Shel Pesach, made an interesting point:
If we think that the 80% (whether it was 1 in 5 or 1 in 500) weren't deserving and that is why they didn't make it to the geulah, that wasn't the criteria.
Why did Dathan and Abiram "merit" to be included in the geulah?
The answer given was that, despite their questionable middos, they were "believers" that there would be a geulah. The 80% did not believe in our redemption.
All the more reason, to believe, depend, and await the REDEMPTION with a full heart, valid passport, and packed suitcase!
PS Hi everyone, hope you Pesach was a delicious and memorable one!
Perhaps Mosiach did "come" but is being ignored completely. Perhaps the missed predictions are to show where the truth is not, to lead us to understand where and who Moshiach is.
The Gerrer rebbe said what he said after he was involved in giving away Gush Katif, as a member of the the Moetza of Rav Elyashiv and through his crony MK Litzman. Shame is coming upon all who were involved in the crime.
AMEN! AMEN! No one could be more disappointed than I am that Pesach has passed without any clear sign that the geulah will come to completion any time soon, but still I hope. I will never give up hope that the next auspicious moment will see the fulfillment of that new reality for which we all yearn every minute of every day.
I don't take back anything that I said in the lead-up to Pesach. What I said is still valid, including that if it did not happen in Nissan, then it would be in Iyyar and if not then...
Any spiritually sensitive person can feel the great push being exerted to accomplish this birth. We are well, well along with the labor. We know this without any doubt from the terrible pains we are suffering in the process. We have to believe that maybe only one more push will do it and if not that one, then maybe only one more....
One day, it will surely come. I agree that if one is not able to view it this way, he must simply avoid such things; not try to convince everyone else to his own negative way of thinking.
Keep up the good work!!! Keep the faith!!
Is it possible he came, but in a way not expected or perceived?
Why believe in such a foolish concept of moshiach anyways, it's funny how people continue to believe even against all evidence, if a prediction is wrong they say that rav was wrong some say, we misinterpreted, but maybe the rambam and others who talked about moshiach as we know it today was wrong too.
Why believe in such a foolish concept of no Mashiah anyways. It's funny how people continue not to believe even against all evidence. If a prediction is wrong, they say, "He must not be coming if he didn't come until now." Maybe all those who rationalized Mashiah away were wrong too. (Not just maybe.)
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