1948 Years Until Geula Gematrias

As many of us know, the number 1948 is a special number for the Jewish people.  Most know it as the secular year in which the State of Israel was founded.  Fewer know it as the Hebrew year that Avraham Avinu was born.

The number now represents the number of years of our current exile.  If the Destruction of the Second Beit Hamikdash took place in 3828 [68 CE], then 1948 years later is the current year 5776.

Here are some interesting gematrias with the value of 1948:

1) Vayikra 14:17:

יִתֵּן הַכֹּהֵן עַל-תְּנוּךְ אֹזֶן הַמִּטַּהֵר הַיְמָנִית

shall the priest put upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed

We know that Mashiah is suffering with Tzara'at.  This verse talks about a Metzora's purification, and therefore, the revelation of Mashiah.

2) Hoshea 14:2:

שׁוּבָה, יִשְׂרָאֵל, עַד, יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ:  כִּי כָשַׁלְתָּ, בַּעֲו‍ֹנֶךָ

Return, O Israel, unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast stumbled in thine iniquity.

We know that Israel is only redeemed via repentance.  He will be revealed today if we repent, as it says היום אם בקולו תשמעו.

3) Mishlei 3:17:

דְּרָכֶיהָ דַרְכֵי-נֹעַם; וְכָל-נְתִיבוֹתֶיהָ שָׁלוֹם

Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

Those who follow the paths of the Torah will find peace at the end of the journey.  And in Derech Eretz Zuta, Ribbi Yosei Hagelili says that Mashiah's name is "Shalom" and the first words he will say when he is first revealed is "Shalom".

4) Shir Hashirim 2:10:

עָנָה דוֹדִי, וְאָמַר לִי: קוּמִי לָךְ רַעְיָתִי יָפָתִי, וּלְכִי-לָךְ

Shir Hashirim Rabba says that ענה דודי refers to Eliyahu and ואמר לי refers to Mashiah, and in fact, expounds the subsequent verses, such as עת הזמיר הגיע, as referring to the time that Mashiah will be revealed.

5) Shir Hashirim 8:1:

מִי יִתֶּנְךָ כְּאָח לִי, יוֹנֵק שְׁדֵי אִמִּי; אֶמְצָאֲךָ בַחוּץ אֶשָּׁקְךָ, גַּם לֹא-יָבֻזוּ לִי

 The Targum on that verse says that this verse refers to the time Mashiah will be revealed.


May the 1948 years of our exile bring it to its close and herald the revelation of Mashiah, speedily in our days, Amen.