Looking Hey-ward

With the Cubs down 5-3 last night with bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th, with 2 outs and 2 strikes on him, Jason Heyward belted a walk-off grand slam to win the game.

See the entire bottom half of the 9th inning here:



Such is the Geula of Israel. As the gemara says, when things are looking bleakest כִּי יִרְאֶה כִּי-אָזְלַת יָד, וְאֶפֶס עָצוּר וְעָזוּב, that's when the Geula will come. But as the gemara also says, the Geula only comes via Teshuva. Teshuva is symbolized by the letter "ה" - as explained by Chabad.org:

The Talmud informs us that the hei also represents teshuvah—repentance. To appreciate how the form of the letter hei embodies the concept of teshuvah, compare the hei, ה, to the ches, ח, the eighth letter of the alef-beis. Both forms look very much alike. Each is made up of three lines. The one conspicu­ous difference is the small aperture atop the hei’s left limb. What does this have to do with teshuvah? G‑d declares to Cain after he kills his brother Abel, “Sin (chatas) lies at your door.” The opening (or door) on the bottom of both the hei and the ches represents sin. With the ches, there can be no escape from the “door of sin” without transgression (i.e., without exiting through the bottom of the ches). But the hei has another open­ing, another possible course of action. The little opening at the top of the hei allows for the possibility of teshuvah, or return.

When we look Hey-ward - i.e. to do Teshuva, which is symbolized by the letter "ה" - then we will collectively hit a grand slam in the bottom of the 9th with the coming of Mashiah.

May he come speedily in our days, Amen.