Geula and Redemption

This week's Emuna News shows how the similar pattern of politics on both sides of the Atlantic is a clear sign of the way Hashem is preparing the world for the new era of Moshiach.

Welcome to Emuna News, where you find out what's really happening in the world. Today's news update and message is, "Avalanche or Birth?" It sounds weird, but it's an exact description of current events right, where we find out the connection between COVID 19, wildfires, BLM and Yom Kippur.

Throughout Tanach, "Hashem's vineyard" (see Isaiah 5:7, for example) is a metaphor for the Land of Israel and the vines symbolize the Jewish People. On the Sabbath, we sing the ancient "Dror Yikra" sonnet that was composed over a thousand years ago by Donash ben Labert from Spain, where he alludes to a prophecy in Jeremiah 2:21 when Hashem promises that He will replant the "cuttings" - those who have been cut off from their ancient homeland - in His vineyard. As such, the flourishing vineyards in the Land of Israel are a clear sign of the imminent redemption and ingathering of the exiles, as is we see today with our own eyes.

Jeremiah the Prophet says that right before Moshiach comes, vineyards will be planted in the Land of Israel. Throughout the Scripture, vines are a parable for the Jewish People. Both the sons and the vines grow best on their native soil.

Here is a dream deal for you, underwritten by the Baal Haturim, the Chid'a, the Chofetz Chaim and all the sages of the Gemara. I challenge anyone to try and beat this deal, that guarantees the best blessings at a tremendously discounted price. This is no gimmick, but the "real deal." 

If you don't think that our Talmudic sages saw far into the future with their crystal-clear spiritual vision, then hear today's podcast, which shows just how the holy Raba bar Bar Chana saw what would happen in our generation in general, and with the upheaval of COVID-19 in particular.

Many of us want to change, yet we expect it to happen automatically, with no effort on our part. Life doesn't work that way. An old Hebrew expression says, "Even a journey of a thousand kilometers begins with a first step." What does that have to do with Moshiach, Geula? Do we really want them, or do we want to continue with exile, Diaspora and fasting on Tisha B'av?

What possibly does COVID-19 have to do with Kamtza and Bar Kamtza? The key to the puzzle is Shalva Zalfreund, of blessed memory, a kindergarten teacher in Petah Tikva, passed away from coronavirus this past Friday, July 17, 2020. Shalva was an amazing teacher who educated several generations of Petah Tikva's children. Before she died, she wrote a letter to the parents of the children in her kindergarten. If you take a close look, the letter should be required reading for all of us, especially during the Three Weeks, a time when we're supposed to feel the lack and loss of our Holy Temple. Here is the letter and its mindboggling message to all of us.

Our message today is intended to be a spiritual antidote to all that's trying to pull us down and to enable us to truly feel good about ourselves. The "Three Weeks" period is a time to yearn for Moshiach and the Holy Temple, but not a time to be sad or depressed.

COVID 19, like everything else not only comes from Hashem but is Hashem's emissary to prepare the world for Moshiach and Geula, the redemption of the Jewish People and the ingathering of the exiles to our homeland of Israel. In fact, you could say that COVID 19 is the Minister of Education, teaching people what they should have learned on their own. Today's podcast looks at the lessons COVID 19 is bringing to the world.

The Midrash tells us we are a whole made out of two halves: the mammal or bodily half of us is the physical half. The other half is known as the neshama - the soul - our spiritual half. The more our lives focus on the body, the more we resemble an animal. The more our lives focus on the neshama, the more we resemble an archangel.

So many people nowadays feel short-tempered, or nervous, or worn out, or all three. The lurking threat of sickness and the difficult challenge of lockdown, quarantine and kids at home are eating away at their nerves. If you feel like that, don't be down on yourself, because it's natural and even mentioned in the Gemara. Hear all about it in today's encouraging podcast, which is bound to make you feel better about yourself.