As we approach the year 5770, I was just thinking about the irony of it. It's almost funny, if you think about it. The number 770 represents Chabad Lubavitch. It stands for Bais Moshiach. The building itself is the central headquarters of all Chabad activity worldwide. And now, we are going to begin a full year with that number. It sounds, ominous, if you wish.
All religious Jews go by the Jewish calendar. I saw an ad for a yeshivish organization, and it said something about this coming year, 5770. I almost laughed. That number seems so out of place in that world. And yes, there are worlds. As much as we are all the same, we are so very different. Chabad, Misnagdish, Modern Orthadox, Chassidish, we are all Jews, with many titles.
And yet, out of all these groups, it is a number widely known as belonging to Chabad that will be on everyone's minds and lips this whole next year. I'd like to think that 'kulam chabadnikim, aval heim kvar lo yodim et zeh achshav'. 'All Jews are Chabad, they just don't know it yet.' Of course, there are many people who will disagree with me on this.
I think there is something going on in the hearts of many Jews now, as we approach Rosh Hashana. Some probably expect us to pull out our magic wands, do some hocus pocus, and bring about techias hameisim. Of course, we know better than that. Magic won't bring Moshiach. We will, and we've been trying hard enough as it is.
So the question is: will this be the year? No one can answer that. I don't want it to be this year, I say it's better that Moshiach come today, before 5770, and save all Jews the embarrassment of having to say, Chabad did it after all.
hmmm. what/who inspired you to write this?
ReplyDeleteYou wanna take the credit?
ReplyDeleteIn the car on the way back from the Ohel last night a Rabbi said "There are alot of Jews around the world davening that Moshiach should come before Rosh Hashana"
ReplyDeleteAnyways, I hope every year is the year. Gematrias and Osiyos are wonderful but we need Maysah B'poel below three tefachim immediatly!
Amen! All the best to you, a gut gebentched yor.
ReplyDeleteIts just a number. The Christians expected big things in 1000, and again in 2000. Aside from the breif concern about the Y2K bug, 2000 was uneventful. There are people who think that the world will end when the Mayan calendar runs out in 2012. Its all just arbitrary numbers.
ReplyDeleteEven if (as you probably do) you attach metaphysical significance to the Jewish calendar, it may be off by a couple of hundred years.
I just realized that in 2000 you were ten. I feel so old.
You are old. But I'm getting old too.
ReplyDeleteI know it's just a number, just like any other. But the point is that it is significant. That doesn't mean it will come now. And possibly the world is older. I have no way of knowing that.