Seeds of Redemption are Sprouting
By Rebbetzin Anna Bergson
As Published in this weeks edition of the Jewish Weekly
Remember the good old days when you were dancing at a Simcha…it didn’t matter who’s clammy hand grasped yours as everybody in the circle was equal, a unified mass.
It’s been over a year now and we’ve all been through so much.
With the vaccine roll-out providing a way out of lock-down we are slowly getting back to ‘normal’.
However it’s bizarre that this doesn’t feel anything like our old normal.
Usually when we’ve been through a trauma we allow ourselves time to process the experience – to talk it through, to heal. However picking ourselves up post-Covid and resuming our business as usual attitude I can’t help feeling there’s an elephant in the room?
Feeling the global pain and suffering over the Covid year I have tried to find a link to each upcoming Yom Tov and Moshiach – surely the time is upon us?!
The Rambam teaches us that in order for Moshiach to come the whole world will be united with the knowledge of Hashem. Never before has the world been so united and connected.
But as each Covid Yom Tov came and went and still no giant Shofar call I’ve had to dig deep, keep yearning and wait patiently…
And then on Monday 22 February Boris Johnson gave his eagerly anticipated Press Conference. Being fashionably late a la Boris style it was left to various commentators to time-fill. I was pacing up and down my kitchen with fingers crossed he would announce re-opening of schools. With the nation tuned in and listening I stopped in my tracks as one of the top political commentators said (and I quote), ‘Israel is leading the world with its vaccination programme’.
A shiver went down my spine. ‘Israel is leading the world’.
Who would have thought, a small nation, with all the odds against us, we’ve suffered for Millenia but yet at the final hurdle of a global war against Covid – Israel is leading the world?!
I was recently directed to more of the Rambam’s teachings on Moshiach and I’ve had to lower my expectations of some giant spiritual event like the Sinai experience (although this is still possible) with something much more subtle. When we plant seeds and watch them sprout it doesn’t happen instantly. It’s a process that takes time. But we know the seeds have imbedded in the soil and growing because we see after a few weeks the shoots. And then a few weeks or months later the shoots are even taller and stronger. And it may take a year or years until finally fruits develop and become ripe.
So let’s keep patient, learning, praying, hoping and looking for the subtle signs the Redemption is on it’s way because I for one am ready for a global simcha dance! And I don’t mind who’s obligatorily sanitised hand grasps mine!
Shabbat Shalom.