Governments
are turning all heretic, and then
A Modern Instance of a Biblical Ailment (Tzaraat)
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Moshiach Comes.
One of the Signs
for the Coming of Moshiach is:
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Moshiach will not come until the whole government turns into heresy.
Where is it written?
"He [the Metzora] turned all white –
he is pure" (Leviticus 13:13)
Talmud, Sanhedrin 97a
Contents
- Which "Government" is this sign referring to?
- What's the connection between the Government and Completely-White Tzaraat?
- What is "Heresy"?
- Why will the Government become heretic?
- Why the whole government?
- Why will Moshiach come then?
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The Government
- “מלכות” (Malchut)
- Literally means “Kingdom/Kingship”
- Practically means “Ruling body” = Government
- Who we look up to for sorting out global/ national/ communal issues
- Supreme
- Sovereign
- Call the shots
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Which Government?
- State of Israel. Simple meaning is the governing body over the Land of Israel and the Jews that live there.
- Government of the Gentiles (Maharsha, Talmud Yerushalmi)
- “The whole World will turn to heresy” (Midrash, Yalkut Amos 549)
3 Opinions
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All the Same
- If you think about it:
- Israel’s Government is heavily influenced by other Gentile Governments (eg USA)
- So they are not much different from each other.
- United Nations. Globalization:
- All governments are influenced. And in turn – the whole world.
- So all three meanings of “Government” could be merged into one – "The Government".
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Completely-White Tzaraat.
The Talmud compares this to a case of
Summary of Tzaraat
Normal Tzaraat | Completely-White Tzaraat | |
---|---|---|
Real Cause | Perfection | Rotten |
Apparent Condition | Impure – reject | Impure – reject |
Extent of Condition | Some spots | The whole body (eventually) |
Assessment | Fixable – there's hope | Unfixable – hopeless |
Remedy | Torah & humility | Forget and move on |
Example | Moses, David, Moshiach | Pharaoh |
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Here's a practical
that concerns us here:
What's the connection between
the Government & Completely-White Tzaraat?
(Based on Likutei Sichot Pt. 32 p.82-83)
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Pre-Messianic Dilemas
- With the Coming of Moshiach,
- There are many problems to solve
- On all levels
- Security, economy, society, religion
- The ‘Unpleasant’ Signs of Moshiach.
We need salvation
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The Government has Potential
- The Metzora has potential to do a lot of good.
- And so does the Government.
- It can take the right steps to alleviate the pre-Messianic pressures.
- The Israeli Government can manage its affairs in accordance with Torah.
- It can protect its people.
- The Gentile Governments can support that,
- And bring salvation to the world.
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The Government is Rejected
- We rejected the Metzora because he was crazy.
- We also perceive the Government as crazy.
- They’re making ridiculous moves
- Protecting their own enemy’s interests
- Blatantly going against the Torah
- So we reject the Government.
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Hopes in the Government
- On the other hand –
- Tzaraat can heal.
- And so we hope:
- The Government too can turn around.
- If not this Prime Minister, then another.
- If not this party, then another (or a newly-formed party).
- Something (in the Parliament) has to give!
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Hopes Falsified
- Completely-White Tzaraat does not heal.
- It intensifies until it’s clear there’s no hope.
- The Government’s actions keep worsening...
- It eventually becomes clear deliverance isn’t forthcoming from the Government.
- And that it never was...!
What’s going on?!
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Time to reflect
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Reflections on the Future
- Moshiach will restore the Davidic monarchy
- Re-establish the Jewish Legal system
- And fix up the whole world to serve G-d together.
(Maimonides, Laws of Kings, Ch. 11)
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Kingdom of Heaven
- In other words,
- Moshiach will consolidate all the governments on earth
- Into a global kingdom
- That reflects the Kingdom of Heaven,
- Where everyone (celestial beings) serve G-d in unison.
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So we’re Reflecting (thoughts)
on
Reflection (of Heaven on Earth)
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Utopia
- Hence great plenty
- Peace, harmony
- Contentment –
- Will all prevail (be reflected) on Earth,
- Like they are in Heaven
(Maimonides, Laws of Kings, Ch. 12)
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So Moshiach will get it so right,
yet the Government is getting it so wrong…
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Mmmm...
Have you noticed that their respective philosophies are also at complete odds with each other?
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Separation of Religion & State
- Moshiach has the world connected to Heaven, the Government has it separated.
- “Separation of Church and State” they call it.
- Although this idiom was coined without direct reference to Judaism, it is widely practiced by “The Government” with respect to all religions, and the central concept behind religion – G-d.
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Why the Separation?
- Religion has been commonly associated with conflict, extremism, and persecution.
- Look at other governments in the present (e.g. Iran)
- And past (e.g. Medieval Europe).
- Do we want our State to look like that?
- Also, people want to be free-thinkers.
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Separation of
Heaven from Earth
- Judaism cannot vouch for other religions.
- And not for how fallible people misuse religion.
- But if the Government is religion-free,
- While religion (and the Almighty G-d) is shoved to the sidelines,
- Separation of religion from state is effectively separation of Heaven from Earth.
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The Government is boycotting Heaven (G-d), the source of Divine energy into the World.
We then wonder why everything's getting stuck...
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Heresy
- “מינות” (Mi-nut) in Hebrew.
- Means non-belief in the One G-d. (Maimonides Laws of Repentance 3:7)
- By separating themselves from G-d,
- The Government is practicing heresy.
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The Whole Government
- Many ministers are good people.
- Some may even act for the sake of Heaven.
- But the Government’s problem lies in the ground it’s founded on.
- The core – the institution – is rotten.
- That undermines the entire Government.
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Also
When the Government makes the wrong moves –
All parties are swept along.
(Albeit reluctantly)
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On the Decline
- Both the Government and the Completely-White Metzora will not get better.
- The writing's on the wall.
- And getting bigger and bolder.
- It's a matter of time until everyone realizes this cause is lost.
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Jumping Ships
- When will the penny drop?
- Don't need to wait until the Government's fallacy screams from every inch of their skin.
- The sooner we see this Sign,
- And make the switch,
- The sooner Moshiach comes.
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The Government falls apart,
So that our real channel of salvation (Moshiach) can fall into place .
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Then They'll Seek Moshiach
Many days...
there’s no king nor minister...
Then... they will seek G-d and their King David…
at the End of Days”
In Exile
Hosea 3:
Even whilst there isn't proper Jewish kingdom (no king), the Jews reject all other governors (no minister)
Metzudat David:
And then they ask for the true sovereign (G-d, Moshiach)
This will happen at the ultimate Redemption.
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(Concluding blessing
on Haftorah)
!על כסאו לא ישב זר
No one else shall sit on his [King David’s] throne!
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Summary
- Governance ultimately belongs to Moshiach (Heaven)
- The "Government" is in opposition (Heresy)
- So they have to get dethroned...
- But we don’t necessarily see that
- So the Government fails in an increasingly glaring way,
- Like the Completely-White Metzora,
- To highlight the point of difference (Heaven/Heresy)
- For us to realize (that’s what “signs” are for)
- So that we start allying with Moshiach instead.
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Pharaoh's Tzaraat
An illustration of what we'd learnt in these slides
& some lessons on how to deal with the Government.
Coming Up:
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Tzaraat Part 5 - when the Government turns all heretic
By Itamar Hatzvi
Tzaraat Part 5 - when the Government turns all heretic
How Completely-White Tzaraat applies to the Government in Pre-Messianic Times
- 2,637