Vayikra (26:44) Yet, even then, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them or spurn them so as to destroy them, annulling My covenant with them: for I am their G-d.
Meshech Chochma (Vayikra 26:44): Even when they are in exile in the land of their enemies I will not reject nor despise them to obliterate them and break My covenant with them since I am their G-d. … You should be aware that the continued existence of the Jews - despite the great time that the Jews have been exiled amongst the nations - is an astounding thing to all intelligent people. This is especially true for those who know about the tidal waves that have washed over this small, weak and powerless people for thousands of years. (All this is besides that amazing fact that this people has also maintained its elevated holy goals which were prophesized by the ancients.) The way of Providence is that the people remain for a period of time - typically one or two hundred years - in a particular land. Then a powerful storm arises and disperses them elsewhere utterly destroying what had existed without mercy. Afterwards the surviving remnants regroup in a distant land. They reestablish themselves as a distinct group and grow in Torah and wisdom. They do so well that they even forget that they are in a foreign land. They will think that they were in their native land and therefore have no interest in G d’s spiritual rescue at the appointed time. The storm then reappears in this new place - but it will be even stronger than before. They will hear the loud announcement, "You are Jews. Who considers you humans? Get out of here and go to an unfamiliar land!" Thus is the ebb and flow of condition of the Jews as any discerning eye can see in the history books. This cycle has two reasons. 1) To keep religion pure and true 2) preserve the people. Because when the Jews come to a particular land, they grow and develop in Torah. The children make significant progress and they start making innovations. It is an inherent characteristic of man that the newer generations create new things and add to what was hidden from the previous generations. This is in marked contrast in the area of religion which has been given from Heaven and is not man made. In ancient times when all Jews were in the land of Israel, it was possible to make changes that were appropriate for each generation. This was done through the institution of the Sanhedrin which had the power to nullify decrees made in previous generations or to produce new halachos by means of the 13 hermeneutic according to what they thought was appropriate. ... Aside from the legal creativity permitted to the Sanhedrin, there was always a strong manifestation of Divine inspiration. This was not only in the First Temple when there were prophets, apprentice prophets, and pure men of wisdom who were fit for this as well as the Urim v’Tumim. It was also true in the Second Temple where there was the lower level of ruach hakodesh (Yerushalmi Sukka 5:1). This holy inspiration always manifested itself in new forms and activities of the people that differed from that of the previous generations and was appropriate to the new generation. Furthermore, the Sanhedrin even had the ability to temporarily abrogate specific halachos for the needs to the time. None of this legal creativity and spiritual innovation is possible in exile. That is because the lack of centralized Torah authority and the reduction of the quality of Torah study doesn’t permit contemporary courts to innovate - as the Rambam writes in the introduction to the Mishna Torah. Furthermore, we have no prophets or seers. Our current state is that there is an iron barrier that closes us off from our Father in Heaven (Berachos 32b). Given the lack of creativity and innovation, the course of events is as follows. When Jews enter into a foreign country, they are generally not educated in Torah because of the effects of persecution, decrees and exile. Eventually a holy spirit arises in them which draws them back to their original holy state. They start learning Torah and disseminating it and make tremendous progress until they in fact return to a high spiritual state. However, this generation has no power to create or add to what they have learned from their ancestors. Nevertheless, it is inherent in human nature to be creative and do things differently. To fulfill this need they start assimilating false alien ideas into their religion until they eventually start rejecting religious observance. Religious study is deserted for other endeavors… They come to think that Berlin is Jerusalem and they imitate those who are degraded and cease to emulate the righteous (Sanhedrin 39b). However, since we have been prohibited from being like the nations (Hoshea 9), a mighty storm comes and uproots them from their place and their holy tongue and instead they adopt a foreign tongue. In their wanderings, they come to forget the Torah in its depth and profundity. They come to rest in a new land. Again, the holy spirit arises in them. Their children make strong progress in Torah and spiritual matters. They regain the spirituality which they had lost. This is the pattern of the Jews during the time of exile. …
I was once invited to some hareidim for Shabbat lunch, and a grandson of a prominent Rebbe was present. Of course they were smashing Zionism so I reminded them of this famous Meshech chochmah. I pointed out that Vilna was once referred to as Jerusalem of the North!
ReplyDeleteThey didn't take it too well!
Lakewood doesn't say it but they act as if they're the Jerusalem of North America. Lubavitch pretty much says that 770 is the Beis HaMikdash in waiting so Crown Heights is the real Jerusalem.
ReplyDeleteThere was a Rav Emanuel Hartom, who was the nephew of the famous Rav Umberto Cassutto. He said something similar to the Meshech Chochmah, but this was after the Shoah - blaming it on people who loved galus. I am not able to blame on a theological level - but the theory of the Ohr Someach -Meshech Chochmah is along the same lines..
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