I have the answer. Or at least part of it. Last night I was part of a wonderful study session regarding two of the foremothers, Rachel and Leah and some of what they represented, as we looked back and look forward into our history. It actually explains some of that which has kept us from going forward in orderly manner and at the same time, explains why, despite all the barricades and snafus along the road- We. Are. Here. and here we will remain until time immemorial when the good Lord Above decides that enough is enough and it is time for the 'be'at Hamoshiach', the coming of the Messiah. Whatever the time, whatever the circumstances, it will have been more than enough time.
According to some commentators, who, (and via my own take on this matter), throughout the centuries, intensely studied the Bible, the Old Testament and Prophets, believed the world was kind of left broken and changed for all time via the transgression of Adam, the first man on Earth. Instead of glorying in his goodness and cleanliness, having never defied the Lord, he (and his wife) took the wrong fork in the road. This misstep of his was a misstep for the generations to come. Instead of one whole entire blessedly clean soul, humanity, for the most part, then became burdened via a dichotomy. We can call it good and evil or the high road and the low road, even temptation and resistance. But whatever it is called. it left humans weaker, imperfect, facing a more challenging status, standing, and positive achievement in the world.
It appears to me that the Soul, the pure and the tainted, did usher in a new and changed world. It is the world where the one segment can be in combat, behave in oppositional manner with the other segment. Battling for power and influence, for domination, intensely at times and less intensely at other times. It is only when we understand that the two segments must be reunited, must be made to mesh together, work cooperatively with each other, that the best of the Lord's creation, the best lives we can lead, will appear before us in all of its possibilities and blessings. When will that be? I have no answer to that. Quite frankly, I do not believe the Lord has one either, so complicated, confusing, irritating and contradictory are the beings which followed Adam and Eve.
Abraham and Lot, his nephew, going separate ways, underlying principles and motivations not coinciding. Isaac and Yishmael, Jacob and Esau. Even Isaac and his beloved wife, Rivka, who chose different sons. Abraham and Sarah with depth and intensity and belief varying at times. The 12 sons of Jacob and their brotherly strife advancing to the point of selling a brother into slavery. Finally, we come to Rachel and Leah, the one representing ever forward movement, ever seeking more, how to move the nation forward, how to be better, stronger in our faith. The other, emphasizing and understanding and acceptance of the current, whatever the current situation is. and build within it. Know the importance and the strength of unity and cohesion.
However, it is only when these competing segments of Soul discover, manufacture, the keys which will open the locks and the doors separating them, that the nation of the Lord and the population of the world, for all creations are of His hands, in the Lord find peace. We will claim the purity of soul which we were meant to be endowed with, from the very beginning of time.
We were supposed to learn to mesh the permanent power of the sun and the ever-changing appearance of the moon, cooperating rather than competing, working together rather than driving nails to separate. It is when we understand the importance of the Torah, the Bible and value the wisdom of our Prophets sent to us to help us, to guide us, along with the insights of our commentators. When we open ourselves up to all the light and all the glory of Hashem, then and only then, can we even begin to approach the elevated standards and achievements of the Biblical figures.
Only then will we understand the mercy of the Lord Above who knows His human creations can go astray, must understand their violations, but He is also our Father on high, a Father who understands that it is easier and better to convince with love and soft touch rather than with a hammer on the head, and bring those who stray from the fold back. Welcomed with open arms. Even the best among us commits an offense in our lifetime, but it is to the credit of those who have indeed gone astray to understand and acknowledge what they have done and take proper steps to ameliorate the harm.
At times the name we have been given or earned as Am Kishei Oref, a nation, basically, of stubborn stiff-necked people has carried us through with that combination. Varying at times, as needed, with the steady, ever seeking, segment of soul and the steadiness of our people in their faith in the Torah, in their celebrations and commemorations, combined with the agility and defiance, the ability to change into the personality that is needed at that time. This meshing of the two has kept us together, made it known and recognized that we are in fact and deed, one nation, Am Echad, and one Fate. And of course, there was always, along with us, that helping Hand from above. So much so that even in the moments where the Upstairs Neighbor was not paying as much attention as he should have been doing, we were able to call upon our own strengths and fill the gap until such time as Heaven came knocking on our door.
Look around now at our people and I wonder. Will we ever learn that lesson? Will we ever understand what we are doing wrong and take all steps necessary to correct our gait? Learn how to walk together? Learn how to face our enemies together, both of within and without, and roundly and soundly defeat them? Have we scorched the land behind us? So much so that there is no possibility of such a thing happening? Have we so 'enemitized and alienated' ourselves, each from the other, so that we truly cannot see clearly through those obscuring mists?
Or is there another hint here, both frightening and elating at the same time? It frightens me, but its promise of finality holds out such hope of forgiveness and defeat of enemy, that we skim over the tough part and peer only into the future time, one of grace, unity, joy and a worldwide recognition and acceptance of Hashem as the one and true G-d.
For all.
Our errors will be made clear to us and forgiven at the same time and there will be a union of the two separated segments of our soul, never to be apart and/or in conflict again.
First to arrive will be Mashiach ben Yosef, the Messiah from the House of Yosef, Joseph. He will lead the battle against Gog and Magog, horrific enemies of the Jewish people, and will be victorious. When that is done, then will come Mashiah from the House of David, the true Messiah for which we have been waiting, ever since Adam led us astray, to lose our perfection, now to unite us, with brotherhood and peace, love and justice and we will be whole once again. Whole and healed for always. One people of the world worshipping he true God.
It was true yesterday, true into our todays, and G-d willing, well into the permanence of our tomorrows.
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