If you ask almost anyone the question, “Are you ready for Moshiach?” most people would probably answer either, “Not really,” “I am not sure,” or something similar. Some people will answer, “Yes, I am ready.” However, even if we don’t feel like we are ready – we need to get ready.

Imagine a person in old time Russia when people were suddenly without warning drafted into the army. If you would approach someone and ask him, “Are you ready to enter the army?” everyone would answer, “NO!” However, it doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t have prepared themselves, just in case.

Furthermore, if one would hear from reliable sources that the Russians are coming any day to start drafting people, people would get even more serious and would prepare themselves. This is even though that they didn’t specify who they were after. After all, who knows?

This is a pretty morbid Mashal, as Moshiach is not to be compared to a dreaded army. On the contrary, the era of Moshiach is going to be so amazing–beyond our wildest imagination. However, the point is there.

When the Geula is ready to come, it will come, whether we are ready or not. So we might as well prepare for that great day. Especially since we have reliable information which comes from the words of our greatest sages, from the Gemara, Rishonim and Achronim, about the סימנים of Moshiach.

Why did the Gemara give סימנים for the era of Moshiach? Not simply so that we should wait for Moshiach. The obligation to wait for Moshiach is despite the סימנים, as we say daily אחכה לו בכל יום שיבוא. The simple reason is like we are explaining. It serves as a reminder that Moshiach is close by and we should be preparing to greet him.

How do we prepare? For starters -by doing a proper Teshuva. Most people have a schedule on a daily basis. These days when the סימנים are glaring in front of our eyes [as we will discuss a bit soon] we need to put Teshuva on our schedule. Make an alarm or a reminder. Whatever it takes. We need to make time for a cheshbon hanefesh.

During the time we designate, we can go even further and think about Moshiach and yearn for the days that are hopefully coming speedily. We need to realize what Moshiach means to us so we can be waiting anxiously for it. Learn about it. Get involved.

There are many levels in Tzipisa L’yeshuah, and the first step is not be satisfied in golus. We need to have a desire to get out of the Tuma. Chazal teach us that the reason why the four fifths of Klal Yisroel that died during Makkas Choshech was because they didn’t want to leave.

Let me share with you some thoughts. Every single person is constantly preparing. A good part of the week many people are preparing for Shabbos. Many people are now preparing for camp. During the summer people are preparing for school. We are constantly in preparing mode. So why can’t we add to the list, “Preparing for Moshiach”?

Looking at the current events should give us the perspective that Moshiach is coming closer and closer. So if that’s the case, we should be preparing. I am not saying that you shouldn’t prepare for camp or the bungalow colony or whatever vacations you are planning. I am merely saying that we need to put preparing for Moshiach on our to-do list as well.

I heard from Hagaon Rav Zev Smith an unbelievable story that he heard from the man himself. A person told Rav Zev that at the onset of COVID, a business opportunity came up that was going to bring him tremendous wealth. It was a one-time offer and it seemed extremely tempting.

The man thought it over and he turned down the offer. He told Reb Zev that he looked at the current events of the world and he came to a simple conclusion that Hashem wants to bring Moshiach. If that’s the case then I want to start preparing for Moshiach and starting a huge business is not going to help me prepare for Moshiach.

Reb Zev concluded that he was blown away by this sacrifice and it’s true that this is a madreiga, but the lesson applies to all of us as well. That during turbulent times when the world is in tremendous upheaval we need to realize that Hashem is talking to us.

Whether it’s through the wars that are ongoing [and the US is heavily involved], or the tremendous fires that raged through Canada—that we all smelled and breathed in the smoke. The ongoing earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, are mind boggling. What about the tremendous nuclear threat from Russia that is a threat to America like never before [the Cold War is a child’s play compared to the current threat]?. What about the nuclear threat from Iran to us here and in Eretz Yisroel?

It’s crystal clear that Hashem is telling us that He wants to bring the Geula and we should be preparing ourselves to greet Him. All these are open Maamarei Chazal, if one wants chizzuk to await Moshiach.

Some people might start making their cheshbonos and they might even subconsciously avoid this topic. They might think that perhaps for their personal shteiging, it might be better in Galus. Some people are enjoying their workforce. Some people may have distorted ideas about Moshiach in general.

This week’s Parsha is the Parsha of the מרגלים. If we study the Parsha well and understand that we are discussing the דור דעה who were tremendous beyond our comprehension. Furthermore, these מרגלים were the cream of the crop. They were from the greatest amongst the דור דעה. Having said that, we may be baffled and wonder to ourselves, How could this have happened?

Many מפרשים struggle with this question, and there are different approaches given. We will not go into detail, but we will say this. The common thread that runs through what the Seforim say is that the מרגלים made Cheshbonos and they did not go with תמימות. This was the cause for their downfall.

As we mentioned earlier, that generation was known as the דור דעה “the generation of knowledge”. However, sometimes knowledge itself can be a danger. When a person knows a lot and he is not מכניע himself to Hashem, he can be in grave danger. We need to realize that as much as we know, we still know nothing next to Hashem.

There was a Badchan that was asked by the בעל התניא to give him some Mussar. After some coaxing the Badchan said the following. “What’s the difference between you and me? What I know, you know, and what you don’t know, I certainly don’t know. How are you better than me? It’s what you know and I don’t know, but all this is nothing to what we both don’t know [what Hashem knows].
Therefore, the מרגלים because of their great knowledge made great cheshbonos, but they made a grave error. They should have been מבטל themselves to Hashem’s רצון, but they didn’t. The same thing happened with the חטא העגל, and this is what brought down Korach as well.

The truth is that all this is rooted in the first חטא of אדם הראשון. Hashem gave him a commandment and he started making cheshbonos with his great knowledge, As the passuk says אלוקים עשה את האדם ישר והם בקשו חשבונות רבים.

Getting back to the מרגלים. Hashem told Moshe specifically that he wants to bring Klal Yisroel to Eretz Yisroel. Hashem also said specifically that the land is ארץ זבת חלב ודבש. It’s the most amazing place in the world. If this is what Hashem wants, there should be no room for discussions or Cheshbonos on the way.

We find the total opposite by Avraham who was told by Hashem that he should bring Yitzchok for a Korban for Hashem. Although Avraham could have asked many questions, he didn’t. He went with זריזות to carry out the ‘רצון ה which meant everything to Avraham.

This was the beauty of נעשה ונשמע as well. We told Hashem that we are ready to do His biddings, no matter what it is. We will not make any cheshbonos as we have Emuna and Bitachon in Hashem. This proclamation deserved two crowns and we got them.

We need to learn from Avraham, our forefather, and follow in his ways. We need to learn from our proclamation at Har Sinai when we said נעשה ונשמע, and not from the מרגלים ch”v.

We mentioned earlier that there are many levels in “Tzipisa l’yeshua. The ultimate is yearning for Malchus Shomayim and the Bais Hamikdash. This is also known as “Avelei Tzion”. Unfortunately, many of us are not holding there. What can we do more to be a Metzape l’yeshua?

The answer is with the attitude of נעשה ונשמע. We are telling Hashem that unfortunately I may not appreciate Yerushalyim and the Bais Hamikdash, as I want to (for whatever reason). But I know that You want to bring the Geula. Therefore, if this is what You want, then I want this as well. This is also special as well [obviously we should strive to become an avelei tzion].

We know that Hashem always wants to bring the Geula, as Chazal tell us in many places, which the Chofetz Chaim reiterates. The Gemara teaches us that סימנא מילתא היא. The point of the סימנים is that Hashem is showing us openly His Ratzon to bring the Geula. If that’s the case, how can we not be מבטל our רצון to His רצון? How can we start making cheshbonos like the מרגלים?

As we are sitting in a private room making a חשבון הנפש and preparing for the Geula, it’s time to beseech Hashem to bring the Geula, as the Chofetz Chaim used to do. It’s time to stop making cheshbonos in regards to Hashem’s cheshbonos. It’s time to say a thunderous יהא שמי-ה רבא all together, and it’s time to cry out to Hashem כי לישועתך קוינו כל היום. Yes we want the ישועה for Your sake, because this is what You want and therefore we want it.

Moshiach will bring מלכות שמים to the entire world and we are all waiting for that special day. Let it come speedily with no more pain on the highest level בקרוב ממש כן יהי רצון

Gut Shabbos!
פינחס הלוי דאפפעלט