In my sessions, clients often ask me questions about current events, prompting me to dive into these topics and provide answers. Recently, I had a conversation with a retired doctor that highlighted a concerning trend: the noticeable decline in respect and authority worldwide.

I began by reflecting on societal changes, observing that disrespect has surged dramatically. Demonstrations in America and Europe, the defacing of statues, and the burning of American flags are just a few examples of this growing trend. The list of disrespectful actions continues to expand.

My father, who grew up in early 20th-century England, instilled in me the importance of authority. Back then, the police commanded respect, and classrooms were free from disorders like ADD/ADHD because misbehaving children were promptly punished. Fear of authority was strong. However, in the last 20 years, this respect has eroded significantly.

Even high-ranking officials, like the former President of the United States, face unprecedented disrespect. Democrats have continuously targeted him with legal challenges, undermining his authority. This lack of respect from leaders inevitably trickles down to younger generations.

During our discussion, I told the doctor that all of this had been prophesied. He asked me what I meant, and I showed him the famous Gemaras Sotah 49b and Sanhedrin 97a., “impudence will increase, and high costs will pile up. Although the vine shall bring forth its fruit, wine will nevertheless be expensive.” Isn’t this happening today?

He was astonished. “This demise of respect just happened to me! He went on to say that he owns a cottage that he frequently uses during the summer months, with neighbors on either side – one Arab and the other Christian. During his absence, the Arab neighbor cut down one of his trees to get a better view of the lake, without permission. When the Dr confronted him, his Arab neighbour denied the act despite evidence to the contrary!
The Christian neighbor, who recently had bought the adjacent house, also showed a lack of respect. He requested permission for construction equipment to pass through the doctor’s property to build a porch. He agreed, trusting that any disruption would be repaired.

However, upon returning, he found that the neighbor had encroached on his garden and merely spread seeds to cover the damage. Now, he said, he is being forced to consider legal action to resolve these issues!

I asked him how such prophecies, by Chazal made over 1,500 years ago, could accurately describe today’s world. The fear of authority was strong back then, so how could they predict such changes? It was due to the Mesorah they heard from their rebbeim all the way to Moshe Rabbeinu at Har Sinai about the prophecy of redemption.

Given the current phenomenal rise in antisemitism around the world and the condemnation of Israel for defending itself, the mass media often portrays a biased view against the Jewish people. To offer comfort to the Jewish community, I refer to previous articles urging them to ignore the negative media coverage. Instead, they should trust that Hashem has a plan and will bring Moshiach b’karov. We must look into what Chazal said thousands of years ago. The famous Gemara provides reassurance that despite the chaos and disrespect, there is a Divine plan in place.

What Should Our Outlook Be on the Current Situation?

The Gemara in Makkos 24b relates the famous story with Rabban Gamliel, Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya, Rabbi Yehoshua, and Rabbi Akiva. They were ascending to Yerushalayim after the destruction of the second Beis HaMikdash. When they arrived at Har Scopus and saw the site of the Beis HaMikdash,, they tore their garments in mourning, in keeping with halacha. When they arrived at the Temple Mount, they saw a fox that emerged from the site of the Kadosh Kedoshim. They began weeping, but Rabbi Akiva was laughing. They said to him: For what reason are you laughing? Rabbi Akiva answered: For what reason are you weeping? They said to him: This is the place concerning which it is written: “And the non-priest who approaches shall die” (Numbers 1:51), and now foxes walk in it; and shall we not weep?

Rabbi Akiva answered: “That is why I am laughing, as it is written when Hashem revealed the future to the novi Yishayahu: “And I will take to Me faithful witnesses to attest: Uriah the Kohein, and Zechariah the son of Yeverechyahu” (Yeshayahu 8:2). Now, what is the connection between Uriah and Zechariah? He clarifies the difficulty: Uriah prophesied during the first Beis HaMikdash period, and Zechariah prophesied during the second Beis HaMikdash period, as he was among those who returned to Eretz Yisroel from Babylon. The posuk established that the fulfillment of the prophecy of Zechariah is dependent on the fulfillment of the prophecy of Uriah.

In the prophecy of Uriah, it is writtenלָכֵן֙ בִּגְלַלְכֶ֔ם צִיּ֖וֹן שָׂדֶ֣ה תֵֽחָרֵ֑שׁ וִירֽוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ עִיִּ֣ין תִּֽהְיֶ֔ה וְהַ֥ר הַבַּ֖יִת לְבָמ֥וֹת יָֽעַר:: “Therefore, for your sake, Zion shall be plowed as a field, and Yerushalayim shall become rubble, and the Temple Mount as the high places of a forest” (Michah3:12), where foxes are found. There is a mesorah that this was prophesied by Uriah. In the prophecy of Zechariah, it is written

כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ ה׳ צְבָא֔וֹת עֹ֤ד יֵֽשְׁבוּ֙ זְקֵנִ֣ים וּזְקֵנ֔וֹת בִּרְחֹב֖וֹת יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם…

“There shall yet be elderly men and elderly women sitting in the streets of Jerusalem…” (Zechariah 8:4). Until the prophecy of Uriah about the destruction of the city was fulfilled, I was afraid that the prophecy of Zechariah would not be fulfilled, as the two prophecies are linked. Now that the prophecy of Uriah was fulfilled, it is evident that the prophecy of Zechariah remains valid. The Gemara adds: Chazal said to him, employing this formulation: “Akiva, you have comforted us; Akiva, you have comforted us”.

I would add the next posuk which the Gemara does not mention there

וּרְחֹב֤וֹת הָעִיר֙ יִמָּ֣לְא֔וּ יְלָדִ֖ים וִֽילָד֑וֹת מְשַׂחֲקִ֖ים בִּרְחֹֽבֹתֶֽיהָ׃

“And the streets of the city will be full with boys and girls playing in the streets.”

Two thousand years later, let us מְצַחֵק (laugh) even more today, just רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא מְצַחֵק (Rabbi Akiva) laughed when he witnessed the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash.

I was in Eretz Yisroel recently and one can see with one’s own eyes the prophecies unfolding in front of us. Children playing and the elderly are walking freely in the streets, something that has not happened for the past 2,000 years—a vision Rabbi Akiva did not see but believed would happen. This echoes exactly what the prophet Zechariah predicted.

It is time now for all of Klal Yisrael to join in unison and מְצַחֵק (laugh) to the whole world.

Let us say to Rabbi Akiva:

עֲקִיבָא נִיחַמְתָּנוּ, עֲקִיבָא נִיחַמְתָּנוּ

“Akiva, you have comforted us; Akiva, you have comforted us.”

This affirmation celebrates Rabbi Akiva’s unwavering faith and the fulfillment of ancient prophecies in our time.

May we merit to see the Final Redemption speedily in our time.