"ANI MAAMIN I BELIEVE Part III"

Last week,

In T’nach, the final period of Jewish history, the period we are living in now, is called by the term Acharis HaYomim – the end of days. Acharis HaYomim can be a span of time. We know that Moshiach can come either in his proper time, or achishenah – his arrival could be expedited. Moshiach could come in one moment. There does not necessarily have to have a prolonged period of time to precede it.

In fact, when Eliyahu HaNovi was asked by R’ Yehoshua bar Levi in the marketplace when Moshiach is going to arrive, the commentaries question this particular incident. How could it be? Eliyahu HaNovi has to come to the world one day in advance, to prepare the world, to let us know. So how could it be that if Eliyahu HaNovi did not come to the world one day in advance then Moshiach could come?

The commentaries explain it could be achishenah – that Moshiach could come so quickly that he will come even without Eliyahu HaNovi appearing first in the world. There is the idea that Moshiach can come at any second, even though we are not prepared. This is what the chachomim wanted to teach us, that Moshiach’s coming could be imminent.

One time the great tzaddik went to the town of Levov, together with his gabbai. It wasn’t like the city where they came from where at midday on Erev Shabbos everything was closed, and everybody went home to prepare. All activities ceased. The storekeeper didn’t care about the last few sales he would make that day. Here in Lvov it was Erev Shabbos, and the stores were open, everybody was working. The tzaddik couldn’t believe it. People were hustling and bustling. The tzaddik and the gabbai looked at each other in amazement.

All of a sudden an alarm sounded, and in just moments the entire town was transformed. The stores were closed; people were seen in their Shabbos clothing. Everything was different; peace descended upon the town.

The tzaddik said to the gabbai: That’s the way Moshiach is going to come. Everyone will be on their own way, carrying on a normal life, doing business and being busy, and in one second Moshiach Tzidkeinu will come and the world will be transformed.

R’ Elchonon speaks to us about Acharis HaYomim, the time right before the geulah comes.

In Mesechta Sotah, Acharis HaYomim is called Ikvesa D’Moshicha, when Moshiach Tzidkeinu is about to come.

There is an interesting commentary that asks why we use the term Ikvesa D’moshicha. Why don’t we use the term Yemos HaMoshiach or a different form of expression?

The term Ikvesa D’moshicha is similar to the phrase “tze’i loch b’ikvei hatzon,” that we have in T’nach (Shir HaShirim 1:8). A person must go in the footsteps of the avos and imahos, those who have preceded him. We have to go in the footsteps of the righteous people who came before.

When we live in the era when Moshiach is about to come, how does a person hold on? Which direction are we to take? Tze’i loch b’ikvei hatzon – we go in the footsteps of our forefathers. The way in which we are to lead our lives is in the same way of Avrohom, Yitzchok and Yaakov. Avrohom and Yitzchok Avinu went through many challenges and nisyonos. Yaakov Avinu prepared for golus. All that the avos went through was in order to pave the way that we should know the correct path to follow.

Bikesh Yaakov l’galos es haketz – all Yaakov Avinu wanted to reveal is the end of days. Why did he want this information to be revealed?

The reason is when a person knows when the end is, it makes it easier. You know that right now you struggle, but in a short time the struggle will be over and all will have been worthwhile. The Slonimer Rebbe comments on the posuk in Tehillim (126:1) “b’shuv Hashem es shivas tzion – when Hashem will return the captivity of Tzion we will be like dreamers.” The Slonimer asks what the comparison to dreamers is. He answers, that sometimes a person may have a frightening dream that he is falling down a hill. All of a sudden he wakes up and realizes that it was only a dream. Similarly, after the geulah will have come, it will be like the entire golus was only a dream.