The Year of Mashiach

We’re now in the year 5775 (2015) on the Jewish calendar, which to the Western ear sounds a lot like some far-off year in a science fiction movie (Captain’s Log, Stardate 5775; we are leaving the Delta Rana star system).
 
But what sounds even more like science fiction is that, if historians have their way, we’re really 166 years into the future and even closer to Moshiach.
 
Because to these historians, the year is 5941 rather than 5775.
 
This chronological difference exists because historians say the Second Temple was built about 516 BCE when the Talmud in tractate Avoda Zara 8b-9a states it was built about 350 BCE. Some Torah scholars try to rectify this 166-year difference by saying the sages in the Talmud changed the date to prevent people from predicting the time of the coming of Moshiach, among other reasons.
 
Yet what makes this especially interesting is that the Talmud (also Avoda Zara 9a) tells us the Messianic Age will end in the year 6000.
 
So to the historians, the era of Moshiach, along with the complete building of the Third Temple and the end of all wars and conflicts, must be well established within 59 short years.
 
As intriguing as this may sound, the year in our calendars say 5775 and not 5941.
 
We follow the Talmudic chronology. And we have now reached the last chapter of our two-millennium exile. The Jewish people as a whole have survived centuries of persecution, extermination attempts and the lures of assimilation because of our emuna in G-d, our unwavering commitment to both the written and oral Torah, our emunat chachamim (faith in the sages and Torah leaders) and by living our lives according to Jewish law, which is rooted in the Talmud.
 
And since it’s now 5775, the Talmud tells us that in just 225 years (which is a drop in the historical bucket), our exile will have been over and the era of Moshiach will have reached its glorious completion.
 
But the one point where the conventional and Talmudic chronologies seem to agree is that Moshiach is overdue.
 
He can be here any time.
 
We know Moshiach will come soon; we just don’t know exactly how soon. In fact, today’s Torah leaders say ours is the last generation before Moshiach and the complete redemption of the Jewish people. And some are saying the redemption process has already begun.
 
We also know the darkest time is before the dawn (the creation of the State of Israel after the Holocaust is just one historical example). All we have to do is look at the world around us to see the increased darkness gathering before the upcoming dawn of the messianic age.
 
In this new year of 5775, we face a dizzying array of potential and fierce darkness: an unprecedented Ebola pandemic, worldwide terrorism, a nuclear third world war (the War of Gog and Magog?) and even massive solar flares destroying cities’ electrical grids.
 
Besides this physical darkness looming over us, this era right before Moshiach is also one of intensified spiritual darkness. We’re surrounded by immorality, immodesty, atheism and never-ending temptations.
 
And Rebbe Nachman of Breslev knew this would happen more than 200 years ago.
 
Addressing our generation, Rebbe Nachman said, “It has already been predicted that there will be great temptations before the Messiah’s coming, where ‘many will purify themselves and be refined, and make themselves shining white’ in faith. Fortunate indeed is one who resists these temptations and remains firm in his belief. He will be worthy of all the good promised to us by the prophets and sages of old.”
 
Rebbe Nachman continued, “Still, I am revealing this for the sake of the few faithful who will remain strong in their belief. They will certainly have great conflicts. But when they see that this has already been predicted, it will give them additional strength and encouragement.” (Rabbi Nachman’s Wisdom, Discourse #35)
 
So Rebbe Nachman’s advice for us to survive the darkness before the dawn of redemption is to resist temptation and remain firm in our emuna.
 
And to help us achieve this, Rebbe Nachman’s main disciple, Rebbe Natan, gives us a prayer we can say that’s especially relevant for 5775:
 
“Hashem, surely emuna is what You want — that is where Your eyes are directed. Please help me. Inspire me to have holy emuna in You at all times without a moment’s break. Bring me and all Your people Israel to perfect emuna. Let us believe in You and our true Tzaddikim without faltering. Let us be free of all confusion, and not deviate from our emuna in any way….
 
“Have pity on me and help me avoid being influenced by such people [who put doubts into our hearts with lies and cover up miracles with natural explanations]. Remove any inclination I may have to listen to them. Give me the power to crush them and uproot their wicked ideas entirely…. Put it into their hearts to repent, and let them all recant their evil and confused opinions. Let all of them return to Your genuinely and honestly, and recognize the power of Your Kingship.” (Likutei Tefilot, 9)
 
For the entire world to recognize the power of G-d’s Kingship is what the age of Moshiach is all about. It’s the dawn that countless generations have been waiting and praying for.
 
May this year be the year when the dawn finally breaks, when all the darkness immediately and painlessly dispels into the intense light of spiritual awareness and the entire world finally recognizes G-d’s sovereignty.
 
This year, may we see with our own eyes the building of the Third Temple in Jerusalem and our righteous Moshiach ushering in an age of unimaginable peace and closeness to G-d. Amen.