This essay explores those timeless visions through the words
of Tanach and Chazal, together with reflections on recent events that may echo
their call. Our purpose is not prediction, but perspective — to view our moment
in history through the lens of prophecy and faith.
Walking the Streets of Jerusalem
As I walk the streets of Yerushalayim during this deeply
spiritual season — from Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur, culminating in Sukkot
— I sense that we are living in extraordinary times. Never before has it been
so clear that the words of our Nevi’im are unfolding before our very eyes. The
vision of the prophets is not ancient poetry; it is a living reality, a call to
awaken and prepare.
- קִבּוּץ גָּלוּיוֹת —
Ingathering of the Exiles
One of the clearest signs of redemption foretold in the
Tanach is the return of Am Yisrael to its land:
וְשָׁב ה'
אֱלֹקֶיךָ אֶת שְׁבוּתְךָ וְרִחֲמֶךָ, וְשָׁב וְקִבֶּצְךָ מִכָּל הָעַמִּים אֲשֶׁר
הֱפִיצְךָ ה' אֱלֹקֶיךָ שָׁמָּה
“Then Hashem your God will bring back your
captivity and have compassion upon you, and will return and gather you from all
the nations where Hashem your God has scattered you.” (Devarim 30:3)
קִבַּצְתִּי
אֶתְכֶם מִכָּל הָאֲרָצוֹת וְהֵבֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם אֶל אַדְמַתְכֶם
“I will gather you from all
the lands and bring you into your own land.”
— Yechezkel (Ezekiel) 36:24
For nearly two millennia, Jews were scattered across the
globe. Yet today, from every continent — North America, South Africa, France,
Russia, Ethiopia, and beyond — the Jewish people are returning home. This is
nothing less than the fulfillment of ancient prophecy. This prophecy can be
found in at least 18 places in Tanach (See Appendix).
2. תְּחִיַּת הָאָרֶץ — The Land’s Rebirth
The prophets spoke not only of the people’s return, but of
the land itself coming back to life:
וְאַתֶּם הָרֵי
יִשְׂרָאֵל, עַנְפְּכֶם תִּתֵּנוּ וּפִרְיְכֶם תִּשְּׂאוּ, לְעַמִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל,
כִּי קֵרְבוּ לָבוֹא
“But you, O mountains of Israel, you shall
give forth your branches and yield your fruit to My people Israel; for they are
soon to come.” (Yechezkel 36:8)
3. שׁוּב רִבּוֹנוּת יִשְׂרָאֵל — Restoration of
Sovereignty
The return to the land was always tied to the renewal of
Jewish sovereignty. After centuries under foreign rule, the establishment of
the State of Israel in 1948 marked a historic turning point. For the first time
since the destruction of the Second Temple, the Jewish people govern their
ancestral homeland.
וְשָׁבוּ
בָנִים לִגְבוּלָם
“And children shall return to
their borders.” (Yirmeyahu 31:16)
Though challenges remain, the existence of a Jewish state is
a miracle in itself — a declaration that prophecy is not a relic of the past
but a living promise.
4. יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִים בְּמֶרְכַּז הָעוֹלָם — The
Rebuilding of Jerusalem
No city embodies the story of Am Yisrael like
Yerushalayim. The prophets foretold that it would once again be filled with
life:
עוֹד יֵשְׁבוּ
זְקֵנִים וּזְקֵנוֹת בִּרְחֹבוֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַם... וּרְחֹבוֹת הָעִיר יִמָּלְאוּ
יְלָדִים וִילָדוֹת מְשַׂחֲקִים בִּרְחֹבֹתֶיהָ
“Old men and old women shall yet
again sit in the streets of Jerusalem… and the streets of the city shall be
full of boys and girls playing.” (Zechariah 8:4–5)
Today, one can walk through the alleys of the Old City and
witness exactly this — elders on benches, children laughing, Torah scholars
hurrying to shiurim. The recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital by
nations of the world marks yet another step toward the fulfillment of
Zechariah’s vision.
5. בִּלְבּוּל הָעוֹלָם וּמַשְׁבֵּר הָאֱמוּנָה
—Moral Confusion and Global Upheaval
Our sages taught that before the coming of Mashiach, the
world would enter a time of moral confusion and upheaval — what Chazal called Chevlei
Mashiach, the “birth pangs” of redemption.
We live in a century of remarkable technological progress
yet profound spiritual disorientation. Values once considered sacred are
questioned, while evil often masquerades as good. Injustice, violence, and the
distortion of truth dominate global headlines. This turmoil, though painful,
may be the darkness that precedes the dawn.
6. דִּין הַגּוֹיִם — The Judgment of Nations
The prophets also foresaw that, in the end of days, the
nations would be judged for their treatment of Israel:
וְנִשְׁפַּטְתִּי
אִתָּם שָׁם עַל עַמִּי וְנַחֲלָתִי יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֲשֶׁר הֵפִיצוּ בַגּוֹיִם, וְאֶת
אַרְצִי חִלֵּקוּ
“There I will enter into judgment
with them concerning My people and My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered
among the nations, and they have divided up My land.” (Yoel 4:2)
Recent debates over dividing the Land of Israel echo this
prophecy with chilling clarity. Yet we have also seen unexpected moments when
world leaders, against political odds, have defended Israel’s right to exist
and to protect its people — reminders that the hand of Hashem guides history.
7. תְּשׁוּבָה וְהִתְעוֹרְרוּת רוּחָנִית — Awakening of
Teshuvah
A further sign of redemption is the spiritual awakening
among our people. Even amid pain and crisis — such as the tragic events of
October 7 — there has been a surge of faith, unity, and return to Torah.
Jews across the globe have deepened their connection to
mitzvot, tefillah, and Shabbat. Many have embraced tzitzit, tefillin, and acts
of kindness as never before. This collective return reflects the promise:
וְשַׁבְתָּ עַד
ה' אֱלֹקֶיךָ, וְשָׁמַעְתָּ בְּקֹלוֹ
“And you shall return to Hashem
your God and listen to His voice…” (Devarim 30:2)
8. הֲכָנוֹת לַבֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ — Preparations for
the Temple
Even the longing for the Beit HaMikdash — the dream of
rebuilding — is stirring once again. From renewed study of Temple laws to the
crafting of priestly garments and instruments, signs of readiness abound.
כִּי
מִצִּיּוֹן תֵּצֵא תּוֹרָה, וּדְבַר ה' מִירוּשָׁלִָם
“For out of Zion shall go forth Torah, and the
word of Hashem from Jerusalem.” (Yeshayahu 2:3)
The Temple Institute in Jerusalem has prepared
vessels, priestly garments, and identified red heifers suitable for
purification. While these efforts are symbolic beginnings, they reveal a
yearning rooted deep in the Jewish soul — a yearning that itself is part of the
redemption process.
9. ‘שָׁלוֹם עוֹלָמִי וְדֵעַת י —Universal Peace
Isaiah envisioned a world transformed by the knowledge of
God:
לֹא־יִשָּׂא
גוֹי אֶל־גוֹי חֶרֶב, וְלֹא־יִלְמְדוּ עוֹד מִלְחָמָה
“Nation shall not lift up sword
against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” (Yeshayahu 2:4)
While we are not there yet, we see growing global awareness
of the futility of war and the power of peace. Perhaps these are early
footsteps of a new moral consciousness — the distant echoes of Isaiah’s dream.
The Dawn Before Day
Yet shadows remain — conflict, confusion, and suffering.
Even so, Rabbi Akiva taught us how to see light amid ruin. When his colleagues
wept at the desolation of the Temple, he smiled:
נִתְקַיְּמָה נְבוּאָתוֹ שֶׁל עוּרִיָּה — מִתְקַיֶּמֶת נְבוּאָתוֹ שֶׁל זְכַרְיָה
“If the prophecy of Uriah [destruction]
has been fulfilled, then surely the prophecy of Zechariah [consolation] will
also be fulfilled.” (Makkot 24b)
Rabbi Akiva’s faith was not naive optimism; it was a
recognition that history itself is the canvas of Divine promise.
Reflection
What are we to do in such times? The prophets teach that
redemption demands response:
- To
see the hand of Hashem in history.
- To
strengthen our commitment to Torah and mitzvot.
- To
support the rebuilding of our people and land.
- To
prepare our hearts for the Geulah.
These are not luxuries, but necessities.
Conclusion
While not everyone can make Aliyah immediately, it is
imperative that each of us begin — and hasten — our preparation for that day.
Hashem continually gives us signs. All we need do is open our eyes, thank
Hashem, and listen.
