By the Grace of Hashem

Legal Ruling regarding Moshiach and Redemption 5782 - 2022

1.  Behold regarding the time of Moshiach’s coming, our sages already in their day said,“that all the end days that were calculated have passed.”(Sanhedrin 97b)  Since then a number of [additional] calculations for the end days have passed as well.  Among these are the calculation made by the Rambam in his Epistle to Yemen, the Ramban in his commentary to Bereishis, the Ohr Hachayim in his commentary on Parshas Tzav, the Baal Hatanya on the verse “and the thousand and seven hundred”, and other calculations mentioned in the gloss of Rabbi Margoliot to Responsa Min Hashamayim, ch. 72.

So too have the signs predicted to take place during the times of the “Heels of Moshiach” (Sanhedrin 97a, and at the end of Sotah) been fulfilled.  As the Yad Ramah in his commentary writes, “I wonder why according to these signs the son of Dovid has not yet come in our generation.”  And in his introduction to Yoreh Deah, the Pri Megadim writes “that all the signs written regarding the generation of the ‘Heels of Moshiach’ have been fulfilled in their entirety.”

2.  Our sages added and the Rambam rules as such (Laws of Teshuva, ch.7), “that once all the calculations for the end times have passed, [the matter of Redemption] is dependent only on teshuva and good deeds and the Torah has promised that at the end of their exile they will repent and be immediately redeemed.”

It is clear that the Torah did not intend to say that all Jews will be entirely righteous for that will hold true only once the Redemption arrives when the verse, “and Hashem your G-d will circumcise your heart” will be fulfilled. Rather, the intention of the Torah is that there will be an awakening within the Jewish people to do teshuva and good deeds to the extent necessary to make them worthy of Redemption.

And even if sins remain among the Jewish people, regarding this the pasuk says (Micha 7:18 and see Radak and Metzudas Dovid), “Who is a G-d like You, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance”, referring to those who remain from the “Heels of Moshiach”.  “You do not stay angry forever but desire to show mercy” - His kindness will overpower their sins when the time of the Redemption arrives.

3. Regarding repentance and good deeds which our sages spoke about, from then until now, the Jewish people have accumulated repentance and good deeds beyond measure especially in recent times where we find a great increase in the number of complete baalei teshuvah, and that’s besides all those who had a thought of teshuva, regarding which Torah authorities testifiedthat this already makes them righteous (as evidenced in Gemara Kidushin 49b, Shulchan Aruch Even Haezer section 38 subsection 31 and the Or Zaruah in subsection 12 who adopted the text which says they are completely righteous).

Similarly, in recent times we see a large increase in mitzva observance and even mitzva observance in the most beautiful way.  And even regarding one who lacks in mitzvah observance, according to the Rambam’s ruling (Laws of Mamrim 3:3 and Chazon Ish based on this rules in Yoreh Deah Siman beis), they are as a child who was abducted at an early age [and who was raised by non-Jews and therefore] is blameless. And on this the Gemara says (AvodahZarah54a), “The Merciful One exempts (from punishment) one who transgresses by coercion”.

Moreover, great amounts of tzedakah have been given especially in our generation which generously gives tzedakah, regarding which our Sages said (Baba Basra 10a) “that tzedakah is great in that it brings the Redemption near as it says in Isaiah chapter 56, ‘Guard justice and do righteousness because My Salvation is soon coming and My Righteousness to be revealed.’And so the Gemara says(Shabbos 139a), “Yerushalayim is redeemed only through tzedakah,as its says ‘her returnees through tzedakah’”. Also the Rambam rules as such (Laws of Matnos Aniyim Chapter 10), which is also cited by the Tur (Yoreh Deah Section 247).

Furthermore, our sages say that“the Jewish people will not be shown “a good sign” until they return and ask for all three of the following: the Kingdom of Heaven, the Kingdom of the House of Dovid, and the Holy Temple.” (Rashi on Hosea 3:5 and ruled on by the Shibolei Haleket Siman 157 who is quoted by the Beis Yosef Orach Chaim section 186). This has been fulfilled by many in recent times and in even greater measure by our generation who requests the restoration of the Kingdom of Heaven, the Kingdom of Dovid, and the building of the Beis Hamikdash.

Our sages have also said (Yalkut Shimoni Ruth, Remez 606), “The generations are redeemed only through the merit of righteous women in the generation.”  We see the merit of righteous women in our generation who gather together to strengthen themselves in all matters of Torah and Mitzvos in general, and in particular to strengthen Torah true education, Torah study, tzedakah, and yearning for Moshiach’s coming.

4. And if there are matters that require atonement, behold throughout the generations Jews havebeen subjected to immeasurable suffering which is beyond human comprehension, particularly the Holocaust which caused such suffering that certainly and without a doubt it atoned for all the things that are in need of atonement.

And most importantly, Jews since that time have stood with self-sacrifice to sanctify Hashem’s name, about which our sages applythe verse in Ki Tisa (Shmos Rabbah, end of Parsha 42), “because they are a stiff-necked people You will forgive”, that by virtue of their stubbornness to cling to Hashem and His Torah, the Jewish people merit forgiveness.

5. According to all the above and other arguments of a similar vein, Torah authorities of previous generations such as the Chafetz Chaim ZT”L and others said that the time for the Redemption has arrived, and so we come on this basis and on the basis of all the great Torah authorities of previous generations, to rule that according to Torah law the time for the Redemption has already arrived, meaning the time has come for the ruling of the Rambam (Laws of Kings Chapter 11) to be fulfilled, “that the Messianic king is destined to stand and restore the Kingdom of Dovid to the way it was, to its original rule, and build the Mikdash in its designated place, and gather the exiles of Israel” until the point of completion as the Rambam continues, “and he will rectify the entire world to serve G-d together.”

And we include in this ruling that the time has come for the fulfillment of the prophesy of Yeshaya Hanavi  (Isaiah 2:4 see Radak), “He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”  The judge is King Moshiach who will be a master over the nations, and for this reason there will be no war among them, for he will make peace among them and they will no longer need weapons, and so they will reconstitute them into tools used for agriculture purposes.

And so should it be in these very last minutes of exile, that the nations of the world should cease their murderous wars and not hurt one another including the Jews who live in their midst, and may there be light for the Jewish people [ie., Torah study] in all their dwelling places.