Here's a fascinating article from Rav Zamir Cohen:
The Ingathering of the Exiles
He quotes Sanhedrin 98a, which mentions that:
“The son of David will not come until the cheap (sleazy) Jewish government comes to an end.”
Here's the original (source):
The Ingathering of the Exiles
He quotes Sanhedrin 98a, which mentions that:
“The son of David will not come until the cheap (sleazy) Jewish government comes to an end.”
Here's the original (source):
אמר רבי חמא בר חנינא אין בן דוד בא עד שתכלה מלכות הזלה מישראל שנאמר (ישעיהו יח, ה) וכרת הזלזלים במזמרות וכתיב בתריה בעת ההיא יובל שי לה' צבאות עם ממשך ומורט
Rebbi Chamah bar Chanina said: "The son of David does not come until the cheap kingdom [malchut hazalah] will cease from Israel as it says in Yeshayahu 18:5..."
Rashi explains this as:
עד שתכלה מלכות הזלה - שלא תהא להם שום שולטנות לישראל אפילו שולטנות קלה ודלה
"until the cheap kingdom will cease from Israel" – that there won't be any government for Israel, even a light and weak one.
The root zol in Hebrew does mean "low-class" and is used that way today too, in addition to meaning "cheap."
Biur Steinzaltz interprets the malchut hazalah (the cheap sleazy government) as malchut Romi habizuyah v'mizalzelet — Roman rule that is contemptible and contemptuous, implying (if I'm understanding it correctly) that the Roman rule is both despised by others and contemptuous of others.
I didn't search at the Maharasha to see what he says, but Rav Zamir mentions him with Rashi.
And despite the seeming difference of opinion regarding the cheap, sleazy, despicable government, all the commentaries here make sense.
Not only is there a cheap, sleazy, despicable government in the Knesset, Rome (Edom) also exerts tremendous influence over Eretz Yisrael right now, as does the Vatican itself (even though it is very quiet about it).
So it can easily mean both.
And we in Eretz Yisrael did not have a government for a while, although I think we do now and whatever this "unity" government is (or whatever they're calling themselves this week), it is for sure a cheap, sleazy, despicable cast of characters, as are the Edomites, who exert powerful political influence both outright and behind the scenes.
Biur Steinzaltz interprets the malchut hazalah (the cheap sleazy government) as malchut Romi habizuyah v'mizalzelet — Roman rule that is contemptible and contemptuous, implying (if I'm understanding it correctly) that the Roman rule is both despised by others and contemptuous of others.
I didn't search at the Maharasha to see what he says, but Rav Zamir mentions him with Rashi.
And despite the seeming difference of opinion regarding the cheap, sleazy, despicable government, all the commentaries here make sense.
Not only is there a cheap, sleazy, despicable government in the Knesset, Rome (Edom) also exerts tremendous influence over Eretz Yisrael right now, as does the Vatican itself (even though it is very quiet about it).
So it can easily mean both.
And we in Eretz Yisrael did not have a government for a while, although I think we do now and whatever this "unity" government is (or whatever they're calling themselves this week), it is for sure a cheap, sleazy, despicable cast of characters, as are the Edomites, who exert powerful political influence both outright and behind the scenes.
The Answer to All Your Airline Woes: I'll Go by Cloud, Thank You Very Much!
Then Rav Zamir mentions a very intriguing idea from Pesikta Rabbati, that long-distance travel could easily consist of a vehicle far more advanced than an airplane: a "cloud" that travels faster than the speed of sound.
It must travel that fast because:
It must travel that fast because:
“Jerusalem will spread over the entire Land of Israel, and the Land of Israel over the entire world but how will they come every new moon and Shabbat from the ends of the world!!”
The answer:
“Clouds will come, take them on as passengers in the dawn, and bring them to Jerusalem. They will pray there in the morning, and then will return to their homes.”
Very exciting stuff!
I'm really looking forward to this, especially because I'm not so far from the Beit Hamikdash (certainly not at the farthest ends of the earth from it), which means that my cloud-ride (or whatever "cloud" represents) will only take a few minutes (rather than a few hours) and I won't even need to pack food or drink for the ride.
Thanks, Hashem!
Anyway, I hope you read the entire article because it's very intriguing & very inspiring, and will hopefully imbibe you with happy feelings.
I'm really looking forward to this, especially because I'm not so far from the Beit Hamikdash (certainly not at the farthest ends of the earth from it), which means that my cloud-ride (or whatever "cloud" represents) will only take a few minutes (rather than a few hours) and I won't even need to pack food or drink for the ride.
Thanks, Hashem!
Anyway, I hope you read the entire article because it's very intriguing & very inspiring, and will hopefully imbibe you with happy feelings.
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