Yearning for the Geulah

Part of our responsibility in bringing the Geulah Shalema is to yearn for it, to believe that it could happen at any moment, especially now in Nisan, the month of Geulah. In Mitzrayim, they were redeemed even though they were still worshipping idols, almost on the forty-ninth level of tum'ah. In Sefer Shoftim, Perek ו׳, it says that at one point in history, the Jewish people were being persecuted by the Midyanim for seven years because of their bad deeds, yet even while they were still involved in worshipping avodah zarah, they cried out to Hashem for help, and Hashem redeemed them in a miraculous way. We must believe today that no matter what level the people are on, the moment Hashem decides to bring the Geulah, it will come. The Midrash on the words "מְדַלֵּג עַל הֶהָרִים מְקַפֵּץ עַל הַגְּבָעוֹת " says that in Mitzrayim, because Hashem desired to redeem His people, He broke the rules and redeemed them early, even though they were not on the level to be redeemed. When an angel of Hashem appeared to Gidon to tell him he was chosen to save the Jewish people from the Midyanim, he was commanded to take a bull that his father fattened for avodah zarah for seven years and offer that to Hashem. Even though generally it is forbidden to bring such an animal as a korban, Hashem made an exception, breaking the rules because He desired His people. Although the Jews were still worshipping the sheep in Mitzrayim, He told them to bring that as a korban to Him, once again breaking the rules because ahavah mekalkellet et hashurah—love causes one to act beyond the normal course.The same is true regarding Hashem's love for us. When the Jewish people were redeemed from Mitzrayim, it was obvious that Hashem was doing it. When Hashem told Gidon to wage battle against the Midyanim, He told him to take only three hundred people, in order that they would not glorify themselves, thinking they achieved the victory. Part of Geulah is us understanding that Hashem is the One bringing it. As Rabbi Menashe Reizman pointed out, a person does not have to be a great mekubal to see how Hashem has been controlling events over the past few years. On October 7th, He showed us that we have no power on our own to defend ourselves. And after that, He has given us extraordinary siyata diShmaya to overcome our enemies. Recently, He has brought America to act on our behalf and fight our battle for us. We must understand—we are completely in the hands of Hashem. He does not need missiles or warplanes to wage war, but He chooses to act through the derech ha'teva. It is apparent from the words of the Ramchal that our final redemption will come through derech ha'teva. Mashiach may not necessarily raise his staff and block missiles from Iran, but rather, when the Megillah is written about our times, it will say "that in such and such a year, Hashem put it in the minds of wise men to create a system called the Iron Dome that would knock down the missiles of our enemies. And Hashem made wondrous miracles, knocking down all those missiles and protecting His people." We are witnessing today miraculous salvations—a full month of ballistic missiles being fired, each one that could, lo alenu, be catastrophic—and our people are still rejoicing in their preparations for Pesach, still living everyday life, feeling protected, learning Torah, and praying stronger than ever. We hope in the coming days to see the ultimate yeshuah and celebrate the Geulah Shalema. Amen.