Sharing these thoughts may or may not be impactful. But writing them feels necessary, if only as a foundation for reflection.
As the United States and Israel strike Iran, and with Hashem’s help will be successful, many of us are encountering videos, memes, and inspirational clips linking this war to Moshiach. I believe this phenomenon is deeply misguided, and I ask that you hear me out with a discerning ear. I welcome thoughtful disagreement; clarity is only achieved through differing perspectives.
This is not meant to denigrate distinguished speakers or those spreading hopeful messages. It is simply a perspective I believe deserves reflection.
These videos redirect our emotions at precisely the wrong time. They shift us toward celebration and triumphant anticipation when the moment calls for something very different. A time of Milchama demands seriousness, tefillah, introspection, and responsibility. It demands that we feel the weight of what is happening, not jump ahead emotionally to the end of the story.
Hashem wants our avodah; he wants us to think and act with thought. To strive to be better, to push ourselves harder, to feel the pain of our brothers and sister. To be Noseh be’ol im chaveiro.
How would you feel if you were in Tel Aviv, watching your home crumble under a ballistic missile, and someone sent you a video celebrating Moshiach? How would you feel if, while your family mourned a loved one, others were rejoicing over an enemy’s death? What if your brother lost his legs under the weight of a collapsed building?
There are Yidden in danger right now.
This is not the end of the struggle. It may not even be close. These are rare and serious moments in Jewish history. They are meant to awaken something deep within us, not lull us into premature joy. In the days of Mordechai and Esther, the Jewish people did not celebrate while the decree stood. They fasted. They cried out. They gathered in teshuvah and tefillah. Only after the yeshuah did they rejoice.
Baruch Hashem, we have already seen bracha — real, tangible bracha. But that is not a signal to emotionally move on. It is a call to intensify our avodah.
If we truly believe that Torah protects Hashem’s people, then this is the moment to demonstrate that belief in action. Learn more. Daven more. Care more. Feel more. Act as though we are on the front lines with our brothers and sisters, because spiritually, we are.
This is not a time for triumphant Moshiach declarations. It is a time for achrayus. It is a time for tefillah. Right now belongs to Avodah.
The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review.
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5 Responses
So I thought it was just me that thought the Moshiach messages were all the “wrong” inspiration. Yes, it could it be to give chizuk or ensure we still believe Moshiach will come at any moment, even in chaos its necessary. But the Moshiach message largely needs to end with SO GET CLOSE TO HASHEM!!
I agree it is highly insensitive to post all this joyful stuff from a comfortable United States couch while Israelis are living a different reality. But that’s unfortunately the sad generation we live in, the “TYH” dor, the one that thinks Hashem loves people who don’t keep Shabbos and get tattoos because they have this fantasy that a father will just let anything go. But that fake mentality has to go because if that were to be true the entire Torah would be lying. Just like in shushan the Jews had to go through a tremendous repentance before being saved, the same is going to have to happen here because killing a few thousand yishmael will.not get rid of the yishmael problem
The only ones celebrating are the Zionists.
Torah Jews are not celebrating.
Since when do we all allow level sensibility into the YWN mailbag? Such a sense of normalcy will not generate angry responses from the readership and therefore does not belong here.
But kol hakavod for trying
Your point about it being a time for avodah is a very good one, but some people do benefit from the inspiration that all of this could – again, could – lead to Mashiach coming, so there’s no reason one should rule out the other.
Your point about being noseh bi’Ol is also a very good one. Again, though, that does not mean people should lose out on that inspiration that this could lead to Mashiach coming.
The right approach to responding to that inspiration is, as you noted at the end of your letter, “Learn more. Daven more. Care more. Feel more…” And let’s daven and hope that we do indeed witness Mashiach’s arrival BB”A.