Lna’ar Hazeh Hispalalti? The Dissonance of Redemption

I’ve often wondered why people almost completely ignore the Mitzva of living in EY. Its all over Torah. Its all over Davening. Its all over the Tefillos of Yomim Noraim. Its staring us straight in the face but we avert our gaze and pretend its not there. Why? What is so frightening about Geulah that we refuse to acknowledge it? The theme of Geula and the rebuilding of Yerushalyim is in so many modern-day songs that its almost ridiculous how its also ignored with the same intensity. Many will quote a certain Shitta that claims that we cannot return to Israel until Moshach comes. This is a daas Yochid and in diametric opposition to Rashi, Rambam, Rabeinu Bechayey, and many more Rishonim. What about EY today is so disturbing that many “Golus” Jews grab at this shitta with a passion? Many will say, Its secular, the Zionists are mushchosim, they persecute Lomdai Torah ,etc etc. (I’m not bringing any more of the myriad complaints people have so as not to speak slander about Hashem’s home) Therefore, the Mitzva of Yishuv EY is null and void? How come Israeli yeshiva boys dont have such extreme hashkofos? They aren’t consumed by hate for the state and don’t have deep hashkofos about what the early zionists did? It’s just not an issue. (Until they started arresting them)

In my opinion, like a childless couple who beg Hashem for children and the kids grow up very differently from the parents and the parents wonder Lanaar Hazeh Hispalati? Are these the children that we prayed for? After centuries of davening for tzion – EY is open to every Jew, just come. The state of israel practically begs Jews – especially from the West to come Home – because normal balanced Western Jews add so much to Israeli society. But there is but a trickle. Why?
I think the Jews of Developed countries are sure that there has been a mistake. Were the babies switched at birth? Are you sure this is my baby? It doesn’t look like us. How can it be ours? The Neviim describe the ultimate gift of redemption and a return to Tzion but this sure doesnt feel like a gift! This is hard, This is challenging this is uncomfortable and not what we ordered. There must be some mistake!! This cannot be. This is not what is says in the Novi!! Go away – we are waiting for the true redemption not this!! We will wait for the Geula to come as we imagined. היינו כחולמים??? Are you kidding? This is not such a pleasant dream!! Wait but how do we justify our rejection of this strange-looking transitional stage of the footsteps of moshiach? How do we ignore this weird hybrid of אור וחושך משמשים בערבוביה?
Well my friends – This is the Dissonance of Redemption!! We are in a transition stage. We are transitioning from Golus to Geulah, stage after stage and its a struggle because there are forces in this world who dont want this to happen and maybe this is the picture of the poor man on a donkey. One of the options for Moshiah to come. I’ve never ridden on a donkey but it doesnt seem very pleasant. I would say that its hot, its bumpy , its slow, the desert sand can blow into my eyes, I am exposed to the elements as well as dangerous hooligans along the way. My compass is unclear and I may stray from the path on my way to my preferred destination. And this Moshiach is also poor – This dosent make for such a good sales pitch. Is this the answer to 2000 years of tefillos? The picture is messy, uncomfortable, and just plain difficult. What do we do now?
We have 2 choices. The first is to either to roll up our sleeves, put on our working clothes and pitch in. Its hard, its messy, my nails are black, my hands are calloused, I’m exposed to the elements but The Tate’s home must be returned to its rightful owner and we , the children of Avraham Yitzchak and Yaakov have got to do the job – no matter what. There are squatters in our Father’s home , we must do all we can to restore its rightful owner.
Or we can j-u-s-t n-o-t s-e-e i-t! Its too hard to see, its too painful, its too disappointing. I choose to ignore it.
Unfortunately, there is a limit to how long it can be ignored.
We are nearing the time that we will have to deal with the Dissonance of Redemption, we will have to deal with our deepest disappointments. We will need to realize that we are in a process which will lead to the Ultimate Dream of redemption but we all need to pitch in. We all have a job to do. EY will never reach its zenith when its children are dispersed because – what do you know – you are the repairmen. And until the repairmen will arrive the fridge will leak, the washing machine will stain the clothes and the printer will smudge until the technicians arrive. We are waiting.