"The Great Redemption" (45)
"The Great Redemption" by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto
-- A Discourse on The End of the Exile and the Beginning of the Great Redemption
Translated by Rabbi Yaakov Feldman
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45.
But you need to know that even though some non-Jews will be emended and repaired, the Jewish Nation will always be distinct from them. In fact, it’s said of this mystery, “They said among the nations, G-d has done great things for us (alone)” (Psalms 126:3). For even when their idol worshippers would have turned toward holiness (instead), the Jewish Nation will still-and-all be on a much higher level than they.
The evil Bilaam said of this mystery, “Behold, the nation will live alone and not be reckoned among the (other) nations” (Numbers 23:9). Which is to say, even though it will be among them, it will stand out and be separate. As the Egyptians put it, “Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we” (Exodus 1:9). For they stood out as a great and mighty nation.
Even in the future, when the nations return to the truth, the Jewish Nation “will ... not be reckoned among the nations”. For the other nations will only be on the level of servants, as it’s said, “They will all call upon G-d’s name to serve Him with one accord” (Tzephania 3:9). But the Jewish Nation will be G-d’s children. As such, even the lowliest among the Jewish Nation is greater than an idolatrous king.
Once the other nations recognize the truth of this on their own, they’ll come to serve the Jewish Nation out of love and they'll enjoy goodness. As it’s said, “Kings will be your nurses and their ministers will be your nursing wetnurses” (Isaiah 49:23).
As the prophet put it, “All who see them will acknowledge them since they are the seed that G-d has blessed” (Isaiah 61:9). The term “blessed” is used because it will be known that while the other nations will have drawn close to seek refuge under the wings of the Shechina at that time, the Jewish Nation, on the other hand, had always been bound to their King and had never forsaken Him. And that’s why He’d always and forever blessed them -- even in the course of the exile.
(c) 2006 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman
(Feel free to contact me at feldman@torah.org )
********************************
AT LONG LAST! Rabbi Feldman's translation of "The Gates of Repentance" has been reissued at *at a discount*!
You can order it right now from here
Rabbi Yaakov Feldman has also translated and commented upon "The Path of the Just", and "The Duties of the Heart" (Jason Aronson Publishers). His new work on Maimonides' "The Eight Chapters" will soon be available.
Rabbi Feldman also offers two free e-mail classes on www.torah.org entitled
"Spiritual Excellence" and "Ramchal"
-- A Discourse on The End of the Exile and the Beginning of the Great Redemption
Translated by Rabbi Yaakov Feldman
_____________________________________________
45.
But you need to know that even though some non-Jews will be emended and repaired, the Jewish Nation will always be distinct from them. In fact, it’s said of this mystery, “They said among the nations, G-d has done great things for us (alone)” (Psalms 126:3). For even when their idol worshippers would have turned toward holiness (instead), the Jewish Nation will still-and-all be on a much higher level than they.
The evil Bilaam said of this mystery, “Behold, the nation will live alone and not be reckoned among the (other) nations” (Numbers 23:9). Which is to say, even though it will be among them, it will stand out and be separate. As the Egyptians put it, “Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we” (Exodus 1:9). For they stood out as a great and mighty nation.
Even in the future, when the nations return to the truth, the Jewish Nation “will ... not be reckoned among the nations”. For the other nations will only be on the level of servants, as it’s said, “They will all call upon G-d’s name to serve Him with one accord” (Tzephania 3:9). But the Jewish Nation will be G-d’s children. As such, even the lowliest among the Jewish Nation is greater than an idolatrous king.
Once the other nations recognize the truth of this on their own, they’ll come to serve the Jewish Nation out of love and they'll enjoy goodness. As it’s said, “Kings will be your nurses and their ministers will be your nursing wetnurses” (Isaiah 49:23).
As the prophet put it, “All who see them will acknowledge them since they are the seed that G-d has blessed” (Isaiah 61:9). The term “blessed” is used because it will be known that while the other nations will have drawn close to seek refuge under the wings of the Shechina at that time, the Jewish Nation, on the other hand, had always been bound to their King and had never forsaken Him. And that’s why He’d always and forever blessed them -- even in the course of the exile.
(c) 2006 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman
(Feel free to contact me at feldman@torah.org )
********************************
AT LONG LAST! Rabbi Feldman's translation of "The Gates of Repentance" has been reissued at *at a discount*!
You can order it right now from here
Rabbi Yaakov Feldman has also translated and commented upon "The Path of the Just", and "The Duties of the Heart" (Jason Aronson Publishers). His new work on Maimonides' "The Eight Chapters" will soon be available.
Rabbi Feldman also offers two free e-mail classes on www.torah.org entitled
"Spiritual Excellence" and "Ramchal"
posted by Rabbi Yaakov Feldman at 9:46 AM
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