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Can't We Survive Without Moshiach?
by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg

"The Jews have survived 2,000 years in exile without Moshiach, why can't we continue another 2,000 years without him?"

The callous statement, we survived for 2,000 years without Moshiach, we can go for another 2,000 years, is nothing less than a total disregard for G-d, Israel and Torah, the three knots that are intimately intertwined.¹

It can be compared to a person whose father, mother, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters are all ailing and are in an extended comatose state. He remarks, "They survived for so many months, they can go on this way for another few months!"

Although there are, perhaps, more things than ever before for which we should be grateful, the world is nevertheless in shambles.

We are witness today to the starvation of millions of people; millions dying of AIDS and other terrible diseases; major natural catastrophes; racial tensions, unprecedented violence; economic woes and insecurity; immorality and decadence; drugs and alcoholism, broken families, and emotional and psychological instability.

From the particularly Jewish perspective, we see growing anti-Semitism; an increase of terrorism; record rates of intermarriage; apathy and corruption even within so-called religious circles; unprecedented division and discord in Jewish communities; and various other societal ills spreading to Jewish and even religious households. There are also dangerously low birthrates among Jews.

How could anyone who believes that G-d could truly bring Moshiach entertain the notion that we could go on for another 2,000 years without Moshiach?! How could a person imbued with a feeling for Jewish self-respect, entertain the thought of continuing in Golus, where our very existence depends on the good will of capricious nations?

Even our "independence" in Israel is compromised by Israel's need to find favor in the eyes of its chief benefactor, the U.S.A. and other nations. Are we truly an independent nation when for the slightest gesture, such as deporting terrorists we are condemned by everyone, including our friends?

How can a Jew who is spirituallly inclined, tolerate an existence where G-d's presence is so hidden, where spirituality is so concealed? How can we live a life in which our ability to serve G-d is compromised because we do not have a Beis Hamikdosh? How can we feel comfortable, in a world where there is suffering, Jews are scattered, Judaism is not what it was intended to be, and G-d himself is suffering as well? ²

¹ See Tanya, ch. 4, 23, citing Zohar. See Sefer HaSichos 5751, vol. II, p. 478.

² Tehillim, 91:15.

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