COVID-19 and Moshiach

Here's a prediction for the most uncertain of times: you will see a lot of memes and comments about Moshiach in the coming weeks. Many of them will draw tenuous links to current events based on various commentators and midrashim. They will interpret pesukim about yetziyas mitzrayim and prophecies of hope and redemption from Yeshaya and others in ways they have not been interpreted before. Some will throw in an apparently compelling gematria or two to spice things up (no offence to the gematria-lovers out there).

There are many ways to think and talk about Moshiach. Now more than ever, it's important to find the right ways to do this, and to be wary of the ways that can cause confusion.

Open Letter to the Yeshivah Community

I usually post about Yeshivah on my personal blog because the messages about governance and leadership have broader applications. This is posted on this blog because it's directed specifically at Anash and won't be shared through social media. It's not 'confidential' - just meant for a narrower audience.

This past year, 5776, has been another tough one for our community. Looking back at where things were a year ago and what we could reasonably expect to happen in the year to come, I throw my hands in the air and say "oy, vey". Every few weeks there has been another eruption or mini-scandal, more airing of our dirty laundry, more factional in-fighting than the Labor party, more meaningless communication from the trustees and/or ICOM-5 (can't remember what sequel we are on). This is the definition of a farshlepter krank.

The power of the moment

Is it a dark conspiracy or perhaps part of some vast eternal plan that we spend weeks preparing for the physical aspect of Pesach - cleaning, cooking, running errands - to the point where we reach the Seder and are so exhausted that we can barely enjoy the experience?

How much time do we spend on the spiritual preparation? Whether it's the avoda of bedikas chometz, or learning the Haggadah so that our Seder can be more meaningful. Or do we sit back, conk out from exhaustion and wine, and attempt to pay attention as our children expound and affirm our decision to send them to good Jewish schools?