Each time we take out the Torah we sing the following words, “Ki mitziyon, Taytzei Torah, u’d’var Adonai, Miyerushalyim.” “ Torah shall come forth from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” These words from the prophet Isaiah, are part of a view of the future that Judaism embraces. On Pesach, we talk about our redemption from Egypt, but we also allude to a final redemption, ushered in by Elijah the prophet. The seder talks about four “landmarks on the road to redemption…G-d lightened our burdens, removed our burdens, took us out of mitzrayim, and made us his people. “ (Rabbinical Assembly Feast of Freedom) It also speaks of the anticipation of a redemption that will bring about enduring peace for all people.
The concept of acharit hayamim, the end of days, or as some would call it, yemot hamashiach, the days of the Messiah, is very much related to the theme of Passover which looks toward a redemptive era. We Conservative Jews have a tendency to think of this period of time as an age when social justice and peace will prevail. We believe that the Torah provides us with a framework with which to pursue a perfected social order for all of humanity. We also acknowledge that it is only by working in partnership with G-d through His commandments that such a social order will come about. We recognize that it may not be within our lifetimes, but that it is still our responsibility to strive to help bring it about. Classical Judaism goes beyond the idea of a utopian society and its impact on civilization by speaking about a messianic individual, ha-mashiach. The mission of the messiah is to bring “bring the hearts of the earth’s inhabitants back to G-d. “ (Shmuley Boteach, Judaism for Everyone) The Messiah is thought to be a righteous individual who will inspire us to abandon war and hatred.
Judaism’s belief in history being directional rather than cyclical, means that we believe that the future holds hope for humankind. A Jewish view of history is that it had a beginning and improves until it eventually reaches a climax in the form of a perfect world. We believe that human effort combines to have an effect upon the direction of history as promised by the Divine. Everyday life may seem chaotic, full of violence and hatred, yet we maintain that our vision for the future will gradually emerge. Unlike the voice of fundamentalist Muslims who resort to radical political actions or evangelical Christians who resort to a belief in a day of reckoning, our idea of a messianic age is a time when all will be free to pursue goodness unencumbered by life’s hardships. We do not pretend to know when the Messiah will come or when the Messianic age will be established, but it is a concept that continues to add a source of fuel to Jewish thought and action. From our perspective, the Messiah is a facilitator, reminding us that we can live up to our highest potential as inhabitants of this Earth, allowing us to usher in a messianic age together. As participants, we do not see our role as taking part in a cosmic upheaval that will destroy the world as we know it. We see our role as one of living responsibly to enhance the coming of a messianic age.
Throughout history, the dream of the messianic age included a vision of the ingathering of exiles into Israel. The dream was to be able to express our religious life in freedom and be the masters of our own destiny. Israel exists for us as our homeland in reality today, not just in our dreams. Yet, you will notice that at the end of each seder we still say “L’shanah haba-ah bi yerushalayim”…next year in Jerusalem. It is part of the statement about redemption that we have uttered for centuries…a statement that believes in a future…that “tomorrow can be other than yesterday.” (Rabbi David Hartman) The fifth cup of wine that we do not drink, that we leave for Elijah, and the utterance of “Next year in Jerusalem,” are what make Passover a night for dreams and visions about what history can become. The concept of redemption is very much a part of the Passover story and the belief system of Judaism. As Rabbi David Hartman wrote, “Belief in miracle is the basis of the ‘hope model’ of Judaism.”
Shabbat Shalom and L’Shanah Ha-baah Biyerushalyim
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