2. Zion has gone into labor…
(Isaiah 66:8)
• Zion is like “Ziun” which means a “mark” in Hebrew.
• When Jewishness is reduced to miniscule form (just a mark).
• And truth goes into hiding.
• And falsehood is celebrating.
• Such times are called “Gola” in Hebrew ()גולה
• And are likened to pregnancy, when the baby is tiny, hidden,
and adverse side effects befall the mother.
• Gola worsens over time...
3. • There is also something new and wonderful
developing during Gola –
• Like the baby during pregnancy –
• That’s the “Geula” (,גאולה in Hebrew).
4. Both pregnancy (Gola) and the baby (Geula) reach
full maturity at the birth.
…Zion has given birth!
(Ibid)
6. Do We Need Gola?
• Why become pregnant?
• It can get very painful. It’s a commitment. And life will
completely change once it’s over.
• That’s all true.
• But nevertheless people still choose to go through it.
• We want the baby and that’s the only way to get it.
• Gola is so bad – no one wants it. Even (and especially) G-d
Himself.
• But it’s worth it, because that’s how we’ll ultimately achieve
the Geula.
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7. What is Geula?
• Uneducated? First pregnancy?
• Pregnancy is a natural process. Once pregnant, no need to do
anything special.
• (Except for looking after your general health, please)
• At least in the first few months.
• But further into the pregnancy, need to prepare. There’s a
birth coming!
• Same thing with Geula. Ignorance here is not bliss.
• Especially toward the end of Gola, we need to know what
Geula is about and ensure we’re ready for it.
• Better learn up on it. (Before the birth ☺)
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8. Geula in Gola
• First is health.
• Monitor the baby during the pregnancy.
• But focus on the mother.
• Not only for her own health, but also, everything the baby
needs before the birth comes from her.
• Similarly, the Geula is fashioned during and through Gola.
• Geula is in Gola, albeit hidden.
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9. Birth-Pangs? Get Ready!
• Easy births are great.
• If you’re ready.
• To ensure you are, birth-pangs are signs that the birth is
coming up.
• So that you quickly prepare for it.
• The signs of Geula tell us to make no mistake. It’s about to
happen.
• “Would I [G-d] bring to the birth-stool and not cause to give
birth?!” (Isaiah 66:9)
• So that we get ready for it.
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10. Before Birth – A New Context
● We said earlier to focus on the mother in the beginning of the
pregnancy, not the baby.
● Come time to give birth, we’re still looking after the mother.
For sure! But in the labor ward.
● What’s changed?
● The whole context changes: Hyper-care, excitement, everyone
is teamed up and engaged with the birth to help make it
happen.
● A healthy mother means spiritual endurance during Gola.
Jewish survival. That’s what we’ve fought for all along.
● But the birth-pangs of Moshiach at the end of Gola direct our
focus toward the emerging Geula.
● That becomes the context and purpose of everything we do.
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11. Geula in a Flash
• Labor is very hard.
• The sky could be falling.
• “What will be?!” – every laboring woman cries.
• But in a flash
o Not only the pain subsides (as if it never was),
o The baby we’ve been yearning for comes out, safe and sound.
• Wow. Amazing turnaround!
• We see lots of bad in the world. Increasing. On all levels. These
are the negative/external facets of Gola.
• What will be?
• But in a flash
o Not only will it all die down,
o A new, much-awaited bonus / context will come into the picture. Geula.
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12. We Celebrate Revelation
• You just had a baby! – Congratulations! Mazal Tov!
• But what’s the novelty we’re getting excited about?
o You – the mother – are (slowly) getting back to your old self, and
o The new-born baby is not really new. It was there all along.
• However, the birth has revealed it all. Life is not the same
now.
• All the good things (Geula) are all here during Gola also. But
they are hidden.
• Moshiach will bring them out into the open.
• That’s what we’ll celebrate.
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13. Further Learning
• Another 5 insights – for the advanced.
• Another 3 introductions to understand the Signs of Moshiach:
o The biblical ailment of Tzaraat and how it’s so applicable today
o Deep Evil – an analysis of Daniel 12:10
o Generational Decline – our Pre-Moshiach dilemma from a historical context
• What are those signs of Moshiach’s coming?
• Soon to be available, by the Grace of G-d.
• Register your email or follow via Twitter
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Editor's Notes
To survive (as Jews) during this troublesome period. Synagogues, Mikvas, Yeshivas and other essential Jewish InfrastructureBut also need to bear in mind the destination of the Exile journey (Redemption) and ensure it is also nurtured.How?
Without conscious of what’s cooking inside (Redemption) you'd still not know what will be.It’s pretty serious turmoil and the scare from the unknown might put you to craze.