Friday, December 25, 2009

Messianic Times & rabbinic immorality

סוטה מט:

אזלא ודלדלה, ואין שואל ואין מבקש, על מי יש להשען? על אבינו שבשמים. בעקבות משיחא - חוצפא יסגא, ויוקר יאמיר, הגפן תתן פריה והיין ביוקר, ומלכות תהפך למינות, ואין תוכחת, בית וועד יהיה לזנות, והגליל יחרב, והגבלן ישום, ואנשי הגבול יסובבו מעיר לעיר ולא יחוננו, וחכמות סופרים תסרח, ויראי חטא ימאסו, והאמת תהא נעדרת, נערים פני זקנים ילבינו, זקנים יעמדו מפני קטנים, בן מנוול אב, בת קמה באמה, כלה בחמותה, אויבי איש אנשי ביתו, פני הדור כפני הכלב, הבן אינו מתבייש מאביו, ועל מה יש לנו להשען? על אבינו שבשמים

רש"י מסכת סוטה דף מט עמוד ב

ובית הוועד - של חכמים יהיו לבית זנות שכלו החכמים ואין לומד תורה ויהא חרב מאין איש ובעלי זימה מתגודדים שם מפני שחוץ לעיר היו בתי מדרשות שלהם.


Sotah (49b) BECAME MORE AND MORE DEBASED; AND THERE WAS NONE TO ASK, NONE TO INQUIRE. UPON WHOM IS IT FOR US TO RELY? UPON OUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN. IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE MESSIAH1 INSOLENCE WILL INCREASE AND HONOUR DWINDLE;2 THE VINE WILL YIELD ITS FRUIT [ABUNDANTLY] BUT WINE WILL BE DEAR;3 THE GOVERNMENT WILL TURN TO HERESY4 AND THERE WILL BE NONE [TO OFFER THEM] REPROOF; THE MEETING-PLACE [OF SCHOLARS] WILL BE USED FOR IMMORALITY; GALILEE WILL BE DESTROYED, GABLAN5 DESOLATED, AND THE DWELLERS ON THE FRONTIER WILL GO ABOUT [BEGGING] FROM PLACE TO PLACE WITHOUT ANYONE TO TAKE PITY ON THEM; THE WISDOM OF THE LEARNED6 WILL DEGENERATE, FEARERS OF SIN WILL BE DESPISED, AND THE TRUTH WILL BE LACKING; YOUTHS WILL PUT OLD MEN TO SHAME, THE OLD WILL STAND UP IN THE PRESENCE OF THE YOUNG, A SON WILL REVILE HIS FATHER, A DAUGHTER WILL RISE AGAINST HER MOTHER, A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW, AND A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD;7 THE FACE OF THE GENERATION WILL BE LIKE THE FACE OF A DOG,8 A SON WILL NOT FEEL ASHAMED BEFORE HIS FATHER. SO UPON WHOM IS IT FOR US TO RELY? UPON OUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN.

7 comments :

  1. Eternal Jewish Cover UpDecember 25, 2009 at 4:32 PM

    THE FACE OF THE GENERATION WILL BE LIKE THE FACE OF A DOG

    The Chofetz Chaim said pshat in this that the manhigim will look behind them at the public opinion to see if they should support various policies, similar to the dog who looks back at it's master for approval.

    Sounds like a certain rabbonim who waffle back & forth over whether they will PUBLICLY show they support Tropper or not.

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  2. In Spain, in 1391 when Rabbi and Statesman Don Isaac Abarvanel's father Judah (Juan de Sanchez), also a noted Rabbi, and brother converted to Christianity, I am sure that Sotah 49b was also referred to.

    Those who do not learn from history are destined to repeat it.

    Ad Matai?

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  3. Sounds pretty depressing!

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  4. First of, thank you, Rabbi Eidensohn, for your posting and the work, and may you go from strength to strength.

    Secondly, if it is foretold, then it has to happen one day. The amazing thing is how quickly it came to be: literally in a week the Emunat Chachamim was destroyed. Upon whom is it for us to rely? Upon our Father in Heaven.

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  5. jersey girl,

    whats your source about abarbanels father converting to christianity?

    thanks.

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  6. Does this particular Mishnah suggest that daas Torah will disappear? It says we cannot rely on anyone , except for Avinu Sh'BShamyim - so it seems to be quite a radical statement!

    ReplyDelete

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