"The Great Redemption" (7)

"The Great Redemption" by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto

-- A Discourse on The End of the Exile and the Beginning of the Great Redemption

Translated by Rabbi Yaakov Feldman
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7.

Know that there are two stages to redemption, as was found to be in the redemptions from Egypt and Babylon, and as we know will be the case in the future one -- may it be revealed speedily and in our lifetime!

These two stages are alluded to in the verse I started off (this book) with. “Do not rejoice for my sake, my enemy!“ refers to the first stage known as P’kidah (“Protecting”), while “G-d Himself will be a light unto me when I sit in darkness!” refers to the second stage known as Z’chirah (“Remembering”). Yet they aren’t only alluded to in this verse but in many others as well. Thus it’s written, “Shake yourself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem” which alludes to the P’kidah, and “loosen yourself from the bonds of your neck, O captive daughter of Zion”, which refers to the Z’chirah (Isaiah 52:2); and “Arise, shine; for your light has come”, which alludes to the P’kidah, “and G-d’s Glory has shone upon you”, which refers to the Z’chirah (Isaiah 60:1).

I’ll now start to explain these two periods to you along with some great mysteries, but since they’re such great mysteries I won’t explain them in depth, and I’ll only offer what’s absolutely necessary in order to comprehend. Understand what I’m saying.

(c) 2005 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman

(Feel free to contact me at feldman@torah.org )

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His works are available in bookstores and in various locations on the Web.
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