"The Great Redemption" (16)

"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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16.

Now, you need to know that all these lights and things will be illuminated internally and won’t be detected from the outside. That’s why only the Jewish Nation will experience stirrings and rectifications; and not the ministering angels, guardian angels, and all other angels. For as it’s known, the Jewish Nation emanates from the “inside” while the angels emanate from the “outside”. That’s why it’s said. “ ... and my insides yearned for him” (Song of Songs 5:4).

Know, too, that when these lights radiate with such longing and desire, they bestow great and mighty light upon each and every individual of the Jewish Nation, though it can't be detected. Their souls will take in this illumination and they’ll be moved to return to G-d their L-rd and to seek Him. Thus it's written, “When you are in distress and all these things come upon you in the end of days, you will return to G-d your L-rd” (Deuteronomy 4:30); and it’s said, “I arose to open to my Beloved” (Song of Songs 5:5).

Understand that the aforementioned “arising” (see Ch. 11) is a great secret. (It refers to this:) as long as the Jewish Nation dwelt in the dust -- which alludes to the husk -- the holy union couldn’t come about. It first had to arise, and (only) then unite with its Beloved. That’s (the import of) “I arose to open to my Beloved” (Song of Songs 5:5).

(c) 2005 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman

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

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