Vayechi-2015

· TRYING TO REVEAL THE END OF GOLUS AND TIME OF MOSHIACH

· Beginning of Vayechi - Rashi – Why is this Parsha ‘closed’ (stuma), Because Yaakov wished to reveal the Kaitz (the End)  (Breishis Rabbah: the end of days, when the Galus –exile -  would end) and it was ‘closed’ – concealed - from him. 

· 49:2 – Yaakov said, Gather around me and I will tell you what will happen to you at the end of days.

· Rashi – He wished to reveal the End of the exile, and the Scheenah departed from him, and he began speaking of other things.

· This ‘cat and mouse’ game, of trying to reveal the end, and speed the coming of Moshiach, happens many times in Shas.

· Megilla 3a - The Targum of the Neviim was written by Yonason Ben Uziel (whose Kever is in Amuka) under the guidance of Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi.  It caused the land of Israel to shake.  A Bas Kol said, Who is revealing My secrets to mankind? Yonason Ben Uziel  said, I revealed it for Your honor, so that argument shouldn’t increase in Israel. He then tried to reveal the inner meaning of Kesuvim, but a Bas Kol came forth and said, “Enough!” What was the reason? Because the date of the Moshiach is foretold in it.

· Baba Metzia 85a - Eliyahu used to go to Rebbe’s Bais Medresh.  One day, Eliyahu didn’t show up. The next day Eliyahu explained, ‘It took me so long because I first woke up Avraham, washed his hands, and he prayed and I put him to rest again; then I did the same with Yitzchak and Yaakov.’ Rebbe asked, ‘But why not wake them up together?’ — Eliyahu answered, ‘I feared that they would be so strong in prayer, and that might bring Moshiach before his time.’

· Rebbe asked, ‘Is there anyone in the world with such powerful prayer?’ ‘There’s R. Chiya and his sons’.  So Rebbe proclaimed a fast, and R. Chiya and his sons were called to lead the prayers. When they said, ‘He causes the wind to blow’, a wind blew; then they said, ‘He causes the rain to fall’, and the rain fell. When they were about to say, ‘Mechayeh Maytim (He enlivens the dead) the universe trembled, and in Shamayim it was asked, ‘Who revealed our secret to the world?’ They replied, ‘Eliyahu’. Eliyahu was therefore hit with 60 flaming lashes; so he went down disguised as a fiery bear, and scattered those who were praying.

· Sotah 14a –R. Chama ben R. Chanina said, ‘Why is it that the kever of Moshe was hidden?  For Hashem knew that the Temple was destined to be destroyed and that the Jewish people would be exiled from their land.  The kever had to be hidden lest the Jews come crying at Moshe’s kever at that time and beseech Moshe, saying ,”Moshe Rabenu, rise and pray on our behalf.” Moshe would then arise and through his prayers nullify the harsh decrees.  Hashem will accept his prayers… This wouldn’t have been good, because sometimes punishment is necessary.

· Megilla 17b – R. Abba said, there’s no clearer indication of the ‘end’ that this, O mountains of Israel, you will shoot forth your branches and bear your fruit, for my people Israel are about to arrive. (Zecharia 8:10)

· Sanhendrin 98a - R. Yehoshua b. Levi met Eliyahu and asked him, ‘When will Moshiach come?’ — Eliyahu answered, ‘Go and ask him yourself,’  ‘Where is he sitting?’ ‘At the entrance of the city.” So he went to him and asked ‘When will you come, my Master?’ ‘Today’, was his answer. On returning to Eliyahu, he said, “He answered that he would come today, but he hasn’t.’ Eliyahu answered him, ‘What he meant was, Today, if you will hear his voice.’ (Psalm 95:7)

· Chasam Sofer – In every generation there lives a person of outstanding Tzidkus, ready to be invested with the spirit of Moshicah when the time for the redemption comes.  As was the case with Moshe, this person will not know that he is destined to be Moshiach until the time is ready.

· BUT THIS IS PROHIBITED

· Rambam Hilchos Melachim 12:2 – It is prohibited to calculate when the Moshiach will come.

· Sanhendrin 97b – Rav Shmuel bar Nachmani said in the name of R. Yonason – May those who calculate Keetzen – the ‘end’ - of when Moshiach will come, suffer agony… Rather we should wait for him patiently. (Habbakuk 2:3), Fortunate are those who wait for him (Yishiyahu 30:18).

· Rav said, “The matter of Moshiach’s arrival depends only on Tshuva and Maisim Tovim (repentance and good deeds).

· IT’S BETTER IF WE USE OUR CHALLENGES TO GROW, INCREASE OUR ZCHUS

· Succah 52a - When the Yetzer Hara will be killed, the people will weep and mourn.

· Maharsha – When the Yetzer Hara is gone, they will cry at the loss of opportunity to earn further reward by overpowering it.

· Baba Metzia 85a – Rebbe saw that suffering is precious, so he accepted on himself 13 years of suffering, six through kidney stones and seven through scurvy…. During all the years that R. Eleazar suffered, no man died prematurely. During all those of Rebbe the world needed no rain.

· Brochas 5a - Raba says: If a man has painful suffering, let him examine his conduct. If he finds nothing wrong, he can attribute it to the neglect of studying Torah. If he is diligent in Torah learning, then he can be sure it’s Yisurim Shel Ahavah, (chastenings of love). For it is said: whoever Hashem loves he corrects. Raba says: If Hashem is pleased with someone, he crushes him with painful sufferings. But the sufferings must be endured with consent. Then what is his reward? He will see his progeny, and have long life.

· Rabbi Hirsch – Vayechi is not marked in the usual manner as a new Parshah.  These 17 years of Yaakov’s life were the only ones he enjoyed in quiet and undisturbed. But though these years were important to Yaakov as an individual, they were less important to the history of the nation.  It was during the troubled, depressed period of his life, the time of testing, when had to claim the right to bear the name of Yisroel, that Yaakov acquired his eternal significance for the history of the nation.

· Derech Hashem – Man was created with a Yetzer Tov and Yetzer Hara. They are in a constant state of battle. Man has the ability to attain perfection in his positive character traits, and avoid deficiency in his negative character traits. After this period of effort is completed, he attains his level of perfection and is then allowed to enjoy it for all eternity.

· Instead of trying to figure out when Moshiach is coming, we should raise our level of Tzidkus and Zchus, and use our trials to improve, as individuals and as Klal Yisroel

· Sanhendrin 97b - Rav said, “The matter of Moshiach’s arrival depends only on Tshuva and Maisim Tovim.