I saw this great project on Kickstarter recently called Remee, check it out here. I have always found lucid dreaming fascinating. I mention this preamble as last night I had a really powerful dream that Mashiach was coming/had come. I can’t recall much of it now, but I remember being amongst a big crowd, looking up in awe, lots of blue and white and also the feeling of elation/joy was so real – it’s hard for me to convey. Please God may he come speedily in our days. Amen.
At the end of the first chapter of Brachot, we encounter the famous Mishnah that we read at the Seder:
“Said Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya: “Consider, I am like a seventy-year-old, yet I did not merit that the Exodus from Egypt be said at night until Ben Zoma explained it,” as it says, “So that you will remember the day of your departure from the land of Egypt all the days of your life” — “the days of your life” [refers to] the days, while “all the days of your life” [refers to] the nights. However, the Sages say: “the days of your life” [refers to] this world, while “all the days of your life” [refers to] the Messianic era.”
The Gemara explains that the argument hinges on the miracles of the times of the Mashiach and how they are perceived against the miracles of the Exodus from Egypt.
Ben Zoma quoting Jeremiah explains that in the Messianic era:
‘…behold, the days will come, says God, that they shall no more say: ‘As God lives, [He] that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt but ‘As God lives, [He] that brought up and that led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all the countries whither I had driven them and they shall dwell in their own land.’ Jeremiah 23:7-8
The Exodus will be eclipsed by the future miracles and wonders of Mashiach!
The Rabbis disagree and say that although the future miracles and wonders will be awesome, lurking in the background we will still recall the wonders of the Exodus.(The Rabbis use the term ikar(principle) and tofel(secondary) – terms used in the laws of making a brachah on mixtures of foods ie. shmultz herring on a cracker)
It is quite remarkable to be able to look back at the speculations and arguments of the Rabbis, with the perspective and privilege of living in a generation 2000 years later, where perhaps with humility we are able to make this judgement ourselves and ask ourselves the question, at Seder – have I fully contemplated and appreciated the miracles that God has done for us in our own times? How has this reflected itself in my own life, in my relationship with God? and most importantly, have I passed this appreciation onto my children and is this something we speak about as a family?
Who do you hold by?
Shmultz is always the ikur
Haha
The Sages are not, I think, suggesting we experience miracles on this level day-to-day. It is the miraculous salvation we receive when all hope seems lost they are referring to. While Ramban does comment the essence of miracles can be found day-to-day, Chazal are commenting here that the redemption to come parallels and even exceeds Yitzias Mitzraim. While I have experienced many small miracles, none of these can possibly compare to those in coming out of Egypt. They comment that we are so terrified by the problems that arise that we can only say “wow, what a close call – B”H’!” for the rest of history. We are not there yet.
I was more referring to our perception of the national scale miracles re: kibutz galiot, yishuv ha’Aretz and the many wars since ’48, that we have been zocheh to witness in our times…I agree we are not there yet either…
I do, however, share your hope that the time is soon, of course. Soon, and in our days.