The Yalkut Shimoni, a compilation of ancient Medrashim (commentaries on Torah) includes the following passage:

א“ר יצחק שנה שמלך המשיח נגלה בו כל מלכי אומות העולם מתגרים זה בזה

Rabbi Yitzchak said: The year in which the King Moshiach is revealed, all leaders of the nations of the world will harass one another.

מלך פרס מתגרה במלך ערבי

A Persian king will harass an Arab king

והולך מלך ערבי לארם ליטול עצה מהם

And the Arab king will go to Aram to ask them for advice

וחוזר מלך פרס ומחריב את כל העולם

Then the Persian king will destroy the entire world

וכל אומות העולם מתרעשים ומתבהלים ונופלים על פניהם ויאחוז אותם צירים כצירי יולדה,

And all the nations of the world will tumult and be frightened and fall on their faces, and will be seized by pain similar to labor pains.

וישראל מתרעשים ומתבהלים ואומר להיכן נבוא ונלך להיכן נבוא ונלך להיכן נבוא ונלך,

And Israel will tumult and be frightened and say: “Whither can we come and go, whither can we come and go?”

ואומר להם בני אל תתיראו כל מה שעשיתי לא עשיתי אלא בשבילכם מפני מה אתם מתיראים אל  תיראו הגיע זמן גאולתכם

And the Almighty will say to them: “My children, don’t be afraid, everything that I did, I did only for your sake. Why are you afraid? Do not fear. The time of your redemption has arrived.”

שנו רבותינו בשעה שמלך המשיח בא עומד על גג בית המקדש והוא משמיע להם לישראל ואומר  ענוים הגיע זמן גאולתכם

Our Rabbis taught: At the time that the King Moshiach comes, he will stand on the roof of the Temple, and he will announce for Israel to hear, and he will say: “Humble ones, the time of your redemption has arrived.”

The above passage was quoted extensively by the Lubavitcher Rebbe at the time of the first Gulf War. The Rebbe explained that ‘Aram’ meant a superpower (‘ram’ means high), and that it was referring to the US.

At the time, Kuwait was attacked by Iraq (which is geographically located on some of the land of ancient Persia), and Kuwait then asked the US what to do, and the US attacked Iraq. Iraq fired missiles against Israel, but Israel was miraculously saved.

The Rebbe used the passage from Yalkut Shomoni to muster encouragement and optimism.

Throughout the ages, numerous leaders of the Jewish people referred to ancient prophecies and writings, showing how they might be referring to those times. This was done in order to lift the spirit of the nation.

In our time, the words of this passage from the Yalkut Shimoni seem to resonate and accurately describe current events.

It’s a time when many nations have been bickering and harassing one another. Trade wars, Russia attacking Ukraine and unnerving Europe, Pakistan fighting Afghanistan, and so on.

In the recent Iran war, a ‘Persian king’ (Iran sits geographically on much of ancient Persia) fired missiles and drones against Arab Gulf countries. Saudi Arabia and other Arab leaders frantically consulted with the US. Then Iran announced the closure of the strait through which much of the world’s oil tankers travel. This is creating havoc, as it threatens to greatly damage the world economy. Nations are panicking, but don’t seem to know what to do.

Missiles, including cluster bombs, are frightening Israelis. Jews in Israel are scared, not knowing where to go, not knowing where it’s safe. Even Jews around the world are frightened from the rising antisemitism.

And the Yalkut Shomoni says, that the Almighty tells His children not to be frightened, for the time of their redemption has arrived.

The words of this ancient Medrash seem to be describing our times. And, as the Medrash continues, Moshiach stands on the roof of the Temple, and announces for Israel to hear: “Humble ones, the time of your redemption has arrived.”

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)