12

Considering that we know that each subsequent generation is less righteous than the previous generation — a phenomena known as yeridos ha'doros — how can our generation bring the moshiach if no previous generation could?

6
  • 4
    you mean not according to this opinion: "it is believed that the mashiach will come in a time when he is most needed (because the world is so evil)" mechon-mamre.org/jewfaq/mashiach.htm
    – rosends
    Nov 24, 2014 at 11:47
  • 3
    @Danno Yeah, guess not according to that opinion. Although that already begins to answer the question. Thanks for reminding me of that opinion.
    – WhoKnows
    Nov 24, 2014 at 11:49
  • 3
    is it also possible the yeridos hadoros refers to intellect, holiness and the power to make new halacha, not our ability to observe "Just one shabbos"?
    – rosends
    Nov 24, 2014 at 13:41
  • Considering that we know that each subsequent generation is less righteous than the previous generation that is certainly debatable,
    – mevaqesh
    Aug 11, 2016 at 9:03
  • Check out Shemittah and Moshiach
    – Real Torah
    Sep 2, 2016 at 17:27

8 Answers 8

12

According to this article at Chabad.org, based on the teachings of the late Lubavitcher Rebbe zy"a, each generation builds on the achievements of the previous generation. So that even though we may be on a lower spiritual level, we are still furthering the cause of creation and bringing it closer to its ultimate goal. I think that this is similar to the popular idea that each mitzvah we perform adds a brick to the Bayis Shlishi in heaven, which will descend in fire when completed.

3
  • 2
    Isn't the Temple made of stone not brick?
    – Double AA
    Nov 24, 2014 at 15:02
  • 1
    @DoubleAA good kasha!! I guess then the popular idea should be that it adds a stone, but that's not how I was told when I was a kid. In any event, if you click through to the article I linked, you'll see the author there writes that he could not find a source for the idea
    – Jewels
    Nov 24, 2014 at 15:07
  • 1
    I asked my Rebbi this question also once, and he gave me a similar answer to this. He quoted in the name of the Chafetz Chaim (I remember someone else once mentioned it too, I think he said it was in his Sefer Nidchei Yisrael, but I don't remember with certainty) that even though each generation accumulates less merits then the previous one, the total merits are cumulative, and it's possible for a 'lesser' generation to be the generation that reached the goal. Nov 24, 2014 at 16:31
7

In his book Mashiach, Rabbi Immanuel Schochet brings several reasons. See there for more details and sources:

  1. "There is an obvious progression of time which of itself brings us closer to Mashiach and continuously enhances the inherent potential for redemption, in spite of our inferiority."

  2. The fact that this generation is so much worse than the earlier generations is specifically why our actions accomplish more. To quote R' Chaim Vital, “a very small act in this generation is equal to many great mitzvot in others; for in these generations evil is extremely overpowering, to no end, unlike aforetimes!”

  3. All the bad deeds done in previous generations are washed away via atonement, either in this world or the next. They therefore no longer exist. In contrast, Good Deeds last forever and are cumulative. Our good deeds are likened to a midget standing on a giant's shoulders. The midget can see farther than the giant, because he is standing on his shoulders.

2
  • WRT to the midget and the giant, it depends on their relative sizes, specifically will the midget's eyes be higher than the giant's? (Thinking Og-sized giants.)
    – Scimonster
    Nov 24, 2014 at 20:59
  • @Scimonster: In the source of the parable, the Shibolei Haleket, he says explicitly that the eyes of the midget end up being higher than the eyes of the Giant: beta.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=14636&pgnum=36
    – Menachem
    Nov 26, 2014 at 3:09
6

The Mabit writes that the idea of a בן (son) comes from the word בנין (structure) because the son builds onto the accomplishments of his ancestors. So we are always adding on to what came before us.

I once heard the following "mashal": A professor took out a bottle, and a pile of rocks, a pile of pebbles, a pile of sand, and a can of beer. He first poured them into the bottle in the order of sand, pebbles, rocks (left out the beer), and they would not fit. He then reversed the order, putting in the rocks, then the pebbles, then the sand, and then poured in the beer. The pebbles filled the gaps between the rocks, and the sand filled the gaps between the pebbles, and the beer soaked into all the crevices and was absorbed. The principle being demonstrated was that if you start from the larger, the smaller will still have room to fit (and there's always room for beer). This is our role - our forefathers made "big" accomplishments, and we are left to "fill in the cracks."

2
  • youtube.com/watch?v=fmV0gXpXwDU (but you have to bring your own beer).
    – Yishai
    Nov 24, 2014 at 20:16
  • 3
    +1 i was going to ask why beer as part of the mashal but you answered that very well:)
    – user6591
    Nov 24, 2014 at 20:37
5

Two historical narratives should suffice as an answer. Moshe received the Torah even his forefathers could not. Shlomo built the Beis Hamikdosh even though David could not.

5

The Chafetz Chaim compares it to the laws of the redemption of fields (Vayikra 25:50), similar to our system of a mortgage redemption, where the price of redemption nearer to the end of the term will be a lot less than earlier on. Similarly, where earlier generations would need huge merits to bring Moshiach earlier, now that we are nearer to the time that he has to come, we can bring him earlier with less merits. You can see it here and here.

1
1

I heard many years ago the following. Why do we constantly say "Zecher Lyitziyas Mitzrayim"? The answer was that just like in Mitzrayim when we were in the 49th level of impurity and Chazal say had we sunk any further we would of never been redeemed, so too we pray that even though we are on a lower level then previous generations Hashem should redeem us and Mashiach should come.

1
  • 1
    and Chazal say had we sunk any further we would of never been redeemed where do they say this?
    – mevaqesh
    Aug 11, 2016 at 9:04
1

Rabbi Shimon Schwab once commented that if he were asked what merit the Jewish people possess that makes them deserving of Moshiach, he would answer:

"...Normally a person who is disappointed over and over again would give up... If we ask what our generation can say for itself as to why it deserves the coming of Moshiach, we reply that we deserve it because: We didn't give up! We waited patiently and we are still waiting - no matter how many disappointments and backslidings we had to experience. We don't know the word yiush, to give up.

The Chofetz Chaim (Tzipisa L'Yeshua, Chapter 1) similarly explains, "With the length of the exile, the merits of the Jewish people grow and become greater from generation to generation from the merits... of their waiting and hoping for the coming of Moshiach for such a long time..."

As the Medrash explains: "Everything is (bound up) with kivuy (hopeful awaiting)... 'Wait for salvation for it is close at hand! Thus the posuk says, 'For My salvation is near to come.'"

0

Your question is a great question.

Let's ask a different question:

How did our redemption Egypt take place?

Rabbeinu Bachayei says that even though the time of the redemption had arrived, they weren’t worthy of being redeemed. However, once they all cried out in unison from the work that they were undergoing, their tefillos were accepted and they were redeemed!

Furthermore, the Medrash states:

“When Israel went out of Egypt, they looked back and saw the Egyptians chasing after them… When Israel saw, they were surrounded on all sides – the sea in front of them blocking their path, their enemy chasing after them, and wild animals on both sides in the desert – they lifted their eyes up to their Father in Heaven, and cried out to the Holy One Blessed be He, as it is written: ‘…and Bnei Yisroel cried out to Hashem.’ Why did Hashem do this to them? Because Hashem yearned for their prayers.”

In fact, the Chofeitz Chayim states something astounding:

“All the many troubles that have fallen upon us, from which we have still not been saved, are because we don’t scream and increase our prayers in response to them. If we had prayed (properly), we would not have returned empty-handed. And it is not enough that (one) prays the Shemoneh Esrei prayer three times each day; several times daily he must pour out his requests in solitude, in his house, from the depths of his heart. The three regular prayers are so routine that one does not really concentrate during them – which is not the case if each person would contemplate in solitude his own plight... then he would pour out his heart like water to Hashem. Such a prayer would emerge with very deep intent with a broken heart and with great humility. Such a prayer will certainly not go unanswered...!”

Rav Yitzchak said, “The salvation of Israel depends only on crying... as it is written: ‘...with crying, they will come, and with lamentations, I will lead them.’”

The Chofeitz Chayim says, "One must demand the redemption, just as with the wages of a hired worker. Failure to do so shows that this matter is clearly not that urgent to us!”

Why do we want the redemption?

The Vilna Gaon says that the purpose of the redemption is the sanctification of G-d’s Name...

4
  • Could you clarify how this answers the question? If former generations didn't call out to God sufficiently, why will this generation?
    – mevaqesh
    Mar 31, 2017 at 0:16
  • @mevaqesh: WhoKnows question should really be, " How can our generation bring the REDEMPTION if no previous generation could?" Mar 31, 2017 at 0:21
  • 1
    Are you suggesting that he should have asked a different question than he did?
    – mevaqesh
    Mar 31, 2017 at 0:42
  • @mevaqesh: Yes. Mar 31, 2017 at 3:28

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .