We are in the period of the year known as shloshet hashavuot, the Three Weeks. This is the time from the 17th of Tammuz until the 9th of Av. These are three weeks of mourning, with many restrictions on expressions of joy because we mourn the destroyed Temple.
Yet another dimension is added to our sadness: reverent anticipation of Mashiach’s coming. Of course, it is hard to wait for him every year and then experience disappointment as we once again go through the difficult fast of the 9th of Av. This fast is difficult not only physically, because it is long and falls at the hottest time of year. It is also emotionally difficult, because it is very hard to wait for something indefinite, something with no set time frame, something unknown.
Let us examine this question a little, so we can get a sense of where we may stand in relation to the era of Mashiach. And, most importantly, should we fear it or eagerly await it?
The Rambam writes that in the era of Mashiach, unlike in the World to Come, everything will be subject to the laws of nature, meaning that there will be no overt miracles: ready-made clothes will not grow out of the ground, and fresh, crusty rolls will not grow on trees.
However, in the context of the Rambam’s view, we should take a closer look at the technological breakthrough that has taken place over the past 200 years.
The Zohar (Noach, 7:11) comments on the verse, “In the six hundredth year of Noach’s life… the windows of heaven were opened,” that beginning with the six hundredth year of the final millennium (the year 5600 in the Jewish calendar), the gates of Heaven will open and vast knowledge will descend to earth. Indeed, since then, science worldwide has developed more rapidly with every passing year. We have grown accustomed to new discoveries and are barely surprised as more and more appear. This does not frighten us; on the contrary, it is interesting.
The Rambam holds that this happens so that it will be easier for a person to earn a living and he can devote more time to Torah study. Productivity increases thanks to machines that are replacing many hours of human labor everywhere. In other words, by working fewer hours with the help of the latest technology, a person produces more than he once did working with his hands. This is wonderful, and it seems things could not be better.
In the quite recent past, great Torah sages viewed many advances of progress as helpful in preparing for the era of Mashiach.
When Rav Yehoshua Leib Diskin learned that the first railway had been laid in Eretz Yisrael, he said that this had been arranged from Above to make it easier for Jews to reach the Land of Israel.
The same should be said of the invention of airplanes, which have undoubtedly contributed greatly, and will continue to contribute, to making it easier for Jews to reach Eretz Yisrael, as if fulfilling the words of the prophet Yeshayahu (60:8): “Who are these that fly like a cloud, and like doves to their dovecotes?”
One of our great teachers, passing Angel Bakeries in Jerusalem and seeing a pipe running from the neighboring flour mill through which flour flowed directly from one building to the other, regarded this as a sure sign of Mashiach’s imminent coming. Delivering flour in Jerusalem had never been so easy.
Yet, looking at what is happening, it is hard to believe that the people of Israel will merit Mashiach’s coming before the appointed time…
That is why the Almighty sends the Jews sorrows and trials, so that we may have more merits and merit the Redemption sooner. It is well known that the Sages of the Gemara wrote that they would not want to live in this difficult time. And that is frightening, despite all the technological and scientific progress.
Technological progress is, of course, very much “to women’s advantage.”
Here, everything seems to have been made for us. The washing machine and dryer, the dishwasher, the microwave oven—even a dough mixer and bread machine! Compared with our grandmothers, we have loads of free time… And still we do not have a minute to sit down and read Tehillim. There is no time for thoughtful prayer… We have no time for meaningful communication with either people or the Almighty.
These three weeks tell us: set your priorities.
Think about what really matters. Reduce the noise around you—and not just music. Make time for reflection, for mourning the destroyed Temple.
Think about what it could be like if the Temple were here with us… No need to pray for health—everyone has recovered. No need to pray for well-being—everyone is well provided for. After Mashiach comes, wars will end; soldiers and civilians will no longer die. After Mashiach comes, the Jews will finally take their rightful place as a respected people of Torah.