The Worst-Case Scenario

19 Marcheshvan 5778

It is a rare person who can accept reality the way it is rather than how he wishes it to be. Most people imagine a situation that will allow them to continue to do what they want to do rather then what they need to do. Not even the dire warnings of the prophets are of any benefit to them because they comfort themselves with the promise that "bad prophecies don't have to happen." But, bad prophecies do come true when we fail to do proper teshuvah and this is the reality part that no one wants to face.

We were told that redemption could come one of two ways - either ahead of schedule with majesty and ease or only at its appointed time with terrible catastrophes, pain and death. Teshuvah would be the determining factor.

Some people today speak of "delaying" redemption. I think that is a very misunderstood concept. Redemption has a final appointed time set for it beyond which it will not wait for those who are not yet ready, just like Shabbat. We can delay its early onset, but once the sun has set, that's it. In the same way, when our Sages speak of "delaying the redemption," I think they must be referring to the aspect of bringing it earlier through our merit, delaying it until it comes of its own accord - "in its time."

Once we reach that point, a certain scenario is locked in - one that we can no longer change. I believe that we have reached that point.

Yesterday, I referred to the confrontation between Edom and Paras - the United States and Iran. Yes, the Sages disputed who would prevail in that confrontation at the End of Days. In their time, it was still yet to be determined which reality of redemption we would be locked into. In my considered opinion, that is no longer the case, which is why I predict that the United States will lose.

You see, key to bringing the redemption early was the mass immigration of Jews to Eretz Yisrael once the doors were thrown wide open, particularly the majority community in the United States. Had that happened, the loss of all that kedushah would have weakened the US (and strengthened Israel) so that it could not have prevented Israel from playing a major role in Iran's defeat. The US will lose and it will be the Jews' fault. And the consequences will be devastating, just like it was for the Jews who did not want to leave Mitzrayim.

This is the hard reality that few are willing to face. People don't understand why I harp on the United States when bad things are going on all over the world. How are they any worse than anyone else? The United States is self-admittedly the leading power in the world and the main exporter of western culture to the rest of the world - a culture that is diametrically opposed to the teachings of the Torah. Modern "Democracy" with all its "freedoms" started there on the 17th of Tamuz with the signing of the Declaration of Independence. All of the ills of Europe were transferred there (along with many former Nazis) at the end of WWII. There is not space in a blog post to list all the ills of the world for which the United States is personally accountable.

I fully expect my words to mostly fall on deaf ears because who wants to believe bad news? But, if you just turn around and look back along the path we have already trod, you will see that we never did take the easy way out. Because of our stiff necks, we specialize in worst-case scenarios. Why should we expect this time to be any different?