Page 8 - HaMizrachi #9 Yom HaAtzmaut 5779

Rabbi Hershel Schachter

Has Atchalta D’Geula Begun?

hat are the essential steps correspond to the two churbanot If, G-d forbid, the Arabs were to succeed
in the redemptive process (destructions); the tochecha in in destroying the Medina, or if the Jews
W that will culminate in the Bechukotai represents the churban that were to return the Land and dissolve
building of the Beit HaMikdash? The led to galut Bavel, while the tochecha the government, or if the government
Gemara in Sanhedrin (20b) cites the in Ki Tavo represents the churban that would become so secular so as not to be
following Beraita: [The nation of] caused our present galut. considered a malchut Yisrael (kingdom
Israel was commanded to perform of Israel) any longer, that would not be
three mitzvot upon their entrance The navi has assured us: ד ֹוע ּו ׁש ְּ ת ְנִי אלֹ ְ ו viewed as the quelling of the “Jewish
into the Land: to appoint a king upon ם ֶ ה ָ ל י ִּ ת ַ ת ָנ ר ֶ ׁש ֲ א ם ָ ת ָ מ ְ ד ַ א ל ַ ע ֵ מ, “and they will revolt of 1948.” Such a loss of Jewish
themselves, and to eradicate the never again be uprooted from their land sovereignty over Eretz Yisrael would be
offspring of Amalek, and to build the that I have given them” (Amos 9:15). considered a churban haMedina, and this
Beit HaMikdash for themselves. This does not only mean that there will type of churban is exactly what the navi
never be a third churban Beit HaMikdash. guaranteed would never occur again.
Accordingly, the sequence of the three The second, and final, tochecha only
mitzvot must be understood as follows. speaks of a churban haMedina, and The above-mentioned assurance of
First, a Jewish government must be never even mentions a churban Beit the navi, that there will not be a third
established in Eretz Yisrael, which then HaMikdash. Rather, the promise of the churban, would apply to the current
organizes a Jewish army. Then, that navi is that there will never be a third Medinat Yisrael once it is labeled to
army must wage war against Amalek and churban haMedina, G-d forbid. be “bevinyana,” in a “built” state. This
eradicate it. classification has already been defined in
Certainly, in the period immediately Halachah with regard to the obligation
After completion of the first two following hakamat haMedina in 1948, to tear keri’ah upon witnessing cities
introductory steps in the geula process, it was unclear whether that event was of Yehudah in a state of churban. The
labeled atchalta d’geula, there is a an atchalta d’geula. If the establishment Magen Avraham (Orach Chaim 561:1)
mitzvah to build a Beit HaMikdash and of the Medina would have been undone rules that one tears keri’ah even if the
offer korbanot, which is synonymous at that early stage, it would have been city is inhabited by Jews, as long as
with geula itself. 1 viewed historically in the same way it is ruled by non-Jews. If that is the
as the Bar Kochba revolt. Bar Kochba definition of “churban” of cities of
The only way hakamat haMedina
(establishment of the State) in 1948 minted coins and declared himself king Yehudah, it follows that “binyan” is
would not be viewed as atchalta d’geula around 60 years after churban Bayit defined as being under the jurisdiction
is if we would entertain the possibility Sheini, only to have his “government” of a Jewish government. If Eretz Yisrael
that the current Medina will fail. If, collapse soon after. However, that event is currently in a state of “binyan” and will
G-d forbid, the Jewish people are cannot be viewed as a third churban never again experience churban, hakamat
forced to return the Land to the Arabs haMedina, because his “attempted haMedina can rightfully be termed
and the government is disbanded, a government” is regarded historically atchalta d’geula.
different hakamat haMedina would merely as “the Bar Kochba rebellion” (This essay can be seen in expanded form in Rav
have to take place in the future, and the against Roman authority, not as a bona Schachter on the Moadim.)
establishment of that government would fide government. The promise of the
be atchalta d’geula. nevi’im did not apply in that situation.
The same cannot be said regarding the 1 B’Ikvei HaTzon, p. 211-214.
How do we know that this Medina
will lead to the building of the Beit current Medinat Yisrael. It is not merely
HaMikdash? an “attempt” at the establishment of a Rabbi Hershel Schachter is Rosh
Jewish government. The Medina today Yeshiva and Rosh Kollel at Rabbi Isaac
The Ramban writes that the two is recognized by the international Elchanan Theological Seminary of
tochechot (admonitions) in the Torah community as a legitimate government. Yeshiva University

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