Thursday, March 27, 2014

Prominent Kabbalist: The Russian Invasion of Crimea is a sign of Impending Redemption

On Purim (Monday March 17th), Rabbi Moshe Shternbuch, Head of the Rabbinical Court of Jerusalem, allowed a secret to slip out. He peeled back the curtain and offered a peek into a tradition handed down from his grandfather, the Vilna Gaon, a prominent 18th-century Kabbalist:

“Even though I am careful not to share the mysteries, I feel that this is something I am permitted to reveal..This was something Rabbi Isaac had received directly from those who heard it from the mouth of the Vilna Gaon, who said, shortly before his passing:

“'When you hear that the Russians have invaded Crimea, you will know that the bells of Redemption have begun to ring. When you hear that the Russians have reached Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey, as it is called today), you can already don Sabbath clothes and await the appearance of Moshiach.'

“Last week the Russians invaded Crimea and the world slept… According to our tradition from the Vilna Gaon, this is a sign of impending redemption … Perhaps what the Gaon meant by 'bells of the redemption' is like a bell that signals the arrival of someone or something.”

Adapted for easier understanding for readers of all level of familiarity with the tradition from the presentation and translation of the teaching in English by Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz

An article in Hebrew on the Purim sermon can be found here.

Update: The version recorded in the writings of the Vilna Gaon's students' is as follows:

When the Russian ships cross the Dardanelles, it is already time to don Sabbath garments  


היא כי כאשר יעברו ציים רוסיים במיצרי הדרדנלים, אפשר כבר ללבוש בגדי שבת...
 

Monday, January 13, 2014

Fireball over Northeast US

‘Fireball’ seen streaking across sky over Northampton; reports from all over Northeast  


“It was way brighter than any meteorite I’ve seen.” Similar reports from people all over New England, New York and New Jersey flooded Twitter and the website of the National Meteor Society soon afterward. Of the 90 reports of the bright object on the website, called a meteorite or fireball by many, 17 were from Massachusetts, including one from Amherst.Connolly said the fireball was about five times bigger and hundreds of times brighter than most meteorites he has seen. He said it glowed blue and orange as it traveled for three or four seconds northeast across the sky before disappearing behind clouds.He noted that it was not completely dark out at the time, and usually meteors are only visible when it is completely dark. “This was very bright, as bright as the moon,” he said.Neither he or his wife heard any noise when they saw the fireball, he said.
A report from Rollingsford, N.H., said the fireball appeared to be about the size of a quarter when held at arm’s length and had a trail of sparks. Others commented that it left a green trail and appeared low in the sky.



Meteor sighting reported by hundreds on East Coast


"reports of a green fireball were reported by drivers on Routes 128 and 495 in Massachusetts just after 5 p.m."
Other reports came from Connecticut, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.  There were also reported sightings in Europe.

Discuss with other readers in real-time