The Jew's Day After

Image from Google Gemini

From what we have seen until now, there should be no surprise if the next significant step in Israel’s redemption—the final defeat of all external enemies—is not accompanied by a shofar-announced irrefutable appearance of Divine intervention. It hasn’t happened during all the miraculous stages of the ingathering of the exiles until now. There is no reason to think that this will change. For the Messianic Era, an event such as the parting of the Red Sea is not a pre-requisite. The Jews await a flesh-and-blood Messiah, who, though Divinely appointed, will still make his appearance on this earth as a spiritual, political, and military leader of the Jews. Prophet, King, General, but still flesh and blood.

This is not to say that regional peace will land without fanfare. There will be dancing in the streets, festivals, concerts, Jews and Arabs eating hummus together as brothers (or at least cousins). Countries and peoples who partner with the Jews will see great blessings, though none that cannot be explained away as the logical fruits of peace—anything but the fruits of a Divine blessing. The dust will eventually settle, and people will go back to work. The banality of life. Excitement proscribed but for sports and music events and the like, a dome of Brave New World Soma lowered upon the masses. Peace in our time.

What then will be of the Jews? There will be financial security, physical security, and…what? Observant Jews have never lost sight of the ultimate goal of the semitic project, which is to spread the word and truth of God to the entire human race. The problem is that of the world-wide Jewish population, 20% is observant. Absent the splitting of seas, the splitting of the heavens, the splitting of the Mount of Olives, what can bring the rest of the “wayward” Jews back into line? Not much, it seems. Just as not much would be preventing some of the observant Jews from sliding over to join the comfortable majority of non-observant Jews. There is a dark humor in the thought that the entire arc of Jewish history would end with such a whimper.

In their history, when the Jews could not find it within themselves to unite behind a singular national purpose, or to build up internal strength through filial love, “solutions” were eventually imposed from without. Reuven may take up the sword, but Shimon is opening the back gate for the Assyrians. What, if anything, would be different this time around? It is difficult to imagine, but it could be different. In the past if a Jew would denounce his Jewish heritage he would be met with the assimilating Jew’s nightmare: a threatening but smiling Gentile reminding him that though he may have forgotten that he is a Jew, the Gentiles have not. What if this time around, that same Jew would be met with a friendly scolding: “Not so fast, dear Jew. We need you. We want the Chosen People now! Get back to Jerusalem and show us some of that Jewish magic.

Imagine it. From Israel’s view a defeat of our existential enemies would lead to a golden age of physical security and economic prosperity. There he stands triumphant, the Jewish warrior on the field of the last battle, finally able to throw down his sword and shield, finally able to rest. Imagine it: the Jewish people at ease. But now something new appears. Just as in the past the Gentile world that hated Jews never allowed a Jew to forget that he was a Jew, now that same world will look upon the Jews to fulfill their Divine covenant. These Gentile nations who will partner with Israel will beseech, will demand of Israel to invoke the conditions of their covenant with the Creator. They will demand, politely, their due blessings under that same covenant.

Invoke the relationship with the Creator. Bring the Creator closer to the nations of the world, bring the nations of the world closer to the Creator. That is the job of the Jews on the day after. Nothing less. No, there will be no rest for the Jews on this Earth; the Jews are on a mission.