In a world fueled by sheker, Shabbos brings a taste of undiluted truth
NOone needs me to tell them that today Klal Yisrael is facing formidable challenges from our foes. But it’s possible that as a result, Shabbos can take on a new dimension in pleasure. Rav Chaim Vital (Eitz Hadaas Tov, Tehillim 124) teaches us that the last galus before Mashiach, Galus Yishamel, will be, in his words, “kashah mikulam,” more difficult than all of them. One of the hallmarks of Yishmael is that he represents sheker, falsehood (see, for example Rashi, Bereishis 21:17). This is in contrast to his father-in-law, Eisav, who represents ra, evil.
The era we’re living in is defined by sheker. Indeed, the Talmud (Sotah 48b) teaches us that one of the signs of Mashiach’s imminence is, “v’ha’emes tehei ne’ederes,” truth disappears.
A classic anecdote to understand Yishmael’s sheker tells the tale of an old Arab trying to fall asleep on a sunny Jerusalem afternoon. Outside, kids are noisily playing ball. Our “hero” pulls himself out of bed, opens the window and declares, “Hey, kids, don’t you know that they’re giving out free temarim (dates) at Shaar Shechem?”
They drop everything and start running toward Damascus Gate. Triumphantly, he crawls back into bed and enjoys the quiet. To his dismay, the silence is short-lived. He hears a tumult in the streets and once again schleps himself out of bed to investigate the commotion. He is shocked to see the street filled with people running. They’re screaming, “Free temarim at Shaar Shechem! Come and get them!”
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