THIS IS GOOD NEWS HOW TO SEE THE WORLD TODAY העולם נהיה טוב יותר “Do you look like your dog?” originated in a photo series by Gerrard Gethings featuring canines alongside their owners. That’s not the first time humans have been compared to hounds; the Talmud posits that people prior to Moshiach’s arrival will have “the face of a dog”. Commentary ranges from the pessimistic prediction of a generation of spineless leaders, like a dog who sprints ahead but always turns back for

GAIN WITHOUT PAIN? THE MEANING OF SUFFERING BEFORE REDEMPTION חבלי משיח During the Holocaust, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn addressed a letter to a disciple’s confusion regarding Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak’s recent declaration that Moshiach’s arrival was imminent. Why are we then suffering? his student asked. In response, the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe compared the devastation of Eastern European Jewry to birthpangs. While often excruciating and prolonged, labor is a step in the pr

EXILE'S EXPIRATION DATES WHEN THE TIME OF REDEMPTION COMES AND GOES קצים What do the years 965, 1216, 1533, and 1943 have in common? These years contained moments filled with infinite possibility hidden within the fabric of history — dates that shimmered with redemptive energy. Corrupt civilizations rise and fall while we hold our breath for the cosmic conclusion of their ignoble aims. But what happens when the appointed hour strikes and the world keeps spinning? סנהדרין צ״ז:

FROM REBELLION TO REDEMPTION COUNTERCULTURE AS TEH KEY TO MOSHAICH חוצפא יסגי War protesters, opposed to the intervention of the United States in political skirmishes overseas, earned the derogatory name “peaceniks” by New York’s Village Voice in the 1960s. These military pacifists, we can perhaps argue, were simply young people with ideals too modern for their times. סוטה מט ע"ב בְּעִקְבוֹת מְשִׁיחָא חוּצְפָּא יִסְגֵּא…נְעָרִים פְּנֵי זְקֵנִים יַלְבִּינוּ, זְקֵנִים יַעַמְדוּ

REALIZING REDEMPTION HOW DEMANDING MOSHIACH BRINGS HIM CLOSER לבקש גאולה The Law of Attraction is not about relationships or magnetic fields. In modern lingo, it’s called “manifestation,” and it is a mind game based on the premise that when you want something badly enough, and believe strongly enough that it will work out for you, it will happen. What is the value of a positive attitude in Jewish philosophical thought and what are its ramifications on future events? חיד״א מדב

MONUMENTAL HOPE REMEMBERING THE TEMPLE THROUGH RITUAL זכר למקדש Over twenty years after 9/11, the impressions of the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil is fading from public discourse. 9/11 is a powerful memory for Americans, but only for adults old enough to remember, Pew reports. To the new generation, 9/11 feels as historical and remote as Pearl Harbor. Is there a way to preserve the collective memory? משניות סוכה ג:יב בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה הָיָה הַלּוּלָב נִטָּל בַּמִּקְדָּש

THE PULSE OF PRAYER WHY MOSHIACH IS THE CORE OF THE LITURGY תפילה על משיח A recent survey found that close to 50% of Americans pray every day, and at least 37% of those believe that their prayers have been answered. They pray for health, prosperity, and the well-being of their loved ones. Some even pray for their favorite sports team to win or to find a good parking space. Jews are commanded to commune with G-d three times a day and voice various supplications at times in bet

THE ANTIDOTE TO EXILE UNDERSTANDING THE TIMING OF REDEMPTION PROPHECIES. הכוונה והמטרה בנבואת הגאולה To prepare for battle, soldiers go through many stages of basic and tactical training. One non-practical but essential component remains. Aimed at setting the soldier in the proper mental and emotional state of mind before engaging the enemy, commanders gather their troops and rally them by evoking the imperative of their mission and the glory of its success. What do pep talks

I BELIEVE MOSHIACH IN OUR TIMES אֲנִי מַאֲמִין…בְּבִיאַת הַמָּשִֽׁיחַ A group of modern psychologists have coined the term "primal world beliefs" (also called "primals") to define how individuals live their lives based on what they perceive as "truths." To determine what these beliefs are, they fed sacred texts, movies, fiction books, and tweets into a data analysis tool. They then narrowed in on 26 primary words that people use to describe the world. The adjectives range fro