Another Sign of the End: Our Most Exciting Seder Ever

                                                                                   בס"ד

The Pesach Seder basically consists of three parts: the past, the present and the future. We start by telling the story of our first redemption from Egypt and how Hashem took us out “with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm” and made us a nation. It is made up of quotes from the Torah and the rest of Tenach as a way of telling the story.

After the past is discussed, we eat our meal, which is indicative of the present. Then we follow the meal with prayers and songs that depict the future: the return of our nation to Jerusalem, Gog and Magog, the final redemption and the coming of Moshiach.

When I was preparing to conduct the Seder on Erev Pesach (Friday), as I do every year, Hashem put a fascinating thought in my mind, which completely changed my approach to the Seder. Knowing that all that happened in the first redemption from Egypt is actually prophecy for the final redemption that we are experiencing, I was sent on a very different path of review of the events of the past. Also, realizing that the future events that we acknowledge after the meal are actually happening (or have already happened), I realized that my three parts to the Seder were now: the present, the present and the present.

The information that I discovered was so extensive, that I am still researching the words of the Haggadah. It made for a very fascinating Seder, and another definite proof that we are in the end of days, right before the worldwide redemption.

I will give you some examples of what I disclosed at the Seder and even encourage you to open the Haggadah and do your own discovery. Rabbis have talked about Europe being the Egypt of our recent generation. The horrors that went on in the 1800’s that led to the eventual “final solution,” of the Holocaust. There were many Jews who were fortunate enough to leave Europe before the greatest horror and come to America and other places. America became known as Bamidbar, the desert, where we stayed for 40 years before coming home to Israel. America was a haven from the tyranny of Europe, and even provided a safe haven for Torah study and growth.

One famous story was that of Rav Aharon Kotler, zt”l, who saw the great downturn of Torah learning in Europe and the need to relocate his Yeshivah. He did what many Rabbis do, he opened the Torah and let Hashem advise him on what to do. He opened directly to the passage that says: “Hashem said to Aharon: ‘Go to meet Moshe in the wilderness’ (Shmot 4:27).” Rav Kotler knew that Hashem was telling him to go see his friend Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l, in America. He went to America, met Rav Feinstein who told him this is where we need to be until the time of Moshiach when we would all be in Eretz Yisroel. It is a fulfillment of the Torah events of the first Geula that would happen in the final Geula.

I have discussed the fact that the plagues of Egypt would be repeated in the end of days. The words of Targum of Yonatan ben Uziel tell us about each plague and where it is prophesied in Tenach to repeat in the end of days. That is a very long discussion, too long for here, but it is demonstrating that we have already experienced or are continuing to experience the plagues of Egypt today. Once again, the Haggadah is talking the present as well as the past.

There are so many lines that are of fascination, but I thought I would mention one more that is even spooky. Prophecies are not always visible and especially if you are reading them in English. The line from the prophet Joel that says: “I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, Blood, fire and columns of smoke (Joel 3:3). In English there isn’t too much exciting information, but in Hebrew, the word used for Column (or Pillar) is תמרות, which is the same root used for the word for a Date Palm, התמר. It is telling us in Hebrew that the shape of the pillar is like that of a Date Palm or, as we are more familiar with, a Mushroom Cloud shape. This is one of the places in Tenach that alludes to nuclear in the end of days. It does not tell me specifically when; in other words, Hiroshima and Nagasaki may have already satisfied this prophecy. My point is that a simple statement in the Haggadah could have such an impact and significant meaning in the prophecy of today.

Just some thoughts about the future, or as it appears, the present. The Haggadah tells of the time when Your city, Jerusalem, will be built up and we will return. Jerusalem has never been as big and built up a city, any time in history, as it is today. The Jewish population is definitely a fulfillment of the prophesy in the end of days. One of the prayers that we end the Seder with is the Hallel. There are many lines in the Hallel that pertain to events in the end of days. The following, once again has hidden message:

The L-rd is with me; I have no fear of what man can do to me. The L-rd is with me among my helpers; I shall see the defeat of my foes. It is better to seek refuge in the L-rd than to trust in man. It is better to seek refuge in the L-rd than to trust in princes. All nations have encompassed me; but in the name of the L-rd, I routed them. They swarmed around me; but in the name of the L-rd, I cut them down. They swarmed like bees about me, but they were extinguished like a fire of thorns; but in the name of the L-rd, I cut them down. You pushed me that I might fall, but the L-rd helped me. The L-rd is my strength and song; He has become my salvation.

Why does it have the statement three times about the nations encompassing me, but Hashem helped me? This is the prophecy of the three battles of Gog and Magog. Whether we are talking World War 1, 2 and 3 or 1948, 1967 and 1973, the three battles of Gog and Magog are basically finished and that prophecy in Hallel is satisfied.

The words in the Haggadah about Next Year in Jerusalem have been satisfied. The talk about us being in exile, far from our soil, all put a very different spin on whether we are talking future prophecy or fulfilled prophecy. The Moshiach may not have been introduced yet, but we know with full confidence that he is already here, and working hard to bring the great day of Hashem.

My Seder was performed with a very big smile on my face. I have never felt so good about telling the story of redemption and realizing that it is already here, B”H.

Since the Seder, I have continued to review the Haggadah for more references to modern history. We know that history is talked about in the songs at the end of the Seder, but I was curious as to what I would find of recent history. As examples: the mention of the destruction of the two giants, or as the Sfas Emes called them, the two towers, Sichon and Og. That is a reference to 911 since I know that the estimate of the height of Sichon and Og, as referenced in Talmud, Tractate Berachos, comes to the same height as the twin towers. I also noticed two places that stars are mentioned. Are there references to Nibiru? Probably, but I would need a few more weeks of research to determine. I have all of the Tenach in my computer program to do code searches, but not the Haggadah, which would have to be done by hand.

One additional note of encouragement. It is estimated that 93% of Israelis attended a Pesach Seder. I have never seen such a wonderful estimate as that, which also is a very big indication that the end is here. People can be as secular as they want in this physical world, but the soul knows better, and craves the spiritual nearness of Hashem. It is just such a good idea to let your soul be your guide.

I apologize that I thought of this approach to the Seder too late to mention it in advance. It would have been interesting to see what discoveries my readers would have found as they went through their Seders. Of course, you can still look and provide me with comments of your findings. I would be happy to post any additional information that gives us more confidence that the Seder is not just something to go through out of tradition, but a tool to learn and even bring us closer to Hashem.

We know that Hashem works in mysterious ways. To give us additional encouragement that the happy ending is near through something as repetitious as the annual Pesach Seder is exciting. There is nothing mundane about Torah study, since we make very enjoyable discoveries every day as we continue our efforts. To include the Haggadah as another source of discovery is also exciting.