Before we begin – 3 ground rules:

1) It’s never the end, always a beginning.

2) It’s for sure not what we expect.

3) It’s really coming.

The convergence of so many prophecies on the year 2012 is amazing, the Mayan calendar, etc., and of course there is no escaping the question: “is the world going to end this year?”

The Zohar’s Timeline for the Messianic Redemption

As we well know already from previous posts, the Holy Zohar has a cryptic timeline extending from the year 60-73, omitting the century, in the 6th Millenium.  The year 2012 corresponds to the Jewish years of 5772-5773, which are of course in the 6th Millenium.  The Zohar’s timeline includes several critical “waypoints” in the coming of redemption.

Of course more important then the corresponding years, the Zohar’s timeline teaches a certain process of revelation of Moshiach and the ensuing messianic redemption.  These involve kabbalistic principles (indeed the entire subject of Moshiach is closely rooted in Kabbalah), some of these have been discussed in previous posts (http://ronnierendel.com/2011/09/28/the-jewish-year-5772-2012-the-holy-zohars-prophecy-of-redemption/).

The Zohar’s timeline climaxes in the years 5772/5773 with the Nations of the World gathering on the Nation of Israel to “shove it from the world” (in the Zohar’s words) only to be stopped by the revelation of the King Moshiach, fighting the wars of G-d, etc.

Sounds scary.  Well, first we must remember that Zoharic prophecies contain mystical secrets and should not be taken too literally.  Second, it is an important principle in Kabbalah that any concept can be manifested either in Thought, Speech, or Actions.  Thus, the Nations of the World gathering on the “Daughter of Jacob” (again, a phrase from the Zohar above) can be done in speech and not necessarily military actions.  We actually see this now, as the nations of the World condemn Israel for defending its G-d given right to the Land of Israel, rising anti-semitism, etc.

So, what’s this thing about Moshiach being revealed in the last minute, and fighting the wars of G-d etc.?

Waking Up from Slumber

Since the destruction of the Second Temple 2,000 years ago (beginning the “common era”), the world has been “sleeping”.  Just like when a person is sleeping, he is not aware of the true reality around him, similarly the human race has “sunk” into a reality where “nature” is random and chaotic, the Creator and His will and intent are hidden, etc.

Whenever I hear of the attach on orthodox (or for that matter even religious) Jewish life in Israel I can only think how ignorant everyone is.  This ignorance is shared by everyone, of course, including the most religious people.  You can live a long observant life without for a second experiencing the true divine unity in creation.  Indeed, even those of us who long for the mystical secrets of G-d unity, are “in the dark” in many ways.  This is what redemption is all about.

The truth is we are “in the dark” because G-d “wanted it” this way, which is why “we” sinned, exiled, and the history of mankind ensued (this is discussed in detail elsewhere).  Moshiach coming is a “light” – revealed a deeper dimension where there is nothing random, everything connected in a perfect G-dly unity.  This leading to true peace and the fulfillment of the human purpose.

Nevermind the details right now (we have a whole year to reveal them…), but suffice to say that this “light” or new intelligence is already available, revealed and expounded by generations of Kabbalists.  Our generation is destined to finally internalize these teachings into our daily reality.  This will be driven by Internet communities and global harmony.  It will be beautiful, and it will be this year.  But, again, how exactly – we have no idea.  Yet…

Next subjects to come:

Moshiach ben Yosef and Moshiach ben David

The Third Holy Temple and The Age of the Transcendental

Moshiach Came in 1991 – Took 20 Years to Internalize

Thanksgiving is defined by always being the last Thursday of November.  Never mind all the other aspects of the holiday, the fact that it falls on Thursday implies a very mysterious connection to Kabbalah.

Each day of the week is associate with one of the 7 Kabbalistic emotive attributes (corresponding to the 7 planets, 7 limbs of the body, 7 days of the week, etc.) The Kabbalistic attribute (Sefirah) corresponding to Thursday is “Hod” (in English “Splendor”).  ”Hod” is root of the word “Hoda’ah” which means “Thanksgiving”, it implies the emotive attribute of thanksgiving to G-d for His goodness.

It is also interesting that on Thanksgiving we eat Turkey – the Hebrew term for Turkey is “Hodu” which also means “to give thanks”.  Now, where this connection came from I have no idea – it seems like the holiday of Thanksgiving came about as a manifestation of changing (evolving) kabbalistic dimensions in the universes.  ”Hodu” is also the very first word of the Shcharit – morning prayer service.  It is the beginning of revelation, hence the association with the word “Splendor”.

There is a lot to be said about the Sefirot, and relating to such abstract concepts is difficult for the uninitiated, but through the sefirot the kabbalists can perceive patterns in creation otherwise obscured and concealed to us.  There is definitely something special about today then, and as its name applies – it’s about giving thanks (and acknowledgement) to G-d.

Here’s an old post where I talk about the specific level of Hod as pertaining to the coming of Moshiach and revelation of the secrets of the Torah.

http://ronnierendel.com/2009/09/08/the-year-5770-a-year-of-prophecy-and-redemption-2/

Beyond thanksgiving, Hod also has a meaning of “admitting to something that is beyond comprehension”.  In the Talmud, the Sages are said to be “modim to Rabbi Meir” – “admitting (from the root “Hod”) to Rabbi Meir – meaning their admit that what he said was right even though they do not understand it on their level.  That is specifically a point of revelation – a function of the nullification coming from giving over the intellect for the Supra-rational.

Lots of numbers in the heading, I know.  Today’s Solar Date is unique not just because it is 11/11/11, but because it is the only time in 100 years that the “single repeating digit date” includes 6 digits all identical (and this only happens with the digit 1 – which is special because Hashem is One)…

More importantly the next time the day, month, year are the same will be December 12th 2012, which is 9 days before the well known date of December 21st 2012, predicted as…  Who knows.

This week’s Torah portion (VaYera) also happens to be the segment in the Zohar that includes the timeline for redemption, culminating in the year 5773 (2012).  I wrote ab out it here: http://ronnierendel.com/2011/09/28/the-jewish-year-5772-2012-the-holy-zohars-prophecy-of-redemption/

As mentioned in that post, the Zohar goes through a 12.5 year process, most of it corresponding to the days of Moshiach ben Yosef.  It will be interesting to write about the relationship between Moshiach ben Yosef and Moshiach ben Dovid (the King and heir of the Davidic dynasty normally associated with the term “Moshiach”.)

What’s so special about the number 11 by the way?  In numerous places in Chassidus and Kabbalah 11 symbolizes the transformation of Evil into
Extreme Good.  You see, Good is Good.  Eveil is Bad.  But when you sweeten (and reveal) the essential source of Everything, you turn Evil into Extreme Good.  Hence the 11 spices in the Temple service include the Serum of Death, which properly treated was transformed into the Serem of Life.  

This is a very deep and mystical concept, but yet another key to redemption.  Unfortunately, here is another image that comes to mind with the number 11:

“Twins” has many mystical insights as well (how Man is a “twin” to G-d in the Days of Moshiach, hence the purpose of creation, etc.)  The Zohar’s timeline includes many insights into what we have to do to help bring about this transformation in a revealed good way.  It’s a work in progress, but please check it out – moshiach770.org.

Good Shabbos

On my way to the office today I stopped by 60 Wall again to meet my new friends of the Occupy Wall st movement.  Funny how the talk between other employees in my company, our customers, and vendors is how evil these people are, “communists!” they call them.  Is that a bad thing?  Well communist Russia was certainly an old school evil empire, and that’s not a discussion I was planning for today’s post anyway.

But while Capitalism is the best system known to work, things changed in the past 20 years, and the changes got more accented in the past 4 years, and the chasm will only continue to grow.

Our parent’s economy of working for a company for 40 years is a thing of the best, we all know that already.  What’s news now is that (never mind retirement) the prospects of a “regular paycheck”, monthly budgets, and “saving for a home” are out the window as well.

4 years ago I worked with a former CFO at a large commercial bank who also spent a few years in a leading private equity firm.  It was right during the 2008 crash and in a candid moment he took me aside and said “Ronnie, you should know that the age of the 100,000 employee behemoths is over.  The future is in small niche service providers…”

He went on to say that at his bank, 90% of the revenue was generated by a group of 20 bankers.  Everyone else in the bank (well over a thousand people) were getting paid for playing office politics and pretending to look busy.  That bank is no longer in business.  And those employees are unemployed.  The 20 bankers split into 4-5 “boutique” investment banks and making pretty much the same amount of money as before.

The others are what we call the “99 percenters.”

It’s sad, but it’s not the government’s fault.  and while the billionaire bankers should have more of a duty of social justice, I don’t see anyone giving them viable options for helping the 99%.  Sorry, but taxes is not a viable option.  Our government makes an obscene amount of money already, and you will be surprised how much of it goes for “projects” going to “friends” and “supporters” of politicians across all levels of government…

At the same time, the workforce is no global.  I recently came across an amazing new start up called Work Market (www.workmarket.com).  They just started, but they seem to be taking the eLance marketplace to the next level.  Mark my words (or bookmark them) but 20 years from now people will be offering their (highly specialized) services in the Internet global marketplace, working from wherever they want whenever they want, managing their projects/deliverables/payments through these platforms.

The key skill for this generation is project management and education.  With skills and niche specialities available all over the world on a per project basis, the real skill will be the ability to put these skills and “work” together to form a product – value.  The next necessity is the educational platform to enable new skills, experience, and ideas for new products and new value generated.  The new GDP of the new global economy.

The group of people I saw today at 60 Wall looked like the honor students I knew at Northwestern.  Smart, eager to get involved about something (anything), and communal.  Little did they realize the power (and value) in their gathering.  These protests won’t stop.  But I see them morphing into the communities that will support their members to grow, thrive, and unlock the G-dly potential that is in each of them.

This change is part of the opening of the Days of Moshiach.  It’s not like any of us think.  But it’s going to be great.

Peace

They are sitting in the atrium of 60 Wall St, most of them with iPhone, iPads, laptops, etc.  Very intelligent people – forming communities – calling attention to a real problem (the world changed and so have the rules of making a living), but confused about their message – their purpose – their mission.

These people leveraged Facebook to physically come together, assemble, share thoughts and energy, and follow up with a party at night.  Sounds amazing.  But the message is wrong.

Disrupt, don’t break.  Shout, don’t scream.  We all know the future redemption is driven by the new economies of social networks.  We blogged about it a lot.  Moshiach is about people coming together.  Let’s see groups coming together for Moshiach.

Foundation for Kabbalah Curriculum.  (Prerequisite)

1. World, Year, and Soul – 3 dimensions that are 5 – The Five Sense Reality and the 6th Sense Reality
2. 10 Sefirot and 4 Olamot – a constant process of creation something from nothing, microcosm and macrocosm – everything happens in 3 dimensions of World, Year, and Soul simultaneously – Man bringing balance – Shem Mah and the concept of structure
3. Tzimtzum and Kav – levels of contractions and concealment – Light and Darkness – Plurality from Singularity – Primordial precursors to the Ego and Sense of Self.  The Experience of Independent Being as an Inheritance from the True Independent Being.
4. The Original Intent Manifests in the Final Action – the cycle of the worlds, manifesting Infinity.
5. Chaos and Order – The Worlds of Tohu and Tikkun – The Evolution of Evil, The Husks and The Dark Side, the great potential in chaos, Man bringing balance, Man manifesting rectified G-dly revelation in structured vessels of Tikkun representing all the worlds and all dimensions through the performance of Mitzvot in the physical world, and the study of Torah and speaking words of Torah in the physical world.
6. The 32 Paths of Wisdom – Creation Something from Nothing for the purpose of Nullifying the Something back to Nothing – G-dly Manifestation through Ego Nullification – Revealing the Unlimited within Limitation – Producing Miracles and Overcoming Nature.
7. Keter and Malchut – the end is embedded in the beginning, the desire for Creation and Physically Existing Creation.  Accepting the Yoke of Heaven and Crowning G-d as King.
8. Chochmah and Binah.
9. Zeir Anpin – Male Manifestation
10. Nukbah – Female Manifestation
11. The 5 Levels of the Soul and the 4 Worlds that are 5.
12. Adam Kadmon and Yechidah – Uniting The Unlimited and Limited, Touching the No End.
13. Atik Yomin and Arich Anpin – Yechidah and Chayah – The World of Atzilut
14. Chochmah and Binah – Aba and Ima – The Intellects – Alma D’Itkasia – Chaya Yechidah vs Neshamah – Encompassing Lights and Internal Lights – Intellect vs Speech
15. Daat – Knowledge and Experience – The “Place” of the Worlds – Analogy from computer memory and artificial intelligence
16. Zeir Anpin – The Emotive Attributes – Alma D’Itgalia, Love and Fear – Source of Ego – Ascends to Binah, and Descends to Malchut – Ruach
17. Malchut – Nefesh – The World of Asiyah and Action, The Source of Creation
18. The Breakage of the Vessels in the Dimension of Nekudim – Rectification in the Dimension of Verudim – The Seder Hishtalshelut, Specifically the World of Atzilut.
19. The Worlds Beriyah, Yetzirah, and Asiyah Act as a Garment for the World of Atzilut – like Man and Garment.  The Lights of the World of Atzilut are likened to the Mind, Thought, and Speech of Man, and the Vessels of the World of Atzilut are likened to the Body – He is One with His Lights He is One with His Vessels.
20. The Mystery of Unification.  Thesis, Antithesis, and Synthesis.
21. The Lights of A”B, Sa”g, Mah, and Bun – Breaking of the Vessels in Sa”g, Divine Sparks falling into Bun, rectified by Mah.  Union of Male and Female Creative Energy to Reveal the No End which is higher then both.
22. Man acting as a Merkava for G-dliness in the physical world.  Man unifying all the worlds through his study of Torah and performance of Mitzvot, including his interaction with the world – Making a Dwelling-place for G-d, The Holy Temple, Revealing Infinity within the Finite
23. Ratzo and Shuv – Engagement and Detachment – Touching the Divine – Bring Heaven Down to Earth – Giving Life-Force to the Dark Side – Shielding Life-Force with Structure and Discipline
24. Experience through the Animal Soul, Experience through the G-dly soul.
25. Unifying Malchut through Interaction and Networking.  Uniting Plurality into Unification – the purpose of Plurality – the Lights of Tohu and Vessels of Tikkun – The Coming of Moshiach – The ingathering of the Exiles and the Building of the Temple.
26. Revealing the Essencial No End in our physical bodies in the World to Come

This can only be accomplished by someone who is tapped into the Source of wealth = the value intrinsic in Knowledge.

VCs are at the core of the creative influx of potential and value instantiation.

Value instantiation brings to wealth.

Wealth is communal. It is the fuel for revelation of G-dliness.

Create…

Rabbi Shimon open and said: “and I remembered My covenant with Yakov…” the name Yacov is written with an additional letter Vav – for what?

Rather there are two sides to it, which are mysteries to this single wisdom.  This mystery (literally secret ‘Raz’ which has the numerical value of 70) is the level of Wisdom.  The place where Yacov dwells. 

But this verse was said on the exile of Israel, and it says that in their final exile, when they are redeemed (literally ‘remembered’ or ‘counted’), they will be redeemed with the mystery of the Vav.  And this will be in the 6^th Millennium [but the Zohar does not mention the century – this corresponds to the teaching that the world enters the days of Moshiach in the end of the 6^th Millenium like Shabbat that begins Friday night – but again no one knows which hour (century or decade).]  [The reason no one knows the exact time of the redemption is because the redemption and the coming of Moshiach are mysteries at the highest level, this is because the very process of redemption is revelation from Pnimyut Atik or Ein Sof within Radla, etc.]

  The redemption through the mystery of the Vav is 6 moments and half a moment [the language of the Zohar is mysterious and these are not literal moments, but they are steps, a rhythm if you will of a process…]

At the time of 60 years [to a count] in the 6^th Millenium, the G-d of Heaven will remember the daughter of Yakov.  [There are 2 terms the Zohar is using here – Pekida and Zicharon – both mean remembered and both denote redemption(as we say in Yaale VeYavo – Zichronenu u’Pikdoneinu) see more drushim of Rosh HaShanah on Zicharon and Drushim on VaYomer Lo Yonatan Machar Chodesh regarding Pekidah.)

From that time (Pekidah – notice or count – denoting taking of significance) until it is remembered (zicharon – analogous to bringing a program(data) from disc to memory) – 6 years and a half.  From that time – 6 more years (in the process) – which are 72 and a half.

The Zohar then begins a discourse describing the spiritual battles ensuing the revelation of the king Moshiach.  Before we quote them, we must keep in mind that the words of the Zohar are describing processes and dynamics.  For example, the battles the Zohar mentions in other places (Zohar Chadash on Balak and others) wars between Good and Evil every night during the 9 months (in the year 70 incidentally) during the “birth pangs of Moshiach”.  These could easily simply refer to the battle in each and every one of us as we say Shema at night at the end of a hard day and remember the simply true G-dly unity, etc..

In the year 66 the King Moshiach will be revealed in the land of the Galil.  The Rebbe referred to this Zohar as a ‘ketz’ the Rebbe Rashab referred to in establishing Seudas Moshiach in 5666 and the famous Hemshech Samech Vav (66).  Indeed, the second famous Hemsech Aiyn Beis (72) is likely related to the continuation of the process mentioned in this Zohar – again hence the significance of this coming year ha baah letov u’libracho.  The remaining alternatives for the “year 66” in the 6^th Millenium are 5766 (which means we are in that process now and this year 72 is the 72 mentioned above), or 5866 or 5966.  There are many other sources that make an overwhelmingly strong case that it’s not in a 100 years, but rather now.  You just have to discover more to realize it…

And one star in the East will swallow 7 stars from the North.  I don’t know exactly what this means, and it’s obviously very mystical, but in several places the Zohar discusses the 7 tzadikim (very interesting – 7 generations of Rebbeim) which are shining 7 Zeharim of the 7 firmaments (see introduction to Tikkuney Zohar where the Rashbi brings that each firmament has a Tzadik which is illuminating the Zohar of that firmament, and 6 of the firmaments and Tzadikim are included in the 7^th firmament and Tzadik – it’s amazing indeed.  Seems like a description and context for the mamer Basi LeGani and how each of the 7 Rebbeim brought the Sehchinah – which is the revelation of the True and Complete Redemption beginning with the Alter Rebbe – bringing Faith into Intellect, and hence including the 3 lights of Intellects (Gimmel Mochin) of the Baal Shem Tov, Rav HaMagid and the Alter Rebbe, through the Mitteler Rebbe, the Tzemach Tzedek, the Rebbe Moharash, the Rebbe Rashab, the Rebbe Rayatz, and the Rebbe who brought the shechina down to earth, in the True and Complete Redemption.

The star on the East that “swallowed”  the 7 stars might be an allusion to the 8^th aspect – which is all of us, the Chassidim, as we internalize (swallow) the Torah of the Rebbeim.  This is alluded to in Mamer VaYehi BaYom HaShmini 5737, amazing stuff there…  Of course there is no 8^th generation per se, just like there are no 8 days in the week, but the 7^th generation, like the 7^th day ahs 2 aspects – dare I say one before Gimmel Tammuz and one after? I don’t know.  If it is, then it will certainly explain why the Rebbe split his camp into 2.  You see, the Alter Rebbe in Torah Or VaYishlach explains why Yakov (see reference to Yakov in the Zohar above) split his camp into 2 in order to take on the structure of the World of Tohu.  He did this in order to receive Esav’s Lights of Tohu and bring them into Vessels of Tikun.  This is through the middle column (synthesis that results from the formation of thesis and antithesis).  More on this in that wonderful Torah Or drush, but I spoke before about how this concept of Tohu in Tikun is fulfilled by the Internet – which amazingly launched globally as the domain of any willing person in the year 1994 – 5754, very interesting indeed (http://ronnierendel.com/2010/03/22/the-internet-leading-the-manifestation-of-the-messianic-redemption/).

The Zohar continues later and says “…and battles will awake in the world on the North… and al the nations of the world will gather on the Daughter of Yakov to push her from the world…” This was always understood literally as armies warring with Israel chas veShalom, but as we see this can be fulfilled by words alone, as it is now in the United Nations and world media.  “…upon that time it is said “it is a time of distress for Yakov, and from it he will be redeemed…”  The verse could also be understood to say that no only Yakov will be redeemed FROM that time of distress, but rather THROUGH the distress the redemption of Yakov will take place.  This is what the Rebbe says in several places in the sichos if 5751-52 that the inyon of the redemption is “I will thank You for that you afflicted me…” and this is not the place to elaborate.

The Zohar continues: “… in the year 73 all the kings of the world will gather in the great city of Rome, and The Holy One Blessed be He will bring (Himself) on them with fire and hail and stones of Algavish, and they will be lost from the world…  and in that time the King Moshiach will be revealed in the whole world…” The great city of Rome – the port city and financial capital of the descendants of Rome is New York City, where the United Nations sits.

Interesting that the year 5773 corresponds to December 21 2012, which has some significance to several different idolatrous nations.  It is interesting to see the process of redemption through the Rebbe’s sichos beginning with Rosh Chodesh

Nissan 5751 through Vayakhel Pikudei 5752.  If you follow the process you see the revelation of Moshiach (which we have to receive, he was revealed and gave it all over to us – see again the aspect of the 8^th) beginning with Rosh Chodesh Nissan, through Pesach, picking up steam in Koach Nissan, Tazria-Metzorah, through Emor 5751, hitting the pinnacle with the statement that the work of Birurim is complete in VaYetze and VaYishlach 5752 and that now we have already Mekifim of Tohu and we need to draw them properly into Vessels of Tikkun (VaYishlach 5752) which is exactly the AVODAH of Kabbolos Pnei Moshiach, etc.

So if the redemption has a critical point in 72 and a half (as the Zohar states above) it could mean Pesach, which begins the process that completes a third of the way into the year 73 – which incidentally happens to fit the date of December 21 2012.  Incidentally, this year is exactly the same kvius as 5751 with Pesach falling on Shabbos and having complete days of Sefirah (beginning on Sunday and ending with Malchut on Shabbos), 8 readings of Parshas Semini (there is that number 8 again), etc.

At this point it is important to reiterate that as the Rebbe shows us time and again, the redemption, like Teshuva can and will happen in an instant.  This moment will bring about miraculous and wondrous revelations including the Third Bais HaMikdash (teichef umiyad MMSh).  This moment might be all of us chassidim coming together, forming Orot of Tohu in Keilim of Tikun, to receive Moshiach by opening our eyes and seeing that the world is already in Geulah for 20 years.  Kelipah and Darkness no longer get their life force from the 288 sparks.  Now they are getting their life from us, from the powerful lights of Moshiach which are not (yet) internalized by us.  That’s why Moshiach is called a Metzorah – his afflictions (ein be Ra lemata mi Nega ve ein bat Tov lemala me Oneg) are high lights of Tohu (Pnimyus Atik) which he needs to “find” or “discover” hence being Mekabel Pnei Moshiach bepoal MMSh.

And all of this is accomplished through strengthening our study of the inyonim of Geulah and Moshiach, particularly in the esoteric dimensions of the Torah, and ultimately in the Rebbe’s Sichos and Mukadik Mamarim of 5751-52.

In the next few posts we will go through the mystical timeline of the Zohar for the redemption between the years 5760-5772/3 (2000-2012).  We will look at it within the general context of the redemption by Moshiach and the personal/global transformations occurring  in parallel.

Introduction:

Why now?  The real question is ‘why not 2,000 years ago?’  Either way, the redemption is called ‘dawn’, not “daybreak’, because unlike daybreak that happens instantaneously (like the redemption from Egypt) – the true and complete redemption by Moshiach is alikened to dawn which is a gradual process.

The reason for it being a gradual process is that the true and complete redemption must be a complete transformation of the physical dimension to become a vessel for Divine revelation.  Physicality is a “husk” (kelpiah) that conceals G-dliness.  Previous redemptions have overcome and subjugated physicality (the finite “laws of nature” broken), but this keeps physicality a  concealment of G-dliness, physicality was subjugated but it was not transformed.

Transformation is always a process, where subjugation can be in an instant (as is evident in human relationships where to conquor someone is possible in an instant but to change their will and emotions takes time).

There are many mystical timelines in the Zohar.  It’s hard to learn much into these, however, since they are codes hinting to sublime spiritual processes (which take place in parallel in the “heavens” as well as within the soul/psyche of each of us).  However, sometimes you find a timeline describing the general framework the process of the redemption.  In Zohar I, 119A you see a process for redemption alongside their years.

Next to come: A Preface: 6,000 years and 6 days of Creation

Understanding the meaning of redemption will let us understand what we need to do to bring about the redemption, and how to prepare for the state of the world in the redemption.  Here we go…

1. The meaning of everything is hinted to by its name (in Torah).  The meaning of redemption is then hinted to in the Hebrew term for redemption – Geulah.
2. While the Jewish people underwent several “redemptions” (from Mitzorym, Bavel, Greek, and the final exile – Rome), the term redemption takes a special significance in describing the final redemption from the 2,000 years of exile following the destruction of the Second Temple – “the true and complete redemption”.
3. In Hebrew, the word “redemption” Geulah is the same letters as the word “exile” Golah, with the exception of an additional Aleph.  This Aleph symbolizes (hints to) Alufo shel Olam (lit. the Champion of the World) – and through the Jewish people (in the time of exile) “inserting” and revealing this level of “Aleph” (symbolizing the highest and most sublime level of Keter of Atzilut) into the world (Golah), they bring about redemption (Geulah).
4. This last point is important, because it holds the mystical necessities for bringing about the redemption by Moshiach.  It is within our power to do, and in fact, only in our power to do.
5. Since the time of creation, there has been a cosmic process of “rectifying the fallen 288 sparks of Tohu”.  All through the time of this process, the world was in the process of becoming refine – which will ultimately make it a worthy vehicle for harmonic revelation of G-dliness.
6. However, this process of rectification involved the bitter subject of exile – the concealment of G-dliness and mankind’s process of “grappling in the dark” for its maturity and fulfillment of purpose.  The Torah was a guiding light through this process, and the Giving of the Torah was a monumental event in that process.
7. Another monumental event, and even greater in magnitude is the true and complete redemption by Moshiach, along with the rebuilding of the 3^rd (and everlasting) Temple, and the ingathering of the Jewish exiles up to the Land of Israel.  May it complete speedily now, Amen.
8. This second event is itself a “process” – of society and the world “coming of age”, leading to an end of wars and harmony and cooperation that will allow humans to fulfill their divine potential – to unite with G-d Himself in perfect Unity.
9. The world is now “ready” for this, which is to say that the process of refining the 288 sparks is complete (see sichos VaYetze and VaYishlach 5752).   Now the world needs to adapt to this new reality.
10. This process involves learning the mystical details of the process of redemption, the relationships between divine concealment and revelation, and the three primary relationships between Ego, G-d, and World.