Shabbat Parashat Eikev 5785

Parashat Hashavua: “All Creation Will Know” – part II

Our prophets taught that the nations of the world will repent and serve Hashem along with Am Yisrael, whom Hashem chose with love, gave Eretz Yisrael, and made (through King David) its spiritual center Yerushalayim and its Temple. Last week, we saw Yeshayahu’s prophecies during the reigns of Uziyahu and Chizkiyahu. We will now bring a prophecy of his from the time of Menashe, which was fulfilled temporarily at the time of Yoshiyahu and will be fulfilled permanently in the future.

  “Their actions and thoughts are coming to gather all the nations and cultures, and they will come see My glory … They will bring all your brothers from among the nations … It shall be every month and every Shabbat that all flesh will come to bow down before Me, said Hashem” (Yeshayahu 66:18-23). Radak explains that “all flesh” includes all the nations. This, then, is what it means at the end of Ashrei, “all flesh will bless His holy name” (Tehillim 145:21; see Rashi ad loc.). Yeshayahu was boldly prophesying for Assyrians to hear, that while they exiled much of Am Yisrael and were an all-powerful pagan nation, Am Yisrael would return to the Land, and all nations would recognize Hashem and serve Him in Eretz Yisrael.

When Shlomo inaugurated the Beit Hamikdash, his speech highlighted the centrality of the Temple as a place for the service and effective prayers of nations from around the world, who would then be inspired to fully accept Hashem’s presence there (Melachim I, 8:41-43). Shortly before the destruction of the first Beit Hamikdash, Tzefania (3:20) shared the vision of the eventually returning exiles inspiring the nations to recognize Hashem. Zecharia, who prophesied at the time of the Persian Empire, saw the nations asking to be brought along (“holding on to the cloaks”) as Hashem embraced the ingathering Jews (8:20-23).

On the other hand, prophets foretold that there would be nations who would not accept this approach, and their lot would be bitter. Yechezkel (see ch. 38-39), speaking at the time of the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash, describes the nations being hit by fierce natural elements and some nations falling on the mountains of Israel as Hashem judged them, as He becomes known and sanctified before the eyes of many nations. Zecharia prophesied that those segments of non-Jewish society who would not come to bow down before Hashem in Yerushalayim, especially on Sukkot, would not receive rain in their lands and would be susceptible to plagues (14:12-18).

During WW II, not only did the cursed Nazis try to annihilate European Jewry, but also to conquer Eretz Yisrael and destroy its Jews as well. Rommel attacked from North Africa, and other forces approached from Iran-Persia. Hashem, in His mercy, made them fall at the hands of the Allies (as Chief Rabbi Herzog had guaranteed). Recently as well, the Axis of Evil – China, North Korea, Russia, Iran, and Turkey, and their proxies, have shown their true colors. With Hashem’s help, their end will be like that of the Nazis.

The Nation and State of Israel will not rest until every person that Hashem created will know Who brings light to the world. We shall help spread His light by running our nation according to the principles of charity and justice that Hashem taught us. In the meantime, we pray for the success of the IDF and security forces, a full recovery for the wounded, consolation for bereaved families, and return of all the hostages.

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