Most of the Jewish people are so scattered and removed from each other that they hardly ever find a common language, or even any language that makes sense to them as Jews. This is what is called assimilation, which is basically the loss of their common heritage. We therefore have to try to reach some deeper levels of the soul, many of them bordering on the unconscious, to help us get back to talking together, to having some kind of a common language.

The emotion of love has been the subject of poets and romantics for centuries. We need not enter into any analysis of that topic, but, as it relates to loving a fellow Jew, some kind of specific definition is obviously necessary.

It may cause dismay and serve as somewhat of a disappoint­ment that, in the opinion of Maimonides, the messianic era will not be all that miraculous. This does not in any way lessen the magnitude of change that will embrace the world at that time. On the contrary, the Maimonidean theory provides a highly probable scenario in which the messianic era can easily follow the extraordinary changes that are already part of modern-day society.

Last week I read an article rated highly on digg.com. The article contained a long list of important inventions that were scorned by esteemed individuals, only for the product to become a raging success within decades.

University of Chicago astronomer Dr. F. R. Moulton said in 1932, “There is no hope for the fanciful idea of reaching the Moon because of insurmountable barriers to escaping the earth’s gravity.” A British mathematician and physicist Lord Kelvin (1824-1907) declared “Heavier-than-air flying machines are And here’s an internal memo from Western Union in 1878, “This `telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a practical form of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us.” And here's one more jem from Pierre Pachet, rofessor of Physiology at Toulouse, 1872, "Louis Pasteur’s theory of germs is ridiculous fiction."

Amusing, no?

I anticipate that when Moshiach comes similar articles will float around the World Wide Web of G-dly knowledge updated with quotes of individuals who thought Moshiach is impossible. Moshiach may sound more than a little bizarre today, but we’ve already witnessed how drastically things can change.
 

In this age of egalitarian and liberal thinking, how can Jews still promote what is to many intellectuals a shameful and vainglorious sentiment of being the chosen nation? How can Jews preach to the world that they are better than everyone else?

We know from Biblical prophecies and from the Talmud that there are two possible scenarios for the Final Redemption.  The difference between them lies in a fundamental question: will it be a revolutionary event, or an evolutionary one?  The first redemption, the Exodus from Egypt, was a whirlwind of supernatural events, a total revolution. How will the final redemption unfold?