Thursday, August 28, 2008
To Understand the "Birthpangs of Moshiach"
by the Mitteler Rebbe, 2nd Rebbe of Lubavitch
Golus (exile) is likened to pregnancy, and the geulah (redemption) is likened to birth...Just as at the end of nine months a pregnant woman will begin to cry out in pain (from "birthpangs"), similarly the time at the end of the period of golus, right before the geulah when the moment of salvation is near (which is the "preganacy" of the time of golus), is referred to as "birthpangs". This is the idea of "birthpangs of Moshiach" which occur to Israel "from the straits" which are called "eis tzora", "time of trouble" and precisely from these troubles we will be saved.
This is a sign of the beginning of the geulah, as is known, but it is specifically after finishing the time of pregnancy, which is at the end of nine months. Although she is pregnant before this, and she has painful contractions, these are not called labor pains because labor pains only occur right before the onset of the actual birth. The birthpangs come upon her in order to bring about the birth, and they are the sign that the time has arrived for birth; but as long as she still isn't undergoing birthpangs she won't be able to give birth because it means that time of birth still hasn't arrived as the duration of the pregnancy hasn't been completed.
We find that the matter of the birthpangs is specifically to bring about the birth, after the completion of the time of pregnancy. Pregnancy is the opposite of birth, because pregnancy is confinement and concealment of the baby in the womb of its mother, specifically in the higher part of the womb during the last three months, as is known. At the time of birth, it turns over and goes out from the higher part of the womb to the lower part in order to come out and be revealed. This is leaving the narrow strait which presses the baby out, which requires birthpangs. The birthpangs do the opposite of birth, but specifically through them is the birth accomplished.
As is known, birthpangs are a strong, gripping pain on the sides of the baby to make it come out, which is the main part of the pain. But is is specifically through this that there is the strength and ability for birth, and that is why the birthpangs are called "mashber" ("crisis") like "the one who sits on the mashber (birthing stone)". It is at the moment of Israel's distress in the days of Yechezkiya, king of Yehuda who was beseiged by Sancheriv, king of Ashur, as is known. So it is regarding the birthpangs of Moshiach--that close to his coming there will be the upheaval of the war of Gog and Magog, which is the opposite of redemption, similar to birthpangs. But specifically through this upheaval will come the strength of the geulah, which is called birth. All this is because the geulah is the opposite of exile, because exile is the ultimate concealment (the level of pregnancy) and the geulah is the level of birth. Thus, birthpangs are required to bring about the geulah because they are the main things which facilitate the birth.
Like a river, gaining speed as it narrows, the strength for giving birth comes specifically from the birthpangs...thus it is understood that on the supernal level of "birth" of the collective entity of Jewish souls the birthpangs arise to give the strength for birth. That is to say, specifically at the end, right before the time of birth -- which is the time of the coming of Moshaich -- that is when she begins to cry out from the birthpangs, which are the troubles for Israel from which she will be saved, and this is the sign of the beginning of the redemption.
from: Birthpangs of Moshiach: Why?!
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