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The Short Vort- -“"Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"”
The Short Vort
Good Morning!
Today is Monday the 8th of Av- Erev Tisha B’av 5770 -and July 19, 2010
"Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"
Martin Luther King –August 28th 1963-on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial
With these words Dr. King concluded his famous sixteen minute speech, “I have a Dream”.
The speech is considered by many scholars to be one of the most notable speeches in American history.
After listening to the various queries which have been brought before me in the last few days, I have the feeling that many of us will feel the ‘right’ to utter these words at the conclusion of Tisha Bav.
However, the question is why we will have the rightto scream out the words: "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"?
Unfortunately, it seems to me that many of us will say these words not because Mashiach has redeemed us; rather, because we are able to finally indulge in the cup of coffee which was so desperately ‘needed’ during the fast.
The amount of people who have asked me how to deal with their caffeine addiction has led me to believe that if given the choice- if they could have Mashiach at 4 in the afternoon on Tisha B’av day, or have a cup of coffee, they would need time to think about it!
Many would certainly say, “Just let me have one quick cup of java, and then I’m good to greet Mashiach!”
However, it goes even deeper than caffeine addiction.
How will all of us feel at 9:30 P.M. on Tuesday night?
Of course we will be hungry; however, will we also want to scream- after these long nine days we are "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"?
Perhaps yes. However, the reason we will utter the words is not because we have been redeemed, no, not at all.
We feel that the chains of restrictions which fettered us these last nine days have finally been removed, not to be thought about any more.
We feel ‘free’ of all the ‘do’s and don’t’’ which have complicated our lives this last week and a half. Finally, we are ‘free’ of them.
This is sad.
Do we realize that if (Chas V’Shalom) Mashiach does not arrive tomorrow, we are just as much entrenched in Galus as we were before Tisha B’av and that we are not free?
The real test will be- for those of us who feel they cannot function without their cup of coffee- and for the rest of us who certainly need food- did we anticipate Mashiach with the same level of anticipation as we did that first sip of coffee or the first bite into our favorite food after the fast?
Do we feel the ‘need’ to have Mashiach in the same way we ‘need’ the first cup of coffee?
Do we ‘want’ and think about Mashiach with the same obsessiveness which we think about our coffee or what we will eat after the fast?
If the answer is not yes, then my friend we are still in bondage and we are not ‘free at last’ and that is sad.
When will be able to say the words: "Free at last, Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"?
When we really want and feel we need Mashiach with the same fervor and desire as we need our coffee and our food than, and only then, can we expect the arrival of Mashiach.
However, you will say that we do want Mashiach and we do anticipate him.
Perhaps; however, if we do really want him, are we doing the proper things to hasten his arrival?
Do we attempt to eradicate Sinas Chinam (baseless hatred) from our midst?
Do we judge people by pre-determined prejudices?
What do we need to fulfill?
What do we need to work for?
To quote Dr. King once more:
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
So too, only when we achieve ‘our’ dream of the day when all Jews will not be judged by the color of their Yarmulke but by the Yiddishe content of their character, only then will we be able to scream out loudly and with joy: : "Free at last, Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"
May He come speedily and in our times.
Have a meaningful fast.