The conversation that broke my heart

As a child, I was taught the idea of Moshiach (the Jewish messiah), who is going to redeem the world and make the world a perfect place.

And I used to imagine what it’s going to be like.

We will have special trees that grow candies. Cakes will sprout from the ground like flowers. Everyone will have whatever they need and no one will be sick.

But what broke my heart was what my children were imagining.

One child said to the other: “When Moshiach will come, people will be able to shake hands again!”

The other one got excited and replied “yes! yes! They will be shaking hands all day!”

And I thought to myself: how sad, that young children are simply craving to see humans touch again, just to see people shake hands…

As an adult, the idea of Moshiach received a new meaning. Moshiach is not about lollypops. Moshiach is actually a very deep idea – the idea that the world is meant to achieve perfection, a deep level of unity with G-d.

Today, the world often seems like the exact opposite of G-dliness and holiness. This is an unnatural state of our universe. When Moshiach will come, the world will simply be what it was really meant to be all along: a holy and divine place.

Yet, oftentimes I still crave that simple, childish Moshiach. For suffering to simply go away. For having everything your heart desires. And yes, for people to shake hands too.

As our world is facing unprecedented challenges, I think we can all unite with praying for Moshiach. The childish one and the profound one.

Our world needs it.

We need it.

May it happen soon.