Shema in the Darkness Before the End

1The Gemara relates (Pesachim 56a): “Yaakov Avinu wanted to reveal the End to his sons, and the Shechinah departed from him. He said, ‘Perhaps there is someone unfit among my children, as Yishmael came from Avraham and Esav came from my father Yitzchak.’ The tribes responded, ‘Shema Yisrael, hear, Israel: Hashem is our God, Hashem is One’ [Devarim 6:4]. Yaakov responded, ‘Blessed be the Name of His glorious kingdom forever and ever.’” Perhaps the explanation is this. The Shechinah departed from Yaakov because he wanted to reveal the final End [cf. Daniel 12:13]. The final End must be preceded by the birth pangs of Moshiach, the darkness that comes before light, like the husk that comes before the fruit. So Hashem hid His Shechinah and withdrew it from Yaakov just as he spoke of the End. In this way Yaakov would teach us understanding and show us the way of Hashem for a time when darkness grows strong in the world and the light of holiness does not shine in its full strength. Because of our many sins, that is our situation today.

2That is why the tribes responded, “Hear, Israel.” They were telling Yaakov that the Shechinah had not left him, Heaven forbid, because something in them was unfit. It left in order to show his descendants, in the generations of the footsteps of Moshiach, what to do. Even if every revelation is taken from them and Hashem hides His face, Heaven forbid, they must strengthen themselves with complete emunah and declare the unity of the great and awesome Name. They must believe that everything comes from Hashem, both the darkness and the light, which stand for judgment and mercy. It all comes from Him, and He is One, singular and unique, without end or limit. “And at evening time there shall be light” (Zechariah 14:7). In the merit of their strong faith, they will merit the complete redemption and the final End, speedily in our days.

3We declare the unity of His Name “evening and morning, twice every day” [Musaf Kedushah]. “Evening” (erev) hints at a time when understanding is muddled (me'urbav). Even then, when our minds are small and even the concealment is itself concealed, we believe in the One Hashem. In the merit of this, as Chazal say (Sotah 42a), “Even if you have no merit but Shema Yisrael, you are worthy that He save you.” So may Hashem have mercy on us soon, Amen. (From the author's handwritten manuscript.)