Settlements and Achdut

During these trying times preceding Mashiach, my heart is telling me there is a strong connection between the "settlements" and our Achdut. The reason these things are coming to the forefront of world politics, is to raise OUR awareness of it. It is to threaten the very fabric of Am Yisrael's achdut and oneness.

The Gush Katif expulsion was most likely alluded to in the Gemara when discussing the days preceding Mashiach. Again, a test of Achdut. Jews against Jews. Even the bracelets made to protest the "disengagement" said it clearly 'A Jew does not throw out a Jew'. A pretty clear message from Hashem. By deduction, if one does throw out a Jew, he may be an "Erev Rav" and possibly not a real Jew.

As we approach the holiday of Shavuot, where it says the word "Vayichan" - literally and he camped and Rashi explains - 'as one man, with one heart', we need to pay extra special attention to our level of Achdut. We are all different, there were after all 12 Shevatim as well as the Kohanim and Leviim. Each of us do different things and approach Hashem differently. We are unable to judge what is right and wrong by ourselves, rather we need to look to the "eyes" of the nation - our Rabbis. Hopefully we are sane enough to pick true Rabbis who will guide us. As long as that's what we are doing, we should be ok.

Let's stay as far away from fighting, arguing, bickering, Lashon Hara, etc. no matter what! During the time of Ahab, the wicked king of Israel, where most of the nation worshiped idols, nobody died in war. They did not speak Lashon Hara about one another.

Hashem is testing us. We are being polarized for a reason. Hashem wants to separate the true Am Yisrael and bring them close to Him and protect them. Maybe Hashem will make miracles to help everyone else pick their side too. But once the battle lines are drawn, it is quite hard to switch sides.

'The Son of David (Mashiach) will not come until the entire nation is completely guilty or completely meritorious' - This means every individual needs to be completely on one side. Not teetering or "fence-sitting" as Rabbi Pinchas Winston calls it. It's time to choose our sides. I hope we all realize the ramifications....