Painting of the Messianic Temple by American Jewish artist Elisheva Rubin

The Jewish world was stunned on September 15, 2005 when the Israel National News posted the following article titled, “Kabbalist Urges Jews to Israel Ahead of Upcoming Disasters.” It stated that Israel’s leading known Kabbalistic Elder, 108 year old Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri sent a call to worldwide Jewry to return to the land of Israel because natural disasters will threaten to strike this world.

Senior Sephardi Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri

As reported on Arutz Sheva (Israel National News):

Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri - “This declaration I find fitting to issue for all of the Jews of the world to hear. It is incumbent upon them to return to the Land of Israel due to terrible natural disasters which threaten the world.

In the future, the Holy One, Blessed be He, will bring about great disasters in the countries of the world to sweeten the judgments of the Land of Israel. I am ordering the publication of this declaration as a warning, so that Jews in the countries of the world will be aware of the impending danger and will come to the Land of Israel for the building of the Temple and revelation of our righteous Mashiach (Messiah).”

Kabbalistic Elder Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri

During this profound meeting Rabbi Kaduri made further revelations concerning what he called the "secret and revelation" in the world. The date of this meeting was on September 14, 2005. The Jewish year of 5766 (October 4, 2005 to September 16, 2006) was only three weeks away. At this time the Jewish New Year of Rosh Hashannah heralded in the fall festival holiday season, the Jewish Year of 5766 and the final “Shemittah”z” or seven year Sabbatical season that started on October 4, 2005.

According to Rabbi Kaduri, the initials (rashei teivot) or the numerical Hebrew abbreviation for 5766, taf, shin, samech, vav gave insight into the nature of the upcoming year. As he spoke:

The Year of Secret and Revelation

(“tehiyeh shnat sod v’gilut”)

Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri - "This will be a year of secret (or sod, from the letter samech) and revelation (or v’gilut from the letter vav).

Who is Sephardic Orthodox Rebbe Yitzchak Kaduri

Sometime before the year of 1895 in an Ottoman Turkish vilayets in either Baghdad or Basra (modern Iraq), the young Yitzhak began his life in the Jewish life of Torah study. During his early years after his bar mitzvoth at thirteen he became a student in the yeshiva (Torah college) of the famed Jewish wise sage Ben Ish Chai. While his friends were playing games, young Yitzhak was studying the immense depth and breadth of Torah studies. One of the most profound moments of his life was when he was blessed by the Wise Rabbi of Baghdad with the prophetic blessing that “he would live to see the revelation of the Mashiach.” When the Torah sage died in 1904, Yitzhak Kaduri, still in his teens saw a great mentor pass from his life.

In the mid to late 1930s and into the 40s, the pogroms against the Jewish people in the Arabic countries rose extensively. It was in those same years that the Mufti of Jerusalem and the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt collaborated with Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany in seeking to bring about the “Final Solution” for the Jewish people. This collaboration was documented in the BibleSearchers article, “The Mufti of Jerusalem and the Muslim Brotherhood.”

Leading what was called a tenuous lifestyle in the old land of Babylon, masses of Jewish people immigrated from the land of Babylon in the 40’s until the 70s. The remaining Jews were forced to leave by illegal points of exit from the land of Iraq via the mountains of the Kurdistans. As the 2004 Gulf War loomed on the horizon, only a dozen Jews were left the land of their Babylonian exile.

Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri

According to an article on the Sephardic sages, Rabbi Kaduri, shlita immigrated to Israel during the 40s and began to teach at what is believed to be the oldest Yeshiva in the Land of Israel. It was started 3700 years ago by Avraham Avinu (the Patriarch Abraham) at Bethel (Bet-El) as written in the Genesis (Sefer of Bereshyit.)

Genesis 12:8 - "And he (Abraham) removed from there to a mountain East of Bet-El, and he pitched his tent...and called upon the name of Hashem"

Reestablished in 1978, Yeshivat Bet-El was located about 20 minutes drive north of Jerusalem in a suburb of Bet-El (the Biblical Bethel). The patriarchal presence of the rabbi blessed the Jewish people in that town. His intervention for peace in the world, led to a personal friendship between Rabbi Kaduri and King Hussein of Jordan in 1998 following a message from the rabbi to the king to become involved in bringing peace to this world.

A special road was built to the burial site of Aaron the High Priest especially so that Rabbi Kaduri could visit the shrine of Aaron, the ancient father of the Hebrew high priests. As a personal guest of King Hussein, the rabbi was flown on the royal Jordanian helicopter, met the king at the airport in Jordan and was taken to pray at the gravesite of Aaron.

The recent meeting and declaration by Rabbi Kaduri was featured live on Arutz Sheva Israel National Radio show, “matchilim MiBereishit” by the show host Yehoshua Meiri. Here begins our present study on the rabbinic interpretation of the coming of the Maschiach of Yisra’el (Messiah of Israel).

When Rabbi Kaduri made his declaration, it was typed out by Yehoshua Meiri and given back to the elderly rabbi to proofread and sign as it being the truthful declaration of his message. That same night, emissaries were quickly dispatched to the residence of the Prime Minister of Israel, Ariel Sharon, just before he departed that same evening to America. He asked the Prime Minister to call upon the American Jewry as part of the Jews of the Diaspora to immigrate or make aliyah back to Israel.

Senior Sephardi Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri

Further pronouncements were soon coming with increasing frequencies that many devote Jews were beginning to doubt their reliability and veracity. The week earlier, Rabbi Kaduri stated in an interview the following.

Rabbit Yitzhak Kaduri - "What can save the world from calamities is real repentance by Jews, who must increase acts of kindness towards one another... The cry of the many poor in Israel and the expulsion of Jews from their homes shakes the world... It's not for naught that this place (New Orleans) was hit, where many of our compatriots went to look for this-worldly lusts."

During the month of Elul, the days that came before the fall festival season of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Succot was in the Jewish world a month of repentance. This repentance is called tshuva. The call to the Great Judgment Day of the Lord was preceded by the sounding of the Great Shofar reflected in the Book of Revelation as the 7^th and Final Shofar (Trumpet) of the Lord, it will be followed by ten days of awe followed later by the Great Day of the Lord and the Final Judgment of all mankind in this era.

The sounding of the shofar on the prior Jewish Year 5764 on September, 2004, and the act of judgment by the Lord of hosts was followed by the Great Tsunami on December 26, 2005. This catastrophe of epic and Biblical proportions has been studied by the sages of Judaism over the past year in light of the future prophecies of the prophets of old. In grand unison, they are pronouncing that the coming of the messiah of Israel is near. To them, it is very soon.

Rabbi Kaduri, as the senior and most respected of the sages of Israel is reflecting these opinions that were formerly shared in secret and forbidden to be written down. They are now coming out boldly for the world to hear and understand. As spoken in private in his own yeshiva and given to his students, in his learned opinion, the Sharon government will be that last Zionistic government of the “old era.” Global disasters will herald the redemptive process that will culminate in the arrival of the Maschiach of Yisra’el. Very soon, another wave of natural disasters will strike this planet earth heralding the culmination of this redemption process. As reported, on Israel National News:

Baruch Gordon with Israel National News – “He is on record as saying that Sharon will be the last prime minister in Israel, and that the new government will already have leadership of the Messianic era.”

Kabbalistic Elder Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri

If the announcement during his seminary session on September 14, 2005 with his students was not startling enough, Baruch Gordon with Israel National News on October 19, 2005 wrote the following article called, “Leading Kabbalist Urges Jews to Israel - More Disasters Coming” which gave the following account.

During the ten days of awe just preceding Yom Kippur, the Day of Judgment on October, 2005, the grandson of Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri, Rabbi Yosef Kaduri, held a private audience with his grandfather the elder Rabbi. This meeting was witnessed and documented by a journalist from Arutz-7, who had close ties with the Kaduri court. During this session, Rabbi Yosef Kaduri posed the following question to his grandfather, "Not many Jews are coming from overseas. Why should they come?" Rabbi Kaduri responded:

Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri - "Because of impending danger." …."Be extremely protective of your lives." (Deuteronomy 4:15)

During this meeting the elder and the younger Kaduri discussed the esoteric concepts referred to by the elder Kabbalist as the "struggle between the oceans." The large oceans called the Haokeanus hagodol would strike the world.

Kabbalistic Elder Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri

This “struggle” began in 2004 with the four hurricanes that plowed into the State of Florida: Charley (145 mph winds), Francis (over 105 mph winds), Ivan (maximum 165 mph winds) and Jeanne (120 mph winds).

Part of this striking was a warning to the Jews in America. They were to take note of the hurricane disasters in 2005 as Hurricane Katrina (highest winds at 175 mph and the costliest cyclone of all time at > $75 billion) hit New Orleans on August 31, 2005. Then came the catastrophe of Hurricane Rita (maximum 175 mph winds and the strongest hurricane of all times with peak gusts at 235 mph) in eastern Texas on September 24, 2005. This was followed by Hurricane Wilma (175 highest sustained winds and the most intense hurricane in the Atlantic, Gulf or Pacific at 882 mbar pressure) that hit Miami, Florida on October 24, 2005. The portents that are to follow will only be of greater catastrophic proportion.

According to the elder Rabbi, the catastrophes are not over. “Another wave of natural disasters will strike the world.” As the session closed, the elder Rabbi Yitzhak told his grandson, Rabbi Yosef that on Yom Kippur more would be revealed.

It was on Yom Kippur, the students of Rabbi Kaduri were sitting in his class at his Jerusalem Nachalat Yitzhak Yeshiva Seminary in the Bucharim neighborhood of Jerusalem for the afternoon Mincha prayer. The Kabbalist scholar surprised his students and those that were worshipping with them with additional “secrets relating to the coming of the Mashiach.”

Estimated to be between 104 to 116 years of age, this Sephardic rabbinic sage sat with his head bowed for over forty five minutes in a deep mystical concentration between the Mincha (afternoon) and Ma’ariv (evening) prayers. The students and attendants were beginning to get concerned fearing for the Rabbi who covered his eyes as though he were reciting the Sh’ma prayer but they could not hear but only see his lips moving. Fearing a seizure or some sort of a neurological attack they tried to communicate with him but the visionary depth of concentration could not be broken.

When he raised his head and looked around the room at his students and other worshippers, he gave a broad smile to them. This beam of delight was a signal to his disciples that he had received a revelation. In Hebrew he spoke, 'Hit'abra bezrat hashem nishmat mashiach b'adam m'yisrael'.

Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri - "With the help of G- d, the soul of the Mashiach has attached itself to a person in Israel"

Rabbi Elijah Ben Solomon, the Vilna Gaon

The attendees were heard murmuring in the surrounding room as the elder rabbi spoke. It was then repeated for those who could not hear him. For years, this esteemed Sephardi Kabbalist sage had instructed his students concerning the Final Redemption. The prophetic insight from Kaduri’s teachings comes from the calculations of the Vilna Gaon and his views concerning the final redemption which appear in the Gaon's writings. These writings are considered by Jewish rabbis to be cryptic and very difficult to decipher.

According to the writings of the Vilna Gaon, a “Sign of the Gog and Magog War” began when the American War on Terror against Afghanistan broke out on the Jewish holiday of Hoshana Rabba (the 7th day of the Sukkot holiday), just after the conclusion of the 7th or shemittah agricultural sabbatical year.

America’s War on Terror –

Final Seven Years when the Messiah is Revealed

What does this mean to Christian prophecy watchers? Most of us are quite aware of the Jewish festivals and the great celebration at the time of Succot. During this Festival of Tabernacles, the Jewish celebrate that future day when the Messiah will come to “tabernacle” or to dwell with them.

The 7^th or final day of this festival over the centuries has been the anticipated day for the beginning of the Gog-Magog War. This was prophesied by the Jewish prophet Ezekiel living in the land of Babylon.

On September 24, 2001, thirteen days after the destruction of the World Trade Center and the attack on the Pentagon in Washington D.C., Channel One Israel TV broadcasted a program on what the Torah mystical sages were stating about the 911 attack in America. Arutz Sheva’s show host Yehoshua Meiri, a close confidant in the Kaduri court was explaining to the Hebrew speaking TV audience what Rabbi Kaduri understands of the prophetic calculations of the Vilna Gaon and how they related to our present geo-political world. He stated the following on the broadcast:

Yehoshua Meiri on Rabbi Kaduri - "On Hashanah Rabba, the actual war of Gog and Magog will commence and will last for some seven years."

[ Click here to view the Channel One clip in Hebrew - Rabbi Kaduri's prediction communicated by Meiri at the 1:40 minute mark.]

Thirteen days later (broadcasted on September 24, 2001) on October 7, the celebrations of the Jewish holiday Hoshana Rabba, the 7^th day of Succot, began. Precise to the minute as the sun was setting in the western horizon, the eve of the festival day began, the US and British forces began an aerial bombing campaign against the Taliban and the Al-Qaeda forces in Afghanistan and the War against Terror was begun.

At sea aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Nov. 1, 2002 -- Lightning strikes on the horizon light up the bow of the aircraft carrier during a storm in the Arabian Sea. Lincoln and Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW-14) are on a regularly scheduled six-month deployment conducting combat missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Southern Watch. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Aaron Ansarov.

On Rosh Hashanah on September, 2001, that day, the sabbatical year of seven years called “shemittah”z of the Jewish years 5743-5761 (1994-2001) were based on the Hebrew agrarian economy ended at Rosh Hashanah in the Jewish year of 5761 (2001). On that day, a Jewish new sabbatical year cycle began. It will end on Rosh Hashanah, 2008)

The Final “Shemittah”z” or Seven Sabbatical years before the Revelation of the Messiah

Jewish Sabbatical years of 5743-5761 (1994-2001) ended on September 18, 2001

Jewish Sabbatical years of 5761-5768 (2001-2008) began on September 18, 2001

The Bush Presidential War on Terror began on October 7, 2001 and the

Final Seven Sabbatical Years before the revelation of the Messiah began

According to the calculations of the Vilna Gaon, as interpreted by the Kabbalist Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri, during the 7-years count from that Hoshana Rabba on October 7, 2001, a major revelation associated with Maschiach will be given.

According to the Kaduri court, the fall of 2005 was the 5th year of this redemption process (Geula) began. During this time the Maschiach of Yisra’el (Messiah of Israel) will be revealed.

Rabbi Lazer Brody’s Confirmation of Rabbi Kaduri’s Statement

Israeli Commando Brody

The Orthodox Chabad Rabbi Lazer Brody is one of the central funnels of messianic news on his Lazer Beams website. A former Special Forces commando, he is today affectionately called “Rabbi Rambo.” He is recognized as one of the only Chassidic rabbis in Israel who can identify and speak the language of the various types of Jewish believers; Orthodox, Conservative and Reformed Jews plus the Jewish soldier, the kibbutzniks, Israeli settlers, Christian militia in Lebanon and even Islamic Arabs.

A veteran of two wars, tens of anti-terrorist commando missions and twice to receive citations of honor, he received his rabbinical ordination in 1992 after nine years of intensive studies in the Torah, Talmud, ethics and legal studies. A pioneer in spiritual rehabilitation for Israeli inmates, he is now renowned as a leader in high-stress situational counseling. As proclaimed by Rabbi Ovadiah, “he oozes brotherly love.”

Spiritual Awareness Counselor (SAC) Rabbi Lazer Brody

Interview by veteran journalist Susan Silverman in an article for Jewish Magazine titled, “Rabbi Rambo”, she wrote:

Susan Silverman – “Brody is an emotional and spiritual bomb squad. His warmth and sincerity combine with his professional skills to diffuse explosive situation. During the course of our interview, he fielded telephone questions about handling a wife with post-natal depression, calming down a child who'd seen a car accident, and making peace between an irate longshoreman and his wife. My head was spinning just from listening. "How do you do it?" I asked. "I'm nothing," he replied modestly. "I close my eyes, and ask Hashem to put the right solution in my brain."

The pronouncement of the elder Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri has sent ripples of excitement and consternation throughout Judaism. Like Christians, it is easy to speculate or prognosticate about the return of the Messiah but to accept it in literal time and the urgency that is included in that acceptance puts one’s mind on a different level of My Photo understanding. The spiritualizing now becomes literal.

Rabbi Lazer Brody, “Rabbi Rambo”, investigated the pronouncement of Rabbi Kaduri in September, 2005 and filed this report on September 19, 2005 titled, “Rav Kaduri Statement Confirmed.” Many in Jewry were alarmed that a scam or agents speaking for the aged rabbis were using his name to present ideas that were foreign or against his will.

Rabbi Lazer Brody (Rabbi Rambo)

The first contact with Arutz 7 (Israel National News and Radio) was with Yehoshua Meiri, who served as the personal aide and press secretary to Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri between the years of 1993 to 2001. As editor of the Kaduri website, he stated that the report by Baruch Gordon was “very accurate. I confirm the report.”

Concerning the article that came out in the Arutz 7 website with the declaration for the Jews to return to the Land of Israel, it was first publicized on the weekly Hebrew radio late Tuesday evening on September 13, 2005 and the quote was logged in at 1:31:19 on the dictation tape. As stated above, the Rav Kaduri declaration was then written out, presented back to the Rabbi who then signed his approval of the declaration.

If Rabbi Kaduri is so esteemed by the Jewish people of all persuasions, where did this legendary regard come to him? Is he esteemed because he is now the oldest Kabbalist rabbi in the world? Is he esteemed because he has proven his great wisdom? [The Ben Ish Chai] Maybe both! Let us look back at the Jewish sages that have affected his life.

Chacham Yosef Chaim (Ben Ish Chai 1832-1904), mentor of Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri

Chacham Yosef Chaim (Ben Ish Chai) in Baghdad

Chacham Yosef Chaim was born in the city of Baghdad in the present country of Iraq in 1832. There his father was a Rabbi and died when he was twenty four years old. He was early given the title Chacham, or “Wise Man” commonly given to Sephardic rabbis who taught with uncommon wisdom. So, Chacham Yosef Chaim became the Wise Rabbi of Baghdad in 1856.

His wisdom and counsel were providential to the Jews of Baghdad and his fame spread throughout the Middle East. He was respected for his opinion on the legal issues of Jewish law called the halachah. Thousands of Sephardic Jews from the surrounding communities followed his teachings and rabbis outside of the Sephardic Jewish circle came to seek his spiritual counsel and religious advice.

Chacham Yosef Chaim wrote several books on Jewish law (halachah) and esoteric topics on the Talmud called the agadah. Yet he is most famous for his book, Ben Ish Chai, which was written on the weekly Torah cycle with a discussion of the Biblical texts and the implication to Jewish law. Today, a reference book read yearly in the Torah yearly cycle by Jews around the world, Rav Yosef Chaim is known to many not by his name but by the name of his book, Ben Ish Chai.

The young Yitzhak Kaduri, at the reputed age of 13, became a disciple under the renowned Chaim Yosef Chaim (Ben Is Chai) in Baghdad. During this time of study in the Baghdad Yeshivah of Ben Is Chai, the aging “wise” rabbi, during one of his blessings, told his young student Kaduri that “he would live to see the revelation of the Messiah.”

Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson-“King Messiah” and the Rabbi

The late Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson was the leader of the largest Hasidic Jewish organization in the world, the Chabad Lubavitcher organization in the Brooklyn, New York headquarters called “770.” He was a close friend of Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri. Though Rabbi Kaduri and “The Rebbe” had met many times before in Brooklyn, the communication between the two Rabbinic giants is unknown but the video below does depict a little of the affirmation that the two rabbis had with each other as they met in 1990 when Rabbi Kaduri was visiting the city of New York.

Video of Rabbi Kaduri meeting with Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson in Brooklyn, New York in 1990

According to the in-depth biography of Menachem Mendel Schneerson in Wikipedia, it states:

Wikipedia – ‘Schneerson's activities spread to many far flung areas of the Jewish world. Since the time of the Rebbe Sholom Dovber Schneersohn, Chabad had been involved with the Sephardic world. Schneerson was revered by Rabbis Israel Abuhatzeira (known as Babba Sali), Meir Abuhatzeira, Yitzchak Kaduri and Mordechai Eliyahu (a former Chief Rabbi of Israel).”

During this visit in 1990, Rabbi Kaduri was also told by Rebbe Schneerson that he would live to see the coming of the Messiah. This affirmation was in confirmation of the prophetic announcement about eighty five years earlier when Kaduri was a youth by Ben Ish Chai (Chacham Yosef Chaim that he would live to see the Messiah.

Earlier this Jewish year, Rabbi Kaduri predicted great tragedies in the world. Just two weeks before the devastating tsunami in southeast Asia, Rabbi Kaduri was quoted in the Yediot Acharonot newspaper as saying:

Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri - "We are now in the fourth year of what could be the seven-year Redemption period, according to the calculation of the Vilna Gaon. In the coming three years, uncertainty about the future will hang over our heads, unless we work and strive that the Mashiach be revealed. The Mashiach is already in Israel.

Whatever people are sure will not happen, is liable to happen, and whatever we are certain will happen may disappoint us. But in the A photo of Schneerson in his youth end, there will be peace throughout the world. The world is mitmatek mehadinim (or becoming sweet from strict justice). Great tragedies in the world are foreseen, that's the thing of the Jews going to the East. But our enemies will not prevail over us in the Land of Israel, 'fear and trembling will fall upon them,' in the power of Torah."

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson in early adult life

Born in Nikolaiev, Ukraine on April 18, 1902, Menachem Mendel Schneerson’s education was mainly secular and private. Enrolled at 16 for a part time study in mathematics at the secular Yekaterinoslav University, the town where his father, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Schneerson, a renowned kabbalist who served as the Chief Rabbi of Yekaterinoslav (Dnepropetrovsk) from 1907-1939 remained his primary teacher in Talmudic studies, rabbinic literature, Jewish mysticism from the viewpoint of Hasidic Judaism and Kabbalah. In 1920, he married a distant cousin, Chaya Mushka Schneerson in 1929 and went to live in Berlin, Germany. Moving to Paris in 1933, they lived in France while he studied and received his license in electrical engineering only having to flee for their lives eight years later from France in 1941 on the Serpa Pinto, the last boat to cross the Atlantic Ocean before the German U-boats began their oceanic blockade.

In Brooklyn, he joined his joined his father-in-law Joseph Isaac Schneersohn in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York. There at the international headquarters of the Chabad Lubavitch branch of Hasidic Judaism which was a form of Haredi Judaism, he became director of the educational and Hasidic Jewish outreach international empire in the United States, Canada, Israel and Northern Africa in 1941 after a brief stint at wording at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

The Haredi Jews are called the ultra-Orthodox Judaism, the most theologically conservative form of Orthodox Judaism. The word, Haredi, חֲרֵדִי, comes from the Hebrew Harada meaning fear and anxiety or "one who trembles in awe of God." These Jews firmly believe that their belief system and religious practices are part of the authentic Jewish covenant that has remained in an unbroken chain back to the prophet Moses and when the Torah was given to the Israelites from Mount Sinai. All other non-Orthodox denominations are considered to be corruptions and unjustifiable deviations from authentic Judaism.

Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer as the Ba’al Shem Tov

The Hasidic branch of the Haredi Orthodox Jews comes from the Hebrew word, Chasidut חסידות, which means "pious" and the Hebrew root word chesed חסד which means "loving kindness.” So the Hasidic Jew is recognized as the pious ones who live a life of loving kindness. The leader of this movement was Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer (1698–1760), who was lovingly known as the Ba'al Shem Tov.

During these days the Jewish people were in great persecution and the European Jews had turned inward into the study of the Talmud study in a day when they felt that Jewish life had become so "academic" that there was no longer had any emphasis on spirituality or joy. The Ba'al Shem Tov set out to improve the situation. Early in the life of the movement the Hasidism met with opposition from several contemporary leaders, most notably the Vilna Gaon of Lithuania, united as the mitnagdim (Hebrew: "opposers").

Understandably so, for the Eastern European Jews in the 16^th century were in a deadly struggle between the traditional rabbinic Judaism of the north-eastern provinces in Lithuania, and in White Russia and the entry of radical Messianic mysticism of Sabbatai Zevi in the 17^th century. This Cabbalistic movement corrupted Lurianic Jewish Kabbalah eventually into an anti-Torah, anti-Jewish, anti-Israel and anti-Jewish’s God of Israel movement. To the Sabbateans, salvation was gained by moving through Judaism into Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and all other religions. To the Sabbateans, during the age of the messiah, instead of fulfilling all the precepts of the Torah, all the commands of the Torah could be broken. This was liberation theology at its best.

The traditional Lithuanian was called the “Litvish” and their social culture is reflected of Judaism in densely populated cities where rabbinic academic culture called yeshivots flourished. The sons of the Lithuanian “Litvish” today predominately found in Jewish politics include: Menachem Begin, Israeli Prime Minister from Brest-Litovsk, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister whose original family name was Milikowsky and Ariel Sharon, Israeli Prime Minister whose original family name was Scheinerman.

In the southern regions of Eastern Europe in the Ukraine, the Jewish people lived in more isolated villages that were not appealed by rabbinic formalism. This formalism in traditional Judaism adopted forms of Kabbalah into its own ritualism and practiced by the asceticism of the “practical kabbalist” in fasting, penance and spiritual sadness. Yet the majority of Jewish people did not flourish in this environment.

A photo of Schneerson in the 50's

A photo of Schneerson in the 50's

After the Cossacks' Uprising (1648-1654) under Bohdan Chmielnicki and the “deluge, the 17^th century wars” that left Poland in ruins (1648-1660), southern Ukrainian Jewry was shattered while the Northern Lithuanian Jewry remained intact. Into this spiritual void, rose the ministry of the founder of Hasidism, Israel ben Eliezer. He was called by the title of the "Master of the Good Name" (the Ba'al Shem Tov, abbreviated as the Besht). As he moved from village to village his fame as a healer spread not only among the Jews but also among the Polish peasants and nobles. They became the most representative of the Judaism that was to represent the spiritual model, “Let your light so shine among men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

The Baal Shem Tov became admired as a local prophet, but most notably was characterized by a life of extraordinary sincerity and simplicity. He sensed with dramatic insight the spiritual needs of the masses, Jewish and non-Jew. To the people, he taught that true religion consisted not of religious scholarship and rituals but consisted of a sincere love of God. This was portrayed in the warmth and care of a faith and belief in the Almighty. This life was a life of prayer, a simple faith in the Almighty One of Israel who was open to the prayers of the peasants whose prayers came from the heart rather than the formal prayers of the Jewish observant. The rich and the poor, the peasants and the scholars that were not satisfied and blessed by Jewish scholasticism and ascetic Kabalah, found themselves attracted to the Besht (Baal Shem Tov), who finally settled in the Podolian town of Miedzyboz in 1740.

The disciples of the Baal Shem Tov spread all over central Europe and Hasidic Judaism became the way of life for most Jews living in Ukraine, Galicia and central Poland plus large movements in Belarus-Lithuania and Hungary. In the 1880s, Hasidic Judaism moved to Western Europe and then to the United States.

The Lithuanian branch of the Hasidim Jews was followers of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi. It was he who founded Chabad dynasty within Hasidism. He was a student of Dovber of Mezeritch. In his most pronounced written work, Tanya, he influenced profoundly Hasidic Judaism. The work is predominately mystical like the Zohar, called the Splendor of Light. Recognized as a posek (rabbinic authority in Jewish law), his most authoritative work on Jewish law is known as the Shulchan Aruch HaRav, cited often in important Jewish texts such as the Mishnah Berurah and the Ben Ish Chai. The names "Schneersohn" and "Schneerson" began as patronymics by Shneur Zalman's descendants.

The Chief Rabbi of the Lubavitcher Jews has been a descendant of Rabbi Shneur Zalman since 1745. According to the prophecies within the Chabad, after the seventh Rebbe of the Chabad, the Messiah will return and reveal Himself.

Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (1745–1812), was the son of Rabbi Boruch of Tulchin, the grandson of the Baal Shem Tov.
Rabbi Dovber (1773–1827), son of Shneur Zalman.
Rabbi Menachem Mendel “Tzemach Tzedek” (1789–1866), grandson of Shneur Zalman and son-in-law of Dovber, known after this work Tzemach Tzedek.
Rabbi Shmuel (1834–1882), son of Rabbi Menachem Mendel.
Rabbi Sholom Dovber (1860–1920), son of Rabbi Shmuel.
Rabbi Joseph Isaac Schneersohn “The Previous Rebbe or Rebbe Rayat”z” (1880–1950), only son of Sholom Dovber.
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson “The Rebbe” (1902-1994), was a cousin of the Schneersohn branch (the difference in the "h" of "...sohn" and sixth in paternal line from Rabbi Menachem Mendel, and son-in-law of Joseph Isaac.

Rabbi Menachem Mendel became quickly a leader with a vision. Since his first entry into the leadership of the Lubavitchers in the education department of their organization, he was tireless in the development of one of the most effective Jewish outreach programs around the world to help Jews of all branches to become observant Jews. He trained thousands of young Chabad rabbis and their wives as shluchim (emissaries) sending them all around the world to oversee and promote Jewish themes of observant Judaism in festival celebration, kosher eating, observing the Seventh day Shabbat, in the study of the Torah, the wearing of the tefillin, writing new Torah scrolls and more than any other group, keeping the light shining of the coming of the Messiah of Israel.

They built Chabad houses as college campus center, Mitzvah tanks, mini-synagogues, Sukkah-mobiles and other methods to reach the secular and alienated Jews in major city populations and the gentiles who observance of the Noahide Laws. The relationship with the national leaders of the United States including the President to the leadership of the House of Congress was curried. The 11^th day of Nisan, the birthday of “The Rebbe” was established as Education Day in the United States.

Schneerson in later life

The corporate acts of the Chabad included placing advertising in the mass media which included full page ads in the New York Time urging all mankind to contribute their part to hasten the coming of the messiah’s imminent arrival by increasing their good deeds. The passion of “The Rebbe” was to hasten the coming of the Messiah. All the activities of the Chabad was focused on serving mankind with acts of “goodness and kindness” which he felt were the ingredients to bring forth the messianic era. As he stated in 1991, three years before his death:

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson – "I have done everything I can do to bring Moshiach (the Jewish Messiah), now I am handing over to you (his followers) the keys to bring Moshiach."

When a stroke hit him as he was visiting the grave of his father-in-law, he refused to leave the “Seven-seventy” headquarters and a full time hospital suite was designed there for him. Looking over the main synagogue from a balcony, he was able to pray with his followers and participate in the Rosh Hashanah services and other meeting with his followers by being carried to the balcony. During these balcony appearance a chant, which would soon become a very controversial “mantra” with the Lubavitchers would echo across the synagogue: Yechi Adonenu Moreinu v'Rabbeinu Melech Hamoshiach l'olam voed! - "Long live our Master our Teacher and our Rabbi King Messiah forever and ever!"

Since the death of “The Rebbe”, there has been no successor appointed. According to the Chabad tradition that the Messiah would come after the seventh Rebbe, the Chabad Hasidim believe today that there is no successor to Rabbi Schneerson. There are many Chabad Jews who believe that Rabbi Schneerson will return again as the Messiah of the Jews. Other Jews claim that he has not died and refuse to put the classical Jewish titles of honor for the dead after his name such as zt”l. (Zecher Tzaddik Livrocho which means, “may the memory of the righteous be for a blessing” Instead they quote from the Talmud:

Talmud Ta'anit 5b – “Ya'akov avinu lo meis ("our forefather Jacob did not die")

During these last few months many of the Chabad began to accept “The Rebbe” as the “King Messiah” and the cultic following lasts to this day with many accepting him as the messiah of Israel. There is reason for this precedent in that Rabbi Schneerson was a member of only three families in the entire world, the Charlap/Levihe, the Davan Family and the Schneerson Family, who can trace their genealogical lineage back to King David without a break in the male line. Any one of these male descendants could qualify to become the royal family of Israel and be recognized as the “Prince of Israel.”

Jewish Rabbis and Other Announcements Concerning the Coming of the Messiah

“Baba Sali”, the esteemed HaRav Yisrael Abuchatzeirah, ZT””L

One of the close friends and confidant of Rabbi Kaduri was the Moroccan Sage, HaRav Yisrael Abuchatzeirah, ZT’’L, the revered rabbinic master called “Baba Sali.” This sage, whom many felt was gifted by the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), was born in 1890 (Jewish year 5650) into a renowned rabbinic family of kabbalists.

Portrait of Rav Yisrael Abuchatzeirah ZT’’L as the revered Rabbi at Yavneh, Israel

While the other children were playing games, the Rav from his childhood was studying Torah. Very early in his life, the Jewish youth flocked to see the young Rav Yisrael. They sought his blessing for their family, health and prosperity. From the consistent life of prayer and seeking blessings on behalf of the local people who sought his spiritual guidance, he soon was given the name, “Baba Sali” which means “our praying father.”

When it became known that the prayers of this precocious child rabbi did produce “miraculous” results, his father, a teacher in Kabbalah at the local Moroccan yeshiva, instructed him to spend the rest of his life blessing people and saying good things about them.

Young Rav Yisrael Abuchatzeirah ZT’’L as the “Blessing Rabbi” in Morocco

As a young man, Rav Yisrael assumed the mantle of his father as the head of the yeshiva, the community rabbi, a lecturer of Kabbalah and soon became renowned as a Torah Sage. The fame of “Baba Sali” soon spread throughout the land of Morocco as Jews traveled miles to seek his guidance and blessings. By the age of nineteen, he was inducted as the Rosh Haveshiva, the judge in the local rabbinic court called the beis din. Here his “holy penetrating eyes” gave wisdom in counsel and stability to the people in the land.

When the migration of the Jewish people began in earnest in the early 60s from Morocco, Baba Sali followed the Moroccan Jewry and made his aliyah (return) to the Land of Israel and eventually settled in Yavneh, the home of the Great Sanhedrin after the destruction of the temple of Herod in 70 CE.

When Rav Abuchatzeirah arrived at the port of Acre, north of Haifa on the coast of Israel, his reputation as a Torah scholar and the miracle working blessing rabbi preceded him. Not only the ordinary people but the great Torah teachers, scholars and rabbis came to greet and learn from him.

It was in one of these conversations with the rabbis that on one day, they were sharing experiences of the great teachers and Tzaddikim (righteous men of Israel) that the name of Baal Shem Tov, the founder of the Chassidim came up. A local rabbi began to deride and evoke contempt upon this rabbinic founder of the Chassidim movement. Without a word of contempt, the Baba Sali got up and excused himself from their presence, called his family together and with their personal belongings packed, left the city with the only word of advice to the local people.

Baba Sali – “I cannot dwell together in the same city with Rabbis who show contempt for our sages and teachers.”

Understanding fully the reverence that the Jewish people give to their teachers and sages underscores the influence these mature minds, seasoned with the thousands of hours of meditation and Torah study, have upon their children of Jacob. This respect comes with their contact with the Divine and their participation in being the servants of the Holy One of Israel. The following “Story on the Baba Sali”, written by David Rossoff in his book, the “Land of Our Heritage, Safed: the Mystical City, gives a visual illustration of the power of the Spirit of God that was lived out in the lives of one of the “Holy Men of Israel.”

The Baba Sali Visits Safed

“In 1921 CE, a member of the illustrious Abuchatzeirah family of Morocco visited Israel. It was his first trip to the Land of our forefathers, and Rabbi Yisrael Abuchatzeirah was especially excited about visiting the mystical city of Safed. Known as the Baba Sali, the young thirty-year-old prince of Morocco traveled to the Holy Land with a personal attendant. When he reached the city, well-wishers, rabbis and children came to greet him. After settling down, he went to officially to meet with the rabbis of the town, especially the saintly Rabbi Eliezer Shlomo Elfandari ZT"L.

Israeli Stamp commemorating Baba Sali

We can imagine how the Baba Sali reacted to the report of the haunted Ari Sefardi Synagogue. "Impossible!" he uttered. "Demons in control of the holy synagogue in which the saintly Ari Zal prayed! Never!" But the facts were real. Anyone who entered there did not leave alive. After a few mysterious deaths of this type, the beadle of the synagogue had locked and bolted it closed indefinitely.

A Time to Act

Rav Yisrael Abuchatzeirah, fully aware of the danger which awaited anyone who dared to enter the synagogue, sent his personal aide straight away to the gatekeeper's house to implore him to open the synagogue for him. In the meantime, Rabbi Yisrael walked down to the Ari mikve (ritual immersion pool) and immersed in the cold spring water pool.

The old gatekeeper flatly refused the aide's request. "Don't you know," he told the young man sternly, "how many corpses lie inside? It is impossible to remove them." With a sad look in his eyes, he concluded, "I cannot give the key to you or to anyone else. I will not be a party to certain death." The Baba Sali's personal attendant persisted, "My Rebbe, the holy Rabbi Yisrael Abuchatzeirah, is not an ordinary sightseer, nor is he foolish to endanger his life without due reason. Surely, he has a special mission to accomplish here in Safed by redeeming the holy synagogue from the grip of these demons. It is your duty to open the shul. Don't fear. My Rebbe's blessing shall be upon you." Slowly, the beadle acquiesced to the Baba Sali's request. A time was set to meet in the courtyard of the synagogue an hour later that very afternoon.

Standing by the huge doorway to the synagogue, the gatekeeper again reiterated his reluctance to open the door. "Therefore," he said with a heavy, nervous tone in his voice, "I must ask you to please tie this rope around your waist. If, Heaven forbid, you do not come out, I shall be able to pull....." "It is unnecessary, my dear friend," said the Baba Sali. "Fear not! In another few minutes you will be inside with me, alive and well."

The Doorway to Life or Death

The gatekeeper unlocked the outer door with a long, bronze key, and pushed the door open. It squeaked loudly on its hinges. The Baba Sali took the key to the inner door some fifteen feet inside. As he stepped in, he turned to his aide. "Hold onto my coat and don't let go," he whispered. "And don't say a word." The gatekeeper watched them with great expectation. The Moroccan Jew wore his turban and long Sephardic style coat which nearly touched the ground. His aide was obviously nervous and bent down as he followed his master inside. They stopped at the inner door long enough for Rabbi Abuchatzeirah to unlock and open it. Outside, the sun was about to set, and a gray twilight mist darkened the sky.

The Baba Sali boldly stepped into the main synagogue. Suddenly, a strange sight lay before them. The synagogue blazed full of light. It was so uncanny that the aide felt his heart pounding louder than the silence. Slowly, the two tiptoed across the hall to the Holy Ark at the front of the synagogue. Rabbi Yisrael Abuchatzeirah opened the Ark, took out a Torah scroll, and carried it to the bimah. The young aide followed him holding tightly to his master's robe. There he opened the Torah scroll and read from it out loud. His voice danced across the hall in all directions, mingling with the strange rays of light that filled the room. When he finished, the Baba Sali closed the Torah scroll, and returned it to its place in the Holy Ark. Only then did he sit down. "You may release your hold on my garment now," he said. "The danger is over."

In his melodious voice, the prince of Morocco began to chant the words of prayer recited before the afternoon service. His aide went and brought the gatekeeper, who waited by the inner door until after the Baba Sali concluded the Afternoon service. "Please, forgive me," begged the old man. "I didn't believe that...." "It is all right. You did just as any sensible person should do." The gatekeeper kissed the Baba Sali's hand in respect. The Baba Sali left with the personal attendant. At last, in the merit of the holy Rabbi Yisrael Abuchatzeirah, the Ari Sefardi Synagogue was freed from the specter of death and was once again open to all.

Upon his death, Baba Sali’s funeral was attended by about 100,000 Jewish people in respect for this tzaddik (righteous Jew) who devoted his life for his people.

Rabbi Raphael Abu Chatzera shlit’a of Ashdod, grandson of “Baba Sali”

On November 16, 2005, the Lazerbrody Typepad gave a “Moshiach Updates” that reported the following

Last Known Picture of Baba Sali, HaRav Yisrael Auchatzeirah, ZT’’L

Rabbi Raphael Chatzera shlit’s of Ashdod, the son of Baba Meir and grandson to “Baba Sali”, the HaRav Yisrael Auchatzeirah, ZT’’L was recently quoted by Rabbi Lazer Brody as saying that the “world stage is completely set for Moschiach, and that the powerful natural disasters of this past year are simply the drumroll before His arrival.”

Gerrer Rebbe: Yokov Aryeh Alter

Gerrer_rebbe_shlita On June 30, 2005, Rabbi Lazer Brody wrote to his Hebrew readers the following article titled, “Gerrer Rebbe shlit’a: “Moshiach this year, or by the End of next Year.”

The Gerrer Rebbe Shlit"a; exquisite portrait by Carl Braude, courtesy of allartdirect.com

In the article, the Gerrer Rebbe who is known as Rabbi Yakov Aryeh Alter, joined the call of the current Torah sages to send the warning that the time for the arrival of the Moshiach of Yisra’el is near.

Rav Alter was born in 1936 and now at seventy years of age is the seventh Hasidic rabbi of the Ger Hasidim in Israel, the largest single Hasidic group in the Land of Israel. Following in the footsteps of his uncle Rabbi Pinchas Menachem Alter, the sixth Ger rebbe who died in 1996 and his father of the Ger, Rabbi Simchah Bunim Alter, he casts a significant influence over the Jewish followers in the community of Haredi Judaism and the Knesset part of Agudat Israel.

As one of the internationally esteemed, prominent and influential rabbinic leaders and respected for his spiritual stature, he, speaking in Yiddish and saying a lot but with little words, made this pronouncement,

Gerrer Rebbe Yokov Aryeh Alter - "Moshiach will come this year, or by the end of next year." The news spread like wildfire throughout Israel

Rabbi Lazer Brody, like the announcement of Rabbi Kaduri, investigated the truthfulness of this pronouncement. In the article, “The Melitzer Rebbe: This is the generation of Moshiach”, he made these comments on June 23, 2005.

Gerrer Rebbe Shlit'a, with the image of his father, the Lev Simcha Zatza"l in the background, by artist Carl Braude and courtesy of allartdirect.com

Rabbi Lazer Brody – “After news of the Melitzer Rebbe's comment last week (that this is the generation of Moshiach) spread like wildfire throughout Israel, I was approached by a leading Gerrer Chassid who told me that the Gerrer Rebbe made a similar statement at his home on Passover Seder Night, nine weeks ago.

For the last five days, while checking the dependability of my source, I heard five different versions of what the Rebbe presumably said. Yesterday, I met with Rabbi Shlomo Tzvi Alter - one of the Gerrer Rebbe's sons who, along with his brothers, heard the Rebbe say emphatically before Kiddush, "Moshiach will come this year, or by the end of next year."

Gerrer Rebbe Shlit'a, with the image of his father, the Lev Simcha Zatza"l in the background,

By artist Carl Braude and courtesy of allartdirect.com

After the Seder, the Rebbe concluded by saying in Yiddish, "We'll soon discover that the entire Golus was worth eating one little piece of meat (alluding to the Korban Pesach, or Pascal lamb, which G-d willing we'll all be eating in the Holy Temple this coming Passover)," meaning that we have no idea of the value of Moshiach, the rebuilding of the Holy Temple, korbonos, and the spiritual treasures that are in store for us. When one of his sons asked him to elaborate, the Rebbe refused, saying, "Ich hob schoin gezugt tzu fil," or, "I've already said too much."

On November 16, 2005, Rabbi Lazer Brody updated the rabbinic thoughts on the coming of the Messiah. Concerning the Gerrer Rebbe he wrote:

Gerrer Rabbi at the Wailing Wall

Rabbi Lazer Brody - A very inside source within the Gerrer Chassidim told me that the Rebbe shlit'a said recently that "we are now so close to Moshiach that all of our current mitzvas are preparations for his imminent arrival". If that's the case, then we must all hasten to strengthen our Torah and tshuva (repentance) immediately; tomorrow might be too late.

Rabbi “BT” of Ashdod

On August 2, 2005, Rebbe Lazer Brody documented the following interview with the quiet, secretive yet a Tzaddikim (exceptionally pious) and talmidei chachomim (scholar) who as the reclusive rabbi shies away from the public eye. In this interview titled, “An interview with Rabbi BT - The test of faith is only beginning”, we read the following:

Rabbi Lazer Brody - Ashdod is blessed with tzaddikim (exceptionally pious) and talmidei chachomim (scholars). Rabbi BT is both a tzaddik and a talmid chochom, who stays far away from the public eye. 70 years old and Moroccan born, Rabbi BT is a genius in Kabbala who devotes 20 hours a day to prayer and Torah study, yet looks like the simplest human on earth. He barely speaks, but when he does, he's quoting Talmud or Zohar. With Hashem's help, I was able to exchange a few words with Rabbi BT earlier today.

Lazer: Rabbi BT, what's the spiritual message behind the government's disengagement plan?

Rabbi BT: This is a terrible decree against all the entire people of Israel. Gush Katif is the sacrificial lamb (kapara, in original Hebrew). All the great rabbinical sages of the generation - Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef, Rabbi Mordechai Eliahu, Rabbi Shlomo Amar, Rabbi Elyashiv - all have forbidden the destruction of Jewish settlements, yeshivot, mikvas, and synagogues.

Lazer: Why doesn't Sharon listen to them?

Rabbi BT: He can't; he no longer possesses free will. The situation resembles that of Pharoah. But, Hashem will utilize Sharon to implement Divine will.

Former Sephardi Chief Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu

Lazer: Rabbi Mordechai Eliahu Shlit'a has said repeatedly that there won't be a disengagement. On the other hand, one of Rabbi Levi Nachmani's (of blessed memory, a pious and scholarly Kabbalist from Ramot, Jerusalem who passed away several years ago) leading pupils has said that there will be a disengagement in Gaza, and that the real fight will be for Jerusalem.

Rabbi BT: I am nothing but dust of the earth, and I certainly cannot contradict a single word that comes out of Rabbi Mordechai Eliahu's holy mouth, but the Zohar says emphatically that the moment of truth for the Jewish people will be Jerusalem. In my humble opinion, the settlements of Gush Katif and the exile of the thousands of righteous brave families that live there is only a tactic of diversion to conceal the real designs of the weak leaders who, rather than fearing the Lord, fear the foreign leaders who are plotting against the Jewish people. Even though I pray that the decree against Gush Katif will be rescinded, I think it will happen. Gush Katif is miniature compared to the test of faith that awaits us.

Lazer: You mean Jerusalem, Rabbi BT?

Rabbi BT: Yes. The world will try to take it from us. Few Jews will remain loyal and steadfast in their belief (emuna, in the original Hebrew). Many will think Hashem has forsaken us, G-d forbid. But, by virtue of those loyal few who unshakingly cling to their faith in Hashem, Moshiach will come and evil will be destroyed, G-d willing. The test of faith is only beginning...

Lazer: Rabbi BT, a lot of people have agreed to say Perek Shira for 40 days straight in behalf of Gush Katif. If the disengagement does materialize, they'll be sorely disappointed. How can I encourage them?

Rabbi BT: When a child asks a father for something, the father is allowed to say no. Our Holy Father in Heaven is no different. We must strengthen ourselves with the firm belief that everything He does is for the ultimate best. As for prayer, 40 consecutive days of Perek Shira is a powerful spiritual weapon. Prayer never goes to waste. If Hashem decides not to use those prayers to save Gush Katif, He may very well use them to save Jerusalem. Lazer, urge anyone who heeds your voice to keep on praying. My own wife was up until 4 a.m. this morning saying the entire Tehillim (Book of Psalms) in behalf of the Jewish settlers, both in Gaza and in the Shomron. Don't ever give up hope. Pray and Torah are the lamb's only answers to the seventy wolves (lamb is allegorical for Israel, the seventy wolves symbolize the nations of the world - LB).

Lazer (now on Rabbi BT's front doorstep in a dilapidated apartment building filled mostly with low-income immigrant families): Thank you, Rabbi, and may Hashem keep you strong!

Rabbi BT: Together with you and all the people of Israel, amen!

Russian Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar

On August 12, 2005, World Net Daily posted an interview with the Chief Rabbi of Russia, Rabbi Berel Lazar in the article titled, “Chief rabbi sees imminent coming of Messiah.” In this article he stated that the anticipated coming of the Messiah to this earth will be soon and He will preside in judgment against all mankind. As stated:

Chief Rabbi of Russia Rabbi Berel Lazar

Rabbi Berel Lazar – “"We know that he is very near at hand, but he needs not only to be born but also to come," Lazar told the Gazeta daily. The Messiah may well have been born already, but unless he is ordered by God he cannot reveal himself with God’s help and change the world for the better."

Understanding the “labor” pains of this Earth from his study of the Torah, the prophets and the sages of Israel, he states:

President Bush speaking with Rabbi Berel Lazar (left), Chief Rabbi of Russia, and Rabbi Mendel Pewzner (right), chief rabbi of St. Petersburg.

Rabbi Berel Lazar – "The world today is in a state described by our sages as 'hevley mashiah,' that is, labor that precedes the coming of a Messiah. It is a time when many good things are created in the world and the progress of science and technology has made it possible to solve many human problems, to overcome diseases, famine, etc., on one hand. On the other hand, it is for the first time since God created human beings that humans have taken hold of such means of destruction that the whole of our race and even the globe itself can be destroyed instantly. We are living on the verge of history. It can be felt everywhere."

Reminding himself of the Jewish philosopher Maimonides who compared this Earth to a scale:

Rabbi Berel Lazar – "Perhaps God is waiting for only one deed to be put on the good scale to order the Messiah to reveal himself," and that if was important for everyone "to add this good deed, as one's contribution may prove decisive."

Rabbi CAE, Scion of the Chassidic Dynasties

Rabbi Lazer Brody interviewed one of the scions of the greatest of the Chassidic dynasties of the Zlatchov, Belz and Afta. Modest, unassuming, and always smiling with words of kindness to all, Rabbi CAE shunned the nomination of becoming a rabbi and with his family prestige of have his own court and is spending his life to his own love; the study of the God of Israel, how to understand his God through the mysticism of Kabbalah and his devotion to the Chassidus; the teaching of Judaism from the Chassidim branch of Hasidic Judaism which is a part of Haredi Judaism. As such Torah Scholar CAE is called a Chabad.

During one midnight walks along the Mediterranean coast at Ashdod on the Shabbat, Rabbi CAE revealed to Rabbi Brody “astounding” family revelation concerning the coming of the Messiah and the days of redemption called Geula that will precede this day. In confirmation, a 100 year old book was opened in testimony to these facts and the names of three prominent Chassidic rebbes that were privileged to know these revelations was revealed. This Menoras_hazahav_1 interview was conducted with the Rabbi and the names of the other tzaddikim (righteous ones) kept in private.

On December 5, 2005, Rabbi Brody on Lazer Beams posted this interview with Rabbi CAE called, “The new era of Redemption - an interview with a Chassidic tzaddik.”

LB: Rabbi CAE, Can you share with me something of your rich lineage? Did any of your great grandfathers - the Noam Elimelech, Rebbe Sar Shalom of Belz, the Afta Rov, or Rebbe Michal'e of Zlatchov - leave any father-to-son tradition as to how and when we can expect the messiah?

CAE: I'm happy to say yes, Lazer. Are you familiar with the book, Menoras HaZahav

LB: The commentaries of Rebbe Zusha of Hannipoli, isn't it? He's your great great uncle, the Noam Elimelech's brother.

CAE: True. The book wasn't written by Rebbe Zusha himself, but it's rather a compilation of his sayings collected from other books by Rabbi Natan Neta of Kalbiel more than 100 years ago. Look at page 135, the end of Parshas Zos Habracha; there's an amazing kabala (oral tradition - LB) from my great grandfather of 8 generations ago, Rebbe Avraham Yehoshua Heschel of Medziboz (and later Afta, known as the "Afta Rov" - LB), who told Rebbe Moshe Elyokim Beria of Koznitz, the son and successor of the Maggid of Koznitz, that directly before the coming of Moshiach, Jews will be expelled from the outlying villages.

Rebbe Moshe of Koznitz further emphasized that this kabala is al pi ha'emes, in other words, according to absolute truth, which means that the Afta Rov probably heard it from his rebbe, the Noam Elimelech, the Noam Elimelech from the Maggid of Mezeritch, the Maggid from the Baal Shem Tov, and the Baal Shem Tov from his rebbe, the prophet Achiya HaShiloni.

LB: What a bombshell! Does this have any connection to Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai's saying in the Yerushalmi Talmud (tractate Chagiga, page 6a), namely,

Yerushalmi Talmud - "If you see settlements uprooted in the Land of Israel, know that no one paid the salaries of cheder (elementary Torah school) teachers and yeshiva teachers"?

CAE: It certainly does. The Disengagement was preceded by an anti-religious coalition that choked the allotments for Torah learning. Torah protects the land of Israel. What's ironic is that the IDF and the Police, who purportedly are in charge of protecting the country, implemented the expulsion with their own two hands. Ah, but everything Hashem does is for the best; therefore, once settlements are uprooted, the door is opened wide for Moshiach, who will soon make his entrance. Hashem works in strange ways, to fool the Yetzer, who's fighting tooth-and-nail against the Geula (redemption –LB

LB:Have you shown this amazing passage from Menoras Hazahav to any of today's leading rebbes?

CAE: I certainly did. I discussed it with my cousin (one of Israel's leading rebbes - LB); he pulled a Menoras Excerpt_menoras_hazahav HaZahav off the bookshelf, and read silently for several minutes. He then closed his eyes, and went into a deep concentration. When he opened his eyes, he told me that Rabbi Arie Shechter (one of Israel's most brilliant lecturers, and a specialist in the computer analyses of Torah's hidden codes - LB) told him that the B'ito beginning of the Geula was Rosh Hashanah 5766. "Now I'm positive it's accurate," my cousin said, "that the Disengagement triggered the Geula. We have now entered the new era of redemption.”

LB: B'ito, the Geula in its own time, is a dangerous situation.

CAE: That's why your rebbe the Melitzer, and others like him, are trying to sweeten (mamtik dinim) the harsh decrees

LB: What does your cousin the ____er Rebbe say ?

CAE: He says that once the Geula has been set in motion, Moshiach must come within a period of one to seven years, maximum. He also said that he can't understand why the Jews from overseas aren't coming to Israel already in droves. What do they think? That New York and London aren't dangerous places? Israel is much safer, he said.

LB: Apropos Israel, how do you see the future of the secular state according to Torah?

CAE: I'll answer you with something that Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburg, a brilliant and well-known Lubavitcher scholar from Kfar Chabad, wrote in one of his recent pamphlets entitled, Klipa Kudma La'pri, or "the peel comes before the fruit". In Kabala, the layers of peels are allegoric to the ritual impurity that surrounds the essence of holiness, or the fruit.

This pamphlet explains the secular state of Israel along Kabbalist lines, namely, that the state was designed as a "peel" to protect the "fruit" of the Jewish people learning Torah and performing mitvas. At first, the peel did an excellent job, protecting the fruit that was almost destroyed in the Holocaust.

LB: Then what happened?

CAE: As you well know, in the last 4 years, since Sharon made a coalition with the anti-Torah parties, the world of Torah has been dealt a serious blow. Many Torah-learning institutions have been closed for lack of funds.

LB: The Breslever Kollel in Ashdod is one of them.

CAE: Precisely. One of two things happens when fruit matures: Either you shed the peel, or the peel chokes the fruit and the fruit rots or dries up. Since Torah is eternal, and Hashem won't let the world of Torah learning to continue its amazing development, then Hashem will shed the peel.

LB: Do you mean that the State of Israel will no longer exist?

CAE: The secular state as we know it, according to Rabbi Ginsburg, will give way to the rule of the Moshiach, King of Israel.

LB: How soon will that be?

CAE: A leading Sephardi Kabbalist whispered in my ear that Arik Sharon will win the coming election, and that he will be the last Prime Minister of the secular State of Israel.

LB: (after a long, deep breath): People desperately need to know that this is no joke.

CAE: We all must pray that the transition will be a peaceful one, with no wars, killing, and/or natural disasters. The Tsunami, Katrina, and Rita were wake-up calls, but few people are waking up. There's no time. In order to sweeten the decrees, the religious Zionists must dismount their secular-state horse, realize that Sharon has betrayed them and their settlements, and come home to the world of pure, nonpolitical Torah; we all need to make Tshuva, and every so-called secular Jewish child must learn how to say Shma Yisroel. Money and fancy houses in Great Neck or Golder's Green won't be a protection during the era of Moshiach - only Torah, prayer, and good deeds.

LB: Let’s pray for a peaceful and merciful redemption.

CAE: May Hashem help us. Chazak ve'amatz, be courageous and strong in your outreach work, Lazer; even if the whole world throws tomatoes at you and spits in your face, continue to spread the word of Hashem to anyone that is willing to listen. B'hatzlocho!

LB: Thank you immensely, Rabbi, and may G-d bless you.

Rabbi Chaim Kanevsky of Bnei Brak

On December 12, 2005 the newspaper Yediot Acharonot reported that Rabbi Chaim Kanevsky of Bnei Brak stated that “we are verily in the period of the beginning of the Redemption period, and that the Messiah could be revealed at any moment.

Rabbi Chaim Kanevsky teaching students in the Toldos Yeshurun Yeshiva

Rabbi Kanevsky called for further outreach to the Jewish community "in order to prevent calamities and to bring mercy from the Creator. All Jews must come to the Land of Israel."

To his student he gave the council that the current government of Ariel Sharon would be the last government of Israel of the “old era,” and claim that the new government will be represented by leadership of the Messianic era.

Portrait of Rabbi Kanevsky

As quoted, “In order to prevent calamities and bring mercy from the Creator, all Jews must come to the Land of Israel.” In his opinion, the rabbi called that Torah schools be established in every area stating that “Torah study will prevent calamities – from earthquakes to other natural disasters."

Rabbi Uziel Eliyahu,

Chief Rabbi of the Misgav Regional Council in Galilee

In the same article in the Yediot Acharonot it was reported on the Kipa website, a Jewish youth forum in Hebrew a forum by Rabbi Uziel Eliyahu, the Chief Rabbi of the Misgav Regional Council in Galilee on how Jewish youth should approach calamities in their land. As reported:

Rabbi Uziel Eliyahu – “First of all, we should pray and ask G-d to remove His wrath from the world, send a complete recovery to the injured, and help and protect everyone in the world, causing sorrow to depart."

The Galilean Rabbi taught the youth that what was decreed on the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah) will happen to our lives today. “It was a Divine decree that was issued regarding who will be killed by water, and who by fire...” The concern for our lives is to "pray to G-d, to try harder in studying Torah and fulfilling the Torah and doing acts of kindness and charity. This is an hour of reckoning for the entire world!"

In the world view of Rabbi Eliyahu, he emphasized that the God of Israel was the Sovereign Lord and had complete control of nature. It was imperative that the Jewish People live "amidst great faith, despite questions that remain open. No question mark can break our strength of great and perfect faith in G-d... This does not prevent us from asking and searching for answers and [logical] explanations, but it all takes place on the solid ground of great faith in G-d... The Bible (Zechariah 14) mentions that in the future, when the Messiah comes, the Mt. of Olives will be split in two... The Messiah can come at any minute, even as you read these lines..."

Galia – a Jewish Autistic Girl

Galia, a young Jewish girl was born severely brain-damaged and with autism. When she was introduced to the new scientific method called Facilitated Communication and “floodgates of love burst open with Galia communicating non-stop.” Central to the messages that are coming from the inner recesses of her mind is what was described as “earth-shattering, mind-bogglin secrets that amaze all who hear them. When science now allows “special children” to communicate we find that they can perceive the spiritual world with the physical and mental limitations that “normal” humans have who have built physical, mental and spiritual walls around us. Her story is told in a book from Judaica World called, “Galia – Messages from Heaven.” Below are statements on the coming apocalypse reported on Yiddishkeit that were written by Galia in the year of 2001-2002.

Galia, a Jewish Autistic Girl - "Very soon all the ways of the world will change, everything is going to change quickly. Everything will change very soon -- physicality, materiality, spirituality -- and everything will be moving: mountains, seas, people, armies, soldiers...everything will move and shift and very soon the expected redemption of the Jewish people!

Very soon the Temple Mount will be cleaned from all the terrible impurity and from all the abominations which will collapse and be swallowed in the ground and will be wiped away forever. The entire Temple Mount will be completely purified and cleaned and we will be able to prepare for building the Bais Hamikdash which will be built very soon, G-d willing." All Jews will return to their Father in heaven very soon, because there will be many hardships...but there will be great miracles and wonders. Everyone will see tangibly that only the Holy One, blessed be He, runs His world and no one else.

The movement of baalei tshuva (Jews returning to religious observance) is impossible to stop, all the time it will strengthen like a flowing wellspring, with G-d's help. A great bounty will descend to Israel, and to the entire world, very soon.

The climax will be when the goyim (gentile nations) will come to make war over Jerusalem. The Holy One, blessed be He, will let loose on them with a great force, for all their evil deeds and wicked actions against Israel over all the generations. Many nations will be lost and collapse as the situation gets stormier in Israel and in the world. There is no peace with the Arabs and there will not be. Their time to control our Holy Land is ending, and very soon the fear of Hashem will fall on them. They will have a great fear of Israel and they will understand that Hashem is fighting for us. This is the end of the time granted to Yishmael to rule, and like a wounded wild beast he tries with all his strength to rise up. But very soon he will fall and be wiped from the earth.

Everything will occur very quickly, the entire Temple Mount will be destroyed, and her population by foreigners and goyim who impurify it with their abominations. It will be cleansed from all the terrible impurity and from all the abominations and they will collapse like they never were and will be swallowed by the earth and wiped out forever. The entire Temple Mount will be cleansed for the building of the Bais Hamikdash. Many will collapse like houses of cards -- buildings, cities, armies. Everything is ready to take place.

The war of Gog and Magog is at the door, a giant war very soon, and in this war all the giants will fall, all the impure powers will collapse, all the mighty ones will be defeated. The redemption is already at the door, prepare yourselves, there will be miracles and wonders that the eye hasn't seen and the ear hasn't heard. All those who fear Hashem will be in one camp and the rest in another. There will be two camps: one of kedusha (holiness) and one of tuma (impurity). The kedusha will be victorious very soon and the entire camp of tuma and worshipers of impurity will be wiped away very soon."

The pillar of fire will be seen, standing from above to below, for 40 days and all the nations win the world will see it, and at that time Moshiach will be awakened and come out from Gan Eden! From that day, all the signs and great miracles that the Holy One did in Egypt, He will do in Israel. Don't be afraid of anything--'the time of your redemption has arrived', and it is not flesh and blood fighting for the Jewish people but only Hashem alone and the power of Heaven. Soon we will see many miracles. We will see many miracles and wonders very soon. We will see how all the Arabs who surround us and want to swallow us alive will fall. How the fear of Hashem will fall on them, terror and fear of Israel. We will all see that Hashem is fighting for us, until all our enemies will be wiped out. Jerusalem will be the safest place in the world, as will all of the land of Israel."

Whoever is from the Erev Rav (mixed multitude) will simply flee from the land of Israel as long as they still have life, and they will help the lands of the goyim to whom they are truly connected. Everyone who will leave the land of Israel in the difficult times to come -- this will be a sure sign that they are from the Erev Rav. The redemption is very close, thank G-d; the redemption is already at the door. Very soon our righteous Moshiach will be revealed, G-d-willing. In heaven there is a great preparation for receiving Moshiach."
January 14, 2006

Tributes to Israel’s great Sage of Judaism

The Death of Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri - January 28, 2005

As this article was in the completion stage, the greatest modern sage of Judaism, Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri closed his eyes for the last time on Saturday evening January 28, 2006 about 10:00 pm. His age was in dispute as nobody really knew but the impact that he had upon the Jewish mind was phenomenal. With insights into Torah that even the great rabbinic minds cannot meet, he was blessed to give the hope to his people that the promise of the Messiah was alive and well and that the messiah would come to set the stage for their redemption.

This study has been a great blessing to me as I was privileged to peer into the fertile minds of the mystical sages of Judaism. In reading hundreds of bloggers searching their own souls with the trying events in the Holy Land today, all I can say is Baruch Hashem (Thanks be to God) for bringing a shining light that could pierce the darkness as the God of Israel is withdrawing His protecting hand away from this planet. Why would He do so? So that evil will be exposed to its fullest so that the Glory of the Lord will shine in its fullness. Many blessings to those who sorrow in grief. The protecting hand of your God will comfort and protect you all.

The Messianic revival in Israel today is huge. Consider the fact that 300,000 Jews were at the funeral of this Jewish rabbi who claimed to have seen the future Jewish messiah. Any city with a funeral with 300,000 in attendance would gain international attention but the world press was silent. The international television commentators were silent. The internet articles were virtually silent.

Here we see in stark detail the force of the of the globalist media that control the airwaves of Israel and America. They are the Erev Rav (mixed multitude) for these globalists are not only internationalists and Transnationalists, they are also assimilated Jews. There mission to the final realization of the Maschiach of Yisra’el (Messiah of Israel) is now unfolding. This was the mission that they carried also in the wilderness around Sinai (Horeb) when in that day the God of Israel came down to “dwell among His people” and gave to them the Holy Torah. By their complaining and the making of the golden calf, their mission was to distract, deceive and to take attention away from the holiness of the God of Israel and the covenant that He wanted to make with His people.

For those who think that the Jews are not a part of the prophecies at the time of the end, “Rethink again.” The God of Israel will come to claim His own, not because they are so righteous or so good but because He promised to honor His covenant with them and to honor His Holy Name.

Over 300,000 at Funeral of World´s Senior Kabbalist Rabbi

by Israel National News

Israel National News - Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri, known as the "Senior Kabbalist Elder," passed away last night in Jerusalem. Over 300,000 people participated in his funeral. Rabbi Kaduri, who commemorated his 105th birthday several months ago, had been in serious condition for the last two weeks in Bikur Cholim Hospital, where he was cared for by his personal physician. Police closed off Jerusalem streets for the Sunday afternoon funeral, which became one of the largest ever in a city known for large funerals. The funeral began at noon at Yeshivat Nachalat Yitzchak, in the Bucharim neighborhood, between Geulah and Shmuel HaNavi. Rabbis Ovadiah Yosef and Mordechai Eliyahu eulogized him, as did President Moshe Katzav. Rabbi Kaduri was buried in the Mt. Menuchot cemetery.

Students of the righteous rabbi say that the blessing of the Ben Ish Chai (considered the leading rabbi of Sephardic Jewry, d. 1904) and that of the Lubavitcher Rebbe - both of whom blessed him that he might live to see the Final Redeemer - came true. The rabbi's closest followers say that Rabbi Kaduri told them he met the Messiah on Cheshvan 9, 5764 (Nov. 4, 2003). He reportedly said that the Messiah is not promoting himself, and that a study of his [Rabbi Kaduri's] words in recent months would provide hints of his identity. "He is not saying, 'I am the Mashiach, give me the leadership.' Rather the nation is pushing him to lead them, after they find [in my words] signs showing that he has the status of Mashiach." So said Rabbi Kaduri to one of his close relatives. Rabbi Kaduri was also quoted of late as saying that the imminent arrival of the Mashiach will "save Jerusalem from Islam and Christianity that wish to take Jerusalem from the Jewish Nation - but they will not succeed, and they will fight each other." This past Yom Kippur, shortly after Hurricane Katrina, Rabbi Kaduri said, "Jews must come to the land of Israel to receive our righteous Mashiach, who has begun his influence and will reveal himself in the future."

Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef, spiritual leader of much of Sephardic Jewry in Israel today, announced, "We are in mourning over the Elder of the Kabbalists, a remnant of the Great Assembly, Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri."
Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger expressed his great sorrow "over the taking of the great righteous Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri, of blessed memory. He was a great and humble tzaddik [righteous person]. In his greatness, he dedicated his days and nights to blessing Jews, to pray for Israel, and he felt the pain of those who turned to him for all their troubles. Rabbis from around the country and the world admired him and asked for his blessing."
A statement released by President Moshe Katzav's office said the president "is pained by the death of the important and accomplished rabbi whose reputation is world-renowned. Rabbi Kaduri, one of the great rabbis of the Jewish People, was noted for his love of Israel and in his second-to-none expertise in Kabbalah, contributed to Jewish unity, and was a source of inspiration for the Jewish People in Israel and around the world."

Rabbi Kaduri came to the Holy Land in 1923, where he learned in Yeshivat Porat Yosef in Jerusalem. He studied Kabbalah under the tutelage of Rabbi Ephraim Cohen and Rabbi Salman Eliyahu (father of former Sephardic Chief Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu). Rabbi Kaduri's son said there were only 60 Kabbalists in the Holy Land at the time, and that only one who prayed for 15 years with "Rashash intentions" was accorded that status.

When the Old City of Jerusalem was captured by the Jordanians in 1948, the Yeshiva was evacuated to the Bucharim Quarter. Rabbi Kaduri studied Kabbalah there until 1970, when such study was stopped in Yeshivat Porat Yosef. He also studied for many years in Yeshivat Beit El on Rashi St. in Jerusalem, and then moved with his students to found a new institution called Yeshivat Nachalat Yitzchak.

Rabbi Kaduri engaged in bookbinding. He perused all the books he bound, including many old manuscripts which he "photographed" in his memory. Graced with a phenomenal memory, he was said to have known the entire Babylonian Talmud by heart. "In one instance," a source close to him relates, "in disagreement with a leading Halakhic authority of today, Rabbi Kaduri smiled in his inimitable manner, lifted his hand to the bookshelf and immediately opened to the right page, proving his point. The [other] rabbi was astonished at his familiarity with the [non-Kabbalistic] sources."

300,000 Mourners accompany Burial of Revered Israeli Kabbalist in Jerusalem

By Israel Insider

Israel Insider – “An estimated 200,000 people filled the streets of Jerusalem Sunday for the funeral of Rabbi Yitzhak Kadouri, regarded as the most senior of spiritual leaders in the mystical Jewish tradition of Kabbalah. He was believed to be about 106. Kadouri, a leader of the Kabbalah school of Jewish mystical thought, died Saturday of complications from pneumonia after his liver failed during an operation. Even at his advanced age, Kadouri was sought out for blessings by believers suffering from illnesses or seeking heavenly favors.

Thousands follow a van carrying the body of Rabbi Yitzhak Kadouri during his funeral in Givat Shaul cemetery in Jerusalem, Sunday. (AP)

Israel's president and chief rabbis eulogized Kadouri at a rabbinical seminary before a huge funeral procession snaked through Jerusalem to the cemetery at the outskirts of the city. "Thousands and thousands of people have benefited from his blessings - cancer patients, heart patients, couples without children," said Moshe Nimni, his chief aide. People seeking blessings would crowd his house and sometimes line up outside, waiting for an unintelligible incantation.

For the last decade, the frail, thin Kabbalist with the wispy white beard and trademark cylindrical headgear did not speak loudly enough to be heard. His pronouncements were relayed by his sons, who would lean down and place their ears close to his lips. Despite his great prestige, Kadouri retained his modest lifestyle to the end of his days: Kadouri's appeal was mostly among Jews of Middle East origin. A reported word from the venerated rabbi could move political mountains…

In 2000, a little-known parliamentary backbencher named Moshe Katsav ran for Israeli president against the world-renowned Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shimon Peres. Katsav won a shocking victory after Kadouri said he had a "vision" that Katsav was favored by the heavens - and all 17 members of Shas, an Orthodox Jewish party, voted for Katsav, now Israel's president. In 1999, Kadouri galvanized opposition to an emerging peace deal with Syria in exchange for the strategic Golan Heights, captured by Israel in the 1967 war. At a Shas rally, he proclaimed that the plateau "must not be given back to the gentiles." The talks fell through a year later. Shas used the ancient rabbi as a rallying point in several elections. Once he was in such demand that Shas politicos bundled him into a helicopter and flew him over several election gatherings to spread his spiritual grace over as wide an area as possible.

Kadouri took on world figures, as well. In 1998, he pronounced a curse on Saddam Hussein, willing him to be removed from power. "Let fear fall upon them (the Iraqis)," he said, after Saddam threatened Israel. "Let the curse be transferred to them." Pop star Madonna did not escape his critical gaze, either. One of the most prominent of the glitterati who have taken up Kabbalah, Madonna made a high-energy trip to Israel in 2004, including a midnight visit to the grave of a sage. Kadouri was not moved. "It is forbidden to teach Kabbalah to a non-Jew," he said, dismissing the new movement in its entirety. According to Jewish tradition, mysticism and Zohar, the mystical book at the base of Kabbalah, are so complicated and even dangerous that only Jews over the age of 40 can approach them.

The source of Kadouri's appeal is hard to pinpoint. While recognized as a kabbalist, or a Jewish scholar steeped in the methods of Zohar, Kadouri never published a notable work or made a groundbreaking discovery or religious revelation. "Like all mystical and mythical figures, the fact that Rabbi Kadouri has recently been less productive and communicative doesn't affect his acclaim," Avishai Ben Haim, the Maariv newspaper's reporter on ultra-Orthodox affairs, told Army Radio recently. "Unlike other rabbis ... Rabbi Kadouri never sought a public. He is all about aura." It often appeared that his age alone was a magnet of attraction and reverence. Ben Haim calculated Kadouri was 106, Israel Radio reported his age as 108, and Nimni, his aide, said he was "at least 112 or 113." Records of his birth, if they ever existed, are long gone.”

Rav Kaduri, zatza'l

By Rabbi Lazer Brody on Lazer Beams

Rabbi Lazer Brody - Rav Yitzchak Kaduri zatza’l (of saintly and blessed memory) - the world's beloved 108-year-old sage and Kabbalist master - returned his soul to the Creator earlier today after Shabbos terminated, following a 2-week bout with pneumonia. Words cannot describe the tremendous loss that Rav Kaduri's passing causes for the Jewish people. Rav Kaduri devoted his entire life to Hashem, the Torah, and the Jewish people. Thousands benefited from his blessings and guidance. May Hashem in His ever loving mercy end our long and arduous exile, and send a complete redemption to the Jewish people. May the mourners of Zion and Yerushalayim be comforted, and may our agony - especially at the loss of our holy tzaddikim - turn into the joy of Geula and Moshiach, speedily in our days, amen.

Postscript:

Rav Kaduri's prime disciple, Rav Shmuel Darsi of blessed memory, left this world several short weeks ago, another gigantic and irreplaceable loss to the Jewish people. The loss of tzaddikim makes us all spiritual orphans; may Hashem take compassion on His people Israel, amen.

Darkness

By Rabbi Lazer Brody on Lazer Beams

Rabbi Lazer Brody – “With the passing of Rav Kaduri, of blessed and saintly memory, some people are telling me that they just don't feel the light of Hashem, and that they'd be much more inclined to strengthen their faith and observance if they could receive a mini-revelation and a small taste of Hashem's light rather than more bad news. They had heard that Rav Kaduri would lead us to Moshiach, and now this hope has floated away too.

Before his death, the famed Toldos Aaron rebbe, Rebbe Aaron Rota zatza'l, warned that the time before Moshiach would be a period of deep spiritual darkness - the supreme test of faith. But, those who don't get discouraged - and cling to their pure and simple faith - will invoke the Divine compassion that is not only needed to survive turbulent times, but shall also hasten the Geula.

The death of tzaddikim is a "hastora", the concealment of Hashem's Divine light. Rebbe Nachman of Breslev teaches that the period preceding Moshiach is a "hastora betokh hastora", or double concealment. But, just like Olympic gymnastics, for level of difficulty you score higher points. When emuna (faith) comes hard, the rewards are beyond our wildest dreams. Hold on, don't give up hope, and keep the faith no matter what - that's the key to staying on your feet in this insane world. Above all, be happy and don't ever despair. Hashem can hide all He wants, but He's always here - close by - and that's a solemn promise from your friend Lazer.”

The Man Who Met Mashiach and Other Musings

By Dov Bar Lieb with Years of Awe Blogsite on End of Days

Maggid Dov Bar-Lieb - Rav Yitskhak Kaduri has passed on to become our most esteemed, new "Malitz Yosher" (a direct advocate in the Heavenly Court on behalf of Klal Yisrael). He lived through four generations and in three of Edom's centuries until the age of 108. And just last week he woke up from a coma for one hour and forty minutes to give one of his esteemed students the signs of the Redeemer that has come to Tzion, who is still hidden from view. He himself met Mashiach two years ago, according to Yehoshua Meiri of Arutz-7, on the 9th of Cheshvan 5764.

Much has happened during the last week. (January 23-30, 2006)

1. The passing of the Sage and Tzaddik, Rav Yitzchak Kaduri, zt”l. May his family be comforted among the mourners of Tzion and Yerushalayim.
2. The divine blessing of the election of Hamas, forever exposing the true nature of our "peace partners" and next door neighbors. As for yours truly they live on the opposing hill just to our west, Kalendria.
3. The continued Persian resistance to European and American demands that they curtail their nuclear program. the audacity of those Persians, that they tell the West that they have a principle deeper than getting filthy rich from their oil. This, of course, is true despite the sinister nature of their principle.
4. The continuing saga of "The Shepherd" as fewer and fewer people bandy about the possibility that he will ever wake up, much less stage a recovery. Yet, he remains on life-support with the official status of temporary incapacitation so that the next person in line to become temporary PM in Likud cannot ascend to the throne. By keeping him on the perpetual recovery list, Armilus (Ehud "speck of human debris" Olmert) can continue to act as Gog W.'s hatchet man. As soon as "The Shepherd" is declared a permanent lost cause, Binyamin Netanyahu becomes Prime Minister. So much for the possibility that he will be declared a permanent lost cause before March 28th. Perhaps G-d has an unrevealed plan that has not yet been revealed. Barring this, expect Sharon to remain temporarily incapacitated and not permanently so until the end of March.
5. Now that "Ma'aleh Makom" Ehud Armilus is the Erev Rav's CEO for the next two months, expect mayhem and destruction in his wake. He may have been thrown for a loop because of Hamas's not so bewildering victory, but he will recover with his hatred for G-d fearing settlers in full view. What is next? Armona? the Shalhevet Pass neighborhood in Chevron? To where will his hatred boomerang? San Francisco? New York? How many people will be left homeless in America as a result of Armilus's goose step to Gog W's and Co Rice's (Koresh's) orders?

It looks like an article about the 33rd level of purity is necessary now in order to understand how Israel is the only qualified candidate to lead Mankind to the 34th level of purity and the 35th century after the Torah was given to us as an eternal heritage. We are now at 3317 years and counting.

In addition to this, a reflection over the sequence of events since Amir Peretz unseated Shimon Peres as Labor Party Chairman is in order. That occurred over two months ago. The pace and the sequence of events over the last ten weeks has caught my attention. It looks as if the "Purim Plot is Continuing After All." Is G-d sewing the light of Mashiach ben David? If this is the case, should we expect that the victor of elections in March will be the much maligned Mashiach ben Yosef? Ahah! I caught you all by surprise! Of course, perhaps these elections will not take place after all. Armilus is the last leader of Israel as a lowly kingdom run by the Erev Rav after all. But if these elections do take place, and if the scepter changes hands,.... Just think to yourselves. Who here in Eretz Yisrael has benefited more than any other human being from all of this divine intervention over the last ten weeks?”

Rav Kaduri – “Baruch Dayan Emes”

Posted on Mystical Paths Blogsite

Revered Rabbi Kadouri Dies at 108

by Leah Rafaeli with Lekarev Report

Leah Rafaeli – “Elder Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri passed away Saturday night at Jerusalem's Bikur Cholim Hospital. His funeral will take place Sunday at noon. Rav Kaduri, born in 1898, was 108 years old and was the leading Kabbalist Rabbi. He was hospitalized for 13 days prior to his death.

Rabbi Kaduri made Aliyah (moved to Israel) in 1908. He then returned to Iraq to study with the famed Ben Ish Chai, and later returned to the Holy Land in 1916. He studied in Yeshivat Porat Yosef in the Old City of Jerusalem, and later in Yeshivat Nachlat Yitzchak in Jerusalem's Bucharian neighborhood. The Rabbi quickly gained a reputation for his profound study of Torah and Kabbalah, his piercing insights, and his great piety.

Former Sephardic Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef and the Council of Sages of the Shas Party said, "We are mourning the passing of the elder kabbalist, the remnant of the Great Assembly, Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri." For most of his life Rabbi Kaduri was unknown to the general public. He led a modest life of study and prayer and worked as a bookbinder.

President Moshe Katsav praised the rabbi for his love of Israel, and his efforts to unite secular and religious Jews. "The president is pained by the death of the important rabbi, whose name was known in Israel and abroad," the President's Office said in a statement. "Rabbi Kaduri, among the greatest rabbis of Israel and the Jewish people, was characterized by his love for Israel, and an unmatched familiarity with the Kabbala. Rabbi Kaduri was known for his great modesty and humble lifestyle, and dedicated himself to the needs of the people of Israel."

When a Sage Leaves This World

by Leah Rafaeli with Lekarev Report

Leah Rafaeli – “While many of us may have our own concepts of what Kabbalah is - or is not (admitting that our opinions are often based on hearsay rather than personal research), nevertheless, when man comes to the end of his life, it is not what he knows intellectually, but how he has lived that matters most.

Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri lived a humble, prayerful and deeply spiritual life, affecting thousands for good. He embraced the secular Jew along with the religious Jew and sought to unify the people of Israel in a spirit of love and kindness. A light has gone out in the midst of Israel. His holiness will be missed, along with his teaching and example.

Hannah Senesh, executed at the age of 23 in Hungary during World War II, penned these words during her short life and they are most appropriate today with regard to Rabbi Kaduri. Would that they would be an appropriate eulogy for each one of us when we depart this life!

There are stars whose radiance is visible on earth though they have long been extinct. There are people whose brilliance continues to light the world though they are no longer among the living. These lights are particularly bright when the night is dark. They light the way for mankind.”

Go to Part Two – The Conflict between the Messiah Son of Joseph

and the Erev Rav, “the Mixed Multitude”

The Jewish Concepts of the Coming of the Messiah

“I Have Just Seen the Messiah”

The Messiah of Israel

Jewish Eschatology

The Maschiach ben Yosef (Messiah Son of Joseph)

The Expulsion of the “Disciples of Elisha” from Decalim in Gaza

Key Participants in the Targum Yonatan and How they relate to the Time of the End

“The Foolish Shepherd” – Ariel Sharon

The Erev Rav – The Mixed Multitude

The Expectations of the Jewish Rabbis on the Coming of the Jewish Messiah

Go to Part One – The Messiah will be Revealed Soon

The Messiah of Israel is Soon to be Revealed

Leading Kabbalistic Rabbi calls on worldwide Jewry to Return to Israel

Sephardic Orthodox Rebbe Yitzchak Kaduri

America’s War on Terror – Final Seven Years when the Messiah is Revealed

The Final “Shemittah”z” or Seven Sabbatical years before the Revelation of the Messiah

Rabbi Lazer Brody’s Confirmation of Rabbi Kaduri’s Statement

Chacham Yosef Chaim (Ben Ish Chai 1832-1904), the Rabbinic mentor of Rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri

Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson

Rabbis and Other Jewish Pronouncements Awaiting the Messiah

“Baba Sali”, the esteemed HaRav Yisrael Abuchatzeirah, ZT””L

Rabbi Raphael Abu Chatzera shlit’a of Ashdod, grandson of “Baba Sali”

Gerrer Rebbe: Yokov Aryeh Alter

Rabbi “BT” of Ashdod

Russian Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar

Rabbi CAE, Scion of the Chassidic Dynasties

Rabbi Chaim Kanevsky of Bnei Brak

Rabbi Uziel Eliyahu, Chief Rabbi of the Misgav Regional Council in Galilee

Galia – a Jewish Autistic Girl

Tributes to Kaduri - Israel’s great Sage of Judaism

Go to Part Two – The Conflict between the Messiah Son of Joseph and the Erev Rav, “the Mixed Multitude”

The Jewish Concepts of the Coming of the Messiah

“I Have Just Seen the Messiah”

The Messiah of Israel

Jewish Eschatology

The Maschiach ben Yosef (Messiah Son of Joseph)

The Expulsion of the “Disciples of Elisha” from Decalim in Gaza

Key Participants in the Targum Yonatan and How they relate to the Time of the End

The Foolish Shepherd – Ariel Sharon

The Erev Rav – The Mixed Multitude

Go to Part Three – “The End of Days”

Armilus HaRasha, the evil one, the Anti-Messiah of Israel

The Identity of Armilus – Shimon Peres or Ehud Olmert

The Expulsion of the Disciples of Elijah from Jericho and the Jerusalem

The Expulsion of the Jews from the Village of Amona

The Ancient Capital of King David, Hebron, falls to the Control of the Israeli Government

The War with Iran (Persia) and the Coming of the Messiah

Go to Part Four – The Catastrophes that will Point to our Redemption

The Pathways to the Redemption of Israel

The Coming Disasters and Tragedies in the World

Catastrophic Earth Changes on this Planet Earth

The Seeping of the Gihon Springs anticipating the Return of the Gihon River

The Prophecy of the Tsunami on the Coast of Gaza

How are We to Approach the Days of the Revelation of the Messiah of Israel?

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