Random Quote

Elijah will come to herald the arrival of the Messiah, and he will teach the mysteries of the calendar, revealing the hidden times of God.

-Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, Chapter 43

Calendar Jewish | Elijah | Messiah | Midrash

  • God said to Moses: ‘Command the children of Israel and say to them, My appointed times (moed) shall you keep as My covenant forever.’ (Leviticus 23:2) This is to teach you that the calendar and its festivals are set by the divine order and should not be tampered with. Do not look into or follow the calculations of those who stray from this path, for their times are not aligned with the divine will. Just as I have sanctified the Sabbath, so have I sanctified the months and the festivals for you.
  • The Sages taught in a baraita: With regard to the seven-year period, i.e., the Sabbatical cycle, during which the Messiah, son of David, comes: During the first year, this verse will be fulfilled: “And I will cause it to rain upon one city and cause it not to rain upon another city” (Amos 4:7). During the second year of that period, arrows of famine will be shot, indicating that there will be famine only in certain places. During the third year there will be a great famine, and men, women, children, the pious, and men of action will die, and the Torah is forgotten by those who study it. During the fourth year there will be plenty but not great plenty. During the fifth year there will be great plenty and they will eat, and drink, and rejoice, and the Torah will return to those who study it. During the sixth year, heavenly voices will be heard. During the Sabbatical Year, wars, e.g., the war of Gog and Magog, will be waged involving the Jewish people. During the year after the conclusion of the Sabbatical Year, the son of David will come.
  • While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he went away and hid himself from them.
  • The sentence of the generation of the Flood lasted twelve months, the sentence of the Egyptians lasted twelve months, the sentence of Job lasted twelve months, the sentence of Gog of Magog lasts twelve months, the sentence of the wicked in Gehenna lasts twelve months. Nebuchadnezzar was three and a half years. Sennacherib was over three and a half years. Vespasian was three and a half years.
  • Rabbi Jacob said: This world (age) is like a lobby before the Age to Come; prepare yourself in the lobby so that you may enter the banquet hall… He used to say: Better is one hour of repentance and good deeds in this age than all the life of the Age to Come; and better is one hour of bliss in the Age to Come than all the life of this age.
  • The coming of the Messiah will not occur until the measure is full, as it is said, ‘In its time I will hasten it’ (Isaiah 60:22). The school of Eliyahu interpreted this to mean: In its appointed time if they are not worthy; but hastened if they are righteous.