The Secret of the Olive Branch: Why Did Noach Lose the Soul of Mashiach ben David?
Lesson No. 161 | Tuesday, Parashas Vayeira, 14 Cheshvan 5759 - Prize Distribution for Outstanding Students at the "Shaarei Torah" Yeshiva
An in-depth discourse on the secret of the footsteps of Mashiach, Noach's spiritual work of self-nullification (bitul) in the Ark, and the mistake that caused him to lose the soul of Mashiach ben David. Through the words of the holy Zohar and Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein, it is explained how chasing after desires, even spiritual ones, delays the Geulah (Redemption).
Rebbe Nachman of Breslov hinted to Rabbi Nasan the entire secret of the spiritual work of the generations leading up to the Geulah (Redemption), in a sentence he told him in Yiddish: "Dayn shich hot a patsh in ponim" (Your shoe received a slap in the face). With this, he hinted to him about the secret of the heels and the face.
When the heel of the tzaddik becomes crooked, it shows that the heel of the entire world is crooked. We are in the era of "who have taunted the footsteps of Your Mashiach" – they taunt the footsteps of the Mashiachs, Mashiach ben David and Mashiach ben Efraim. The current state of the world is an aspect of "back to back," and our spiritual work is to return all the worlds to a state of "face to face." "All our work now is to know how to return the world to face to face, to rectify the world of the heels."
Dust and Ashes - The Secret of Self-Nullification
To reach the Geulah (Redemption), one must understand the difference between "afar" (dust) and "efer" (ashes). Dust is the aspect of Mashiach ben Efraim (Mashiach ben Yosef), since dust is still suitable for planting. In contrast, ashes are the aspect of Mashiach ben David.
Ashes are no longer suitable for anything, and it is impossible to plant in them. This is the secret of Mashiach ben David – he knows that he is nothing, that he does not exist on his own, and that he does not do anything. "The essence of the Geulah (Redemption) will only come through one person who knows that he does not do anything."
Noach's Crucible in the Ark
We find this secret of self-nullification with Noach. The Torah testifies about him at first:
"Noach was a righteous man, perfect in his generations."
But afterward, it only says:
"For you I have seen righteous before Me in this generation,"
And in the end, all that remains is:
"Only Noach."
The word "ach" (only) hints at the holy Name of Hashem, Eheyeh. In order to continue the generations and bring the soul of Avraham Avinu into the world, Noach had to reach the state of "only Noach" – there is no longer a tzaddik, no longer perfect. He forgot everything.
For twelve months in the Ark, Noach went through absolute hell. He worked around the clock to feed the lion, the leopard, and the cheetah, absorbing blows and roars. He could have lived comfortably on the peak of a high mountain, but Hashem placed him among the animals so that he would reach complete self-nullification. "A person runs here, runs there, and suddenly he feels that he has nothing left. Noach forgot the Torah, forgot the prayer, nothing remained – and only in this way is it possible to continue a new world."
The Olive Branch and the Soul of Mashiach
The holy Zohar (Beshalach, 165a) reveals a tremendous secret about the dove that returned to the Ark:
"And behold, a plucked olive leaf was in its mouth."
The Zohar says that this olive leaf is the soul of Mashiach ben David.
The commentators ask: From where did the dove bring an olive leaf, since everything was wiped out in the Flood? The answer is that the olive trees were not uprooted. The Jewish people are compared to an olive – "All the floods, all the calamities, all the holocausts, and all the fires cannot uproot the Jewish people, who are compared to an olive."
When the waters began to recede from the mountaintops, it became clear that the olive tree remained standing. Regarding this, King David said:
"But I am like a flourishing olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the loving-kindness of God forever and ever."
Mashiach is compared to a flourishing olive tree, which all the winds and floods in the world cannot uproot.
Noach's Mistake and the Missed Opportunity
If so, why didn't Noach merit to bring the complete Geulah (Redemption)? The Gaon Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein zt"l explains that Noach sinned by dealing with the gift first.
When Noach emerged from the Ark, the gates of the Garden of Eden opened, and a grapevine branch descended to him. Instead of first planting the rest of the Seven Species that he had prepared in the Ark – wheat, barley, pomegranates, and olives – he rushed to plant the vine. Since he had no water on the mountain, Hashem provided him with animals; he slaughtered them, watered the vine with their blood, and on that very day, the vine blossomed, produced grapes, and he drank from the wine.
Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein asks: What is the sin here? After all, this was a branch from the Garden of Eden! The answer is that there was an underlying motive of lust. "The tastiest thing is served at the end. When you chase after something tasty, even if it is permitted and even if it is a mitzvah, it will lead you to disaster."
Because Noach rushed toward pleasure and did not delay it until the end, he lost the aspect of "I am like a flourishing olive tree" – he lost the soul of Mashiach ben David. Our spiritual work is to rectify this flaw, to return the world to a state of "face to face," and to merit both aspects – Mashiach ben David and Mashiach ben Yosef, who will bring the complete Geulah (Redemption) speedily in our days, Amen.
Part 2 of 2 — Lesson #161
All parts: Part 1 | Part 2 (Current)