5785/2025
Sanhedrin 98a presents one of the most dramatic occurrences in the Gemara:
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi found Elijah the prophet, who was standing at the entrance of the burial cave of Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said to him: Will I be privileged to come to the World-to-Come? Elijah said to him: If this Master, the Holy One, Blessed be He, will wish it so. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: Two I saw, Elijah and me, and the voice of three I heard, as the Divine Presence was also there, and it was in reference to Him that Elijah said: If this Master will wish it so.
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said to Elijah: When will the Messiah come? Elijah said to him: Go ask him. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi asked: And where is he sitting? Elijah said to him: At the entrance of the city of Rome. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi asked him: And what is his identifying sign by means of which I can recognize him? Elijah answered: He sits among the poor who suffer from illnesses. And all of them untie their bandages and tie them all at once, but the Messiah unties one bandage and ties one at a time. He says: Perhaps I will be needed to serve to bring about the redemption. Therefore, I will never tie more than one bandage, so that I will not be delayed.
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi went to the Messiah. He said to the Messiah: Greetings to you, my rabbi and my teacher. The Messiah said to him: Greetings to you, bar Leva’i. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said to him: When will the Master come? The Messiah said to him: Today. Sometime later, Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi came to Elijah. Elijah said to him: What did the Messiah say to you? He said to Elijah that the Messiah said: Greetings [shalom] to you, bar Leva’i. Elijah said to him: He thereby guaranteed that you and your father will enter the World-to-Come, as he greeted you with shalom. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said to Elijah: The Messiah lied to me, as he said to me: I am coming today, and he did not come. Elijah said to him that this is what he said to you: He said that he will come “today, if you will listen to his voice” (Psalms 95:7).
There are a myriad of rich themes inherent in this profound story. First, Rabi Yehoshua ben Levi can access Eliyahu HaNavi’s “personal line” to Hashem. He, in turn, does not answer Rabi Yehoshua ben Levi's question but refers him to the Mashiach. The Mashiach is presented as residing among the poor at Rome's gates and as full of wounds needing to be bandaged. Eliyahu HaNavi hangs out at Rabi Shimon bar Yochai's cave entrance. Mashiach changes his bandages one at a time, unlike the other poor who undo all bandages and replace them all at once. As Rashi notes, Mashiach does not want to delay his arrival even for a sliver of a second!
The Gemara's primary message is that the Mashiach is ready to come at any moment's notice. The responsibility for any delay in his arrival lies squarely upon our shoulders. It is our job to trigger his arrival.
Mashiach Bandaged Among Rome's Poor
This presentation of Mashiach conveys that redemption can come even in the most forlorn circumstances. He resides in Rome, the Churban’s epicenter and the most melancholy part of the city. In other words, he positions himself in the Churban She’be’Churban. They might result specifically from these difficulties.
Most interesting is Mashiach bandaging his wounds one at a time, unlike his neighbors. The neighbors feel that they must solve all their problems at once. In addition to wanting to be constantly available, Mashiach might teach that redemption arrives by addressing one issue at a time.
Hashem
Interestingly, Rabi Yehoshua ben Levi hardly takes advantage of his unique opportunity to engage Hashem through Eliyahu HaNavi. He interestingly restricts his questions to one matter. Rabi Yehoshua ben Levi rightfully realizes that some issues should be left to their natural courses without receiving blatant interference. Rabi Yehoshua ben Levi respects Hashem’s strong preference to remain quietly behind the scenes.
Hashem, modeling good management, does not micromanage Mashiach and allows Mashiach to speak for himself.
Rabi Shimon bar Yochai's Cave
Rabi Shimon bar Yochai generated the closest thing to the next world in this world in his cave (Shabbat 33b). This location became the perfect place to meet Eliyahu HaNavi, who splits his time between this world and the next.
Rabi Yehoshua ben Levi did not present Hashem with any personal supplications, showing that he acted purely for Am Yisrael’s sake.
A long wait for Mashiach was a new and unexpected phenomenon. Bayit Sheini was rebuilt seventy years after Churban Bayit rishon, leaving Rabi Yehoshua ben Levi and his post-Bar Kochva rebellion generation wondering “Eimatai Ati Mar,” when is Mashiach coming, and why is he taking so long to come. Perhaps this is why this one-time extraordinary encounter had to happen.
Mashiach Coming Today
Mashiach delivers a message that he is ready to come “today,” which refers to the Pasuk “HaYom Im Ko Tishma’u,” today, if we heed Hashem’s word. Most of us wish to do Teshuva and say we will eventually get to it. Mashiach teaches us that he will come if the attitude changes from “Manana” (or I’ll eventually get to it) to today. Teshuva involves saying that the process begins now without excuses and/or delays.
Olam Habah guarantee?
A side benefit to Rabi Yehoshua ben Levi is his learning he will be Ben Olam Habah. Why is he provided with this insider information? Isn't he better off not knowing?
Perhaps it is an affirmation that he is on the correct spiritual track with the approval of Shamayim. Although the Galut prevails because of our spiritual shortcomings, Rabi Yehoshua ben Levi represents his colleagues as being on the right track with their Torah learning and leadership of Am Yisrael.
Conclusion
The reassurance given to Rabi Yehoshua ben Levi is not merely a personal boost. It supports our entire people, knowing Hashem has not abandoned us, as our Torah leadership leads us on the correct path. If we faithfully follow their direction, Mashiach is ready to come at a moment’s notice.