An aspiring traveler signs a stack of travel guides out of the library, browses dozens of travel-blogs and ‘gram posts. Then they actually visit the rushing Niagara Falls, skyscraper-studded Tokyo, glittering Paris, snow-covered mountain peak, or the bustling, aromatic shuk. What comparison can be made between the exploration of the many hours studying their destination’s magnificence and its actual experience? Research may have informed them that more than an Olympic-sized swimming pool’s worth of water cascades down Niagara Falls every second and they had attempted to visualize that. But stepping onto the boat and seeing the splendor for the first time is indescribable.
An experience of the senses—whether an awesome sight, a natural wonder, an adrenaline buzz, or an overwhelming combination of scents—is not merely an aggregation of prior knowledge or images. It transcends facts and figures, and fully engages the observer’s attention. The digital map of a landmark city’s streets built through images and algorithms pales in comparison to the clarity and richness gained in that single moment when the Eiffel Tower rises on the horizon. The sharp intake of clean mountain air that tickles the climber’s overtaxed lungs is incomparable to mastering the treadmill’s highest altitude setting or scaling the gym’s rock wall. The “real deal” offers a depth of adventure and appreciation that surpasses weeks of conditioning or study.
Seeing Torah
Seeing something first-hand conveys an understanding that far surpasses the level of understanding of complex ideas achievable through study and thought. This is exactly what Moshiach will do; he will teach humanity to “see” and directly experience the Divine. Moshiach will peel back the layers of reality that hide G-d’s presence and allow the human senses to engage with what is incorporeal and can’t be seen.
Moshiach’s unparalleled ability to facilitate this direct experience stems from his unique connection to the Divine—one that surpasses even that of the greatest Jewish leaders that precede him. Everyone, regardless of their level of knowledge, will seek to learn from him. Scholars and laypeople alike will benefit, just as individuals of all ages and levels of expertise can appreciate a getaway location. Of course, those with prior knowledge or physical training will appreciate Torah’s intricacies more profoundly and explore its landscape more thoroughly, but the experience of being there enriches everyone simultaneously. From the most advanced scholars to beginners, Moshiach will deliver unparalleled clarity and insight to each person.
The students of the Torah academy of the future will also have the opportunity to glean knowledge and insight from great scholars and leaders of bygone generations. However, the Torah of Moshiach will be its own class, continually revealing deeper layers of hidden wisdom that everyone’s human senses can tangibly experience.
- Moshiach will be the greatest teacher of all time, revealing the deepest secrets of Torah and reality through the profound clarity of sight
Moshiach will peel back the layers of reality that hide G-d’s presence.
