QUESTION
1) What lays behind the evil forces of the kelipos of “Gog” as well as “Magog”?
ANSWER
Rav Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin (in sefer Machsheves Charotz: 9) explains that “Gog” is from the word gag, “roof ”, and also the concept of gaavah, conceitedness. He writes: “When the word Gog is spelled with the letter vov, it implies self-sufficiency, to be entirely conceited at the root.” (See also Pri Tzaddik to Parshas Shemini: 9). On a similar note, the Zohar (II:57, II:75) says that Hashem’s exaltedness and pride (ga’on) will reign supreme after the arrival of Gog and Magog. And Rav Tzadok further writes in sefer Pri Tzaddik (Beraishis:12) that the evil of denying G-d is represented by Gog and Magog, which is the collected evil of all 70 gentile nations, for the gematria (equivalent) of Gog and Magog totals 70 (sefer Pri Tzaddik, Va’eira 2, and based on Midrash Tanchuma, parshas Korach, 12).
QUESTION
2) Does “Gog” represent the evil forces that conceal Hashem’s Presence, and does “Magog” represent the clashes within our own souls?
ANSWER
Gog fights against Mashiach ben Yosef. As a hint, Gog has the letter gimmel twice in his name, which equals 3 and 3, for a total of 6, and Yosef is represented by the number 6, for Yosef is the sixth level [of the 10 Sefiros]. Rav Tzadok writes (in Pri Tzaddik, Naso 15) that Gog and Magog will fight against Mashiach ben Yosef. This is because Gog and Magog represent gaavah (conceitedness), which is also the root of homose*ual behavior [as written about by Rebbi Nachman of Breslev]. Refer also to Talmud Bavli Succah 52a about the war of Gog and Magog against Mashiach ben Yosef.
Magog fights against Mashiach ben Dovid. The sefer Pri Tzaddik (Rosh HaShanah, 11) says, “The main evil of Gog and Magog is to counter the holiness of Mashiach ben Dovid. See also Pri Tzaddik parshas Netzavim, 11. This is the evil of heresy, denying G-d. As the sefer Shem M’Shmuel (in Chol HaMoed Succos) states, “The concept of Gog and Magog is all about rebelling against G-d.” If we analyze it more closely, this is actually the evil of Magog, because the sefer Shem M’Shmuel states elsewhere that Magog is all about “throwing away the yoke of Heaven.”
QUESTION
3) Is Gog and Magog connected with Mt. Seir, Mt. Amon and Mt. Moav which the Arizal writes about, the three particular forces of evil which will reappear in the final days?
ANSWER
Yes. The word Gog is the letter gimmel twice, connected by the letter vov (which is the Hebrew letter that connects all other Hebrew letters together), representing three forces of evil that combine together, which fight against the three main forces on the side of holiness. That is why Gog and Magog fight against Moshe, Mashiach ben Yosef and Mashiach ben Dovid.
The sefer Don Yadin [of Rebbi Shimon Astripole] says that Gog, Magog and Armilos are all one unit. This is the depth behind the Gemara’s words that if a person is careful to eat the three Shabbos meals, he is saved from the war of Gog and Magog, and this is also related to the words of the Zohar (Shemos, 7, 72) states that Gog and Magog will appear 3 times.
QUESTION
4) In a different response the Rav explained that the “war of Gog and Magog” is taking place today on an internal level, within the clashes and contradictions of each of our souls, which is manifest on an outer level today in all of the wars taking place today. But recently in a response the Rav explained that our war that we must fight against Internet and media use is the very war of Gog and Magog itself. Are these two different definitions of the “war of Gog and Magog” today, or do they correspond to each other?
ANSWER
All of the inner contradictions in the soul [which cause people to clash with each other] are rooted in the trait of gaavah (conceitedness). At the root of all contradictions and clashes is gaavah, conceitedness. This [the concept of Gog/gaavah/conceit] is the evil that fights against Mashiach ben Yosef.
The media [internet use] is the evil that fights against Mashiach ben Dovid. The internet and the media is one collective force which counters the Individual One of the world, and it represents the evil of denying G-d. The Megaleh Amukos (parshas Noach) says that the war of Gog and Magog against Mashiach ben Dovid is all-inclusive of all 4 kings [who fought against Avraham] and all 4 exiles.
QUESTION
5) The Gemara says that “Rebellious children in a home is more difficult than the war of Gog and Magog.” What is the depth of this statement, and could it mean that the many children who have strayed from Yiddishkeit today Rachmana Litzlan are an outcome of the spiritual war of Gog and Magog which the Chofetz Chaim spoke about, that the casualties of neshamos that have been affected by the final era of history is worse than the physical casualties of the previous world wars?
ANSWER
Yes – that is very, very, very true !!!
