Rabbi Roodyn

The Gemara in Sanhedrin 98a relates a remarkable story that is connected to the end of our pasuk.

Once, Rabbi Yehoshua met Elijah entering the cave of Shimon bar Yochai. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi asked the Prophet, “When will the Moshiach come?” For the Prophet Elijah is the one who will announce the coming of the Moshiach.

Elijah replied, “You should ask that question of the Moshiach himself.”

Having learned from Elijah where the Moshiach could be found, Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi set out for that place and met the Moshiach. This was their conversation: “Peace unto you, Master and Teacher,” Rabbi Yehoshua greeted the Moshiach.

“Peace unto you, son of Levi,” the Moshiach replied.

“When will my Master appear?” Rabbi Yehoshua inquired.

“Today! Even today…” the Moshiach replied.

Full of happiness and joy, Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi returned to Elijah and told him what the Moshiach had said. Thereupon Elijah explained to Rabbi Yehoshua that the Moshiach was speaking of the word “today” mentioned in our verse: “Today – if you will hearken to my voice.”

This Gemara has such a powerful message for us, as the Mishna says in Pirkei Avos, ‘If not now, when?’ All too often we push off opportunities that come our way thinking that there will be time tomorrow. Tomorrow never comes, and these opportunities may never return.

As the Alter of Novardhok once said, ‘A person should be willing to give up all his tomorrows for one today so that he doesn’t end up wasting all his todays on one tomorrow’.