הוריות יב

Several generations ago, when relations between Jews and Muslims in Turkey were relatively friendly, a Jew borrowed 10,000 lira from his Muslim neighbor and signed a note agreeing to repay the loan within three months.  The following day, the Muslim mentioned the loan to his imam.  The imam told him “You’re in trouble.  The Jews are waiting for משיח, who could come any day.  And when that happens, the Jew will run off to his holy land with your 10,000 lira.  The Turk quickly ran to the home of the Jew and asked him when משיח will come.  “We’re waiting for his arrival ממש every day,” the Jew responded.   Biting his lip, the Muslim said: “My brother, I want to change the Note to provide that, instead of three months, payment is due immediately on the day that משיח comes.”  The Jew agreed.  Three months later the Muslim took the Note to the Jew’s home and asked whether משיח had come.  “Not yet,” the Jew responded, “but he could still come even today or tomorrow.”  When the Muslim arrived at the market, he stopped an elderly Jew and asked “When is your משיח coming?”  Like any Jew, he answered: “We hope today.  He can come at any moment.”  The מוסר is that if we Jews would wait for משיח the way that the Turk did, he would have come long ago.

06/10/2021