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Left Behind
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When the Soviet Union collapsed over twenty years ago, there was one person left out of the general celebration: cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev. He was up in space in the midst of a research mission on the Mir Space Station, and was left in outer space for 313 days (!) - because the new states that were established on the ruins of the Soviet Union refused to take responsibility for his safe return. Only after almost a year - Germany sponsored the launch of spacecraft "Soyuz" to extract the poor cosmonaut and bring him back to earth.
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We have been in exile for close to two thousand years. At times living in this world can feel like a jungle, fighting it out with each other for survival. Might makes right, and there doesn’t seem to be a natural way out. To think that this entire system could come to an end within days, minutes even, and we will suddenly all become friends and partners, seems delusional.
But let's remember: This was also what they said during the last days of the Soviet Union. The dictatorship was at its peak. Every apartment was bugged; on every block was another KGB agent standing ready to report “thought crimes” to the powers that be. The only people who could get ahead was through theft, deceit and corruption. Despair, fear and poverty prevailed.
And yet – in one day, without any threat or external cause – everything collapsed like a house of cards. The Iron Curtain was revealed to be a flimsy sheet, and the army that once threatened the world soon broke up into small units, with no imperialistic pretensions.
This is just a small-scale example of how the world can transform itself completely – quickly and suddenly. No more corruption, disease or death; no more hatred, jealousy or competition. No more scarcity and fear, meaninglessness or despair.
The true and complete Redemption will make this dream a reality. We will finally be free to live a life of meaning, health and happiness, and G-‘s power will finally be obvious to all. Moshiach through his leadership will lift humanity to new heights of justice, honesty and true happiness.
The most beautiful part of this vision is that no one will be left behind in “outer space” while the celebration continues below. Each and every one of us, regardless of where we stand in life, will be remembered and gathered up, when we will finally be restored to our land, as the prophet says, “And you will be gathered up one by one, the house of Israel.”
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