The Gaon of Vilna and His Messianic Vision
By Arie Morgenstern
Gefen Publishing House 2012
Review Rabbi Ari Kahn
Dr. Arie Morgenstern’s recent book tells a fascinating tale
of the relationship between messianism and the return to the Land of Israel, as
a tool to bring about the Messianic Age.
The work tells of various rabbinic scholars who, due to
mystical insight and various calculations, made their way or attempted to make
their way to the Promised Land in order to ensure onset of the Messianic Age. The
key to these calculations lies in the view that the six days of creation are an
archetype and harbinger for future events - especially the events of the sixth
millennia, which are seen as being parallel to the sixth day. To be more
precise, each day of the six days of creation is akin to a thousand years
(based on the verse in Psalms 90:4).Thus, just as Adam was created on the sixth
day, all types of exciting changes were viewed as possible, even likely, in the
sixth millennium. And because Judaism’s “internal clock” calculates each day
from the preceding night, the period immediately preceding the sixth millennium
was viewed as particularly auspicious. Rabbinic tradition gives a precise
accounting of each hour of Adam’s day, and, in parallel fashion, the years in
the second half of the fifth millenium, calculated by dividing 500 years by “12
hours”, with a result of 41.6. The messianic calculations thus pointed to the
year 5500 (1740), and subsequently to the year 5541 (1781). This “simple”
calculation is the background for this volume, and in a sense the volume would
have been more readable with this introduction.
Morgenstern tells how some of the greatest kabbalists of the
time made their way - apparently independently - to the Land of Israel in anticipation
of the year 1740. The list includes Rabbis Moshe Haim Luzzato (the Ramchal),
Haim Ben Attar (the Ohr HaHaim), and Immanuel Hai Ricchi. Later, Rabbi Eliyahu,
the Gaon of Vilna, begins but does not complete his journey to Israel, in
anticipation of the year 1781.
The story is fascinating and the facts Morgenstern presents
are compelling. The problem with the book actually lies in the title: while the
original Hebrew title was “Mysticism and Messianism: from the Aliya of the
Ramchal to the Vilna Gaon”.
The English, on the other hand, ignores the Ramchal and
centers on the Vilna Gaon: ”The Gaon of Vilna and His Messianic Vision”. The
omission is more than unfortunate. The Vilna Gaon certainly deserves his own
study; regrettably this volume is not it. When one reads a book purporting to
be about the Vilna Gaon, one cannot help but be surprised that other than a
passing reference on page 30, the Vilna Gaon does not make an appearance until
page 231, and does not become the center of discussion until page 289!
The translating problems do not end with the title. While
reading I was often forced to pause and attempt to reconstruct what the
original Hebrew word might have been, in order to understand the English
rendition. Translating devekut as “cleavage” simply does not work.
Calling the central community organization a “kollel” gives a the modern reader
a completely different and inaccurate impression of the subject at hand.
Translating mavoi satum as a “cul de sac” instead of what was
intended to be a “dead end” does not help when referring to an intellectual
destination rather than a geographical one. (“I realized before starting out
that my quest might end in a cul de sac because the Gaon was wont to
conceal his identity.” Page 334)
Despite these difficulties, the book is readable, though the
reader should be aware that this is an academic work, and not necessarily designed
to be popular, easy reading. The actual chapters about the Vilna Gaon are
interesting, especially the new archival information Morgenstern presents,
which is the real value of the book. Though much of the author’s conclusions are
conjecture, they are plausible - though certainly not the only possible
explanation.
I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the
kabbalistic movements of the 18th century, for those interested in
the precursors to the modern Zionist Aliya (Morgenstern has been attacked in
academic circles for pointing to earlier Aliya movements than the acknowledged
Herzl/Zionist fueled movements). Indeed, anyone interested in messianism which
was independent of the Sabbatean movement (another area where Morgenstern
confronts accepted academic conclusions) and, most particularly anyone
interested in the Vilna Gaon, will find this book invaluable, despite the fact
that only a third of the book deals with the Vilna Gaon.
The book is not about the messianic vision of the Vilna Gaon,
and only explores a small aspect of that vision. For example, the concept of
Messiah Ben Yosef should be a central part of this any discussion of the mystical
vision of the Vilna Gaon, and it is lacking in the present volume. Additionally,
there is no mention of other works penned by the Vilna Gaon’s students and
later disciples who claim to express his messianic teachings, such as the Kol
Hator. While the author may argue that these works are irrelevant, the discussion
is lacking without them.
I would suggest, for any future editions, re-editing to
remove the inappropriate uses of language. I strongly recommend renaming the
book in order to bring it in line with the Hebrew tome and to avoid unfounded
expectations and eventual dissatisfaction with the important material the book
does contain. The present title misrepresents the book’s contents and goals; changing
the title will change readers’ expectations, and leave them far more satisfied.
