Erev Rav - Table of Contents

• To Unify the Moshiachs - Our goal is to unify the 2 Moshiachs. This discusses the challenges facing us from the Klipot.
• Erev Rav - The Connector - The Erev Rav enables the two other Klipot, Yishmael and Esav, to attach to Am Yisrael.
• Sasson and Simchah - A cryptic Midrash in Sukkah hints at the two Moshiachs being covered in the Klipot.
• The Heresy of Sasson and Simchah - A summary of the problems of Sasson and Simchah.
• Erev Rav - Summary - Summarizing the different aspects of the Erev Rav and the Erev Zeir.
• Erev Rav in the Zohar - The Erev Rav's rise to power in the End of Days is hinted at in the Zohar Ki Tisa.
• Sprouting of Moshiach - The fall of the Erev Rav.

The Vision for Peace

A few months back, we discussed how the Erev Rav of the Left is really an enabling force for the Klipah of Esav to connect to Am Yisrael.

I think this is very well demonstrated here.

In his speech, Olmert told the Knesset that he was working on the US vision of an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement.

He said he was committed to carrying out Bush's vision of forming an independent Palestinian state next to Israel. And when a deal would be reached, Olmert said, the divided parliament and Israeli public will rally behind it.

This effectively attaches Am Yisrael to the West, via the Israeli leadership. Without this force in the leadership of Am Yisrael, we will break free of these corrupt ideas and move towards the Redemption of Truth.

Erev Rav - Summary

The following is a summary of the defining factors of the Erev Rav and Erev Zeir.

Erev Rav of the Left

• Religion - Mainly based on belief, if not outright secular. Should not require any action on behalf of the believer.
• Morals - Morals shall be deduced by human reason alone. "I don't need G-d to tell me how to be a good person".
• Science - Achievements in science are valued, as it brings understanding, does not necessitate the obligation to any sort of belief.
• Politics - Separate Religion and State
• Geulah - "We can make our utopia here and now", there is no "process" of Geulah. They desire to do all the work.

Erev Rav of the Right, the Erev Zeir

• Religion - Mainly based on action, deeper/outside understanding of Kabbalah/Science is not stressed.
• Science - Any seeming challenges coming from science are attacked, science is deemed unnecessary/heretical.
• Politics - Separate Religion and State (by this I mean that there is no desire to eventually come to a "Torah" mode of governing, any religious influence is at most on the "dalet amot" scale)
• Geulah - "We cannot make our utopia here and now, only Moshiach can, we must wait." There is no "process" of Geulah. They pray for Moshiach to do all the work.

The Heresy of Sasson and Simchah

An anonymous commenter eloquently summarized the heresy of Sasson and Simchah as follows:

The heresy of Sasson, then, would be that the ikar is attaining faith, understanding, and morality. They can be achieved without (all) the Mitzvot, and once they have been achieved, the Mitzvot have no purpose. And this reflects what is seen in the religion of Edom: Only faith.

And the heresy of Simcha would be that there is only the performance of Mitzvot. Halacha provides and defines everything. There is no morality outside of it, and no Hasagot of any kind. Simcha does not care much about the faith of the orthodox Jew. He does not care much about the Jew's spiritual level. As long as he learns Halacha and lives it. Simcha discourages learning "other things", like Sod, or Science. Our whole purpose is to serve HaShem by doing the Mitzvot. And this reflects what is seen in the religion of Yishmael.

Sasson and Simchah

Sukkah 48b

There were once two heretics (According to one version: Tzedokim), one whose name is Sasson (joy), and one whose name is Simchah (happiness).

Sasson said to Simchah: I am better than you, as it is written: "Sasson and Simchah they will attain" (Yeshayahu 35:10) (The claim of superiority is based on which word comes first in the verse)

He (Simchah) said to him (Sasson): I am better than you, as it is written: "Simchah and Sasson for the Jews" (Esther 8:17).

Sasson said to Simchah: One day they will leave you and make you a runner (one who goes out in front of people), as it says: "For in Simchah they will go out" (Yeshayahu 55:12).

Simchah said to Sasson: One day they will leave you and water will be drawn by you, as it says: "And you will draw out water in Sasson" (Yeshayahu 12:3)

The heretic by the name of Sasson said to Rebbi Abahu: In the future you (the Jews) will draw water for me, as it says: "And you will draw out water in Sasson" (Yeshayahu 12:3)

He (Rebbi Abahu) said to him (Sasson): If it was written "to Sasson", it would be as you said, but now that it is written "in Sasson", from the skin of that man meaning Sasson), we will make a pitcher and fill it with water.

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Kol HaTor Chapter 2, Part 1, Page 74

147) Sasson and Simchah – In the verse: And the redeemed of Hashem will return, etc, Sasson and Simchah they will attain (Yeshayahu 35). Sasson and Simchah are the 2 Moshiachs and the main matter of Sasson is Moshiach ben Yosef about whom this pasuk is said, “and the redeemed of Hashem will return”, according to our Rabbi (the GR”A) in Sod HaOtiot Chafa”f (in Likutei HaGR”A), this is the main meaning of the Gemara (Sukkah 48b, quoted above) on the matter of Sasson and Simchah. And our Rabbi (the GR”A) merited to attain understanding of the meaning of that Gemara in all its purpose, and about this he said that if he was created only to understand this matter, it is enough for him….

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For a thorough yet partial explanation of this matter, see Sefer Pitchei She’arim part 1, back of the book, Beit Netivot, page 26. It is too long and complicated for me to type up here. Some points can be gleaned from this. Per the GR”A, the Gemara there is referring to the time when the 2 Moshiachs will be caught up in the Klipot, the period which I have written of, from the GR”A’s era until our era. They are Tzedokim (heritics) as long as they are caught up in the Klipah. When they are freed, they are Tzadikim. First, Sasson (Moshiach ben Yosef) will be freed of his Klipah, and then Simchah (Moshiach ben Dovid).

Erev Rav in the Zohar

Zohar 2:191a-2:191b

And the people saw that Moshe was delayed (boshesh Moshe). Who are these people? These are the Erev Rav. Who is the Erev Rav? For the Ludim and Kushim and Kaftorim and Tugarmim were the ones called Erev Rav, but wasn't it Mitzri'im and from Mitzrayim that they traveled? And these were a mixture of many peoples, therefore it should have been written that the Erev Rav went up (with the verb for went up being plural) because it was a mixture.

But rather the Erev Rav went up (in the singular), one people, and one language, but rather they were all the sorcerers of Egypt and all of their magicians, about whom it is written "and they also did, the magicians of Mitzrayim", that they wanted to stand up against the wonders of Hashem. And because they saw the miracles and the wonders of Moshe in Mitzrayim, they followed Moshe. Hashem said to Moshe: "Don't take them". Moshe said: "Master of the World, because they saw Your strength, they want to convert. They'll see your strength every day and know that there is no G-d aside from you." And Moshe accepted them.

Why are they called Erev Rav, rather they were all the sorcerers of Mitzrayim, and at there head was Yonus and Yimbrus, and (according to) the hours of the day they would do their sorcery. For all this upper sorcery they would look at where the sun is. At the beginning of 6.5 hours until the beginning of 9.5 hours, which is a big Erev. And all the smaller magic is from nine and a half hours until midnight.

These upper ones amongst them would look at the position of the sun , and then the 995 levels would begin to wander on the mountains of darkness. Their spirit would wander around all of these levels with their sorcery. And they would do whatever they desire, until all the Egyptians would place their trust in them. And they call them the Erev Rav, because there is also an Erev Ze'ir (small Erev). From 9.5 hours and onward, this is is the Erev Ze'ir. Therefore it is written "and also the Erev Rav went up with them."

And there wisdom was great, and they would look at the hours of the day, and the level of Moshe, and they would see that from all sides "Boshesh Moshe" (Moshe delayed), for in the first six hours of the day they couldn't control him because of the six upper levels that are within him.

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If we look at the 6th Millenium as being the day of the Sin of the Golden Calf, the Zohar shows us what to expect. The control of the Erev Rav in general will start at approximately 6.5 hours in. At this time, the Erev Rav, not the Erev Zeir, however, is dominant. The time of the Erev Rav comes to an end, and the time of the Erev Zeir's dominance comes at 9.5 hours in to the day. Why do they ascend? Because Moshe (Moshiach) is delayed (we did not merit Moshiach's arrival), and this is their opportunity to control Am Yisrael.

1 hour = 1000 / 12 = 83.333 years

6.5 * 83.333 = 541.666 + 5000 years = 5541.666 (1781 CE)

9.5 * 83.333 = 791.666 + 5000 = 5791.666 (2031 CE)

Keeping in mind the entire discussion we've had regarding the root of the Erev Rav of the Left and Right, now look at Jewish history starting in the late 18th century, you will find new movements begin to influence Am Yisrael. It was in the early 1780's that Moses Mendelssohn wrote his most influential works on the separation of religion and state. Moses Mendelssohn is widely held to be the "Father of the Haskalah Movement". Read here about the effects of this movement.

For better understanding, read up on the history of Jewish movements of the last 230 years, and you should be able to draw further conclusions about our situation today.

In Kol HaTor we are reminded that the Other Side has 999 levels, just like the side of Kedushah, so the physical side of the Erev Rav precedes the spiritual side of the Erev Rav, just like with Moshiach ben Yosef and Moshiach ben Dovid. Physical dominates, but it is not alone. Perhaps this is why, as recorded in Kol HaTor, the GR"A attempted to make Aliyah specifically in the year 5541, to counteract this force with Kedushah in the physical world, yet he was not given permission from Heaven to continue, he was to pass this on to his students, who arrived in Tzfat in Elul 5569.

Erev Rav - The Connector

The Ramchal writes in the sefer Kin'at Hashem Tz'va'ot the following short statement:

For the nations themselves are on the outside, and they attach themselves to Israel through the Erev Rav...

This clarifies further what I wrote here and here.

From this we see why the Erev Rav is the Center of the Klipah. The Klipah attaches itself to Am Yisrael. The Klipah feeds on Kedushah. The conduit for the Klipah of the Left and Right to attach to Am Yisrael is through the Erev Rav. When the Erev Rav no longer provides this link to Kedushah, the conflict begins.

This is the reality we live in. The State of Israel is considered a close ally of the USA. This stems from their common source on the Left. The leadership here in Eretz Yisrael enables both the sons of Esav and Yishmael to have a say over the affairs of Am Yisrael, where no such say is due to them. The leadership in Eretz Yisrael, even by partial obedience, enables Esav and Yishmael to maintain their profitable relationship. When will this situation end? It will end when the time of the Erev Rav of the Left ends. That is when the goals of Moshiach ben Yosef are no longer considered to be a threat to national security.

From that point, it is no longer the partnership of the Internal and External Klipah of the Left, partners against Moshiach ben Yosef.

It is the side of Kedushah against the Klipah, Moshiach ben Yosef will return the "war to the gates."

That is the conflict.

Erev Rav in the Chumash

The Erev Rav is mentioned only once explicitly in the Torah, in Shemot 12:38:

And also a Mixed Multitude went up with them...

Targum Yonatan translates this as:

And also many foreigners, and from them 240 myriads (2,400,000 men), went up with them...

We see from this that the Erev Rav was 80% of those that left Mitzraim, while B'nei Yisrael were just 20%.

To Unify the Moshiachs

I am departing from the translating/commentary style.

The following is based on Kol HaTor chapter 2, part 2, siman bet. Please read that in the original Hebrew for further understanding.

The side of Kedushah and the side of Tumah (the Klipah) each have their respective parts, Right, Left and Center. G-d has made this opposing that (Kohelet 7:14).

Kedushah

• Right - Moshiach ben Dovid
• Left - Moshiach ben Yosef
• Center - Moshiach ben Dovid and Moshiach ben Yosef together (or as we learn elsewhere in that chapter, Melech HaMoshiach)

Tumah

• Right - Yishmael
• Left - Esav
• Center - Armilus, ministering angel of the Erev Rav

The Center of the side of Kedushah is the unity of the 2 Moshiachs. The Center is basically the sum of the Left and the Right, but only when they work in tandem.

The Center of the side of Tumah, on the otherhand, seems to be a completely separate entity from the respective Left and Right of Tumah. Add Yishmael and Esav together and you don't get Erev Rav. But, as the Zohar teaches, the Erev Rav itself is divided in to two parts, the Left and Right of Tumah which is attached to Am Yisrael. So it would seem that the Erev Rav's Left and Right are the Jewish side of Tumah, or Am Yisrael's Internal Klipah of the Left and Right. The unity of the Left and the Right of the Klipah, we find, is dependent upon the Klipah which is within Am Yisrael.

The Erev Rav's desire is twofold:

• To connect the External Klipah of the Left and Right, Esav and Yishmael. If the Erev Rav were to succeed, the world would be destroyed, G-d forbid.
• To prevent the unity between the Left and Right of Kedushah, Moshiach ben Yosef and Moshiach ben Dovid.

Our job is the exact opposite: To unify the Left and Right of Kedushah, to struggle against the Erev Rav's goals.

The beginning of this chapter of Kol HaTor states that Moshiach ben Yosef is the heavenly force responsible for the physical wellbeing of Am Yisrael, whereas Moshiach ben Dovid is responsible for the spiritual wellbeing of Am Yisrael.

We see from this:

• The Left side is based on the Physical
• The Right side is based on the Spiritual

What is the separation of the Moshiachs? For the past few generations, Am Yisrael has been led towards two opposing worldviews:

• The ultimate perfection can be found in the Physical, the Spiritual can be abandoned.
• The ultimate perfection can be found in the Spiritual, the Physical can be abandoned.

Our struggle is not just to actively reject these two extremes, but to carefully attain the absolute balance needed, 499.5 from this side, and 499.5 from that side.