"A star shall come forth out of Yaakov, and a scepter shall rise out of Yisrael."
This prophecy, delivered by the non-Jewish prophet Bilam, has deep Messianic implications in Jewish tradition.
In the plain sense (peshat), Kochav Yaakov refers to a future leader or ruler who will emerge from the descendants of Yaakov. The verse speaks of this figure as a powerful king who will defeat Yisrael's enemies, traditionally understood as King David and, ultimately, as the Mashiach. This prophecy has therefore been linked to the coming of Mashiach ben David in the Messianic era.
In Kabbalistic literature, the Kochav Yaakov is given an even more mystical and cosmic significance. According to the Zohar (in Parashat Balak), the "star" symbolizes a hidden spiritual light that will emerge in the Messianic era. This light is associated with the revelation of profound Divine knowledge and spiritual renewal. The Zohar often equates stars with specific souls or spiritual energies, and in this context, Kochav Yaakov is linked to the soul of Mashiach ben Yosef, the precursor to Mashiach ben David.
According to the Zohar, the Kochav Yaakov can also be understood as the first phase of Messianic redemption, led by Mashiach ben Yosef. The star signifies the beginning of the Messianic process, the restoration of Yisrael’s sovereignty, and the fight against Yisrael's physical and spiritual enemies. The star’s brilliance is said to herald the arrival of Mashiach ben Yosef, who will initiate the redemption, paving the way for Mashiach ben David.
The Arizal (Rabbi Yitzchak Luria), expands on the concept of Kochav Yaakov in connection to cosmic cycles, time, and soul rectification (tikkun). The "star" represents a spiritual awakening that will appear at the appointed time, awakening the latent potential within the Jewish people and the world for Messianic redemption.
Kochav Yaakov can also symbolize the process of tikkun, where the Jewish people, through their efforts in Torah and mitzvot, prepare the world for the final redemption. The "star" represents the culmination of these efforts, where a transformative energy will enter the world.
Throughout the centuries, many sages have seen Kochav Yaakov as a symbol of hope, particularly during times of oppression and exile. It is said that the star will rise during a period of great suffering, marking the final battle between the forces of good and evil, often interpreted as the wars of Gog u'Magog, before the Messianic era.
The Gra (The Vilna Gaon) emphasizes the importance of studying the inner dimensions of Torah in preparation for this Messianic revelation. He connects the rise of the star with the revelation of hidden Torah knowledge and the final stages of the Jewish people's spiritual ascent.
The Kochav Yaakov is not merely an astronomical phenomenon but a sign of Divine intervention in the physical world, where the metaphysical and physical realms converge.
In summary, Kochav Yaakov is a multi-dimensional concept rooted in Biblical prophecy but expanded upon by Kabbalistic teachings. It points to both a historical reality of Jewish sovereignty and the spiritual journey towards redemption, ultimately culminating in the Messianic era.
This cosmic event, occurring at Elul 25, may resonate with the ancient prophecy of Kochav Yaakov hinting at profound Messianic significance as a celestial sign linked to the unfolding of the Geulah.
Rabbi Efraim Palvanov, the author of the blog Mayim Achronim, emphasizing that he was not making a prediction or a prophecy but was describing an astronomical event as described in Jewish literature
“We know that probably one of the oldest prophecies and traditions about the Mashiach comes from Bilam, a Gentile prophet who came to curse Yisrael but couldn’t curse them,” Palvanov said. “Instead, he gives a prophecy that actually says, ‘I will tell you what will happen at the end of days.’"
Bamidbar (Numbers 24:17): What I see for them is not yet, What I behold will not be soon: A star rises from Yaakov, A scepter comes forth from Yisrael; It smashes the brow of Moav, The foundation of all children of Shet.
“It’s one of the few places that the Torah uses the expression, ‘end of days’,” Palvanov notes. “Bilam says that he is looking far into the future and he prophesies that a star will emerge from Yaakov.
“It is taught that in the future, the Holy One, blessed be He, will rebuild Yerushalayim and reveal one firm star, glowing with seventy pillars of fire, and with seventy sparks flashing from it in the middle of the Firmament, and they will be reigned over by seventy other stars, and they will glow and burn for seventy days.”
“And [the star] will be seen on the sixth day, on the 25th day of the sixth month. It will be gathered on the seventh day, at the end of seventy days. On the first day it will be seen in the city of Rome. On that same day, three high structures of that city of Rome will fall and a great edifice will fall. The ruler of that city will die. Then the star will spread out to be seen in the rest of the world.”
The date described in the Zohar as the day on which the star will appear corresponds to the Hebrew date the 25th of Elul. The Zohar specifies that this date will fall on a Friday.
This year, the 25th of Elul begins Friday evening and ends Saturday evening, September 27th/28th.
“In that time, great wars will stir all around the four corners of the world and no faith will be found among [its people],” the Zohar continues.
“In the middle of the world, when that star will shine in the middle of the Firmament, a great king will arise and rule the world, and his spirit will gain pride over all the kings, and he will awaken a war between both sides, and he will become strong against them.
“…On the day that the star will be hidden, the Holy Land will tremble forty-five miles around the place of the Holy Temple, revealing an underground cave. From this cave will come out a blazing fire to burn the world. And from this cave a great branch will grow out, and it will rule over the whole world, and to it will be given the kingdom. The Holy Beings will gather to it. Then Mashiach will be revealed to the entire world…”
The Zohar then describes what the world will be like in that pre-Messianic era.
“The world, at the time that Mashiach will be revealed, will have been experiencing trouble after trouble, and the haters of Yisrael will grow stronger. Then, the spirit of Mashiach will be aroused against them, and the evil Edom will be destroyed. The entire land of Seir will be destroyed by fire.”
“This is what we have been experiencing,” Palvanov explained. “One crisis coming right after another. The pandemic leading into hyperinflation leading into the Ukraine war leading into the war in Yisrael and the war with the Houthis.”
“And just as the Zohar predicts, the ‘haters of Yisrael’ are increasing,” Palvanov said. “Antisemitism is reaching levels it hasn’t reached since the Holocaust. There are even reports that Chinese social media is full of antisemitism and there are no Jews in China. This type of Jew-hatred doesn’t make sense.”
May the Geulah be soon! May it be today! iy"H
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