From Ariel-Dovyid:

BS"D

Shomeir,

I'm writing in connection with your "Understanding The Times That We Are In" article on your T'shuva website.

You claim that, "Rabbi Winston, in his book Not Just Another Scenario, makes a startling revelation about the coming of Mashiach (Messiah): There is a 210 year correction in the Zohar which places the last possible year for the coming of Mashiach at 2030CE." He and the Sefer haZohar never mention a 210 year correction to Hebrew chronology. Rather the Zohar (Vayaira 115b-116a) states that Tchiyat haMetim covers a period of 210 years. Immediately preceding the Resurrection period is a 40-year period of Kibbutz Galiot (Zohar, Toldot 139a). (Theoretically, we might even begin counting Qibbuts Galluyot from 1888CE with the 1st Yemenite Aliyah...)

Personally I would like to agree with your proposed correction, as I myself have already come to this conclusion, but I stil have not found the necessary proof within our own sources. The Zohar would definitely be a most welcome source.

Please let me also know when a real proof-text is discovered. I would do the same. And believe me, I have been searching for the last 13 years!

My Response:

Shalom Ariel-Doviyd,

You are correct -- I'm sure that Rabbi Winston would certainly think that I was playing a little too fast-and-loose with the info that he presented by characterizing it as a calendar correction. Nonetheless, is it not reasonable to assume that once Mashiach comes that the one thousand year Shabbat has begun? It would, in effect, prove to be a calendar correction.

I do not believe that Rabbi Winston's characterization of the Russian airlift of Jews beginning in 1990 as the beginning of the 40 year period is correct; though I do agree with the date. The airlift only included the House of Judah (just as the 1st Yemenite Aliyah only included the House of Judah). Whereas it is true that there are many lost Jews who must also be redeemed, the main thrust of prophesy involves the redemption of the House of Israel. While it is true that the Messianic movement (among non-Jews) began before 1990, it may be that 1990 marks the turning point when many in the House of Israel began to turn to the (Orthodox) Jews for answers to questions that had been troubling them.  It may also mark the beginning of a serious pursuit of Torah Observance among the outcasts of Israel.  Many Torah teaching ministries began to spring up in the early 1990's.

The aliyah which is important is the spiritual aliyah. This is why the seven readings of the weekly parsha are called "aliyot". Returning to Eretz Yisrael is meaningless without returning to HaShem first.

Kol tov,
Shomeir