The world is quaking under our feet. The CDC is urging food and water storage and contingency plans for natural disasters. Who is paying attention?
As religious Jews living in עיקבתא דמשיחא, we have excellent reason to take these warnings seriously. It is clear that the חבלי משיח will soon be upon us. When they arrive, Amos warns us (4:12) we’d better be ready
This is what I will do to you, Israel, and because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel.
Despite the desperate situation, the Navi instructs us not to be paralyzed by fear, but to take concrete actions to prepare. Yirmiyahu exhorts Mitzrayim (46:19)
Vessels of exile prepare for yourself, O you daughter who dwells in Egypt.
Yechezkel shows the Jews by example (12:3)
And you, son of man, make for yourself vessels of exile and go into exile by day in their sight.
In this spirit, we are reaching out to youngsters in yeshivas and camps, and oldsters in local HIkon Chapter meetings to teach self-sufficiency and sustainability skills which will be important in establishing a normal life in the “new normal”, whatever that turns out to be.