But what if those limits…vanished?
The prophet Isaiah paints a breathtaking picture of the future, a time of ultimate peace and harmony. He proclaims, "New moon after new moon, and Sabbath after Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship Me" (Isa. 66:23). Isn't that incredible? But then the mind starts to race. Wait a minute… all flesh? Every new moon, every Sabbath? How could that even work?
Think about Jerusalem today. A beautiful, vibrant, historically rich city… but finite. Limited. How could the entire world's population possibly fit within its walls, week after week, month after month?
Well, that's where the truly mind-blowing part comes in. The sages tell us that in the End of Days, acherit ha-yamim, when there is a new heaven and a new earth (Isa. 66:22), the very fabric of reality will be…re-imagined. Transformed.
Jerusalem, the heart of it all, is destined to expand. To grow beyond our wildest comprehension. We're not talking about just adding a few new neighborhoods! According to tradition, Jerusalem will expand in length and breadth until it encompasses the entire Land of Israel! And then, the Land of Israel itself will expand until it fills the entire world!
It’s a radical vision of boundless possibility. A world where physical limitations give way to spiritual abundance. A world where everyone has a place, everyone is welcome, everyone can experience the divine presence.
This vision offers a potent antidote to the feeling of being trapped or restricted. It suggests that our current limitations are not permanent. They are not the final word. The future holds the promise of expansion, of growth, of a reality where there is room for everyone.
So, the next time you feel confined, remember the New Jerusalem. Remember the promise of a world without limits. A world where all are welcome. A world where we can all gather together, in peace and harmony, to worship the divine. What a thought.