According to Jewish tradition, it's not just about who gets in, but who gets to wake up first.
Why are our patriarchs, the Avot – Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – said to be buried in the Land of Israel, specifically in the Cave of Machpelah in Hebron? It's more than just geography; it's about being front and center for the ultimate revival. The belief is that those who rest in the Holy Land will be the very first to rise when the days of the Messiah finally dawn.
Imagine the scene: The Messiah is crowned, ready to usher in a new era. But the very first thing Israel asks of him? "Go and bring the glad tidings to those who sleep in the Cave of Machpelah, so that they shall be the first to arise!" Talk about a VIP list!
The Pirkei Mashiah, found in Beit ha-Midrash, paints a vivid picture. The Messiah makes his way to the Cave, calling out, "Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, arise! You have slept long enough." And from the dust, they stir, questioning, "Who is it who uncovers the dust from our eyes?" The Messiah proclaims, "I am the Messiah of the Lord. The hour of salvation is near."
But here's where it gets even more interesting. The patriarchs, even in their awakened state, defer. "If that is really so," they say, "then go to Adam, the first man, and bring the tidings to him, so that he should be the first to arise." The chain of respect is palpable.
So, the Messiah journeys onward, as the Sefer Eliyahu in Beit ha-Midrash continues the story. He calls to Adam, "Arise, you have slept enough!" Adam, too, asks, "Who is this who drives the sleep from my eyes?" And the Messiah replies, "I am the Messiah of the Lord, one of your descendants."
At that instant, according to tradition, Adam rises, along with his entire generation! And then Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the righteous, all the tribes, all generations from the beginning of time… a chorus of psalms and songs of jubilation erupts. What a moment!
Midrashic legend even suggests that Adam and Eve themselves are buried in the Cave of Machpelah, further emphasizing its significance as the starting point for resurrection.
This narrative probably draws from earlier tales, like the one found in the Talmud (B. BM 85b) about Elijah's visits to Rabbi Judah ha-Nasi. Elijah, you see, is the herald of the Messiah, the one who will blow the great shofar, the ram's horn, announcing his arrival. That earlier story seems to set the stage for this idea of waking the patriarchs. As "Forcing the End" suggests, this is about more than just resurrection, it's about the very initiation of the messianic era.
What does it all mean? Perhaps it's a reminder that even in the ultimate moment of redemption, respect for our ancestors, for those who came before us, remains paramount. The patriarchs, even as they are awakened to a new dawn, still point the way to Adam, acknowledging him as the first, the originator. It's a beautiful image of continuity, of history, and of hope.