Solar Eclipse - Its Implications and What To Expect!

Above is a picture of the total solar eclipse of August 11, 1999, below the stages of the eclipse.

On March 29, 2006, there will be a total solar eclipse, stretching from Northeast Brazil to Mongolia. The map above details the path of the solar eclipse, as evident in the gray area, as well as the location of the total solar eclipse, as evident in the thin strip, stretching down the middle of the gray zone.

There is word going around that around the time of the solar eclipse (this Wednesday or Thursday), there will be an event that will shake the world. I don't know the veracity of this, however, check it out by clicking on this paragraph. On this website, is the assertion, along with links, that a number of gedolim (Torah leaders) say that a major event will happen in the world that will change the course of world events. That event is set to occur this week.

BACKGROUND:

What significant event is scheduled prior to the eclipse? The Israeli election. If the information from the site linked to above is accurate and a major world event/s occurs this Wednesday or Thursday, it may affect the world to such an extent that many things change very quickly. Rav Kaduri, zt"l, was quoted last May as saying that Ariel Sharon would be the last Prime Minister of the "old-regime". Currently, he is still Prime Minister, with Olmert being the "acting Prime Minister". However, if things were to proceed "naturally", in a very short time, after forming a government, there would be a new Prime Minister. If that were to happen, and if the interview quoting Rav Kaduri, zt"l, is indeed accurate, then Sharon would not be the last Prime Minister of the "old regime". The "new" leadership refers to the rule of Mashiach. Therefore, assuming the interview is accurate, something would have to happen to ensure that there will be no new Prime Minister. Some major earth-shattering events. Something that would really shake up the world.

THE GEMARA ON SOLAR-ECLIPSES AND WORLD IMPLICATIONS:

Below is the mishneh and gemara from Sukah 28b-29a that relate to the discussion and meaning of solar eclipses:
























On the page above is a discussion in the mishneh regarding up to what point should one continue eating in the Sukkah if it is raining. The answer in the mishneh is that once the rain spoils food which is not thick nor soft (RaSH"I). Meaning, once this type of food is spoiled, return to the house. The compares this to a king who no longer desires the service of his servant, who is attempting to pour a drink for the king. Whereupon, the king pours a ladle of water on the servant's face to show the servant that his service is no longer wanted. On the next daf (page), on the right, the gemara begins by discussing the parable of the king who expels his servant from his service (at least temporarily) and then goes on to discuss the phenomenon of solar-eclipses and their meaning.

"'A parable, to what is this thing similar?' They asked him, who poured water [on whose face]? Our Rabbis taught [in a Baraisa], 'At the time of a solar-eclipse, it is a negative sign for the whole world (note: literally, "the sun is stricken" - the term in Hebrew for a solar-eclipse is "לקוי החמה" - the same word usage as here in the gemara). A parable: To what is this thing similar? To a king of flesh and blood that made a feast for his servants and he placed a lantern before them. [Whereupon], he became angry at them, and he said to his servant, 'Take the lantern from before them, and have them sit in darkness.' Rabbi Meir is quoted in a Baraisa, "All the time when the luminaries are eclipsed (literally "stricken"), it is a negative sign for the "enemies of Yisrael" (generally when something is quoted in the gemara that is negative in reference to the Jewish People, it will say “enemies of the Jews”) for they are accustomed to afflictions. This is analogous a scribe that came to the school with a strap in his hand. Who is afraid? He who is accustomed to be struck every single day – that is the one who is afraid.

Our Rabbi taught in a Baraisa: “At the time that the sun is eclipsed, it is a bad sign for the idolaters (a general reference to the nations of the world). If the moon is eclipsed it is a negative sign for the “enemies of Yisrael” (see note), because the Jews count according to the moon (lunar year) and the nations [count] according to the sun (solar year). If the [solar eclipse] is in the east [of Eretz Yisrael], it is a bad sign for those who dwell in the East. If it is in the west, it is a negative sign for those who live in the West. If [the eclipse] is in the middle of the sky, it is a negative sign for the entire world. If its’ “face” is similar [in appearance] to blood, sword comes to the world. [If it resembles] sackcloth, arrows of famine comes to the world. [If its’ appearance resembles both blood and sackcloth], sword and arrows of famine come to the world. If it is eclipsed when it is setting, suffering waits to come. If [it is eclipsed when rising, suffering] comes quickly. And there are those who say the opposite (regarding the meaning of eclipses upon setting and rising).

There is no nation that is struck without its’ god being struck along with it, as it says, “And among all the gods of Egypt, I will do Judgments…” (Shmos: 12; 12)

And at the time when the Jewish People do the Will of HaShem, they are not afraid of all of these, as it says, (Yirmiyahu: 10; 2) “So says HaShem, ‘Do not be accustomed to the ways of the nations, and from the signs of the Heavens, do not fear, for the nations fear from these. The idolaters fear and Yisrael (the Jewish People) does not fear.

Our Rabbis teach: “Because of four things there is a solar eclipse: On the head of the Beis Din (Torah Court) that dies and is not eulogized fittingly, and on a betrothed girl that cries in the city [because she is being raped] and no one rescues her, and on homosexual relations, and on two brothers whose blood is spilled as one…”

RaSH”I says as follows on the gemara: According to the opinion cited earlier in the gemara, the Jewish People should worry about the sign of the solar-eclipse because they have been accustomed to more suffering. When the color is like sackcloth, it is black. The explanation why the afflictions would wait for a solar eclipse close to sunset is because the eclipse “waited” to happen until the end of the day, the opposite for an eclipse at sunrise. According to those who interchange the explanations for night and day, the explanation is: If the eclipse happens at sunset, there is very little time in the day left, therefore, little time for the suffering to come. Whereas if the eclipse is at sunrise, the sun has time left for the day, so too suffering has time to come.

RECENT SOLAR-ECLIPSES AND SUBSEQUENT HISTORICAL EARTHQUAKES:

AUGUST 11, 1999: Solar eclipse. (wikipedia)

AUGUST 17, 1999: "The Izmit earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 which lasted for 45 seconds killed over 17,000 (officially over 17,000; unofficially over 35,000) in northwestern Turkey."

OCTOBER 3, 2005: Annular solar eclipse.

OCTOBER 8, 2005: "The Kashmir earthquake (also known as the Northern Pakistan earthquake or South Asia earthquake) of 2005 was a major earthquake whose epicenter was the Pakistan-administered disputed region of Kashmir. The earthquake occurred at 08:50:38 Pakistan Standard Time (03:50:38 UTC, 09:20:38 Indian Standard Time) on October 8, 2005. It registered a minimum magnitude of 7.6 on the moment magnitude scale making it a major earthquake similar in intensity to the 1935 Quetta earthquake, the 2001 Gujarat Earthquake, and the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. As of 8 November, the Pakistani government's official death toll was 87,350. Some estimate that the death toll could reach over 100,000."

OTHER SOURCES RELATED TO THE SOLAR-ECLIPSE:

In the RaMCHa"L's (Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto) sefer Mamar HaGeulah (section 2), which discusses the Final Redemption, the RaMCHa"L makes reference to those who rule in Eretz Yisrael (Israel) before the coming of Mashiach and after the coming of Mashiach.

To paraphrase: The RaMCHa"L explains that at the beginning, when the Jews were in Eretz Yisrael, there was a Heavenly Gate that was open, through which all of the blessing entered the Land of Israel. Once the Beis HaMikdash was destroyed, the Gate was closed and small windows were opened in their place from which the blessing went down to Israel. Those small windows, the RaMCHa"L explains, refer to the "small governments". Those windows could not be closed until the Gate is reopened, for if the windows were to be closed, even for a moment, the world would be destroyed. Once our Redemption comes, the Gate will be reopened. The RaMCHa"L quotes from different gemaras which discuss the passing of rulership from one leader to another (as in the case of Moshe and Yehoshua), or from one type of government to another. For example, the current government in Israel to the rulership of Mashiach. The Gates will be rebuilt as the windows are removed. This will only be apparent in the Heavens until the rulership of Mashiach commences here.

The RaMCHa"L further explains that at the time these "windows" are sealed and power is transferred to the Mashiach "and it is a time of great darkness which will not last long, for the opening of "The Gate" will be strengthened and the powerful light will return as it was originally [when the Jews were in Eretz Yisrael]. However, [after] this [action] is done above, its' actions are seen below for according to the influence of the luminaries actions are done in the world..."

From Nevuas HaYeled: This is a prophecy of a child, many years ago that is endorsed by the Kabbalist Rabbi Benayahu Shmueli, Shlit"a: In the time around the coming of the Mashiach, the light of the moon will "wait" to come and darken the sun. In that time there will be eclipses of the luminaries. The nation that was prideful that spread all over the world will try to seek out a place to run. The commentator then goes on to explain that there will be great changes in the world, including the sea coming and flooding part of Edom."

Due to shortness of time, there are scientists who say that the volcano, Cumbre Vieja, on the island of La Palma will eventually erupt, causing a large chunk of the island to fall into the ocean, flooding many parts of the world, including the Americas with a large tsunami. Maybe these events could refer to an earthquake in the Mediterranean. See the links on the sentences. Either way, based on the above passages and word from Torah leaders (see first link on "blog"), something major will happen in the near future. Rav Kaduri, zt"l, said that there would be "a "struggle between the oceans," and said that the large oceans [Haokeanus hagadol] would strike the world. Rabbi Yosef Kaduri said that grandfather's warning includes were Jews of the Americas." Hold tight, wait, and see! May we merit to see the coming of Mashiach and the ingathering of our exiles in the near future!