Beth HaDerech; Messianic Jewish Congregation, Toronto, Canada

The Voice of the Turtledove (Full Text)

The Book "Kol HaTor," attributed to followers of Eliyahu of Vilna, deals at length with Mashiach ben Yosef (Messiah son of Joseph) and his role in bringing back the exiles and rebuilding the Land. Kol HaTor - קול התור or "The Voice of the Turtledove" (a reference to Song of Songs 2:12) was written by Rabbi Hillel Rivlin of Shklov a disciple of the Vilna Gaon . The text deals with the Geulah (Era of Redemption) and describes its signs vis-a-vis an evaluation of a proposed 999 footsteps of the Moshiach’s arrival. The Vilna Gaon believed the number 999 to be intrinsically connected to the idea of Moshiach ben Yosef, he also felt that this number is alluded to in the gematria of his own name. It was first published in Hebrew by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Kasher in 1968 to whom the book was passed down over the generations. We must know beforehand that the beginning of the Redemption will come gradually, a little at a time.  According to our Sages of blessed memory (Yerushalmi: Brachot, ch.  1), the redemption of Israel will come about little by little, like the first rays of light before dawn, [Micah 7:8] “though I sit in darkness, the Lord is a light to me, ” and [Prov.  4:18] “a light that increases more and more until the day is established.” Therefore, one should...