A Tale of Two Cities: From Kirvat Dekaliya (The City of Date Palms) till Tzoar (New Orleans?)

I have decided to publish my work in progress. I am sure it will get some comments, just from the title alone. I publish it now to encourage thought and get your ideas. I am coming to the conclusion that the Tzoar in Moshe Rabbeinu's last view of Eretz Yisrael is in our generation not in Eretz Yisrael at all, now that the entire world has been immersed in a mikvah since the year 5760 (Fall 1999- Fall 2000). The intensity of divine providence that at one time only existed in Eretz Yisrael has been spread throughout the entire world. Of course Eretz Yisrael has also been ratcheted up a notch and now has the divine providence of Yerushalayim, but the point is the same. Tzoar in ancient times was directly across the northern tip of the Dead Sea from where Moshe Rabbeinu was standing on Mt. Nebo. It sat south of where the other four cities of the plain sat before they were destroyed by the wrath of G-d. We can see this from the parsha of Lech L'cha when Lot and Avram separate. Up until this point Avram had pitched his tent in the Binyamin region of Eretz Yisrael between Beit El and Ai. Tending flocks in this region to where the Jericho Valley can be seen gives one a beautiful view of the valley including the Northern quarter of the Dead Sea. Here from a place called today Eretz Bereishit (I have been there for the view on many occasions.) one can could see all the cities until Tzoar which was south of the other four cities which in turn were south of Yericho. Yet, even though Tzoar was not destroyed when the other four cities were destroyed and even though Moshe saw it in his day across the northern tip of the Dead Sea and how it would prophetically play a role in the coming of Mashiach ben David, physically the Tzoar of ancient times does not exist today. True there is a beautiful kibbutz there called Kalia filled with lush palm and fruit trees just as the entire valley was at one time filled with beautiful greenery until the destruction of the four other cities. Curiously enough the Kibbutz sits right in front of the caves at Qumran where according to Vendyl Jones the vessels to the Tabernacle of Betzalel are hidden, connected to the Temple Mt. by an 18 mile winding passageway. It kind of makes you wonder where Lot went with his two surviving daughters to copulate in order to fertilize the seed that would produce Ruth the Moabite princess, her great grandson King David and of course his scion, Mashiach ben David. It is easy to see why Tzoar has such an important role to play in the imminent arrival of the son of David. Did Lot and daughters bear the seed of Ruth and David and Mashiach in the same cave where the vessels are hidden? Time will soon tell. Yet, what is important to know for the presence is where is the actual city of Tzoar, the fifth Sin City that according to Rashi was too young, too "New", to be destroyed. Its full measurement of sin had not yet accumulated that is until the end of days. Only then could Tsoar be destroyed. And for what reason? For the destruction of the City of Date Palms by 200,000 of our own brothers at the behest of whom? At the behest of Gog, of course. Therefore Tzoar would need to be in the Land of Magog. It was the other shoe that needed to drop. Just like this happened to the City of Date Palms, the same thing times 60 would happen to Tzoar in the Land of Magog. Looking almost due west across the globe past the Mediteranean Sea and past the Atlantic Ocean one's eyes run into only a few select cities between 30 and 32 degree North latitude in the Land of Magog, the continental United States. Jacksonville, Florida is the first one. The next major city and the first and only Sin City in this latitude range is New Orleans.

There has been much talk lately about the commentary Targum Yonatan on the last vision of Moshe Rabbeinu's life. His running commentary which I incorporated into my essay, The Secret of the Vav in HaShem's Name, prophesizes down to the number of soldiers and police in the Israeli army that would do the evacuation and serve to protect the rest of the country while the atrocity was occurring. The fact that the dismantling of The City of Date Palms (Newe Dekalim) in Chapter 34:3 of Dvarim is now history. It occurred just as the Targum Yonatan said it would occur 2000 years ago. He then hinted that this event would lead immediately to a series of battles with Gog over the land of Israel and the evil Armolgus (the head of the Erev Rav), most probably Shimon Peres. May the battle with that 80 year old Vulture be quick. The only problem with Yonatan ben Uziel's commentary is that he has little to say about Tzoar. Yet, pre-messianic commentary has much to say about Tzoar. It is frankly understood to be the city from which Mashiach ben David comes.

Remember that in Parshat VaYera, Avraham Avinu davens that the five cities of the plains including Sodom, Amorah, Admah, Tzvoi'im, and Tzoar would not be destroyed if there were ten righteous men combined in the five cities slated for destruction. He had bargained with G-d first asking if He would destroy the cities if there were 50 righteous men. G-d agreed to save the cities if there were 50 righteous men inside them. He was able to bargain the number down to ten righteous men. At this point the scene switches to Lot who is sitting at the gate of the wicked city of Sodom. The city deserved to be destroyed for a number of reasons, not the least was its penchant for male homosexuality. This becomes obvious when he escorts the Angels Gavriel and Raphael to his house. The men of the city gather for the purpose of having relations with the angels. Lot refuses, but he offers his unmarried daughters to the mob instead.

To be continued...