Q: It is said in the Zohar that before the coming of the Messiah, everyone will learn Kabbalah. On the other hand, the Talmud says that “the face of the generation will be as the face of the dog,” meaning that everyone will be out for himself. How is it possible to reconcile those two arguments? In order for the Messiah to come, must everyone study Kabbalah?
A: Baal HaSulam writes in his introduction to the Tree of Life that at the end of time, everyone will abandon Kabbalah because they will no longer be able to trade with it as in the market, because there will be no buyers. People will abandon it because they will realize that it cannot give them anything: it cannot fill them with pleasure, cannot grant them respect in the eyes of others, or control over them. Therefore, there will be no limitations before a person who will want to come and study the wisdom of Kabbalah.
The efforts of those who will study it will induce the coming of the Messiah. Here is a quote from the words of Baal HaSulam: “…And behind these words and that truth, we seem to find a profound contradiction from end to end, in the words of our sages, that the Zohar says that ‘at the time of the Messiah that wisdom is destined to be revealed even to the young.’ And by the above we find that at the time of the Messiah, that whole generation will be at the highest degree until no watch will be needed, and the fountains of truth shall open to water the entire nation. But in Masechet Suta it says that at the time of the Messiah, Hutzpa (impudence) will soar and authors’ wisdom shall go astray and the righteous will be sick. Thus it is explained that there is none so evil as this generation. So how do we reconcile between those two, for certainly they are both the words of the living God?
Hence, we must establish schools and compose books, to hurry the circulation of the wisdom in the nation. And that was not the case before, for fear lest unworthy disciples would mingle with the worthy, as we’ve explained above at length. That became the primary reason for our many sins to this day, and consequently for the prolonging of the exile.
Our sages said: ‘Messiah Son of David doth not come, but in time when the generation is all worthy,’ meaning that every one will retire from pursuit of glory and lust, at which time it will be possible to establish schools and prepare them for the coming of the Messiah Son of David. ‘Or in time when the generation is all unworthy,’ meaning at such a generation when the ‘face of the generation is as the face of a dog,’ and ‘the righteous shall be considered loathsome,’ and ‘authors’ wisdom will go astray’ in them.
At such a time it will be possible to remove the careful guard and anyone who will remain in the house of Jacob with his heart pounding to attain the goal and the purpose, ‘Holy’ be his name, and he shall step forth and learn. For there will no longer be fear lest he might not stand firm and trade the wisdom in the market, for there is no one in the mob who will wish to buy it, and the wisdom will be loathsome in their eyes, so that no glory or desire can be bought in return for it.
Hence, he who wishes to enter may come and enter. And many will roam and the knowledge will increase among the worthy. And by that we will soon be blessed with the coming of the Messiah and the redemption of our souls soon in our days, amen.”