Q&As on the Topic with Rav Itamar Schwartz
Our Rabbis (the Vilna Gaon and others) stated that in the latter generations, the three wicked generations of history will return as soul reincarnations.
These include the generations of the Mabul [Great Flood], Haflagah [Dispersal], and Sodom.
Long ago, these were only the third of the generation.
In the later generations, all of them will return, at once.
(https://bilvavi.net/english/bein-hamitzarim-028-living-life-pnimiyus-today%e2%80%99s-generation)
(Please see here: https://question.bilvavi.net/blog/2021/12/24/the-souls-of-this-generation/.)
In reply, Rav Schwartz says:
Very good question.
There are always exceptional souls in every generation, even when the generation around them is evil.
The Arizal said that Moshe was named so because he was drawn from the water (“ki min hamayim mi-shi-si-hu” – “for from the water he was drawn”), because even Moshe’s soul is from Dor HaMabul (the Generation of the Flood) in which there was a decree that involved water, and he was saved from water because he was the one exceptional soul of Dor HaMabul who merited not to be a part of the decree of the flood.
Moshe’s soul was contained in Noach, who lived in the generation of the Flood.
As stated above, every generation contains at least one exceptional soul.
For the Generation of the Flood, that meant Noach. (Noach's immediate family was also saved—in his merit.)
So if soul reincarnated from the Generation of the Flood is Noach's soul (or perhaps part of Noach's soul), then that's a good thing.
It means a good soul, not a soul typical of the Generation of the Flood — like how that worked with Moshe Rabbeinu, as described above.
The rav continues with an example from Sedom:
Sedom was not a generation of sod0my, but it was rather an evil city, but Lot was saved from it, because he was the exceptional soul in Sedom that deserved to be saved.
question.bilvavi.net/blog/2019/03/19/immorality-in-our-times-the-remedy/
The truth is, when Sedom is discussed in Torah literature, the emphasis stands on Sedom's wonky justice system, which demonized and penalized goodness while rewarding evil.
The same-gender issue developed under Sedom's wonky justice system and reverse morality, but apparently did not define Sedom, but existed as a result of the large issue of reverse morality.
QUESTION:
The Rav has said that all of the tumah of the world has entered into the Torah world, into the world of yeshivos, in the last couple of years.
What specific tumah is the Rav referring to?
ANSWER:
The tumah of the media, which is the 50th level of tumah, called the kelipas Sedom...and all that it entails.
(https://question.bilvavi.net/blog/2022/01/17/what-tumah-entered-the-torah-world/)
Maybe because modern media encourages all the Sedomite reverse morality and wonky "justice" system.
(Please see Rav Avigdor Miller's richly detailed description of ancient Sedom here: https://torasavigdor.org/parshah-booklets/vayera-5781/)
Regardless, it definitely provides insight just knowing that our current media situation is Sedomite in nature.
Furthermore, while the actual Torah text focuses on the Sedomites' desire for sod0my with Lot's angelic guests, the mefarshim & midrashim emphasize how Sedom's primary & ongoing fault lay in the Sedomites' desire to preserve their luxurious materialism & also torment others to death — both for fun & to preserve their wealth & lifestyle.
Even their courts of law stood for a LACK of justice. The most prestigious judges sought to penalize victims while rewarding the victimizers.
Sedom actively sought to exploit—and even punish—the weak, the vulnerable, and the good.
We see this today in America. This negative attribute only grows stronger in the USA.
Their infamous invasion of Lot's home evidenced yet another branch of their psychopathy. It developed as a result of their wickedness, but not the primary expression or root of their wickedness.
And while Lot definitely had his faults, he was still not in league with his surrounding Sodomite culture.
Now Rav Schwartz explains our own souls in connection with the above ideas:
Our souls are from those generations and we are sent here to this world to rectify their sin.
Therefore, our souls are the holy parts of those previous souls.
Just as in those generations there were very few souls that were holy while most of the generation was evil, so is our generation mostly evil, with a few souls that are holy and pure.
Both.
As you can see in the above excerpt, the rav refers to the reincarnation within the Jewish community.
But in the booklet for Parshat Bo 5782 on page 7, he says:
...we are living in the generation of the footsteps of Mashiach, and that all the reshaim of the past have come back again as gilgulim all at once into our generation, and our generation contains even the reshaim of Sodom.
Here's another example referencing these souls in the Jewish community:
QUESTION
Is it possible that a person can have in his soul a wicked soul from the Generation of the Flood yet he also in his soul the soul of a tzaddik?
And that is why he always feels an inner contradiction inside himself, in which he is constantly falling to his yetzer hora, due to the wicked soul that lives in him, but he always has the voice a tzaddik ringing inside him which cannot tolerate the deficiency of kedushah that he finds himself in?
ANSWER
Yes.
- Within our ourselves
- Within the Jewish community
- Within the non-Jewish community
This explains the different pulls we see in others and also the different pulls we struggle against within ourselves.
But remember...
IT'S NOT THE REAL YOU.
Most people suffer sparks of these ancient generations and Erev Rav in their otherwise pristine soul.
The key is to work on good middot, break bad middot, and grow in emunah & bitachon, all of which uplifts these sparks & purifies our souls.
Modern Parallels to These 3 Ancient Generations
An examination of these lost-and-found generations draw obvious parallels between then and now:
- Dor HaMabul was all about the easy life, the pursuit of happiness & indulgence, appallingly loose moral behavior, avodah zarah, and mockery & disdain for righteousness & truth.
Today, so many people idealize "sittin' by the dock of the bay, wastin' time" as also evidence by addictions to gaming, drugs, alcohol, surfing, texting, and much more.
Today's loose behavior very much mirrors that of the pre-Flood generation.
Avodah zarah movements, whether based on European occult (like Wicca) or the Eastern
belief systems enjoy a revival today—and are even considered desirable & cool.
- Dor HaFlagah (Tower of Bavel Generation) was all about universalism, communism, collectivism, a one-world government, anti-God scientific "progress"—all under the banner of "peace" and the benefit for the collective.
Avodah zarah also played a powerful role in this generation.
But the peace was really a way for elites to gain power. None intended real peace, power & "progress."
This is one of the most obvious reincarnations today, with so many scientists standing against Hashem & His Torah, and leaders using ideas of "peace" and "compassion" and "welfare" and "coming together" and "tolerance" to gain power over the entire world.
Plus the billionaires who seek rapid advancements in technology to serve themselves & to closet themselves from other people when "The Event" finally arrives.
Their goals parallel the interpretation of Rav Yonatan Eibeschutz, who described their drive for rapid technological advancement (the Tower) to escape any future flood by setting on the moon.
For "elites" only?
Quite likely. After all, how many people could they fit in the boat meant to sail from the Tower's "dock" to the moon?
Not to mention, the increasing hostility toward the individual & individual freedom & expression.
Furthermore, in addition to the conventional forms of avodah zarah, today's world hosts a worship of science and government (like deifying politicians, plus destroying marriage & the father's role while instituting government programs instead).
- Sedom lives on in our criminal justice system & social mores.
One of the prime traits of Sedom was conceit (which is one the prime traits of the issue of male same-gender attraction).
Sedomites were also incredibly materialistic.
They developed a repugnance against others, valuing only themselves until they dehumanized others to the point of finding entertainment in tormenting & killing others.
This aspect runs rampant across social media as users film themselves or others humiliating, tormenting, assaulting, or even murdering other people. So many times, the perpetrators laugh as they cause harm while viewers laugh & make fun as they watch, leaving comments expressing their sick glee.
In fact, the ever-popular reality shows rely on humiliating & denigrating others, ruining livelihoods & lives.
Even before the Internet, shows like TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes, Candid Camera and The Newlywed Game depended on humiliating others & causing bad feelings.
On The Newlywed Game, I remember seeing a much larger wife constantly pummel her petite husband every time he got the answer wrong.
His face plainly showed his suffering & humiliation as he refused to fight back, but the host & audience roared with laughter at his obvious torment & humiliation.
How very Sedomite.
Maybe Israeli system is worse than the American system, but many so-called "civilized & advanced" countries display increasingly corrupt "justice" systems.
Sedom was characterized by its "justice" system, which punished the victims while rewarding the criminals (just like America is becoming today).
Yes, there are still good people who truly wish to do the right thing in the courts, but overall, the justice systems are in a downward spiral.
Selfish & corrupt, the infamous episode in Lot's home displays the extent of their selfishness.
They sought to commit an unnatural act which never brings forth any fruit for the world (so to speak) and they also sought to do it completely against the will of the other (Lot's male guests).
How to Protect Yourself from the Influence of These Souls
First of all, recognize that so much of what we see, hear, and experience derives from the influence of the souls of these 3 wicked generations.
Movie producers, script writers, social media giants, journalists, authors, editors, book publishers, and many more are actually people with souls from these wicked generations.
We don't need to take their views, ideas, and opinions seriously.
We don't need to cater to them either.
Whenever you see people behaving according to behaviors of the generations described above, understand with whom and what you're dealing.
Especially regarding ads, movies, commercials, TV shows, radio shows, podcasts, newspapers, magazines, and books — if you recognize the promotion of the above behaviors and POVs, just realize the people or groups possess souls from the above generations and therefore push agendas that caused God to destroy them.
According to Chazal, the souls from those generations do NOT have any Olam Haba — not as Jews or non-Jews.
So if you follow after them, guess where you'll end up.
How to Deal with These Sparks within Yourself
This isn't something to deny or fret over.
Hashem placed those sparks in our souls — in whatever quantity He chose to challenge you — in order for you to root them out, elevate these sparks, which brings about both your own personal tikkun and world tikkun.
Yes, you can do this actively directly by searching for aspects of yourself which seem influenced by one or more of the above generations.
You can do this actively and indirectly by simply following what mussar books say, going according to Rav Avigdor Miller's baby-step directives, and accessing your yetzer tov as much as possible. This automatically combats the sparks of Erev Rav and the 3 ancient generations.
If you see others acting out the behaviors of Erev Rav or the 3 ancient generations, you can sympathize with what they're up against while still doing what you can to protect yourself and strengthen your pure soul and its holy sparks.
Remember — discovering any negative aspects in yourself does not reflect badly on YOU.
There is no need for paralyzing shame or denial or counterproductive thoughts like "Does this mean I'm a bad person?" and so on.
HASHEM implanted those aspects as the best way for you to complete the tikkun your soul needs for the Geula process.
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