(OPINION) ETH – Some in Israel are claiming that the Government is ushering in the Messiah’s return by promoting Sabbath observance to Jews worldwide.

This claim is based on the writings of the Jewish Talmud that states that if Israel will keep just one Shabbat properly, the Mashiach will come immediately. The claim comes from the report that through the ratification of the Abraham Accords,

Israeli Minister of Diaspora Omer Yankelevich has reportedly held virtual Kabbalat Shabbat services with Jewish communities around the world and sharing the message that now is the time to reach out and support one another.

The observance is said to be reaching Jews in the communities of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Mumbai, India; Warsaw, Poland; Lausanne, Switzerland; Baku, Azerbaijan; and most recently, Helsinki, Finland. “Following the historic signing of the Abraham Accords,”

the minister told JNS, “we had the incredible opportunity to finally meet and connect with the Jewish communities of the UAE and Bahrain. We had the idea to hold a shared Kabbalat Shabbat over Zoom with the Dubai Jewish community. For thousands of years, Jews have been welcoming in the Sabbath every week.

So, too, would we be welcoming each other into our homes and communities. We sang and shared words of Torah and began building bridges of friendship.” “When we met with the Jewish community of Baku, the Israeli Georgian community attended. Roughly 200 people were part of the virtual event, including Azerbaijan’s chairman of the State Committee on the Work with the Diaspora,” she said.