Q&A: The Suspension-Rope Bridge over the Valley of Hinnom, the Valley of Jehoshaphat?
The Suspension-Rope Bridge over the Valley of Hinnom, the Valley of Jehoshaphat?
Question
Hayim Nahman Bialik brings in The Book of Legends the midrash that in the time to come, the Holy One, blessed be He, appoints the Messiah as judge, and he gathers the wicked nations into the Valley of Jehoshaphat and brings them up onto a bridge made of a thread… and judges them to Gehenna, and the thread/rope tears and they fall into Gehenna.
Afterward Israel passes; the holy Patriarchs testify that they are Jews, they know the verse “Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is One,”
and they are judged on a bridge of thread for success and redemption.
Then the angel Gabriel argues that the wicked should see the success of the Jewish people, and indeed they rise from Gehenna and see Israel’s success.
Recently they actually inaugurated over the Valley of Hinnom the long bridge that hangs on ropes.
Does that mean anything?
Answer
I have no idea. To me it doesn’t mean anything.