Today in Argentina we are living through very special political times. From the agricultural crisis to the teachers' strikes in schools, the entire country is mobilized (or perhaps I should say paralyzed...) in search of change. I think no one is entirely clear on exactly what needs to change for all (and I emphasize, all, not just some) Argentinians to live better lives, but everyone is convinced that change is necessary.
What's interesting about all this is that lately a very peculiar trend has emerged to seek this change: when a sector of the population, however small, disagrees or feels discontent with a particular situation, they take to the streets (and not necessarily the sidewalk, but the street where cars circulate) and demonstrate with drums and banners, sometimes peacefully and sometimes not so much, complicating the lives of thousands of Argentinians who travel through the streets going to different places.
Many sectors of the population have recently taken to the streets across the country to protest for change. Even students at one school occupied it to demand heaters because of the cold weather.
Imagine the chaos that these spontaneous and other planned protests generate in traffic and in life in general, because those who had a doctor's appointment lost it, those who had a job interview also lost it, and the children who should be in schools being educated are at home, complicating the lives of working parents who have no one to leave their children with.
And all this (and more) arises from the boldness of this new trend of street protests.
Now, what can we learn from all this in our service to God? The Talmud (at the end of the tractate Sotah) says that one of the signs of the Messianic age is chutzpah, which is translated as arrogance and disrespect.
There are, in general, two types of chutzpah: the good and the not-so-good. The not-so-good, we already know: street protests, disrespect for elders, etc. And the good? With the same fervor and arrogance, with all the fanfare and trumpets with which we protest to government authorities for improvements in the situation, we should protest and demand from the highest governmental authority in the universe, the Creator, the Holy One, blessed be He, that He improve the general situation of the entire world and bring the Final Redemption at the hands of Messiah.
Can you imagine a group of bearded, hat-wearing rabbis sitting in the street, at the intersection of Corrientes and Pueyrredón avenues, with banners that say "Messiah NOW!"?
Obviously, that's not the way. But that's the idea... let's seek and demand a change that will benefit everyone, without exception.