From Chizkiyahu to Today: A Leader's Praise and the Path to Geulah

In the long sweep of Jewish history, few kings stand as tall as Chizkiyahu HaMelech (King Hezekiah). He was righteous, bold in his faith, and led a national teshuvah movement in the face of existential threat. The Talmud even says he was worthy of being Mashiach:

"The Holy One, Blessed be He, sought to designate Chizkiyahu as the Messiah and Sancheriv as Gog and Magog."
- Sanhedrin 94a

So why didn’t it happen?

The very same page of Gemara answers:

"Because he did not sing praise after the miracle that was performed for him."

Hashem had saved him — both from mortal illness and from the mighty Assyrian empire. And yet, Chizkiyahu didn’t sing. He didn’t publicly glorify Hashem’s name.

The result? The gates of redemption closed.

The Power of Public Gratitude

We learn from this a sobering truth: praise is not just personal — it’s prophetic. In moments of salvation, our public expression of thanks is not optional. It is the catalyst for greater Divine revelation.

In our generation, we’re used to seeing political leaders operate with calculation, diplomacy, and guarded words. But something remarkable happened recently after the joint Israel-USA attacks on Iran:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went to the Western Wall — the last remnant of the Beit HaMikdash — to thank Hashem.

Not for a photo-op. Not in the context of a campaign. But as a man — a Jewish leader — expressing public praise to the One above.

Echoes of Redemption

This moment may seem small. But in the lens of Jewish destiny, it is enormous.

The Rambam teaches that the Messianic king will be one who "returns all of Israel to the way of the Torah" and leads them in the service of God (Hilchot Melachim 11:4). That service begins with emunah — with acknowledgment of Hashem.

When a leader turns to God and thanks Him publicly, that itself becomes a tikkun — a repair of Chizkiyahu’s silence.

Where Chizkiyahu was silent, Bibi spoke.

Where a past leader missed the moment, a present one embraced it.

This is not to glorify any one person. Bibi is not Mashiach. But perhaps, in this moment, he was a vessel — showing that the Jewish people still know where salvation comes from.

"Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit, says Hashem."
- Zechariah 4:6

We Are All Part of the Song

The most powerful Hallel is not sung by one man — but by a nation. We, too, must not remain silent. We must recognize Hashem's hand in every moment of survival, in every miracle — hidden or revealed.

Let us not miss our opportunity to sing. Let us be the generation that responds with praise, emunah, and readiness.

Because the final Geulah is coming. And when it does, may it find us singing.

Sources:

Talmud Bavli, Sanhedrin 94a
Rambam, Hilchot Melachim uMilchamot 11:4
Zechariah 4:6
Tehillim 94, Tehillim 113–118 (Hallel)