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The Messianic Redemption will be ushered in by a person, a human leader, a descendant of Kings David and Solomon, who will reinstate the Davidic royal dynasty. According to tradition, Moshiach will be wiser than Solomon, and a prophet around the level of Moses.
Ever since the destruction of the Holy Temple, in every generation there is an individual, a scion of the House of David, who has the potential to be the Moshiach. If at any moment the Jews are worthy of redemption, this person would be directed from Above to assume the role of the redeemer.
In every generation there is a scion of the House of David who has the potential to be the MoshiachDuring the Messianic Era, the Moshiach will serve a dual role. He will be a monarch, ruling over all of humanity with kindness and justice, and upholding the law of the Torah—613 commandments for the Jews, and seven for the non-Jews. He will also be the ultimate teacher, the conduit for the deepest and most profound dimensions of the Torah which will then be revealed by G‑d.
How are we to identify the Moshiach?
Moshiach is not identified by his ability to perform earth-shattering miracles. In fact, he isn't required to perform any miracles at all (although the performance of miracles doesn't disqualify him either).
The following are the criteria for identifying the Moshiach, as written by Maimonides:
If we see a Jewish leader who (a) toils in the study of Torah and is meticulous about the observance of the mitzvot, (b) influences the Jews to follow the ways of the Torah and (c) wages the "battles of G‑d"—such a person is the "presumptive Moshiach."
If the person succeeded in all these endeavors, and then rebuilds the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and facilitates the ingathering of the Jews to the Land of Israel—then we are certain that he is the Moshiach.
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Zechariah ch 10, 12, 14 / Nevi'im
Isaiah 53 also speaks on this
Shalom
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Only Ahavat Chinam (baseless love) of Jewish people to each other and our emunah (faith) that Hashem is rectifying us brings Mashiach!
This is all outlined within the Torah, Talmud, Chazal, Zohar, Sefer Hamidos etc..
This is also the main focus of Rebbe Nachman's teachings.
Rebbe Nachman distinctly pointed out before he died that he was not the Mashiach. Furthermore he stated that the Mashiach would only come when these teachings were practiced by the critical mass of Jews.
There have been a multitude of potential Mashiachs in Jewish history, however the true Moshiach is the one that will actualize and practically fulfill the Messianic criteria outlined in "The Prophets".
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we perceive more and more of the whole.
I have very strong feelings we are moving into a new era of consciousness, an opening, a slow but steady opening. We will perceive the change in looking back. What is very difficult for us all, is to let go of assumptions we have held for a long time, about the nature of reality, and to question what has become dogma is very difficult. What is safe is what we know. We cling to that vine.
To encounter the notion that all is G_d, as written in these pages, and as a tenet of "modern" Kabalah, is difficult to absorb, because the implications are vast, and all encompassing, involving surely, our daily lives and a dialogue that must bring into play the notions of free will and determinism.
The very belief in a Messianic time is deterministic, as I have said, because it does presuppose a story we're gifted to follow, and a culmination that does make sense of it all.
Tikkun olam is deeply the learning curve within. Olam and Loam are related words.
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Shalom,
You mentioned the criteria for identifying the Moshiach, as written by Maimonides, but what are the criteria for Mashiach as written in the Torah, and the TaNaKh?
Brachot b'Shem Adonai
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It's not allowed here to post a URL -- so I suggest that you do a Search on the man and read his background.
I always check out the people who are quoted -- and then decide what their words might have meant, based on their religious background, etc.
Unitarian Universalists do NOT believe in G-d. They do, however, talk about G-d, and Jesus, and Buddha, and Allah, and Muhammed, and Wiccans, etc.
UU's do not have a bible.
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This quote is so beautiful. It's worth copying and putting in my study. I will.
Thank You for sharing this one.
What Meira wrote: So beautifully stated.
I don't think anyone should tell another this is the way, except for the way being conscience, support, love, caring, reaching for the light. The ONLY WAY is not how we convince others and it is judgmental of how others worship. And yes, it could be the way, but it does seem, as Jews, we go directly to G_d not needing an intermediary. HE was an intermediary, so that's part of a story that did involve the Jews since HE was Jewish.
Tthere are surely healers and great people among us, and always have been, to light the way.
It seems so much bloodshed in the Name Of, and that's truly, a conundrum that brings me to the Brothers Karamazov and a very famous passage.
I always ask, why then, THIS story, since there could have been, so many other stories. And that leads me back into words, into the letters, and the creation of the world.
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"I do not pretend to understand the moral universe; the arc is a long one, my eye reaches but little ways; I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by the experience of sight; I can divine it by conscience. And from what I see I am sure it bends towards justice."
Theodore Parker (1853)
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1st - thank you, Ruth of MA.
2nd - if G-d wanted Jews to be NOT like Others, how will Others ever believe what Jews were to teach and share? They haven't believed since or up until now. In fact, Jews have been murdered by just being Jews, even to a drop!! Hatred is still taught by people who purport to be "Christians" - until caught and then I'm told those were 'not true Christians.'
3rd - Humankind tends to not believe -- especially in things they cannot see or touch or feel. Faith has caused many to not see, to not touch, and to not feel -- unless it's what they themselves know or were taught. Most are taught "Do not question!"
4th - what if there is no G-d -- and those who got the messages were just trying to fix problems - tikkun olam - and still no one believed enough except to form their own religions with their own beliefs.
I believe - but religious Christian friend says the new covenant meant that Jews were supposed to go with Jesus as the new and only way.
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I love it that you ask three questions, and this question is deep. What if everyone is right? With respect to a belief in a kind of redemptive time, in a belief someone will help alter our perceptions and bring us to the altar, of realizing All is G_d?
Since a belief in the Messiah, must at some level predispose a person to belief in a story, that will achieve its zenith with the fulfillment of an ancient Promise, then this is a deterministic philosophy IF it happens.
We would all agree, those who believe this, that G_d is moving us through a story to make this finally happen, namely the world that is actualized by the poetry of words such as John Lennon's Imagine, a song that came to him, complete, out of a dream.
This throws us all into a state of paradox, because we must believe in the existence of free will, or, are we puppets? Could it be the world HAD to be created this way, with motion occurring through this bipolarity of opposites, and the learning curve within, tikkun OLAM?
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What if Christians are right?
What if Jews are right?
What if Muslims are right?
Based on history, what's to say anything new will occur as long as people continue to drift farther and farther away from G-d's original words?
What did G-d mean by "no other gods before Me - I am the I Am!" - when Christians believe that Jesus was with G-d in the Creation and unless everyone believes in Jesus, there can be no peace.
I learned that G-d wants all to believe in Him - not in someone else.
Not in a trinity ...
Will there ever be resolution - or is it all for naught until the Death of every human being on earth?
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