Moshiach

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a series of short articles

by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg

Condominiums In Jerusalem

"When Moshiach arrives will I have to sell my spacious suburban home, uproot myself and move into a crowded condominium or the like in Jerusalem..." more»

Can't We Survive Without Moshiach?

"The Jews have survived 2,000 years in exile without Moshiach, why can't we continue another 2,000 years without him?..."  more»

Why Not Ms. Moshiach?

"Why do we always refer to Moshiach as a man? Why can a woman not be the Moshiach who will take the Jews out of Golus... " more»

The Beis Hamikdosh and Sacrifices

"Why should we want, hope and pray for the restoration of the Temple in Jerusalem with its emphasis on sacrificial rites? Isn't this an anachronistic belief?..." more»

Escapism Or Realism?

"Doesn't the belief in and talk about the imminence of Moshiach's coming detach people from reality, causing them to behave irrationally and irresponsibly..." more»

Moshiach: A King In Modern Times?

 "Why should we want a dictatorial monarchy and regard that as utopia?..." more»

Will the Real Moshiach Please Stand Up?

"How will we know when the real Moshiach is here? What guarantee is there that he will not be an imposter?..." more»

Belief in Moshiach: What For?

"Does belief in Moshiach make the world a better place? If Moshiach's coming will bring changes for the good, let's wait and see. What benefit is there in the preoccupation with Moshiach now?..." more»

A Human Messiah vs. A Messianic Era

"Why do we have to believe in a human Messiah? What is wrong with simply believing in a Messianic age when the world will be a perfect G-dly world? Why can't we have a relationship with G-d without the intervention of a human being?..." more»

Why Plan Ahead, If Moshiach's Coming?

"Why should we do mitzvos now and plan the construction of Jewish institutions if Moshiach's coming is imminent?..." more»

Demanding Moshiach

"What right do we have to demand Moshiach? Isn't it presumptuous and blasphemous to tell G-d what to do?..."  more»

Obsession With Moshiach: Can It Weaken Other Aspects Of Judaism?

"This obsession with Moshiach will detract from all other aspects of Judaism. People will de-emphasize the need to study Torah and observe mitzvos as a result of the overemphasis on Moshiach..." more»

How Jewish is Moshiach?

"Isn't the belief in the Messiah a non-Jewish dogma?..." more»

Disillusionment

"By asserting the imminence of Moshiach's coming, we are setting ourselves up for a big fall. Isn't it dangerous to raise people's hopes and expectations, which might lead to their disillusionment?..." more»

Read this First!

Problems concerning the acceptance of Moshiach can be divided into the following categories: Emotional, Theological, and Philosophical... more»

Too Overwhelming

We are limited creatures. We go through life with few really great surprises coming our way... more»

Fear of being regarded as one who is in a fantasy world...

The greatest pressure in life today is peer pressure. How many young lives are snuffed out because they could not resist the demands of their friends? This is why the Shulchan Aruch begins with the immortal words... more»

Fear of the Unknown

Moshiach, even to the committed and learned Jew, is still largely in the sphere of the unknown... more»

Fear of Judgment

Another source of anxiety that many experience, is that when Moshiach comes we will be judged for our behavior... more»

Disruption of Life

People are resistant to the prospects of Moshiach's coming because they feel they will lose their standing in life... more»