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Will the Real Moshiach Please Stand Up?

by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg

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

Moshiach must act in a way that brings about the changes in the prophecies concerning Moshiach.

According to the Rambam¹ the primary consideration for the presumption of Moshiach (Chezkas Moshiach) is to endeavor to restore Jewish adherence to all of Judaism. The determining factor for the classification of "certain Moshiach" (Vadai Moshiach) is to restore Jews to their land and bring peace to the Jews. The impostors either failed totally in the above, or, even worse, they caused the very reversal of Jewish life.

When we follow the criteria outlined in the Torah and we then determine who Moshiach is, we have nothing to fear. He is Moshiach.

¹ Hilchos Melachim ch. 1.

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