Arnie,
The idea of Moshiach, in my opinion, is not worthy of Jewish thinking. Moshiach conceptually may add flavor and taste but does fit anywhere in the 'creation' stew. It is anthropomorphic and Christialogical and non-Torah based.
Prophetic musings and human wistful aspirations are casually inappropriate to the understanding of God's purpose in creating man.
Allan K. Allan,
Allow me to respond point by point The idea of Moshiach, in my opinion, is not worthy of Jewish thinking. * There is some misunderstanding here. For example, Rashi, the most classic, established and authoritative of Biblical commentators, unequivocally explains the opposite, especially near the end of this past week's Torah reading, Balak. Rashi says there that Bilaam was prophesying about Moshiach. Certainly you would not doubt that the Torah or Rashi are in anyway unJewish. Indeed if they are not Jewish, what is? For a second example, The Talmud in Sanhedrin (p.98b) says that the world was created only for Moshiach. Is the Talmud not worthy of Jewish thinking either? A third source to consider is Maimonides who says that one of the 13 fundamental principles of Jewish faith is to believe in and anticipate the coming of Moshiach. Many consider Maimonides to Judaism's premiere exponent and his view is that 'whoever does not believe in Moshiach or anticipate his coming denies not only the other prophets but Moses and the Torah itself. (Laws of Kings 11:1) Moshiach, conceptually,may add flavor and taste but does [not] fit anywhere in the 'creation' stew. * In describing the creation 'stew', the Genesis 1:2 states "V'ruach E-lokim merachefet al pnay hamayim. - And the spirit of G-d hovered over the face of the waters." There are no less than 22 Talmudic and midrashic sources that clearly state this spirit of G-d is the soul of Moshiach. Could it be any more integral to creation than this?
It is anthropomorphic
* G-d is G-d and man is man. Let's not get confused here. Moshiach is a human, not a G-d. And G-d is divine and not human. Moshiach is a perfected human being, as good as a person can be. Since man is created in the image of G-d (Genesis 1:26), a perfected man conveys G-d's presence, much like a window lets in the sunlight. None of this is anthropomorphic. It's a matter of clarity. Anthropomorphism is ascribing human qualities to the divine. Now this is something G-d does all the time (representing Himself in human terms so we might understand something of Him.) In the Torah He sees, hears, sits, rises, walks, jumps, regrets, hates, loves, protects, you name it. The Torah is G-d explaining Himself to us in our own terms. It is up to us to abstract the physical connotations from these terms. You are right that G-d, in essence is above all this. But G-d, who diminishes Himself to be the Creator and sustainer of all that is, manifests Himself fully in all this.
and Christialogical * If you heard that Christians believe it is important to say Psalm 23, would you desist from saying it because it is a Christian prayer? It's part of *our* Tanach, the original Hebrew Bible. If a Muslim says no to pork chops, must a Jew then say yes? Similarly here. We don't believe in Moshiach *because* of the Christians, we believe in him *despite* their faith in something similar.
and non-Torah based. * The most authoritative work on the 613 commandments and all their details is the Rambam's Mishneh Torah. There Maimonides writes two full chapters on the credentials, qualifications and achievements that define the real Messiah (Moshiach). Just like there is a kosher mezuzah and a kosher steak, there is a kosher Moshiach as well.
Prophetic musings and human wistful aspirations are causually inappropriate to the understanding of God's purpose in creating man. * I'd agree with you on that. The purpose of creation is no trivial subject, but what is G-d's purpose in creating man? Does it not make sense that G-d may have wanted to reveal that information to us? Where better to look than in an authentic Torah source? Chassidic philosophy, citing our sages, empahsizes this purpose explicitly: G-d wanted a dwelling in this lowly world. He wants to be revealed. We do our part through our divine service. He responds with revelation, ultimately and permanently manifest in the Days of Moshiach which are about to unfold for us and for all mankind.
I hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Arnie Gotfryd. 
Do you have questions or comments on the interplay of science and faith? Email me now. |
