I’m really not interested in this argument.

What I am interested in is you learning some of the Rebbe’s Chassidus on the Geula (Redemption) and Moshiach.

That is after all what the Rebbe asked us to do. In addition to Dancing in joy that the Redemption is already here etc…

Peace & Blessings

Max

The discussion about the identity of the Rebbe as the Moshiach really isn’t the main point here, as this much talked about subject is a little boring and has been dealt with by other websites.

Accepting the Rebbe as Moshiach (in which every way you feel comfortable, the Leader of the Generation, a Zadik who wanted to bring Moshiach, who said he was Moshiach, The Potential Moshiach of the Generation, One of Many righteous Moshiachs, the Potential Messiah, The Moshiach, or Certainly Moshiach etc…) is only the key that opens up the metaphorical door into the Rebbes Messianic teachings and doing our part of the deal for us to start to live with Moshiach.

I’m not here to prove the Rebbe is or isn’t the Messiah – I’m far MORE interested in what he said about it and also what he asked us to do.

In many ways, we are all Moshiach, not the halachic Moshiach (according to Jewish Law) but nonetheless – we are all messengers of God set with the task of redeeming our world.

So… let’s just agree to disagree as to the identity of Moshiach since we do agree on the other points.

Deal?

This is certainly an important topic which deserves objective analysis of the sources within our Mesorah (tradition).

As you transcribed, the Rambam (Maimonides) puts forth conditions for the presumption of the identity of the messiah even before he completes his full mission.

Perhaps the question is, why is there a class of presumed messiah in a book of halacha (law) ?

Certainly you are aware of the recorded traditions in the Talmud of Talmidim (students) identifying their Rebbe’s as the Messiah. Not to mention R’ Akiva’s identification of Bar Kochba as the messiah (which deserves its own extensive analysis, especially as it correlates to the Rambam’s law.)

These identifiers of the messiah in our tradition did not add qualifiers such as ‘presumed’, that seems to be something self understood.

As an aside since you mentioned it , regarding the bais Hamikdosh (Holy Temple) coming from heaven I think it would be beneficial to read the Tosafos and Rashi (commentators) within the Talmud tractate Sukka page 41 bottom of page, where it is pretty clear where they think this building will come from (they explain it is already built and ready to come down from heaven).

Not to say that man has no part in some aspects of the physical construction but that too is another larger topic.

I am not sure if you are aware of this but the tradition we have in Talmud (tractate Yuma) and later codifiers (Radvaz) is that there will be a resurrection of Tzaddkim (the righteous) before the rebuilding of the Bais hamikdosh (holy temple).

Additionally there are sources within Tanach (bible), Midresh (esoteric commentary written by Talmudic authors) and achronim (later commentators such as chasam sofer) which discuss a concealment of the Messiah after an initial revelation.

This all being said , the message here is to realize what the Rebbe has told us. That we are standing right before the greatest spiritual change mankind will ever see. The messiah himself is a critical agent for this change , but the Redemption is about a time of great peace resulting from a world wide consciousness of G-d.

The Rebbe also gave us some advice on how to get there quicker and what to do until we get there.

That is, to live with and spread, Moshiach consciousness.

The Torah commands us to build the Mishkan/BeitHaMikdash with real physical work and materials; that mitzvah still applies today no less than when we received the Torah.

If a king will arise from the House of David who delves deeply into the study of the Torah and, like David his ancestor, observes its mitzvos as prescribed by the Written Law and the Oral Law; if he will compel all of Israel to walk in [the way of the Torah] and repair the breaches [in its observance]; and if he will fight the wars of G-d; – we may, with assurance, consider him Mashiach.

If he succeeds in the above, builds the [Beis Ha]Mikdash on its site, and gathers in the dispersed remnant of Israel, he is definitely the Mashiach.

He will then perfect the entire world, [motivating all the nations] to serve G-d together, as it is written [Zephaniah, 3:9], “I will make the peoples pure of speech so that they will all call upon the Name of G-d and serve Him with one purpose.”

What we are saying here is that the Moshiach (Messiah) of our generation has told us what we need to do in order to complete his mission.

In some way this might be analogous to the idea that ‘there is no king without a people’ – so that the Rebbe isn’t really Moshiach until we actually do what he has commanded us to do, and that is; to start and live with Moshiach Now!
Just as a King isn’t really a King until his people crown him.

We all point at the potential Moshiach demand and say ‘look you haven’t brought lasting peace in the world etc…’ and he says back – if you want Peace on Earth so much, can you please, at least, start living in peace with yourself and each other? get yourself ready for living in a new era, and let me organise the building of the Temple – which will descend from heaven (by the way).

So all He is waiting for is for US to do our part of the deal, namely to start to live with (as if it is the era of) Moshiach Now!