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Here you’ll find a huge library of information (a Wiki for Moshiach) to help you make Moshiach Consciousness a reality in your life.
The Word Moshiach and it’s Meaning
The word has a few meanings, but in the context of this group it refers generally to the future era and global utopia prophesied by the Hebrew prophets.
A state of Heaven on Earth.
An end of War and Want
A time of Human brother and sisterhood
A time when the entire aim of the world will be to Know God
Biblically the word Moshiach means Anointed – and refers to an officially endorsed King of Israel – but has become synonymous with the Future Kind of Israel – namely the Messiah and the Messianic Era that is ushered in with his arrival.
It is important to note that one aspect of moshiach is that of a shliach (agent)Â - a catalyst for the process of redemption.
One of the qualities of Moshiach will be his unparalleled sense of scent. The Talmud teaches that Bar kochba (A Jewish leader who led a revolt against the Romans and was held as the Messiah by Rabbi Akiva until he was killed in battle) was disqualified as the Moshiach by some Rabbinic leaders for failing the spiritual scent test. What does smell have to do with bringing peace on earth? Of all the senses it is scent which directly relates to our primal selves, or essence. Illustrated by its power to revive, attract or conjure vivid memories. It is from this point where the successful prince of peace will innovate. ‘Not by the sight of his eyes nor from what he hears will he determine’. Rather he will grasp and be able to transmit the essential meaning of G-d and each women and man as a comprehensible sensation. The power of scent translated into detailed language will surpass all current forms of acquisition of knowledge and judgment. That will be part of the spiritual revolution Moshiach will catalyze.
Adapted from Ma’amer v’hainif, last day of pesach 5711
How To Experience Moshiach Consciousness
Q. How does one induce/ignite/reveal/achieve/reach/experience “Moshiach Consciousness” in ones everyday life?
Perhaps a good start woul be taking some time every day, even a few minutes, and dedicate the time to becoming moshiach conscious.
Whether that means studying about the topic , meditating about it, doing a good deed for the sake of it or even taking something one already does and think, today the reason I am going to do this is to bring closer a world of peace (Moshiach).
Starting with a small constructive act, done consistantly, I think will lead to a very positively altered conscience.
Relaxation For Redemption
Redemption, the idea, the notion, the feeling and the experience of being redeemed – mental – emotional peace – gives rise to a state of complete physical relaxation.
But it also works the other way around too – inducing deep states of physical relaxation can allow space for the blossoming of the mental, emotional spiritual redemption.
So, I believe that learning to experience deep relaxation is an important part of learning to experience Moshiach Consciousness – and/or Personal Redemption.
Appreciating the miracles we have!
A Talmudic legend reveals that G-d wanted to make the righteous king Hezekiah the Messiah , but a spiritual antagonist arose in the heavenly court and found a way to delay the inevitable force of light.
This spirit said that although Hezekiah was righteous he had been content in his spirituality. He had not acknowledged the great collective and personal miracles he had seen through verse or tune.
Challenges arise, but we are here, and that is a miracle. Expressing the Divine miracle’s within our lives and life itself is moshiach conciousness!
Living with Moshiach – from the Rebbe
And in regards to what to do in actuality -…after we have seen the known miracles that this is ‘the year that the King Moshiach is revealed’,[1990] we can see that we find it difficult, to prepare and absorb and feel that we are literally standing at border of the Days of Moshiach so much so that one should begin ‘to live with’ the ideas of Moshiach and Redemption.
… And the answer to this is – that through the learning of the Torah in issues of Moshiach and Redemption, since the power of, the Torah (which is the Wisdom of The Holy One…which transcends the world) to change the [very] nature of Man, that even though it is difficult for him to feel it, [and it may be that] he is still God forbid, [far] removed from the idea of Redemption (since that he has still not gone out of his own inner exile),
[Nevertheless] through the learning of the Torah in ideas of the Redemption, this elevates him to a state and situation of [personal] redemption, and starts to live with the ideas of the Redemption, in the midst of understanding and conscious-awareness and feeling that ‘Behold it has Come’.
Sefer HaSichos 5751-1991 Volume 1 pp.692-3
“…and particularly in our times –the Days of Moshiach –which in them we are in now, and we need only to ‘open our eyes’ and then we will see that we already find ourselves in the true and complete Redemption simply…Also …the most important thing, ‘to know God’ the world will be filled with the knowledge of the God as the waters cover the ocean bed.’”
Sefer HaSichos 5752-1992 Volume 1 p.173
“…And the only thing missing is that a person should open his eyes and he will see that all is ready for the Redemption! …one must understand, see and hear in the physicality of the world the true and complete Redemption in actual reality. One should learn the Torah of Moshiach (the inner aspects of the Torah/ Bible) in a way of seeing. All the above is already prepared; one only need open ones eyes to see it! ”
Sefer HaSichos 5752-1992 Volume 1 p.152
Each of us is an emissary, entrusted with a mission to reveal Oneness of God and the world, and it is only when we bring the totality of our selves (the ten powers of the soul) to this mission do we reveal within us the state of ‘Zion’ or ‘Moshiach’ within our soul. When we do this we also reveal the aspect of Zion in our corner of the world. We reveal this previously hidden dimension of reality, and we can literally see with our physical senses that the world is already redeemed, and that it is precisely in physicality and the stuff of the world that God Himself resides.
Adapted from Sefer HaSichos 5750- 1990 Volume 1 p.151
Traditional Judaic Sources on the Sequence of Redemption
Within the guidelines of Halacha (Judaic Law) there is a perspective accepted by many codifiers that when a law of Rambam (Maimonides) is without dispute or question from his traditional commentators, it is considered a unanimous opinion.
We find this in regard to the sequence of events that lead to world peace and redemption.
Maimonides Laws of Kings chapter 11 section 4
“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 Moshiach.
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 Moshiach.
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.â€
This law gives us the following sequence
- The Arrival and Beginning Activities of Moshiach (identity of Moshiach can be presumed)
- Victory in the Wars of G-d
- The Building of the Temple
- The Ingathering of Israel
- The Definite Identification of Moshiach
Most interestingly it seems the sequence of redemption suggested by the Jewish daily prayer, called the Amida, suggests the reverse.
The prayer for the ingathering (10th blessing) comes before the prayer for the building of the Temple (the 14th blessing). Both come before the 15th blessing, which is a prayer for the blossoming of David, referring to Moshiach.
Upon closer examination (Talmud, Tractate Megilla page 17b) we can discover that the sequence of Maimonides holds true.
The 7th blessing in the Amida is a blessing for redemption; the commentaries (Rashi) explain this refers to redemption from difficulties not associated with the universal redemption.
However the Talmud relates that this blessing is the 7th since it is also teaching that the ‘son of David (another euphemism for Moshiach) will arrive subsequent to a 7-year period that ends in war’.
This illustrates a distinction discussed in a letter of the Rebbe Rashab regarding the euphemisms for Moshiach. As the Talmud and Amida together demonstrate ‘Son of David’ refers to Moshiach at the beginning of his role before peace is achieved. He is called ‘David’ when universal harmony has beeen realized subsequent to his victories, Temple building and ingathering.
This distinction corresponds to the two phases of Moshiach’s identification as described in Maimonides.
(Adapted from B’ain O’hr L’choshech, Rabbi Volpe pg 122-128 , Some of the additional authorities he cite’s in harmony with the sequence of the Rambam are M’arsha on Megilla 18a, T’uri Eh’ven Rosh hashona 11a , S’fas E’mes ibid , Responsa of M’aharam 10 chapter 213. The letter of the Rebbe Rashab can be found in his Book of letters, volume 1, letter 130)
The Two Stages
It is written at the beginning of chapter 12 in Maimonides laws of kings ” Do not allow it to enter the heart that in the days of Messiah there shall be a nullification of the natural order of the world or there will be any novelty in creation – but the world will behave as it normally behaves ”
Yet the 13th of the 13 fundamental tenet’s of Judaism which the Maimonides enumerates is the Resurrection of the dead, which is certainly a stark change from the norm!
We must say that according to the Maimonides there are two stages in the days of Moshiach. The first associated with the arrival of the Messiah the second commencing once he is established.
Since the initial purpose of the arrival of the Messiah is to bring the world to a state of peace in order for man to be able to dedicate himself to spiritual pursuits , wonders , miracles and resurrection are not a must during that period according to the law.
However once mankind will focus all their energy in the pursuit of connection to G-d , a second stage of wonder and miracle will commence.
In his book of law, parts of which were quoted above, Maimonides classifies many of the prophetic statements regarding the redemption , such as ‘the wolf will lie with the lamb’ as metaphors.
Yet in a ‘letter on resurrection’ he writes that this statement in his book of law may not actually be the case and these prophecies might all materialize according to their simple meaning.
Not only will a second stage in the days of Messiah ultimately be reached , but with sufficient merit (and all the evidence indicates we have such merit) the miracles and wonders will even materialize from the onset.
(Adapted from Likutei Sichot 27 pg. 191-206)
Resurrection
As mentioned above Resurrection is a fundamental tenet of Judaic belief.
When will it occur?
The Zohar and other commentaries (Chidushei Haran) explain that a general resurrection will occur 40 years after the ingathering. The Zohar also indicates there will be an early resurrection for the righteous.
Rabbi David Zimra (Known as the Radvaz , lived during the 16th century and is considered a widely respected authority on Judiac Law) writes the following in his responsa to a question on the timing of the resurrection for the righteous:
“All my life I was pained by this until I saw the words of the RiTva z’l (Highly regarded Talmudic commentator from the 13th century, the cited opinion is in tractate Rosh Hashona 16B)Â in the name of his teachers that there will be two resurrections. One for the righteous that passed away in exile and this will take place very close to the arrival of the Messiah such that they will benefit from all the days of the Messiah in body and soul and they will see the good of Israel and the building of the holy temple…..and the second one will be the general resurrection closer to the 7th millenium. ”
It is also mentioned in the Talmud (Tractae Yuma 5B) that Moses , Aharon and his sons will be resurrected before the rebuilding of the Temple.
Yearning for Redemption
‘Before Moshiach comes he will tell everyone that he will be the one to redeem the Jewish people – I am Moshiach!
Seemingly how will we know who the true Moshiach is? anyone can get up and say I am moshiach.
The answer is when we observe this individual that is saying these things and we can see on his face that he is saying it with an unbelievably powerful yearning for redemption – we can know this is Moshiach.
(From a compilation of sayings of the Kutzker Rebbe #454)
