Parallel Speculations

It feels like over the past year I’m hearing more and more about the coming Moshiach. In fact, even my YouTube algorithm has joined the campaign, and started recommending videos on the subject. 

Many of these videos are by learned scholars and perhaps even prominent Rabbanim, and in general, I enjoy them immensely. Yet, at the same time, they often push a very particular image of Moshiach, where he will come from, when he’s born, what he will look like, etc. Not just that, but much of the proposed image is often presented in parallel with a past redeemer of Klal Yisroel. This gives the illusion of fact, as opposed to speculation. 

Let me give an example. 

We all know that the first redeemer of Klal Yisroel was Moshe Rabbeinu, and that the coming Moshiach will also be the return of Moshe, on some level. The Midrash states that Moshe Rabbeinu was born with a shining face. We can therefore conclude that Moshiach will be born special, and that all will recognize his or her intrinsic holiness. 

At first glance this wraps everything into a neat little package; and I often see this done for multiple aspects and traits of Moshiach. An aspect of a previous redeemer such as Moshe Rabbeinu is focused on, and then we “copy paste”. 

However, it would stand to reason that while some traits are essential, others are not. 

In fact, with the example we used, I can pull a complete reverse using other Messianic figures. 

We all know that there are two Moshiachs, Moshiach ben Yosef and Moshiach ben David. It would therefore make sense to look at the lives of Yosef and David in order to determine what Moshiach will look like. 

When we examine the lives of both Yosef and David, we find an interesting parallel. Not only were both of them not recognized for any intrinsic holiness, but they were actually despised and rejected by those around them. We can therefore conclude that Moshiach will at first not be recognized by others. 

Once again, we have wrapped everything into a neat little package, and yet we may not be left with the truth. 

I therefore implore people not to fall for the comparative Moshiach conjecture, and not to form a clear image of Moshiach based on what was in the past. For many of the previous aspects may not be essential to the job title. 

If anything, examine as many Moshiach figures from history as possible, and try to find the common thread between them.

Or better yet, quit speculating what Moshiach will look like, and focus more on what we can do to bring them.

Moshiach Now!