Dear Reader sh’yichyeh,
Thank you for your responses to my articles. I have received many comments and questions about the current series on Moshiach and Chinuch and I would like to take the opportunity to address some of them. I will start with a very basic question that I was asked by many people:
“If I had to give a class about Moshiach to a group of teenage (Lubavitcher) students, how would you advise I structure the class?”
I once heard a story from Rabbi Moshe Feller (shliach of the Rebbe to Minnesota) who was invited to a public school to speak to the students about being a Jew. He began his lecture by asking the following question: “When I say the word ‘Jew,’ what is the first thing that comes to your mind?” Only after receiving a wide-range of answers, including “money,” “Moses,” “horns,” and “bible,” and getting the students interested and involved, did he start explaining the Chassidishe perspective about what a Yid is.
This is an excellent way to start the conversation about Moshiach too. In today’s politically charged climate, you would be shocked to hear what some of the answers may be. While you are expecting to hear words like Rebbe, T’chiyas HaMeisim and Beis HaMikdash, do not be surprised to hear the words “machlokes,” “Tzfatim” and “Flags…”
It is our obligation as educators, shluchim and parents to remove all negative stereotypes and to instill in our students and children – from the very beginning – the following two very basic points:
1) Believing in Moshiach is a major foundation in Judaism and that if one does not believe in Moshiach, it puts his general belief in Judaism into question.
2) Referring to someone as Moshiach is the ultimate compliment that one can give him, as Moshiach’s qualities are the greatest any human has ever had. (At this point in the conversation, it is not important to discuss who Moshiach is or the correctness of calling someone Moshiach, rather the main thing is to instill the foundation that calling someone Moshiach is the ultimate compliment that can be given.)
I am sure that many are wondering: How would I introduce these two above-mentioned concepts?
I always introduce the first concept with two things:
A) Asking the students the following question: “If you had to make a list of the 13 principles of the Jewish faith, what would you include?” You will receive answers like Shabbos, Kashrus, Mikva, T’fillin etc. You then surprise them by saying that the Rambam made such a list and none of the above are on the list, yet the belief in Moshiach and T’chiyas HaMeisim is on the list!
You continue by quoting the Rambam (Hilchos Melachim 11:1): “Anyone who does not believe in him or does not await his coming denies not only the statements of the other prophets, but those of the Torah and Moses, our teacher.” After giving them a moment to let it settle, ask them to ask themselves – after they just heard to what extent it is important to believe in Moshiach – “Why do you think it is so important?”
B) Telling them the history of Yalkut Moshiach U’Geula Al HaTorah (where the Rebbe said that if you look in the commentaries, you will find how every pasuk in Torah speaks about Moshiach (Acharei 5751)) and show them a picture of literally bookshelves of S’farim (basically one for each Parsha) showing that Moshiach is connected to every part of Torah. All this leads to another concept: Our Sages say (Zohar, Part 2, p. 161), “Hashem looked into the Torah and created the world.” If every verse in Torah is connected with Moshiach, then every part of creation is connected with Moshiach!
Now that you really have their attention, you explain why believing in Moshiach is so important (for another article).
You then address the second of the above-mentioned points by asking them, “What do you know about the characteristics of Moshiach?” They will probably say, “Comes from Dovid HaMelech, he is a King etc.” You read for them – or have a printout to distribute – (Rambam T’shuva 9:2) “These changes will come about because the king who will arise from David’s descendants will be a greater master of knowledge than Solomon and a great prophet, close to the level of Moses, our teacher. Therefore, he will teach the entire nation and instruct them in the path of G-d.” Also, Hilchos Melachim (11:4): “If a king will arise from the House of David who diligently contemplates the Torah and observes its mitzvos as prescribed by the Written Law and the Oral Law as David his ancestor, will compel all of Israel to walk in (the way of the Torah) and rectify the breaches in its observance, and fight the wars of God, we may, with assurance, consider him Moshiach. If he succeeds in the above, builds the Temple in its place, and gathers the dispersed of Israel, he is definitely the Moshiach.”
From the above, the greatness of Moshiach will be very clear to them and the fact that it is the biggest compliment to be called Moshiach will be obvious.
[To be continued be”H]
Rabbi Avtzon is the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Lubavitch Cincinnati and a well sought after speaker and lecturer. Recordings of his in-depth shiurim on Inyanei Geula u’Moshiach can be accessed at http://www.ylcrecording.com.