Chabad messianism^[1] is a term used to describe the beliefs of many followers of Chabad who believe that their late leader Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson will be the Messiah.^[2] Adherents to this belief are termed Meshichisten. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... For other uses, see Chabad (disambiguation). ... Shneur Zalman of Liadi (‎) (September 4, 1745 – December 15, 1812 O.S.), was an Orthodox Rabbi, and the founder and first Rebbe of Chabad, a branch of Hasidic Judaism, then based in Liadi, Imperial Russia. ... Dovber Schneuri (1773-11-13 - 1827-11-16 OS) was an Orthodox rabbi and the second Rebbe (spiritual leader) of the Chabad Lubavitch chasidic movement. ... Menachem Mendel Schneersohn (or Menachem Mendel or Tzemach Tzedek) (1789 - 1866) was an Orthodox Jewish rabbi of the Chabad Lubavitch Hasidic Judaism movement that was based in the town of Lubavitch in present-day Belarus. ... Shmuel Schneersohn (or Rabbi Shmuel or Maharash) (1834–1882), was an Orthodox rabbi. ... Rabbi Sholom Dovber Schneersohn Sholom Dovber Schneersohn (or Sholom Dovber or Rashab) (1860 - 1920) was an Orthodox rabbi and the fifth Rebbe (spiritual leader) of the Chabad Lubavitch Hasidic Judaism movement. ... Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok (Joseph Isaac)[1] Schneersohn (1880 - 1950) was an Orthodox rabbi and the sixth Rebbe (spiritual leader) of the Chabad Lubavitch chasidic movement. ... For the third Rebbe of the Chabad Lubavitch dynasty see Menachem Mendel Schneersohn Menachem Mendel Schneerson (April 18, 1902 – June 12, 1994), known as The Rebbe[1], was a prominent Hasidic[2] rabbi who was the seventh and last Rebbe (spiritual leader) of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. ... Lubavitch world headquarters, 770 Eastern Parkway 770 Eastern Parkway, commonly abbreviated to 770 or Seven-seventy is the street address of the central headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement, located in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York in the United States of America. ... Portrait of Shneur Zalman of Liadi 19 Kislev refers to the 19th day of the Jewish month of Kislev. ... Ohel (Chabad) is the name of a religious shrine in Queens, New York, to which thousands of people make a pilgrimage each year. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Agudas Chasidei Chabad. ... The Crown Heights Riot was a three-day riot in the Crown Heights neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. ... The Brookly Bridge Shooting was an incident that took place on March 1, 1994, when Lebanese-born Rashid Baz, armed with a Glock 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol and a 9-millimeter Cobray machine gun, shot on a van carrying members of the Chabad-Lubavitch Orthodox Jewish sect on the... Agudas Chasidei Chabad is the umbrella organization for the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. ... -1... Chabad. ... The logo of Kehot Publication Society. ... GAN ISRAEL CAMPING NETWORK There are hundreds of them around the world, with tens of thousands of campers. ... Logo of the Sheloh organization Jewish Released Time, also known as Sheloh (an abbreviation for Shiurei Limud Hados (Classes for Learning the Religion)), is an organization promoting released time for the Jewish education of Jewish children learning in public schools. ... A Project of Guideline Services, Lubavitch House 125 Montgomery Avenue, Suite A3 Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 610-660-0190 Donate Online Who are we? The Jewish Relief Agency is an organization whose aim is to identify and feed needy Jewish families. ... The Jewish childrens Museum in Brooklyn The Jewish Childrens Museum is a brand-new museum open to the public all about jewish life, its history and averything associated with orthodox judaism. ... Official logo of the Ohr Avner Foundation Ohr Avner Foundation is a philanthropic foundation that was established in 1992 by the Israeli billionaire and emigre from the former Soviet Union, Lev Leviev, to be run by rabbis of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement to which Lev Leviev belongs. ... Colel Chabad is the oldest continuously operating charity of its kind in Israel. ... Merkos LInyonei Chinuch (lit. ... The Kinus Hashluchim is the annual gathering of Chabad Shluchim held in the fall, each year. ... Rabbi Hillel HaLevi Malisov of Paritch, commonly known as Reb Hillel Paritcher (1795-1864) was a famous Orthodox Jewish Rabbi in Russia. ... Rabbi Yehuda Chitrik (1899-2006) was a leading scholar, author, and Mashpia in the Chabad community. ... Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Aizik Hodakov (1902-1993) was the chief of staff of the secretariat of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson for more than 40 years. ... Biography of Reb Itche der Masmid Yitzchok Horowitz, more commonly known as Reb Itche der Masmid, was a famous Orthodox Jewish Rabbi in pre-war Europe. ... R Manis Friedman at the wedding of his niece in March 2007 Rabbi Manis Friedman (born 1946) is a Chabad Lubavitch Hassid. ... Rabbi Yoel Kahn Rabbi Yoel Kahn (or Kahan) is a senior, Chabad rabbi, Mashpia, and community leader. ... Rabbi Yehuda Leib Groner Rabbi Leib Yehuda Groner (born 1932) was the secretary to the late Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson for over 40 years. ... Chaya Mushka (Moussia) Schneerson (March 16, 1901-February 10, 1988) referred to by Lubavitchers as The Rebbetzin was the wife of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson the seventh and last Rebbe (spiritual leader) of the Chabad Lubavitch branch of Hasidic Judaism. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, (1878-1944), was a Hasidic rabbi in Russia. ... Rabbi Shalom Dov Wolpo adressing a crowd Rabbi Shalom Dov Wolpo, also Sholom Ber Wolpe[1], (born 1948) is a senior Chabad-Lubavitch rabbi and community leader in Israel. ... Rabbi Berel Lazar is the Chief Rabbi of Russia, and is the chairman of the rabbinical alliance of the CIS. Education A native of Milan, Italy, Rabbi Lazar was born in 1964 to parents who were among the first emissaries of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. ... Rabbi Chaim Yehuda (Yudel) Krinsky (born 1933) is a Chabad Lubavitch Hasidic rabbi. ... Shneur Zalman Moishe HaYitzchaki, usually known familiarly as Reb Zalman Moishe, (c. ... Rabbi Nissan Neminov, known familiarly as Reb Nissan, was a famous Orthodox Jewish Rabbi. ... Professor Herman Branover is known in the Jewish communities of Israel, Russia, and the West as an inspiring author, translator, publisher, and educator. ... Rabbi Yehoshua Shneur Zalman Serebryanski, known familiarly as Reb Zalman, (Dec 1904-1991-06-15) was an Orthodox rabbi and Mashpia belonging to the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement. ... Crown Heights is a neighborhood in the central portion of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. ... Kfar Chabad is a Chabad-Lubavitch community of about 400 families located near Tel Aviv. ... Hayom Yom (Hebrew: היום יום, Today is day . ... Igrot Kodesh (literally Holy Epistles but more commonly known as Letters of the Rebbe} is a collection of the seventh Rebbe of Lubavitch, Menachem Mendel Schneersons correspondence and responsa. ... Note: Tanya Rabbati, a 16th century Italian code of Jewish law, is an unrelated work with a similar name. ... Likkutei Sichos, lit. ... A popular Sidur (prayer-book) in the Chabad-Lubavitch community. ... Shulchan Aruch HaRav, or Shulkhan Arukh HaRav, (Code of Jewish Law by the Rabbi) is a codification of halakha by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, known during his lifetime as HaRav (The Rabbi). At a young age, Rabbi Shneur Zalman was asked by his teacher, Rabbi Dovber of Mezeritch to... Bais Rivka (or Beth Rivkah) is the name used for the Bais Yaakov-type private girls schools of the Chabad Lubavitch Hasidic movement. ... Rabbi Yisroel Jacobson giving a class in Hadar Hatorah in 1962 Yeshiva Hadar Hatorah is the worlds first Baal Teshuva Yeshiva For men rediscovering their Jewish roots. ... Yeshivah College is a Jewish school on Hotham Street in Melbourne, Australia run by the Chabad-Lubavitch movements Yeshivah Centre. ... Oholei Torah is the common name of the Lubavitch schools Educational Institute Oholei Menachem and Talmudical Seminary Oholei Torah. ... Tomchei Temimim is the central Yeshiva (Talmudical school) of the Chabad Lubavitch Hasidic movement. ... Dormitory Ohel Chana is an Orthodox Jewish girls seminary on Balaclava Road in Melbourne, Australia run by the Chabad-Lubavitch movements Yeshivah Centre. ... Yeshiva Gedolah Zal, Yeshiva Gedolah, or colloquially, YG is a yeshiva, an academy for young Orthodox Jews to devote themselves to full-time rabbinical studies. ... Beth Rivkah Ladies College is an Orthodox Jewish day-school on Balaclava Road in Melbourne, Australia run by the Chabad-Lubavitch movements Yeshivah Centre. ... The Rabbinical College of America is one of the largest Chabad Lubavitch Chasidic Yeshivas in the world. ... Ohr Avner Chabad Day School refers to a network of Jewish day schools founded and supported by Israeli billionaire Lev Leviev, under the auspices of the Chabad Lubavitch movement, located in the areas of the former Soviet Union Ohr Avner Chabad Day School (Tashkent) Ohr Avner Chabad Day School (Volgograd... Mayanot Institute of Jewish Studies is a Chabad-Lubavitch yeshiva for men located in Makor Baruch, Jerusalem, Israel. ... For other uses, see Orthodox Judaism outreach (disambiguation). ... Mitzvah Campaigns, or Mitvtzoim (Heb. ... A Chabad House is a centre for disseminating Orthodox Judaism by the Chabad movement. ... The Tefillin Campaign refers to a campaign by Orthodox Jews to influence all male Jews, regardless of their level of religious observance, to don the Tefillin (phylacteries) daily. ... The Noahide Campaign refers to a campaign by Orthodox Jews to influence all non-Jews to follow the Noahide Laws. ... Shaliach (Hebrew: שָלִיחַ; plural שְלִיחִים, shlichim or Shliach plural Shluchim), in Judaism, is the concept of an emissary. ... A Chabad Lubavitch Mitzvah tank A Mitzvah tank is a large vehicle, usually a big van, travel trailer, recreational vehicle or campervan, sometimes even a pickup truck with a Sukkah on it, that is utilized by the Orthodox Jewish practitioners of Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidism as portable educational and outreach centers... ChiTaS is a Hebrew acronym for Chumash (The five books of Moses), Tehillim (Psalms) and Tanya (Kabbalistic work by Schnuer Zalman of Liadi, the Alter Rebbe). ... Mashpia (Heb. ... Meiniach (Heb. ... A Farbrengen (from the Yiddish פארברענגען, meaning joyous gathering) is a Hasidic gathering. ... Nusach Ari means, in a general sense, any prayer rite following the usages of Rabbi Isaac Luria, the AriZal, in the 16th century, and, more particularly, the version of it used by Chabad Chasidim. ... Choizer (Heb. ... A Chabadnitze (Yiddish: ) is a small side room required for a Chabad synagogue. ... In Jewish messianism and eschatology, the Messiah (Hebrew: משיח; Mashiah, Mashiach, or Moshiach, anointed [one]) is a term traditionally referring to a future Jewish king from the Davidic line who will be anointed (the meaning of the Hebrew word משיח) with holy anointing oil and inducted to rule the Jewish people during... Strashelye, is a branch of the Chabad school of Hasidic Judaism, named after the town Strashelye in the Mohilev Province of present-day Belarus, where its leader lived. ... Main article: Chabad Chabad-Lubavitch is a branch of Hasidism. ... The Malachim are a barely extant quasi-Hasidic group with strong Miami and Williamsburg connections. ... For the third Rebbe of the Chabad Lubavitch dynasty see Menachem Mendel Schneersohn Menachem Mendel Schneerson (April 18, 1902 – June 12, 1994), known as The Rebbe[1], was a prominent Hasidic[2] rabbi who was the seventh and last Rebbe (spiritual leader) of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. ... In Jewish messianism and eschatology, the Messiah (Hebrew: משיח; Mashiah, Mashiach, or Moshiach, anointed [one]) is a term traditionally referring to a future Jewish king from the Davidic line who will be anointed (the meaning of the Hebrew word משיח) with holy anointing oil and inducted to rule the Jewish people during...

According to David Berger and others "the overwhelming majority of Lubavitch chasidim believe that the rebbe is the Messiah."^[3][4][5] However, Sue Fishkoff notes in her book about Chabad that "No one can know precisely how deep Chabad messianism goes. When Berger and other critics claim that it infects the majority of the Chabad movement, they have no greater statistical backing than do those who suggest it is on the decline." ^[6] According to Fishkoff, "Messianism was more widespread during the rebbe's illness. Since he died, it's been decreasing, but decreasing much more sharply among the emissaries than among Lubavitch communities." ^[7] In Crown Heights, she describes a significant number of residents holding Messianic views while the administrative leaders do not. ^[8] Bergers most famous work Rabbi Dr. David Berger is a professor of history at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, and a visiting professor at Yeshiva Universitys Bernard Revel Graduate School. ...

History of Messianism

Before Schneerson's death in 1994 a significant body of Chabad Hasidim believed that he was soon to be crowned as the Messiah - an event that would herald the Messianic Age and the construction of the Third Temple. Books and pamphlets were written containing purported proofs for the Rabbi's status as Messiah, some of which Rabbi Schneerson opposed, but some he also encouraged on occasions. Messianic Age is a theological term referring to a future time of peace and brotherhood on the earth, without crime, war and poverty. ... A drawing of Ezekiels Visionary Temple from the Book of Ezekiel 40-47 Since the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, religious Jews have prayed that God will allow for the rebuilding of a Third Temple. ...

After his stroke in 1992, followers routinely sang the song "Long live our master, our teacher and our rabbi, King Messiah for ever and ever" in his presence - a chant that he often encouraged. During the later years of his life Rabbi Schneerson's teachings were interpreted by many to mean that he was claiming to be the Messiah. His death in 1994 did not quell the messianist fervor. Believers found new rationales to explain the belief that Schneerson was the Messiah despite having passed on. Some argued that he had in fact not died at all and was still physically present in a concealed state. Others argued that though he had died, Judaism does not rule out the possibility of the Messiah returning from the dead. In Judaism and Jewish eschatology, the Messiah (Hebrew: משיח; Mashiah, Mashiach, or Moshiach, anointed [one]) is a term traditionally referring to a future Jewish king from the Davidic line who will be anointed (the meaning of the Hebrew word משיח) with holy anointing oil and inducted to rule the Jewish people during...

The development of this messianism and its impact on Chabad in specific — and Orthodox Judaism in general — has been the subject of much discussion in the Jewish press, as well as within the pages of peer-reviewed journals. Orthodox Judaism is the formulation of Judaism that adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonised in the Talmudic texts (Oral Torah) and as subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and Acharonim. ...

One of the earliest proponents of the idea of Schneerson as the messiah was Rabbi Avraham Pariz. As early as 1952 Pariz printed a poster proclaiming him as the messiah. When word reached the United States that the poster had been seen around Tel Aviv Schneerson forbade its distribution.^[9] Tel-Aviv was founded on empty dunes north of the existing city of Jaffa. ...

During Schneerson's life

According to research by Rachel Elior, the expectations that the Rebbe was the messiah built slowly through the 1980s. While she argues that the messianism of Chabad can be traced back to the 1950s and the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, she cites evidence that the 1980s saw a upsurge in messianism. People would write letters addressed to Moshiach instead of the Rebbe, conversations centering around the Rebbe's true identity became more prevalent, and as the Rebbe became more and more fixated on the issue of Moshiach, the fervor grew. Elior argues that the development of Chabad Messianism was in response to the holocaust and constituted an attempt by Schneerson to offer an explanation and purpose in the face of such destruction offered "eschatological certainty and messianic purpose - what appeared to be the only rational response from a theological point of view."^[10] Rachel Elior is an Israeli professor of at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel. ...

According to Paul R. Carlson, Schneerson became more direct about the messianic age during the Gulf War of 1991. Schneerson was quoted in the Jewish Telegraphic Agency as telling his followers that it would "herald the coming of the Messiah" quoting from the medrash Yalkut Shimoni: "Humble ones, the time of your redemption has arived." This message was immediately taken up by the followers with full page advertisements^[11] in the press declaring that the messianic age has arrived. Other evidence for this included the fall of communism and the mass immigration of Russian Jews to Israel. Carlson cites Rabbi Chaim Bergstein in the Detroit Jewish News as saying "I'm not saying he is or isn't Mashiach, but there is no one as learned ...in this generation."^[12] For other uses, see Iraq war (disambiguation). ... The Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) is an international news agency serving Jewish community newspapers and media around the world. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Yalkut Shimoni (Hebrew: ילקוט שמעוני) or simply Yalkut is a haggadic compilation on the books of the Old Testament. ... The Detriot Jewish News is a weekly community newspaper serving the Jewish community of Detroit. ...

During the late 1980s Chabad rabbis across the United States started declaring the coming of the messiah was imminent and that it would be Schneerson^{[citation needed]}. One Rabbi Asher Zeilingold told the press that he "expect[s] the messiah to come at any moment" and that Schneerson "soon will be recognized by God as the saviour."^[13]

Rabbi Shalom Dov Wolpo brought up the issue in 1984 by publishing a booklet declaring Schneerson to be the Messiah.^[14] Schneerson responded by writing "It has come to pass that because of his [Wolpo's] activities ... hundreds of Jews have stopped learning Chassidus, and now oppose the Baal Shem Tov and his teachings in actuality."^[15] Rabbi Shalom Dov Wolpo adressing a crowd Rabbi Shalom Dov Wolpo, also Sholom Ber Wolpe[1], (born 1948) is a senior Chabad-Lubavitch rabbi and community leader in Israel. ...

Anthropologist Vanessa Ochs spent the year of Schneerson's death living among women in the Chabad congregation in Stamford Hill, London. She writes that: Stamford Hill is a place in the north of the London Borough of Hackney, near the border with Haringey. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ...

By 1992 Chabad Messianism was gaining wide publicity. As the health of their leader deteriorated some Chabad followers became more vocal and explicit in their messianism. Time magazine journalist Lisa Beyer reported on the issue that year, noting that the followers in Kfar Chabad were expecting Schneerson to reveal himself as the Messiah imminently. She reported that Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz had openly declared that Schneerson should reveal himself as such, and arguing that even if he were to die "the leader's death would not disprove his Messianic potential."^[17] “TIME” redirects here. ... Lisa Beyer is a United States journalist. ... Kfar Chabad is a Chabad-Lubavitch community of about 400 families located near Tel Aviv. ... Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz (Hebrew: עדין שטיינזלץ) or Adin Even Yisrael (Hebrew: עדין אבן ישראל) (born 1937) is most commonly known for his popular commentary and translation of both Talmuds into Hebrew, French, Russian and Spanish. ...

By late 1992 a movement to crown Schneerson as "King Messiah" had gained prominence within the Chabad movement and a major rally was organised in Crown Heights where the Rebbe was to be crowned under the leadership of senior Chabad rabbi and youth movement director Shmuel Butman.^[18] He organised the rally on January 30, 1993 that was billed as Schneerson's coronation ceremony.^[19] Before the rally Butman informed the press that "This will be the coronation of the rebbe as Melech haMashiach (King Messiah)."^[20][21] The rally was held on January 30, 1993 and was attended by 8,000 in New York and countless others via satellite link-ups around the world. Butman was forced to backtrack during the event, announcing that Schneerson's appearance did not represent his acceptance of the role of Messiah. He told the 8,000 assembled followers (plus many more around the world watching via satellite) that the event "is not to be interpreted as a coronation."^[22] Rabbi Shmuel Butman Rabbi Shmuel Menachem Butman (born 1944) is a prominent Chabad rabbi in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York. ... is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ...

As Schneerson lay dying in the Intensive Care Unit of Beth Israel Medical Center, some 2,000 followers gathered outside in Stuyvesant Square. Many could be seen singing and dancing - anticipating the end of days. Others were prayerful, some could be seen stroking the wall of the hospital as though it was the Western Wall.^[23] ICU room An Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or Critical Care Unit (CCU) is a specialised department in a hospital that provides intensive care medicine. ... Beth Israel Medical Center is a hospital in New York. ... Stuyvesant Square is a park in the New York City borough of Manhattan. ... // In the three Abrahamic Religions (Islam, Judaism, and Christianity), the End Times are depicted as a time of tribulation that precede the predicted coming of a Messiah figure. ... The Western Wall by night. ...

After Schneerson's death

Schneerson's death lead to a rethinking of the theology of messianism within Chabad. While the funeral was attended by a few dozen extreme messianists who danced throughout the procession and argued that his death was a required part of the process of him returning as Messiah - most messianists were taken aback.^[24] The Washington Post reported from the funeral that the death had left Chabad stunned and in crisis:^[25] ...

Within three days of Schneerson's death The Forward was reporting that the movement was splitting over the death with some claiming that he was alive and some claiming that he would be resurrected: The Forward is a Jewish-American newspaper published in New York. ...

There was no effort to appoint a successor - no individual was designated in the will. When asked by a reporter if Krinsky would assume the mantle, he refused answering "heaven forbid".^[26] Within months however, messianism had regrouped and soon became a minor force within the Chabad movement. Many Chabad followers preferred to refer to the Rebbe's passing as a mere transition. In time Schneerson's passing began to be known as "Gimmel Tamuz" - the Hebrew date of his death.^[27][28] For the month of Jewish, Arabic and Babylonian calendar, see tammuz (month) For a supernatural creature from Babylonian mythology, see Tammuz Categories: Disambiguation ...

Rabbi Schneerson's collected speeches from the last two years of his life were collected into pamphlets and published during his life under the title Besuras Hageula. These especially were distributed by the messianists after his death to bolster the case that he was the still the Messiah. These contained some of the strongest comments by Schneerson that the messianic age was imminent. Such evidence - along with other sources and a rabbinic decision declaring Rabbi Schneerson to be the messiah signed by over 250 rabbis - was used to bolster the case for belief in his return.

A group of messianists took out a full-page ad in the New York Times in 1996 entitled "The Third of Tammuz is not the Rebbe's Yahrzeit"^[29]; in 1998 another Times ad proclaimed that Schneerson The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ...

A messianist publication elucidated the theology as early as 1995: "Since the Third of Tammuz, we are no longer able to physically see the Rebbe King Moshiach. The Rebbe remains physically alive just as before, it is only to our eyes that he is concealed. Therefore, we call this a day of concealment, and many refer to this as the "last test." Just as we know that there is a G-d though we may not see him, so too the Rebbe King Moshiach is here even though we do not see him."^[29][31]

Full size replicas of 770 Eastern Parkway have been constructed in Kfar Chabad and in Jerusalem.^[32] Other replicas or near-replicas have been built in New Jersey, in Los Angeles, Melbourne, Milano, Rio and Buenos Aires. David Berger cites a senior chabad mashpia in Kfar Chabad, Rabbi Yishvam Segal describing the messianist posiiton of the Rebbe in the world:^[33] Kfar Chabad is a Chabad-Lubavitch community of about 400 families located near Tel Aviv. ... For other uses, see Jerusalem (disambiguation). ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Los Angeles and L.A. redirect here. ... The City of Melbournes coat of arms The central business district of Melbourne, viewed from the north Alternate meanings: Melbourne (disambiguation) Melbourne is the capital and largest city of the state of Victoria, and the second largest city in Australia, with a population of 52,117 in the Central... This is about the Italian city of Milan. ... This article is about the Brazilian city. ... For other uses, see Buenos Aires (disambiguation). ... Bergers most famous work David Berger is a professor of history at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, and a visiting professor at Yeshiva Universitys Bernard Revel Graduate School. ... Mashpia (Heb. ... Kfar Chabad is a Chabad-Lubavitch community of about 400 families located near Tel Aviv. ...

The centrality of 770 to messianist thought is explained by Chaim Dov Keller. Since one of Maimonides preconditions that a true messiah must fulfill to become "Moshiach Vadai" - "certain messiah" is to rebuild the temple, the messianist must view 770 as the temple to justify their beliefs, since otherwise he failed one of the conditions and thus cannot be the messiah.^[29][35] Similarly, another of Maimonides conditions was that "all Israel" be returned to the Holy Land - messianists argue that Chabad adherents constitute "all Israel". The messiah must have "fought the Lord's wars" - Schneerson's predictions of the collapse of the USSR in the 1980s fullfil this criterion in messiant thinking.^[29] Rabbi Chaim Dov Keller is the Rosh yeshiva (dean) of the Telshe Yeshiva in Chicago. ... Commonly used image indicating one artists conception of Maimonidess appearance Maimonides (March 30, 1135 or 1138–December 13, 1204) was a Jewish rabbi, physician, and philosopher in Spain, Morocco and Egypt during the Middle Ages. ... Commonly used image indicating one artists conception of Maimonidess appearance Maimonides (March 30, 1135 or 1138–December 13, 1204) was a Jewish rabbi, physician, and philosopher in Spain, Morocco and Egypt during the Middle Ages. ...

Expressions of Messianism

There is a wide range of degrees of messianism within Chabad. The terms mishichist and anti-mishichst are loosely used with many of the later still taking the position the Schneerson is the Messiah, but that he died so the term is potentially misleading. There is considerable dispute regarding the relative strengths of the various factions which is discussed below.

Some of main streams of thought within Chabad are set out below:

• Some express the belief that Schneerson was the best candidate for the Messiah in his generation, but now say that people were mistaken to believe that he was the Messiah. Rather, he could have been the messiah if God willed it to be so, but it was not to be. As such, the Messiah will come nonetheless in the person of some other great leader.
• Some emphasize the belief that the classic meaning of death does not apply to a truly righteous person such as Schneerson.^[36] In this view Schneerson never "died", and is still alive in some way that ordinary humans cannot perceive. According to this view, the Rebbe would later be revealed as Messiah.^[37] Many Chabad Hasidim refuse to put the typical honorifics for the dead (e.g. zt"l or zecher tzaddik livrocho, "may the memory of the righteous be for a blessing") after Rabbi Schneerson's name. They rely upon the Rebbe's statement that the world has entered a new period in its history and that, contrary to what has happened in the past, the leader of the generation will not be hidden "even through burial", but that he would remain alive until the revelation of the Messiah.^[38]
• Some argue that one leader in every generation has the potential to be the Messiah and that since Schneerson is still alive (in their view) he remains the only possibility in this generation.

Ztl (zekher tzadik livrakha in Hebrew) is an appellation, often appended to the name of a deceased rabbi or righteous person. ...

Prevalence of Messianism

The prevalence of the various views listed above amongst Chabad supporters is disputed. According to David Berger in his book The Rebbe, the Messiah, and the Scandal of Orthodox Indifference and other observers, very few Chabad adherents will say that "the Rebbe was/is not the Messiah". Some will say that "he might be", but a very large number will say that he certainly is the Messiah. Indeed this appears to most observers to be the mainstream position - the difference between the Messianists and the anti-Messianists being over whether Schneerson is dead or not. Berger argues that "that the major institutions in the three primary population centers of Crown Heights, Kfar Chabad, and Safed are either dominated by overt believers in the Rebbe's Messiahship or suffused by that belief." He notes that in the movement's largest Yeshiva Oholei Menachem, the administration ordered that Yechi be recited. He said that the chief rabbi of Kfar Chabad was "one of the first signatories of a 1998 halachic ruling requiring belief in the Rebbe's Messiahship" as did 250 other Chabad Rabbis. Bergers most famous work David Berger is a professor of history at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, and a visiting professor at Yeshiva Universitys Bernard Revel Graduate School. ... The Rebbe, the Messiah, and the Scandal of Orthodox Indifference is a book authored by Professor David Berger on the topic of Chabad messianism and the mainstream orthodox Jewish reaction to that trend. ...

In a sworn affidavit, in a case regarding the control of 770 Eastern Parkway, Rabbi Sholom Kalmanson argued that while "most Lubavitchers believe that the rebbe is the messiah, others believe that while the scenario is possible, it should not be a public position. A very small minority have abandoned the notion that the rebbe is Moshiach.""^[4] Lubavitch world headquarters, 770 Eastern Parkway 770 Eastern Parkway, commonly abbreviated to 770 or Seven-seventy is the street address of the central headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement, located in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York in the United States of America. ...

According to many researchers, while some have believed during the Rebbe's lifetime that Schneerson had the potential to be the Messiah, only a minute vocal fringe group still believe that he is the Messiah, and today, those beliefs have decreased within Chabad.^{[39][40][41][42][43][44]}

Schneerson's messianism or divinity is not advocated in any of Chabad's official literature^[45][46].

According to Zalman Shmotkin, director of the non-messianist website chabad.org "People don't actually believe the Rebbe is the Messiah. They say they believe, but really they want, they hope, they pray. But believe this no."^[47] Of those who agitate for the belief that the rebbe was or is the messiah, Rabbi Shmotkin, the Chabad spokesman, said Chabad-Lubavitch leaders have “repeatedly condemned them in the strongest possible terms.” ^[48] Chabad. ...

Journalist Sue Fishkoff notes that the idea that most Lubavitchers are messianist is "a claim Lubavitchers say is patently absurd. Here everyone is treading on thin ice, for no one can know precisely how deep Chabad messianism goes. When Berger and other critics claim that it infects the majority of the Chabad movement, they have no greater statistical backing than do those who suggest it is on the decline."^[49]

Response to Chabad messianism

The Rebbe's response

On a number of occasions throughout the leadership of the Rebbe, there were some Chasidim who wanted to publicly express their opinions about their rebbe as Moshiach, However the Rebbe never allowed this to be done.

On Simchat Torah 1984, in response to reports that certain people were publishing material and singing songs with this content, the Rebbe publicly stated at a farbrengen (Chasidic gathering) that those involved were starting a new war against Chabad (i.e., Lubavitch chassidism) and all its Rebbeim, even including the eventual messiah, and that he should never have to speak about it again.^[50] A Farbrengen (from the Yiddish פארברענגען, meaning joyous gathering) is a Hasidic gathering. ...

In 1985, a year later, (also at simchat torah) the Rebbe gave a long talk about moshiach in general and the leader of the generation being the moshiach. Stating "I will not be troubled if one will translate 'Moshiach' literally, i.e. the righteous Moshiach, since that is indeed the truth. The leader of the generation is in fact Moshiach of the generation."^[51] This, coupled with the Rebbe's frequent statement that ours is the "Last Generation of galut (exile) and it is the first generation of Geulah, the redemption" is one of the arguments put forward that the Rebbe is the messiah. The logic behind this is that if the leader of the generation is the messiah, and this is the last generation, then it follows that he is the "final" redeemer. In addition, the Rebbe also said that every Jew has a spark of Moshiach in him and that it need only be revealed. In Jewish messianism and eschatology, the Messiah (Hebrew: משיח; Mashiah, Mashiach, or Moshiach, anointed [one]) is a term traditionally referring to a future Jewish king from the Davidic line who will be anointed (the meaning of the Hebrew word משיח) with holy anointing oil and inducted to rule the Jewish people during...

In the late 1980s and early 1990s the Rebbe's talks became increasingly focused on the topic of Moshiach, that Moshiach was about to come, and what was needed to accomplish this. These talks would often take on a sense of urgency. On one occasion, during the rebbes talk at the International Conference of Shluchim, he stated "the work of the Shluchim has already finished, and the only task left is to welcome moshiach". The Rebbe continued by stating that the way to welcome Moshiach was through increasing in Torah and Mitzvos. Shaliach (Hebrew: שָלִיחַ; plural שְלִיחִים, shlichim or Shliach plural Shluchim), in Judaism, is the concept of an emissary. ...

In the early 1990s, Hasidim became more vocal about Rabbi Schneerson being the Moshiach, even submitting a petition to him asking that he reveal himself as the long-awaited messiah. In Judaism and Jewish eschatology, the Messiah (Hebrew: משיח; Mashiah, Mashiach, or Moshiach, anointed [one]) is a term traditionally referring to a future Jewish king from the Davidic line who will be anointed (the meaning of the Hebrew word משיח) with holy anointing oil and inducted to rule the Jewish people during...

On Shabbas Parshas Noach 1991, when some chassidim started to sing a song proclaiming him to be the messiah, the Rebbe remarked that it was strange that he should remain sitting there. He complained that he should have stood up and left the room, his only deterrent being a desire not to disrupt the brotherly atmosphere of a farbrengen.^[52]

After Rabbi Schneeerson's stroke in 1992, which left him partially paralyzed, it became customary for chassidim to recite the Yechi chant after prayers and at general prayer gatherings for his recovery. whenever he was present he encouraged this. For other uses, see Stroke (disambiguation). ... Jewish services are the prayers recited as part of observance of Judaism. ...

In the fall 1992, on Rosh Hashanah, Rabbi Schneerson was brought to a window constructed on the upper level of the synagogue at 770 Eastern Parkway overlooking the main sanctuary. Chassidim sang the full version of Yechi, and he made encourageing motions with his left hand (his right side had been paralyzed by the stroke). On certain occasions; the rebbe made increasingly big signs of encouragement such as on Rosh Chodesh Kislev 1992 (5753); when the rebbe moved his hand back and forth with extreme energy. Look up Rosh Hashanah in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A synagogue (from , transliterated synagogē, assembly; beit knesset, house of assembly; or beit tefila, house of prayer, shul; , esnoga) is a Jewish house of worship. ... Lubavitch world headquarters, 770 Eastern Parkway 770 Eastern Parkway, commonly abbreviated to 770 or Seven-seventy is the street address of the central headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement, located in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York in the United States of America. ...

Charedi Rabbi's response

Rabbi Elazar Shach objected to the call for "forcing" the Messiah's appearance, and idea advocated by the Lubavitcher Rebbe.^[53] Elazar Menachem Man Shach (אלעזר מנחם מן שך) (or Rav Leizer Shach, at times his name is written as Eliezer Schach in English publications) (January 22, 1898 - November 2, 2001), was a leading Haredi rabbi in modern Israel. ...

When certain elements in Chabad actually identified Rabbi Schneerson as the possible Messiah, Rabbi Elazar Shach advocated a complete boycott of Chabad, its institutions and projects by its constituents. ^[54]

Rabbi Aharon Kotler (1892-1962), founder of the Lakewood Yeshivah in New Jersey, was severely critical of Lubavich, in part because of the extreme emphasis on messianism evident even at that time.^[55] Aharon (or Ahroyn, Aaron, Aron) Kotler (1890s - 1962) was a prominent leader of Orthodox Judaism in Lithuania, and later the United States of America. ...

Rabbi Aharon Feldman, dean of the Ner Israel Rabbinical College (Yeshivas Ner Yisroel) penned a public response to a question from a student asking how orthodox Jews should relate to chabad messianists in 2003. He made a clear distinction between what he termed the "Mishichists" and the "Elokists". He rules that it is forbidden to associate with Elokists under any circumstances due to their heresy and they cannot be counted for a Minyan. He rules it is also forbidden to support the Meshichists in any way that lends credence to their messianic beliefs though they are not strictly heretics. He adds that even a messianist should not be given any public office since their judgement is compromised by their false beliefs ^[56] Rabbi Aharon Feldman is the Rosh Yeshsiva (Dean) of the Ner Israel Rabbinical College (also known as NIRC) an Orthodox yeshiva in Baltimore, Maryland and one of the premier yeshivas in the world. ... Yeshivas Ner Yisroel (Ner Israel Rabbinical College) (also known as NIRC) is an Orthodox yeshiva in Baltimore, Maryland founded in 1933 by Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchok Ruderman who was a key disciple of Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel, dean of the famous Slabodka yeshiva in Lithuania. ...

Rabbi Elya Svei, one of the rosh yeshivas of the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia, said in his eulogy for Rabbi Elazar Shach, "Another area in which Rav Shach took the sole initiative and responsibility was in the less than popular task of protesting Messianic proclivities within Lubavitch. Rav Shach assumed the responsibility of decrying this perversion. Rav Shach started to fight this battle alone. He illuminated the truth so that others could also see the posed threat and follow his lead." ^[57] Rabbi Elya Svei is one of the Rosh Yeshivas of the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia, although he is unwell and retired. ... The Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia, usually referred to simply as Philly,is one of the preeminent Haredi Litvish Yeshivas in the United States. ... Elazar Menachem Man Shach (אלעזר מנחם מן שך) (or Rav Leizer Shach, at times his name is written as Eliezer Schach in English publications) (January 22, 1898 - November 2, 2001), was a leading Haredi rabbi in modern Israel. ...

A senior American Posek, Rabbi Yehuda Henkin, in a responsa to Gil Student ruled that messianists are merely foolish and need not be shunned.^[58] Rabbi Yehuda Herzl Henkin was born in 1945 and currently lives in Jerusalem. ... Rabbi Gil O. Student (born August 8, 1972) is an ordained but non-pulpit serving American Orthodox rabbi. ...

Rabbi Zev Leff was asked if the Lubavitcher Rebbe is Moshiach. Rabbi Leff answered, "The Lubavitcher Rebbe is no longer alive. The Rambam says very clearly that if someone claims to be Moshiach and he dies before he builds the Temple and brings all Jews back to Eretz Yisrael, then it is clear that he was not Moshiach. So according to the Rambam the Lubavitcher Rebbe cannot be Moshiach... Also, even if people will claim to have found sources that seem to say that Moshiach can be somebody who died and will come back from the dead to become Moshiach, those sources are not obviously what the sources means because for 2,000 years one of our objections to Christianity across the board was that the concept of a dead Moshiach who comes back to be Messiah is not a Jewish concept."^[59] Rabbi Zev Leff is one of Israels most popular English-speaking Torah educators. ...

Rabbi Leff was also asked the following: "May one eat in a restaurant whose proprietor feels that the Lubavitcher Rebbe is the moshiach, if it is under a widely accepted hashgacha? Furthermore, is it permitted for a person to daven in a shul where the majority of the congregants feel that the Rebbe zt"l is moshiach, and perhaps participate in the recitation of Yechi?" He answered, "The restaurant really depends on who the supervision is and if it is a reliable supervision. Even if the proprietor is not Jewish, certainly if he is Jewish and has wrong ideas about Yiddishkeit, you can eat in that restaurant. On the other hand, to daven in a shul where the majority have crooked ideas about Yiddishkeit and recite things that have no place as part of the davening, better not to daven in a shul like that." ^[60]

Following Schneerson's death, the Rebbe of Satmar was said to have commented "Now we have to wait for the real Messiah. ^[61]

RCA

In 1996 the largest Orthodox rabbinic grouping in the United States, the Rabbinical Council of America approved the following resolution. The resolution read:

"In the light of disturbing developments which have recently arisen in the Jewish Community, the Rabbinical Council of America in convention assembled declares that there is not and has never been a place in Judaism for the belief that the Messiah will begin his mission only to experience death, burial and resurrection before completing it."^[62]

Central Committe of Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbis in US and Canada

In February 1998, the Central Committe of Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbis in US and Canada released the following statement:

Recently a number of individuals have made pronouncements regarding the position of Chabad-Lubavitch on the issue of Moshiach. The following statement is issued by the governing board of the central rabbinic organization of Chabad-Lubavitch:

-The deification of any human being is contrary to the core and foundation of the Jewish faith.

-The various Talmudic, Midrashic and other sources which seem to ascribe superhuman spiritual attributes to certain righteous people, were never meant to be deification and great care must be taken when quoting them.

-Belief in the coming of Moshiach and awaiting his imminent arrival is a basic tenet of the Jewish faith. It is clear, however, that conjecture as to the possible idenity of Moshiach is not part of the basic tenet of Judaism.

-The preoccupation with identifying the Rebbe ZY"U as Moshiach is clearly contrary to the Rebbe's wishes.

Together with the whole of Klal Yisrael we pray for the fufillment of our collective yearning for Moshiach in the spirit of the timeless Jewish decleration: "...I await his (Moshiach's) coming each and every day." ^[63]

Gil Student

In 2002, Gil Student published a book called "Can The Rebbe Be Moshiach? Proofs from Gemara, Midrash, and Rambam that the Rebbe zt"l cannot be Moshiach."^[64] A synopsis of the book goes as follows: Rabbi Gil O. Student (born August 8, 1972) is an ordained but non-pulpit serving American Orthodox rabbi. ...

During his lifetime, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson of blessed memory, was a highly successful religious leader. His brilliant scholarship and eloquent speaking touched hundreds of thousands of people. Larger than life and presiding in a post-Holocaust world during which Jews returned to the land of Israel in an unprecedented fashion, he was declared by many of his followers to be the Moshiach ("Messiah") for whom Jews have waited for thousands of years. His death in 1994 should have dashed those hopes. However, many of his followers have advanced the position that even today the Rebbe can still be Moshiach.

This book is an analysis of this position within the Jewish tradition. What do the doctrinally binding texts say about a dead man being Moshiach? In a presentation appropriate for both the layman and the experienced scholar, this work demonstrates from dozens of texts that according to the authentic Jewish tradition the Rebbe unfortunately cannot be Moshiach.

It has been suggested that Hasidic philosophy be merged into this article or section. ... For the third Rebbe of the Chabad Lubavitch dynasty see Menachem Mendel Schneersohn Menachem Mendel Schneerson (April 18, 1902 – June 12, 1994), known as The Rebbe[1], was a prominent Hasidic[2] rabbi who was the seventh and last Rebbe (spiritual leader) of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. ... In Judaism and Jewish eschatology, the Messiah (Hebrew: משיח; Mashiah, Mashiach, or Moshiach, anointed [one]) is a term traditionally referring to a future Jewish king from the Davidic line who will be anointed (the meaning of the Hebrew word משיח) with holy anointing oil and inducted to rule the Jewish people during...

Progressive response

Senior Reform Rabbi and humanitarian activist Arthur Lelyveld was also scathing about the messinaist trends within the Chabad movement describing the organisation as having a "cult like" atmosphere.^[65] Reform Judaism can refer to (1) the largest denomination of American Jews and its sibling movements in other countries, (2) a branch of Judaism in the United Kingdom, and (3) the historical predecessor of the American movement that originated in 19th-century Germany. ... Rabbi Arthur J. Lelyveld (February 6, 1913 - April 15, 1996) was a rabbi within the movement of Reform Judaism. ...

Philosopher Rabbi David Hartman expressed his concern about the developing messinaism early on, while Schneerson was still alive, saying that "the outpouring of Messianic fervor is always a very disturbing development."^[66] David Hartman (born 1931) is an American rabbi and philosopher of contemporary Judaism and an internationally renowned Jewish author. ...

Some scholars of religion have made comparison with the development of early Christianity: Anthropologist Joel Marcus writes: Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is...

Such comparisons are something which makes many Orthodox Jews uncomfortable. Scholar Mark Winer has noted that "The Lubavitcher movement's suggestions that their late rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson is the Messiah, reflect Christian millenarianism"^[68]

Defence of Messianism

Some Jewish sources have argued that chabad messianism - at least in the moderate forms - is not anathematic to Jewish Philosophy. David Singer, of the American Jewish Committee, argued that: Jewish philosophy refers to the conjunction between serious study of philosophy and Jewish theology. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Moshe Idel argues that Judaism historically has accommodated the idea of a messiah who rises from the dead. Idel, however, does not promote the belief that the Rebbe is the Jewish Messiah. Directly commenting on Chabad's messianic ideologies, he states that having continued

Ahron Soloveichik's position

In June 1996, The Jewish Press published, paid advertisement, a letter signed by Rabbi Ahron Soloveichik. The letter included the assertion that Soloveitchik believed Schneerson to have been worthy of being Messiah before his death, and that the Chabad position that Schneerson was the Messiah could not be dismissed as heretical. He cited a number of sources from gemara, medrash and halacha to demonstrate that Schneerson could still be the Messiah even after his death. The letter also attacked Chabad's critics, warning that it would only contribute to more public discord in the Jewish community. He also praised Chabad's works.^[71] The Jewish Press bills itself as the largest independent weekly Jewish newspaper in the United States. ... Rabbi Ahron Soloveichik;(May 1, 1917 - October 4, 2001) was a scholar of Halakha and a Rosh Yeshiva; known especially within circles of Orthodox Judaism. ... Heresy (Heberw: Kefira) in Orthodox Judaism is defined as which depart from the traditional Jewish principles of faith to be heretical. ... The Gemara (also Gemora) (גמרא - from gamar: Aramaic [to] study) is the part of the Talmud that contains rabbinical commentaries and analysis of its predecessor, the Mishnah. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Halakha (הלכה in Hebrew or Halakhah, Halacha, Halachah) is the collective corpus of Jewish law, custom and tradition regulating all aspects of behavior. ...

This seemed a reversal of Soloveichik's previous position on the matter. In 1994, Soloveichik had told The Forward that Schneerson "can't be the Messiah - he is not living - a Messiah has to be living. A living Messiah, not a dead Messiah." He had also expressed shock at the idea that anyone could suggest that the Messiah could be from among the dead noting that "that could be possible in the Christian faith, but not Judaism" adding that this was "repugnant to everything Judaism represents."^[72] The Forward is a Jewish-American newspaper published in New York. ...

Berger provides a letter which he says Soloveitchik sent to a friend in 2000, where he expresed his dismay that Lubavitch pulications were using his letter to validate their belief that a Jewish Messiah may be resurrected from the dead. He rejected any such claim, explaining that his intent in signing that letter was to express his opinion that subscribers to this belief are not be labeled heretics, but not an endorsement to this belief.^[73]

Breakaway movement

In protest at Chabad messianism, Rabbi Shaul Shimon Deutsch attempted to start a split-off group known as Anshei-Liozna. Deutsch has a synagogue and a few followers in the Boro Park district of Brooklyn.^[74][75] Rabbi Shaul Shimon Deutsch, Liozna Rebbe Rabbi Shaul Shimon Deutsch, the Liozna Rebbe (born 1969), is a rabbi and author from New York City. ... Borough Park (sometimes rendered as Boro Park) is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. ... This article is about the borough of New York City. ...

Support

A few non-Chabad Jewish figures have expressed their concurrence with the belief that Schneerson is indeed the messiah. Yaakov Yosef, (son of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef) and Aaron Leifer, Rabbi of Nadvorna-Safed, both signed a 1998 halachic decree ruling that the Lubavitcher Rebbe is the Messiah. Rabbi Ovadia Yosef (Hebrew: עובדיה יוסף) (b. ... Grand Rabbi Issamar Rosenbaum, The Elder Nadvorna Rebbe The Tombstone of Rebbe Issamar of Nadvorna on the Mt. ...

The "Yechi" statement

"Yechi Adoneinu Moreinu v'Rabbeinu Melech haMoshiach l'olam vo'ed!" (יחי אדוננו מורנו ורבינו מלך המשיח לעולם ועד) is a phrase used by many Chabad Hasidism to pray and proclaim that the seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson will be the messiah. It means "Long Live our Master, our Teacher, and our Rabbi, King Messiah, for ever and ever." The phrase can be seen printed in various settings, notably on pamphlets, posters and small prayer cards. It is chanted by many people at the end of daily communal prayers in Lubavitch congregations, including the main Lubavitch synagogue in Crown Heights, "770". Yechi has a complex and controversial history dating back to the mid-1980s and is often viewed as a litmus test to differentiate the messiansits from the anti-messianists or non-messianists. Hasidic Judaism (Hebrew: Chasidut חסידות) is a Haredi Jewish religious movement. ... For the third Rebbe of the Chabad Lubavitch dynasty see Menachem Mendel Schneersohn Menachem Mendel Schneerson (April 18, 1902 – June 12, 1994), known as The Rebbe[1], was a prominent Hasidic[2] rabbi who was the seventh and last Rebbe (spiritual leader) of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. ... In Judaism, the Messiah (Hebrew: , Standard  Tiberian ; Aramaic: , ; Arabic: , ; the Anointed One) at first meant any person who was anointed with oil on rising to a certain position among the ancient Israelites, at first that of High priest, later that of King and also that of a prophet. ... Lubavitch world headquarters, 770 Eastern Parkway 770 Eastern Parkway, commonly abbreviated to 770 or Seven-seventy is the street address of the central headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement, located in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York in the United States of America. ... A litmus test is a question asked of a potential candidate for high office, the answer to which would determine whether the nominating official would choose to proceed with the appointment or nomination. ...

Yechi began as the phrase "Yechi Adoneinu Moreinu Verabbeinu," ("May our master, teacher and Rebbe live!") to which the response was a shout of "Yechi" ("May he live!"). It appears to be based on the statement made by Bathsheba, the wife of King David "Yehi adoni hamelech David le'olam," ("May my lord King David live forever!") (Kings I 1:31). When used by Lubavitcher Hassidim, it was originally recited in the presence of Rabbi Schneerson after twelve special verses known as "the Twelve Pesukim" whose recitation the Rebbe encouraged in his teachings. Bathsheba (בת שבע) is the wife of Uriah the Hittite and later of King David in the Hebrew Bible. ... This page is about the Biblical king David. ... This page is about the Biblical king David. ... The Books of Kings (‎) is a part of Judaisms Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible. ...

A child honored with reciting the last verse of the Twelve Pesukim would call out the phrase, to which everyone would respond. This was repeated three times. The response would be accented on the second syllable. After three calls, everyone would chant the word Yechi together in a 2-3-2-3 pattern. This was followed by singing "We Want Moshiach Now".

In 1988 Rabbi Schneerson spoke of the importance of declaring the ancient Jewish cry^[76] of Yechi Hamelech ("May the king live") as a prayer to express their desire that the Jewish Messiah should come.^[77] Later on, many of his followers began to consider this term synonymous with the above Yechi, using it to refer to Rabbi Schneerson himself. In Judaism and Jewish eschatology, the Messiah (Hebrew: משיח; Mashiah, Mashiach, or Moshiach, anointed [one]) is a term traditionally referring to a future Jewish king from the Davidic line who will be anointed (the meaning of the Hebrew word משיח) with holy anointing oil and inducted to rule the Jewish people during...

See also

In Judaism and Jewish eschatology, the Messiah (Hebrew: משיח; Mashiah, Mashiach, or Moshiach, anointed [one]) is a term traditionally referring to a future Jewish king from the Davidic line who will be anointed (the meaning of the Hebrew word משיח) with holy anointing oil and inducted to rule the Jewish people during... Chabad Lubavitch, or Lubavich, is one of the largest branch of Hasidic Judaism founded by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi . ... Rabbi M.M. Schneerson The third Rebbe of the Chabad Lubavitch dynasty was also named Menachem Mendel Schneersohn (with a h) Menachem Mendel Schneerson (April 18, 1902-June 12, 1994) was an Orthodox Judaism rabbi who was the seventh and last Rebbe (spiritual leader) of the Chabad Lubavitch branch of... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Notes

The Land of Israel (Hebrew: אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, Masoretic: ʼẸretz Yiśrāēl, Hebrew Academy: Éreẓ Yisrael, Yiddish: ) is the divinely ordained and given territory by God as an eternal inheritance to the Jewish people. ... The Babylonian captivity, or Babylonian exile, is the name generally given to the deportation and exile of the Jews of the ancient Kingdom of Judah to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. ...

Citations

(Clockwise from upper left) Time magazine covers from May 7, 1945; July 25, 1969; December 31, 1999; September 14, 2001; and April 21, 2003. ... Lisa Beyer is a United States journalist. ... is the 82nd day of the year (83rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Malcolm Gladwell Malcolm Gladwell (born September 1, 1963) is a United Kingdom-born, Canadian-raised journalist now based in New York City who has been a staff writer for The New Yorker since 1996. ... is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... The Washington Post is the largest newspaper in Washington, D.C.. It is also one of the citys oldest papers, having been founded in 1877. ... is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ... The Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) is an international news agency serving Jewish community newspapers and media around the world. ... is the 28th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... The Deseret Morning News is a newspaper published in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Utahs oldest continually published daily newspaper. ... is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 90th day of the year (91st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... The Forward is a Jewish-American newspaper published in New York. ... is the 168th day of the year (169th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... The Jewish Telegraph is a Jewish Newspaper in Britain. ... is the 162nd day of the year (163rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April 8 is the 98th day of the year (99th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Yated Neeman (Hebrew: יתד נאמן) is a Hebrew language daily newspaper published in Israel. ... is the 194th day of the year (195th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... is the 82nd day of the year (83rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 336th day of the year (337th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... [[Media:Italic text]]{| style=float:right; |- | |- | |} is the 50th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 340th day of the year (341st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ...

References

• On the Spectrum of Messianic Belief in Contemporary Lubavitch Chassidism, David Berger
• Chabad and Messianism, Adam Dickter, Haddasah Magazine
• The Once and Future Messiah in Early Christianity and Chabad, Joel Marcus
• Dalfin, Chaim. Attack on Lubavitch: A Response, Jewish Enrichment Press, February 2002 (ISBN 1-880880-66-0)
• Fishkoff, Sue. The Rebbe's Army: Inside the World of Chabad-Lubavitch, Schocken, 2003 (ISBN 0-8052-4189-2)
• 2002 Irresponsible Slander, Prager, Dennis, Moment Magazine.
• The empty chair, Yediot Aharonot, Neta Sela, 02.12.07
• Lubavitcher Rebbe as a God Haaretz, Saul Sadka, 02.14.07
• Waiting for the Messiah of Eastern Parkway New York Times, Jonathan Mahler, 09.21.03
• Cuff 9 in rabbi row, Daily News^{[disambiguation needed]}, Melissa Grace 12.16.04^{[verification needed]}

Bergers most famous work David Berger is a professor of history at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, and a visiting professor at Yeshiva Universitys Bernard Revel Graduate School. ... Dennis Prager (born August 2, 1948) is an American syndicated radio talk show host, columnist, author, ethicist, and public speaker. ... Moment magazine is a popular non-sectarian, politically diverse, religiously inclusive bi-monthly Jewish publication produced in the United States. ... Yedioth Ahronoth (Hebrew: ידיעות אחרונות, meaning latest news) is a major daily Israeli newspaper, written in Hebrew. ... Haaretz (Hebrew: (help· info), The Land) is an Israeli newspaper, founded in 1919. ... The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ... Daily News is the name of two major newspapers in the United States: Los Angeles Daily News New York Daily News This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

Further reading

• The Jewish Messiahs: From the Galilee to Crown Heights, Harris Lenowitz, University of Utah, 2nd ed. (Oxford, 2001).
• Salvation or Destruction? The Meaning and Consequences of Lubavitch Messianism, Kraut, B., Shofar: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Jewish Studies - Volume 20, Number 4, Summer 2002, pp. 96-108.
• Jewish Messianism Lubavitch-Style - an interim report, William Shaffir, Jewish Journal of Sociology 35 (1993) 115-128.
• The Messiah Problem: Berger, the Angel and the Scandal of Reckless Indiscrimination, Rabbi Chaim Rapoport (Ilford, 2002)

External links

• Beis Moshiach Magazine, Chabad website
• Chabad.net, Messianist website
• Chabad.info, Messianist website including video clips
• A "Psak Din," or ruling in Jewish law, signed by over 200 Rabbis, stating that the Lubvicher Rebbe is the Messiah.
• Chabad and Moshiach