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A comprehensive, inspiring and fascinating discovery of what Jews believe about the Messiah—and why you might believe in the Messiah, too.
"The conviction that the Messiah is coming is a promise of meaning. It is a source of consolation. It is a wellspring of creativity. It is a reconciliation between what is and what should be. And it is perhaps our most powerful statement of faith—in God, in humanity and in ourselves."
—from Chapter 1, "The Messiah Is Coming!"
The coming of the Messiah—the promise of redemption—is among Judaism's gifts to the world. But it is a gift about which the world knows so little. It has been overshadowed by Christian belief and teaching, and as a result its Jewish significance has been all but lost. To further complicate matters, Jewish messianic teaching is enthralling, compelling, challenging, exhilarating—yet, up until now, woefully inaccessible. This book will change that.
Rabbi Elaine Rose Glickman brings together, and to life, this three-thousand-year-old tradition as never before. Rather than simply reviewing the vast body of Jewish messianic literature, she explores an astonishing range of primary and secondary sources, explaining in an informative yet inspirational way these teachings' significance for Jews of the past—and infuses them with new meaning for the modern reader, both Jewish and non-Jewish.
"Points the way to a postmodern revival of messianic belief that is smart, daring, hopeful, balanced and brimming with humanity.... Deserves to be widely read and discussed by serious Jews of all ages and affiliations."
—Rabbi Nehemia Polen, PhD, professor of Jewish thought, Hebrew College
"A comprehensive, highly readable treatment of a subject of perennial interest to Jews and Christians. Both edifies and inspires."
—Rabbi Edward A. Goldman, Israel and Ida G. Bettan Professor Emeritus of Midrash and Homiletics, HUC–JIR
“Teems with life-affirming vitality and hope.... Liberal and secular Jews have long been hesitant to talk about the concept of Messiah in Judaism, but Rabbi Glickman teaches us how, and that alone is redemptive.”
—Rabbi ZoË Klein, senior rabbi, Temple Isaiah, Los Angeles, California; author, Drawing in the Dust and The Scroll of Anatiya
“Indispensable.... [This] well-researched work balanced by modern sensibilities makes for an engaging study of the Messiah for people of all faiths and no faith.”
—Rabbi David Lyon, Congregation Beth Israel, Houston, Texas; author, God of Me: Imagining God throughout Your Lifetime
“Drawing on Rabbi Glickman's well-ordered knowledge of the subject ... quickly moves beyond the historical or theological and into the spiritual. Shows how every Jew has a stake in the Messiah's coming.”
—Rabbi David Rosen, Congregation Beth Yeshurun, Houston, Texas
“The world cries out not for mere messianic fantasies but for hard labor by us all to birth some fundamental changes. Rabbi Glickman’s book can help Jews know how to join fruitfully in that birthing.”
—Rabbi Arthur Waskow, director, The Shalom Center; coauthor, Freedom Journeys: The Tale of Exodus & Wilderness across Millennia
“Reminds us of the rich Jewish history of belief in the Messiah and the messianic. Through a compelling narrative we are encouraged to remember things will get better than this. Educates and inspires in a time when we sorely need both.”
—Rabbi Edwin Goldberg, DHL, incoming senior rabbi, Temple Sholom, Chicago, Illinois; author, Saying No and Letting Go: Jewish Wisdom on Making Room for What Matters Most
Foreword ix
Preface xi
Introduction xv
Chapter One
The Messiah Is Coming! 1
Where Is the Messiah Now? 2
When Will the Messiah Come? 4
Can We Make the Messiah Come Faster? 7
How Will the Messiah Appear? 10
Has the Messiah Been Revealed Before? 13
How Can We Recognize the True Messiah? 16
Chapter Two
The Messiah Will Rule Over Israel 19
What Does "Messiah" Mean? 20
Why Must the Messiah Be Descended
from King David? 22
Why Do Messianic Hopes Focus on Israel? 25
What Is the "Ingathering of the Exiles"? 27
What Is the Relationship between
the State of Israel and the Messiah? 30
How Did the Messiah Become Associated
with Supernatural Elements? 33
Chapter Three
The Messiah Is a Warrior 37
What Will the World Be Like Just Before
the Messiah Comes? 38
What Is Apocalyptic Literature? 41
Against Whom Will the Messiah Go to War? 44
Who Is the Messiah ben Joseph? 47
Who Is Hephzibah? 50
How Will the Messiah Triumph? 52
Chapter Four
The Messiah Will Change Everything 57
How Will the Natural World Be Different
in the Days of the Messiah? 58
What Will People Be Like in the Messianic Age? 61
What Will Society Be Like in the Messianic Age? 64
When the Messiah Is Here, How Will
Judaism Be Practiced? 66
What Is the Resurrection of the Dead? 70
What Is the Feast of the Righteous? 72
Chapter Five
The Messiah Will Establish God's Dominion 77
Who Is Elijah? 78
What Is the Role of the Shofar? 81
Will the Wicked Be Brought to Justice
in the Messianic Age? 84
Will Everyone Be Jewish in the Days of the Messiah? 87
How Will We Relate to God in the Messianic Age? 89
What Is the Connection between Individual
and Communal Redemption? 92
Chapter Six
The Messiah Is Us 97
Who Is the "Suffering Servant"? 98
What Is the Role of the Messiah in Hasidic Judaism? 101
Who Is Rabbi Schneerson? 104
What Did Classical Reform Judaism Teach
about the Messiah? 107
What Does Modern Liberal Judaism Teach
about the Messiah? 110
Can We Experience the Messiah? 113
Author's Note 117
Notes 119
Suggestions for Further Reading 143
Index 148