The Jewish Messiah — Redemption, Hope, and the Coming Era of Peace
The word Moshiach (משיח) means "anointed one" in Hebrew. In Jewish tradition, the Moshiach is a human leader — a descendant of King David — who will usher in the final Redemption of the Jewish people and all of humanity. This is not a supernatural being but a great human leader of extraordinary righteousness and wisdom.
The belief in Moshiach is one of the 13 Principles of Jewish Faith formulated by Maimonides (Rambam). The Rambam writes: "I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Moshiach, and even though he may delay, I will await him every day."
The concept of Moshiach represents the culmination of all of Jewish history: a time when the Jewish people will be gathered from exile, the Holy Temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem, peace will reign throughout the world, and all humanity will recognize G-d's sovereignty.
Jewish tradition describes various conditions that will precede or accompany the arrival of Moshiach. These are recorded in the Talmud, Midrash, and works of the great codifiers:
Chabad teaches that we should not passively wait for these signs, but actively hasten the redemption through acts of goodness, Torah study, and spreading awareness of G-dliness.
The Messianic Era, often called Olam HaBa (עוֹלָם הַבָּא, "the World to Come") or Yemot HaMoshiach ("the Days of Moshiach"), will be a time of unprecedented peace, wisdom, and divine revelation.
The Rambam describes the Messianic era in his Mishneh Torah: "In that era there will be neither famine nor war, neither jealousy nor strife... the occupation of the entire world will be solely to know G-d. Therefore, the Jews will be great sages and know the hidden things, and will attain an understanding of their Creator to the utmost human capacity."
Key features of the Messianic Era:
Among all Jewish movements, Chabad-Lubavitch is uniquely identified with the active anticipation and promotion of Moshiach's imminent coming. This emphasis goes back to the very roots of Chabad Chassidut and was powerfully amplified by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902–1994).
The Rebbe taught that we are living at the very cusp of the Redemption — that all the necessary spiritual preparations have been made, and Moshiach is literally ready to come. The Rebbe called upon every Jew to:
The Rebbe identified "spreading the wellsprings of Chassidut outward" — reaching every Jew wherever they are — as the direct preparation for Moshiach's arrival.
Following the Rebbe's stroke in 1992 and his passing in 1994, a significant debate emerged within the Chabad world regarding the Rebbe's own identity as Moshiach.
The phrase "Yechi Adonenu Morenu veRabbeinu Melech HaMoshiach LeOlam Va'ed" (יְחִי אֲדוֹנֵנוּ מוֹרֵנוּ וְרַבֵּנוּ מֶלֶךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד) — "Long live our Master, Teacher, and Rebbe, King Moshiach forever and ever" — was proclaimed during the Rebbe's lifetime, and the Rebbe did not silence those who chanted it.
A significant number of Chabad chassidim — often called Meshichistim — continue to believe and assert that the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, is the Moshiach, and that his passing does not preclude his being revealed as such.
The mainstream Chabad position holds that the Rebbe is the most fitting candidate for Moshiach of his generation, that the Rebbe's mission continues through his teachings and his shluchim (emissaries), and that the ultimate question of Moshiach's identity will be clarified when Moshiach actually arrives. What all Chabad chassidim share is an unshakeable conviction that Moshiach's arrival is imminent.
"Moshiach" (משיח) is Hebrew for "anointed one." In ancient Israel, kings and high priests were anointed with oil as part of their inauguration. The Moshiach will be a king from the dynasty of David, anointed to lead the Jewish people into the final Redemption.
Yes. Belief in the coming of Moshiach is one of the 13 Principles of Jewish Faith as enumerated by Maimonides (Rambam). The Rambam rules that anyone who does not believe in Moshiach denies the entire Torah and the teachings of Moses.
Jewish tradition teaches that the exact time of Moshiach's arrival is unknown — it depends on our collective merits and readiness. The Talmud states that Moshiach will come when Jews either are fully righteous or fully deserving of redemption. Chabad teaches that all the spiritual preparations are complete and Moshiach can come at any moment.
The Rambam describes it as a time of universal peace, Torah study, and knowledge of G-d. There will be no famine, war, jealousy, or strife. The Temple will be rebuilt, Jews will live securely in Israel, and eventually all humanity will recognize Divine sovereignty. Physical life will continue — it will simply be elevated and perfected.
The Rebbe never explicitly declared himself Moshiach. However, in the early 1990s, many of his closest disciples began publicly declaring him as such, and the Rebbe did not stop them. He consistently taught that his generation was on the threshold of Redemption. The question of the Rebbe's Moshiach identity remains a point of divergence within Chabad.
Chabad operates on the principle that every act of goodness, Torah study, and mitzvah performance hastens the Redemption. The Rebbe's global network of over 5,000 Chabad Houses serves to reach every Jew on earth — fulfilling the directive to "spread the wellsprings outward," which the Alter Rebbe identified as the direct preparation for Moshiach.
The Rebbe taught: "When you help another Jew study Torah, it is as if you studied it yourself."
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