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by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg

Problems concerning the acceptance of Moshiach can be divided into the following categories: Emotional, Theological, and Philosophical.

The Emotional Problems: The "emotional" fears are those which are usually couched in intellectual terms, but are basically not different from any other anxiety or fear, which is based on entirely irrational premises. The intellectual formulations of these questions are mere rationalizations.

Very often the question is not a question, but an answer, an excuse for one's own inadequacies. The question might be the guilty person's way of assuaging his guilt at not having the same degree of faith as those whom he is challenging.

As one great Rabbi put it, "I can answer a question, but I cannot answer an answer." As with other classical phobias and emotional problems people have, the answer is to work hard at overcoming them, primarily by recognizing them for what they are: irrational fears, which can and must be overcome.

The Theological Problems: The theological concerns about Moshiach in the minds of those who harbor them are the pronouncements about Moshiach and his imminent arrival which appear to contradict the values and beliefs of Judaism.

In some instances, for example they are based on the questioners' understanding of a passage in the Torah or Talmud. In other instances it is a certain aspect of Moshiach which jars their religious sensibilities.

These misgivings can be directed either against the very notion of Moshiach, or the specific aspects of Moshiach which have been advanced by the Rebbe in recent times. The challenges expressed frequently range from the ones we hear from ill-informed Jews such as, "Isn't Moshiach a non-Jewish belief?" to the quasi-sophisticated argument expressed by so-called Torah scholars that the Talmud counsels against doing anything to hasten the coming of Moshiach.

Some of the theological questions refer to the apparent inconsistencies or contradictions concerning the nature of the belief in Moshiach. It should also be noted that many of the questions have been expressed from people who come from totally diverse backgrounds in terms of their Jewish education and commitment.

The Philosophical Problems: The "philosophical" concerns are not rooted in religious doctrine, Torah passages, or religious sensibilities, but in the individual's senses of what is proper and what is not. Usually, there questions come from those who do not know enough or do not care enough about authoritative sources, and find it difficult to accept something that is at odds with their philosophy of life and their general sensibilities.

Included in this category is the distaste for the restoration of the monarchy and sacrifices as well as the danger some perceive in the reliance on Moshiach to solve all of our problems.

It is not a religious doctrine or Torah quotation which they cite and, therefore, it is important to know that the response must be on what will help make the concept of Moshiach, with all of its ramifications, palatable to those who do not yet accept the Torah as the definitive guide in determining what is right and what is wrong.

It is not always easy to distinguish between a "theological" problem and a "philosophical" one. Frequently, a question asked by one individual can be of the former group, and the same question, posed by another of the latter category.

The difference lies in the questioner's set of values. In both instances the question is based on gross misconceptions and ignorance. However, for the one who attempts to answer the question, it is important that s/he address the individual's primary concern. For the "theological" questioner you must cite a source, chapter and verse; whereas for the "philosophical" questioner, you must speak logic, or better yet, you must reorient this individual by introducing him to the basics of Jewish thought.

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