Moshiach Myths and Misconceptions

Rabbi Simon Jacobson's presentation was moving and informative; he brings humanity, and sanity, to an area often captured, especially in Christianity, by fear and hate. To bring Light into that darkness is a redeeming deed in itself.. Simon Jacobson is someone I would like to meet and talk over these matters with.. However, I too think something deep was left out. The End Time will certainly be 'adult', not childlike, in its new Sacred Garden and Holy City. But more profoundly, the Mashiach in the 4 Slave Songs of Isaiah pays a cost for redeeming, not only a Sacrifice but a Reversal, that the Rabbinical account ignores. Thus, Salvation differs from Redemption. God 'does' both, and we cooperate with both, but the deed of Redeeming is costlier, and the process of Redeeming is stranger, in the deeps of the human heart, and in the deeps of the world process. Salvation is mind and soul, but Redemption is heart and spirit. Saving takes us out of, redeeming throws us in, and brings us through.

Thank you Rabbi for doing so well what Jews should do....teach us non-Jews about things which are G-d's. May HaShem's blessing be upon you as you continue to teach us.

Tremendously well treated. My interest was part academic and part casual query. You easily influenced my third and sadly rarely satisfied quest for greater meaning and understanding. For that delight, I thank you greatly.
Live long and prosper : )

Fantastic! I saw this posted on facebook as an answer to a question and gave the link a click. I appreciate your rationality and sensible explanation. May you continue to teach us good things.

I learn by listening and adding to my understanding who I and others are.

Thank you for adding to this.

Expressed beautifully!

This meassage has to be spread widely!

Mashiach Now!!!

Simply Brilliant! With such humility and sincerity!

Rivkah Bergman

All very nice, but I think you might have overlooked something. From a pragmatic point of view (rather than mystical), the story of the garden of Eden is the story of childhood - everything is provided for and you don't have a worry in the world. Then you get married and things become less rosy - you are on your own in a grown up world and you have to work for it - like the world has always been.
From that point of view, you have to differentiate between a messianic world that is equivalent to going back to childhood and a messianic world that is a grown-up messianic world - you don't want to go back to childhood, as that would be regressing, rather than progress.
That said, the major difference between atheists and believers is actually the notion of agency. One all pervading essence doesn't necessarily have 'agency' even if it is an all pervading essence.

Seems to me this is a great motivational and inspiring retoric, but spends very little time actually describing, according to Torah, whom the Messiah is and how he will be regarded at first and later on. Yeshaayahu or Isaiah Chapt 53 paints a pretty vivid picture. Read it for yourself. May Moshiach come in our lifetime. Shalom

Thank you Rabbi Jacobson for a well thought out and concise Lecture on Moshiach!