messiah

• Messiah


  A special person who brings an age of peace
• Messiah's arrival


  Signals the end of the world
• Some Jews pray for the arrival of the messiah
• Some Jews are more concerned with living a life according to the mitzvot
• Messiah


  Comes from the Hebrew word 'massiah' which means 'anointed'
• Anointed


  Having oil poured on your head, showing you were specifically chosen by God for a purpose or special mission
• Jews believe the messiah is the anointed, specially chosen one who will bring about the messianic age
• Messianic age


  • Rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem
  • Time of peace, no war, no poverty
• Reform Jews


  More liberal, see the Torah as adaptable to modern times, take a more metaphorical or message-based view
• Orthodox Jews


  More strict, see the Torah as the absolute word of God to be followed exactly as stated, take a more literal or fact-based view
• Orthodox view of the messiah

  • Actual person
  • Will rule from Jerusalem
  • Will rebuild the temple in Jerusalem
  • Will be born from the line of Abraham and David
  • Will be a just and fair ruler
  • Will bring about an age of peace
• Rabbi Maimonides: 'The messiah will be an actual person'
• Book of Samuel: 'God promised an eternal kingdom from the line of David'
• Book of Micah: 'Nation will not take up sword against nation, there will be no fighting during the messianic age'
• Book of Isaiah: 'The messiah will be called a wonderful counselor, a mighty God, everlasting father, and a prince of peace'
• Reform view of the messiah

  • Not an actual person
  • Messianic age rather than a person
  • Brought about by Jews following the mitzvot
• Book of Isaiah: 'A time when a wolf will live with the lamb, enemies will become friends, a time of peace'
• Book of Micah: 'Nation will not take up sword against nation, referring to the messianic age not a person'
• Jesus of Nazareth would be considered a false messiah by Jews because he did not bring about the age of peace and he suffered and died
• Mitzvot


  • Ten Commandments
  • Kosher laws
• Reform Jews


  Believe following the mitzvot will help bring about the messianic age
• Orthodox Jews


  Believe God has a set time for the messiah's arrival, so they need to pray and live good lives and wait for the messiah to arrive and improve the world