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RABBI ARTHUR SEGAL: BLUFFTON SUN: JEWISH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL: JUDAIC MESSIAH PEACE
JUDAIC MESSIAH WILL BRING UNIVERSAL PEACE
Shalom and Peace:
Being that it is December and we are still here despite the dire predictions based on the Mayan calendar, permit me to digress from our topics on Jewish Ethics and discuss Jewish eschatology. Eschatology is the area of theology concerned with the final events of the world and humanity. Note that I will discuss Judaism's view and not Hebraism's view, which has no eschatology. This difference marked a major split between the two religions circa 300 BCE to 70 CE. In 70 CE the Hebraic Temple was destroyed making Hebraic practice virtually impossible.
Judaism believes in a Messiah. He is a human leader, not Divine, descended from King David. He will bring universal peace. Weapons of war will be destroyed (Ez. 39:9). The dead will rise again (Is. 26:19). Judaism believes in bodily resurrection. The Messiah comes in a generation that is either altogether righteous or altogether wicked (Talmud Sanhedrin 92a). The Kabbalah states that the Messiah will arrive during the millennia between 6000 and 7000 on the Jewish calendar. (Zohar Va'yeira 119a). Today (12/2012) is year 5773. Jews should not try to figure out the day of the Messiah's coming. Jews must live as individuals each having the responsibility to bring about the Messianic age.
The sages say that if all Jews observe one Shabbat together, the Messiah will come. It is quipped that if all Jews agree to do anything together, the Messiah has arrived.
Judaism believes in an afterlife, Olam ha Ba. We are to live justly in this world. Judaism has a heaven, Paradise, called Gan Eden (Garden of Eden) and a hell (Gehenna). Unlike other religions, Judaism believes the righteous of any religion goes to Heaven (Sanhedrin 56). Souls go to Gehenna for purification. Every soul is there for no more than 11 months, with Shabbats off as a day of rest, and then migrates to Paradise. (Sanhedrin Ch. 11). Judaism's Messiah is not a personal Savior, God is.
The Kabbalah mentions reincarnation but reincarnation is not a Jewish belief.
Some sects of Judaism deny bodily resurrection, Olam Ha Ba, and a Messiah. The Talmud says all Jews have a share in it regardless of beliefs (San. 10.1). Judaism emphasizes behaviors. If one is planting a sapling, is told the Messiah has come, he finishes the planting, and then greets him (Avot R'Natan 31b). Judaism inspires people to find God, to repair the present world, and to honor the soul's immortality with consolation of a final reunion with loved ones with the Infinite God.
Rabbi Arthur Segal is an international lecturer, author, and teacher. Visit him at www.JewishSpiritualRenewal.org. Follow him on FaceBook at 'Arthur L Segal', on Twitter at RabbiASegal, or his blog at http://rabbiarthursegal.blogspot.com . Email at RabbiSegal@JewishSpiritualRenewal.net.
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