Waiting for Moshiach isn’t just a nice idea. It’s one of the 13 Principles of Faith — the Rambam’s 12th principle. That means it’s a core part of what every Jewish person is supposed to believe.
And the Gemara tells us that after a person passes away, one of the questions they are asked is: “Tzipisa liyeshua?” — “Did you await salvation?” Did you wait for Moshiach?
Why is waiting so important? Because waiting proves you actually believe.
Think about it: if Moshiach is truly going to bring the greatest good to the Jewish people, to all of humanity, and to Hashem’s presence in the world — then if you really believe that, you can’t help but ache for it.
And that yearning — that deep wanting — shows up in everything you do. Every mitzvah you do and every word of Torah you learn becomes infused with the hope that this is what will bring Moshiach today.
Here’s the key: yearning means believing Moshiach can come TODAY. Literally today. If you think “someday, eventually, maybe” — that’s not really belief. That’s just a theory.
🧠 Check Your Understanding
What does it mean to truly await Moshiach?
A. It’s a personal spiritual practice for people who want to deepen their faith — but it’s not required for everyone.
Not quite. According to the Rambam, awaiting Moshiach is the 12th of the 13 Principles of Faith — it’s a foundational belief for every single Jewish person, not just the especially devoted.
B. It’s a core part of Jewish faith — believing that Moshiach can come today, and letting that belief infuse every mitzvah and word of Torah. ✅
Exactly! Real belief in Moshiach means yearning for him to come now — not someday. It shows up in how you do every mitzvah and learn every word of Torah.
C. It’s mainly an internal belief — the stronger your emunah grows, the more the yearning will naturally follow on its own.
Close, but this misses something important. Yearning for Moshiach isn’t passive — it’s active. It expresses itself right now, in every mitzvah and Torah learning. You don’t wait for your belief to grow before you start yearning.
This is the kids’ version. Want to go deeper?
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