DVAR MALCHUS ONE
Law 4: Halacha Daled
Chezkas Moshiach and Moshiach Vadai — The Criteria
~10 min read
Section Six
Halacha Daled [Chapter 4]
Statement: Chezkas Moshiach
1) If a king arises to power from the kingdom of Dovid that: A) Studies Torah diligently and observes mitzvos (Torah commandments) according to the written and oral Torah. B) Compels all of the Yidden to go in the Torah’s ways. C) Repairs the breaches of Jewish observance. D) Fights the wars of Hashem. He gets the status of chezkas Moshiach.
Statement: Moshiach Vadai
If he then: Finishes winning the wars of Hashem. Builds the Beis Hamikdash in its place. Ingathers ALL the Yidden into Eretz Yisroel. He gets the status of Moshiach vadai and he will finish the job.
Question
Why does the Rambam seem to skip in this halacha and throughout the perek (chapter) about the WONDROUS other qualities of Moshiach, his level of chochma (wisdom), and nevuah (prophecy)?
Look at the Rambam’s criteria here. It’s all about what he does, not what he is. Why do you think the Rambam frames it that way?
The Rebbe’s Approach
Through answering these questions the Rebbe will show us how if we have a different understanding of the perek the whole perek will flow.
Final Introduction
Question 1: Why did the Rambam put Hilchos Melachim at the end of his sefer, if the Yidden are obligated in having a king right when they enter Eretz Yisroel, before Hilchos Korbanos etc.?
Question 2: Why is Hilchos Moshiach in the last two chapters of the entire book of the Rambam?
Q: So what is the Rambam actually doing in this halacha?
A: He’s not telling us a story about what Moshiach will do someday. He’s giving us a working definition. A real checklist. What does this person need to accomplish? What would disqualify him? At what point can we say: yes, this is him? The Rambam is writing criteria, the same way he defines what makes something kosher or what counts as Shabbos. Here he’s defining what counts as Moshiach.