Is It Emotionally Healthy to Feel Desperate for Moshiach? | Classic Take S2: 43

Summary

This episode delves into the emotional complexities of awaiting the Messiah (Mashiach) in Jewish tradition. It explores the challenge of maintaining hope and anticipation over centuries of delay, especially during times of persecution. The speaker emphasizes the balance between yearning for redemption and avoiding emotional distress, suggesting that instead of focusing on the pain of exile, individuals should look forward to the joy of the Messianic era. This hopeful outlook fosters emotional health, helping people stay spiritually engaged and motivated while anticipating the coming of Mashiach.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Jewish people's hope for the coming of the Messiah (Mashiach) has been a central part of their faith for thousands of years, symbolizing redemption from suffering.
• 😀 Waiting for the Messiah can be emotionally challenging, as prolonged anticipation for an unfulfilled desire can lead to feelings of despair and illness.
• 😀 Historical events like the Holocaust showed how belief in the Messiah’s coming sustained the Jewish people during their darkest times.
• 😀 In modern times, alternative ideologies such as communism and socialism shifted some people's hope away from a messianic figure towards political or social changes.
• 😀 The failure of many of these movements (like communism) to bring true redemption has led many to return to the belief in the Messiah as the ultimate source of salvation.
• 😀 Despite the world’s advancements and more freedom today, the belief in the Messiah’s coming has weakened, with some viewing it more as an abstract, evolving event rather than a literal figure.
• 😀 Some people now see the coming of the Messiah not as a physical figure but as part of a larger social or scientific evolution that will eventually bring peace and perfection to the world.
• 😀 A parable about a father hiding from his child illustrates the emotional experience of waiting for the Messiah, emphasizing that exile begins when we give up hope.
• 😀 The emotional balance between yearning for the Messiah and not losing hope is crucial—yearning can be painful but has the potential to hasten the Messiah's arrival.
• 😀 Two approaches to waiting for the Messiah are presented: one that focuses on yearning and another that focuses on joyful anticipation, with the latter being emotionally healthier and more empowering.

Q & A

Why has the Jewish belief in the coming of Mashiach evolved over the past few hundred years?

The Jewish belief in Mashiach has evolved due to social, political, and scientific advancements. Movements like communism promised salvation and societal change, leading some Jews to shift their hope from Mashiach to political and social ideologies. This shift diluted the traditional belief in a personal Mashiach figure who would bring physical redemption.

What emotional challenges are associated with waiting for Mashiach, according to the speaker?

The emotional challenge of waiting for Mashiach is the prolonged nature of the wait, which can lead to feelings of despair and emotional imbalance. The verse mentioned in the transcript suggests that waiting for something for too long without it materializing can make a person 'sick' or depressed.

What role did the belief in Mashiach play during the Holocaust?

During the Holocaust, many Jews clung to the belief in Mashiach as a source of hope. It gave them the strength to endure unimaginable suffering, and some even died with the song of faith in Mashiach on their lips, believing that all suffering was a means to an end and that Mashiach would eventually come to end their pain.

How did the rise of isms like communism impact Jewish faith in Mashiach?

The rise of isms such as communism, socialism, and others promised salvation through societal and political change. Many Jews, particularly during the rise of communism, began to view these movements as a form of 'messianic' change, replacing the traditional hope in Mashiach with faith in political revolution.

What is the emotional impact of pinning one's hopes too high on the arrival of Mashiach?

Pinning hopes too high on Mashiach's arrival can lead to emotional frustration or disillusionment. The fear of disappointment or feeling that one's hopes will be dashed can make a person hesitant to fully invest in the belief, as it is hard to continue waiting without seeing tangible results.

How does the speaker suggest balancing the hope for Mashiach with emotional health?

The speaker suggests adopting an approach that focuses not on the pain of exile, but on the joy and anticipation of redemption. Instead of yearning in pain, one should look forward to Mashiach with hope, joy, and optimism, which can be more empowering and healthier for emotional well-being.

What is the significance of the parable of the father hiding from the child in relation to Mashiach?

The parable of the father hiding from the child illustrates the idea of exile. In this metaphor, God (the father) conceals Himself from the Jewish people (the child), testing their perseverance. Exile isn't truly felt until the child gives up searching for the father, just as the true separation of God from the Jewish people is felt when they lose hope in the coming of Mashiach.

What does the speaker mean by the statement that 'exile begins when a person gives up hope'?

When a person gives up hope for Mashiach's arrival, they are essentially giving up on their connection to their destiny and the belief that redemption will come. This marks the point at which exile, or the spiritual separation from God, becomes more entrenched and difficult to overcome.

How does believing in the coming of Mashiach help hasten the redemption?

The belief in Mashiach and the active yearning for his arrival can hasten redemption by inspiring people to take action. When people truly believe that Mashiach will come, they engage more in prayers, actions, and efforts that align with the redemption process, which accelerates its arrival.

What is the emotional reward mentioned for those who wait for Mashiach, even if they do not live to see his arrival?

The emotional reward for those who wait for Mashiach, even if they do not live to see his arrival, is personal redemption in their own lives. By living with the anticipation of Mashiach's coming, they may experience a sense of personal liberation, fulfillment, and connection to something greater.