What is Moshiach (pronounced moe-shee-ah-chk)?

According to Judaism, Moshiach is a man, descended from King David, through his son, Solomon who leads and then completes the process of universal Geula (redemption) – when this world becomes a place where suffering, war and jealousy cease to exist, a world of physical and spiritual peace and prosperity, permeated with the awareness and knowledge of G-d (MIshneh Torah, “Laws of Kings, ” 12:5).

Moshiach is a scholar who has unsurpassed expertise in all the areas of the written and oral Torah.  “Beyond the book learning, Maimonides writes that the wisdom of Moshiach will actually surpass that of King Solomon, his ancestor, whose exceptional genius is famous even today.” *

Moshiach is a tzadik, a truly humble righteous person, who fulfills the 613 mitzvos of the Torah.

Moshiach is a leader who “views communal and individual needs as equally important, seeking to improve both the material and spiritual well being of the generation.”*

Moshiach is a prophet who receives messages from Hashem (G-d) and relays them as instructed. He is able to predict unforeseeable future events in detail.

Moshiach is a king.   A king, according to Judaism, must be exceedingly humble at all times and conform to all the laws of both the written and oral Torah.  He has no self interest in his directives, but rules out of love and concern for the people.  The king shows and acts out of deep love, concern, warmth and devotion to the people in deference to the Creator.

According to Rabbi Chaim Vital, an authoritative Kabbalist of the 1500’s, “King Moshiach is certainly a human tzadik (completely righteous person ) born to human parents.  One day, though when his accumulated righteousness achieves great magnitude through his virtuous deeds, he will merit to receive the soul of Moshiach.  On this day , the time of the End (of Exile), the soul of Moshiach will descend from the Garden of Eden and go into body of this tzadik.  He thereby merits to be the Redeemer.” (Arba Meios Shekel Kesef, p.68)

Moshiach can come from the living or dead.

As, Kabbalist, Rabbi Chaim Vital further states :

“Just as we find that our master, Moses ascended to heaven, body and soul, and remained there for forty days… similarly, Moshiach will, through the help of the Almighty, merit to attain that lofty soul.  He will then realize that he is in fact Moshiach, although no one else will be aware of this.  This is the secret to which the Sahara alludes, ‘Moshiach will be revealed, yet no one will perceive him.’

“Shortly there afterwards, Moshiach will be hidden away, body and soul…

“Moshiach will thereupon rise up to heaven just as Moshe ascended to the firmament, and will subsequently be revealed completely for all to see.” (Arbas Meios Shekel Kesef)

The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, has patrilineal descent from Rabbi Yehuda Loewe of Prague, and all the way back to King Solomon and his father, King David, of the tribe of Yehudah.

According to my understanding, the Rebbe fulfills all the requirements of Moshiach as stated in Jewish law.

*Living in the Age of Moshiach by Arnie Gotfryd, Ph.D.