Page 40 - HaMizrachi Tisha B'av 5782 USA

The Messianic Process

of Modern Israel:

Dr. Pinchas The 3 Stages of Shaul,
Polonsky
David and Shlomo

1 TRADITIONAL JEWISH MESSIANISM:

THE CHALLENGE OF OUR TIME

s Maimonides put it, we will leading Jewish thinkers and the found- way for Mashiach ben David. Rav Kook’s
only be able to grasp the mes- ers of Religious Zionism. At the end of the understanding of the messianic process
sianic process fully when we eighteenth century, Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna, has become the standard view of main-
Aactually experience it first- the Vilna Gaon, taught that Mashiach ben stream Religious Zionism.
hand. It is not surprising, therefore, that Yosef does not refer to a particular person
throughout Jewish history there has been but rather an epoch, a time of change. In Today, almost 90 years after Rav Kook’s
a continuous reinterpretation and refine- the mid-nineteenth century, Rabbi Zvi passing, we must reevaluate his under-
ment of messianic concepts. Hirsch Kalischer contended that the mes- standing of redemption. Secular Zionism
has successfully achieved the goals of nor-
According to traditional Jewish sources, sianic era was not the end of days, but a malizing and protecting the Jewish people
the redemption will unfold in two distinct part of ongoing human history – and that through the establishment and success of
phases linked to two messiahs, Mashiach the Jewish people were responsible for the modern State of Israel. According to
ben Yosef (the Mashiach the son of Yosef) bringing the messiah themselves. Rav Kook’s two-phase model of messianic
and Mashiach ben David (the Mashiach the In the early twentieth century, Rabbi philosophy, it is now time for secular Zion-
son of David). Mashiach ben Yosef will put Avraham Yitzchak Kook identified the ism – the modern manifestation of Mashi-
in place the material conditions for the secular Zionist movement with Mashiach ach ben Yosef – to “die” and be replaced by
redemption, after which he will “die” ben Yosef. The goal of secular Zionism was Mashiach ben David. Unfortunately, there is
and be replaced by Mashiach ben David, to normalize the Jewish people by estab- still no sign of him; no political or social
who will bring the process of redemption lishing and then protecting a sovereign movement in modern Israel could plau-
to fruition. According to this traditional Jewish nation like other nations. This goal sibly be identified as Mashiach ben David.
approach, the Mashiach will arrive at a was similar to that of King Shaul, the first
particular moment in the future, without Jewish king and archetypical Mashiach ben How should we perceive our own gen-
distinct stages. eration? Which phase of the messianic
Yosef figure. Just as King Shaul’s role was
Over the last 250 years, the redemption to prepare the way for the coming of King process are we currently living through?
and the two messiahs were reassessed by David, secular Zionism would prepare the

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