Judaism is ultimately based on the belief that the world can and must be perfected (Tikun Olam). At some point, life will triumph over its enemies: war, oppression, hunger, poverty, disease, and even death. When this is achieved, humanity will reach the full potential to which human dignity can aspire. In that messianic era, the world will become a paradise and all human beings will be recognized and treated as someone created in the image of God. In a world of justice and peace, with all material needs met, men will be able to freely establish a harmonious relationship with nature, with each other, and with God.

The Jewish tradition has dreams but no illusions. It knows well that at this moment the world is far from being a Garden of Eden. Tikun Olam, the perfecting of the world, is a declaration of faith and hope. The Torah sets this goal for us as worthy of human effort, to be achieved throughout the course of history. This ideal state will not come to us through a miraculous act of divine origin. Our sages maintain that God chose a partner for this work. That partner is man. This final goal will be achieved only with his participation. The entire process of transformation will take place on a human scale and not through supernatural beings. And it will be achieved step by step. The perfection of the world will depend on this endless chain of human efforts. The Encyclopaedia Judaica defines the Messiah as Hamelej Hamashiaj, the Anointed King (melej = king and anointing is pouring oil on a person, to denote the character of his dignity) who would be a charismatic descendant of the house of King David, and who the Jews of the time of Roman rule believed would be created by God to free them from their yoke, and then restore the Kingdom of Israel, to which all Jews from exile would return.

Progressive movements within Judaism interpret the concept of Messiah as an ideal to be achieved. Orthodoxy maintains that he will be a man. The difference between the messianic dream and waiting for the Messiah of flesh and blood is enormous. The first is conceived as an effort of man over time. The second implies sitting and waiting for divinity to send us a redeemer. We have had men who have claimed to be the Messiah, such as Shabetai Zvi (17th century), who turned out to be a fiasco. Those who await the Messiah of flesh and blood consider the creation of the State of Israel as an aberration. These groups are the ones who claim to be the true “defenders” of Judaism and do not realize the positive impact that the State of Israel has had on the Jewish people.

We must all bring the “Messiah” with our own works and not wait for someone to send him to us. That is the bottom line in Judaism

By Marcos Gojman

Bibliography: The Jewish Way by Rabbi Irving Greenberg and the Encyclopaedia Judaica.