Question:
Does the Chabad movement’s belief that their late Rebbe is the Messiah contradict Jewish law? In my city, there are many adherents of Chabad’s messianic faction. Recently, they’ve even opened the “House of the Messiah” with his picture. I’d like to know if their belief conforms to Judaism. -- A surfer, Netanya
Answer:
Shalom.
Chabad’s messianic faction does appear to deviate from normative Jewish articles of belief.
Maimonides wrote that the great Rabbi Akiva initially believed that Bar Kochba was the Messiah. However, when Bar Kochba died, Rabbi Akiva realized his mistake. In other words, a dead person cannot be the Messiah.
We must wait for the true Messiah’s arrival in order to learn whom God will select.
(Rabbi Shmuel Slotki)
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