Reply To: Clarification to mod and DaMoshe

Yb
“ There is no source whatsoever for this idea that we are meant to ‘look for candidates’ for M.
Nor is there any source that we should promote anyone’s ‘candidacy’.
This is totally HKBH’s job.”

Where is your source for this assertion? You know it’s actually pretty common among many frum Jews, or at least was, to dread Moshiach’s coming instead of eagerly anticipating it. This is not in line with Torah, to the best of my knowledge, in fact the Rambam has a harsh term for such a person.

If geula is real to you, and you eagerly anticipate Moshiach’s coming every day, you will be on the lookout for potential candidates as a natural result. I’ve been curious about the yanuka when I heard such rumors, and I’m always keeping an ear open for geula related news.

This would seem to be the natural Torah position (in addition to what’s already posted regarding the Rambam being a Halacha lmaase sefer).

Yes if a seeming candidate turns out to be a false call, then Rabbanim need to correct it. Shabsai tzvi ate chelev, pronounced the shem hameforesh, and converted to Islam. Obviously this isn’t Moshiach. But before that many Rabbanim went along with it. The Rambam also endorsed Bar koziva before he blasphemed. Then he retracted. Obviously yoshka was never considered seriously as Moshiach material. But when the yidden had hope, they went along with it enthusiastically.