@CS
DID A JEWISH COMMUNITY ANYTIME , ANYWHERE IN AN ORGANIZED FASHION LOOK FOR CANDIDATES FOR MASHIACH AND SUBSEQUENTLY DECIDE ON THE WINNER ,BASED ON POPULAR ACCLAIM ?”
No idea. Was Yinon shmo by his students, a way of promoting? And the other yeshivos as well? Or they all happened to promote the name of their Rebbi by coincidence? I don’t think it’s about a popularity contest btw. Rather, Moshiach belongs to all yidden so once his identity is revealed, we want to share how to bring about the full Geula by following his world view, with our fellow Jews. Many times the Moshiach campaign just means to educate people on what the era is about, and how to prepare, without focusing on a candidate.
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1] WITHOUT FOCUSING ON A CANDIDATE…. [CS]
Quite innocent.
The lack of focus on a candidate [in those instances] . Is that because of the name of the candidate is irrelevant ? Or , rather is that merely a preparation as a more smooth way of inserting the name of THE candidate in a later stage ??
Which one of those two options is closer to the truth ??
2] It is clear that this gemara which is discussing the names of mashiach is doing so in a theoretical manner .
IF min hahaim . IF min hameitim etc.
Not in a PRACTICAL way as R’A and bar kochba.
Or in Shabatai Tsvi [shr’y]
Or in neo habad end 20th Century.
There is NO MENTION of ‘promotion’ of any kind whatsoever. Just a note of a discussion in the Bet HaMedrash.
Outside of the Bet HaMedrash there was no knowledge of this at all.
.