Fundamental Principle of Judaism
We can now appreciate why the belief in Moshiach is considered to be one of the fundamental beliefs of Judaism. To believe in a world that will not lead to the Messianic Era, is to believe that G-d’s plan will never come to fruition. That, of course, is a denial of G-d’ power.
It is therefore basic to Jewish belief that the world will ultimately come around to G-d’s stated desire that it become a “Dwelling place for Him.” Thus, the Talmud states that ”the world was created for Moshiach.” This means that the objective G-d had in initially creating the universe was that a person (Moshiach) will come and unleash the powers of the Jewish people, which would push the level of good “over the top” and usher in the Messianic Age.
From this vantage point, every time we do a mitzvah we make the world around us a bit more G-dly. In a limited sense that is what Moshiach and the Messianic Age is all about.
More specifically, Kabbalah speaks of the process that leads to Moshiach as the process of “Birurim,” or “Avodat Habirurim,” the service of refinement.
Kabbalah refers to the process of creation as a process that occurs in two (albeit simultaneous) stages. The first stage or world is called the “Wold of Tohu (Chaos).” The second (not in time but in level) is the world of Tikkun, correction or perfection.
In the world of Tohu the energies are intense and the vessels (or, instruments) are too “small” to contain that energy. As a result the vessels shatter and the powerful energy “falls” and becomes embedded in all the physical properties of our physical world. That intense energy is now captive within the confines of the physical world.
The second world of Tikkun, is a world wherein the energy level is moderate, but the vessels are extremely well designed to contain the energy. As a result, there is much more room for a harmonious blend of spiritual energies, allowing for much diversity. By contrast, in the world of Tohu, each and every level must stand by itself, because the intensity of Tohu is so great that if it would come in conflict with another level, equally strong, they would clash.
There are people whose souls are from this higher world of Tohu, and by nature they cannot coexist with those who have differing views. According to the Kabbalists the students of Rabbi Akiva – who perished in a plague that struck them during the period between passover and Shavuot, because they didn’t treat each other with respect – acted as they did because their souls were from the world of Tohu. Each one of them had such a powerful soul that he couldn’t coexist with another whose approach differed.
Now, every time we do a mitzvah, which involves a physical object, and is done in a specific location and at designated time by a person expending physical energy, they refine the sparks of holiness that are embedded in the physical aspects of the world. This means that the intense lights of Tohu that are confined within the physical world are liberated. The act of the mitzvah – since it occurs within the framework of the world of Tikkun, which has ample vessels, enables us not only to liberate this powerful energy, but also to guarantee hat it will be internalized within ourselves. This is what the process of Moshiach is all about – it is to generate the intense and transcendent lights of Tohu into the broad and ample vessels of Tikkun.
In simple, English this means that the process of Moshiach is to introduce a dimension of G-dly energy that is by nature too powerful for us to contain and yet, we will have the capacity to contain it and internalize it.
One final metaphor that is often used to describe the process of Moshiach is the following: When G-d created the world, as we have mentioned several times, His objective was to eventually have a dwelling place in the lowest spheres of existence, i.e., our physical existence. What we have been doing since the Torah was given at Mount Sinai was to build this Palace for G-d. Every Mitzvah we perform is like another brick. When enough Mitzvot are done, the palace is finally complete and G-d can feel comfortable moving in and making this world His dwelling.
Thus it is said of the Messianic Age that it will be characterized by the presence of G-d that will be felt by every living being. It is we through our efforts now that makes that happen. Moshiach is the Jewish leader whose leadership will “push us over the top” so to speak and perfect the palace and thereby usher in the Messianic Age.
This process actually begun at Sinai at which time G-d descended on Mount Sinai and revealed Himself to the world. It was as if He was saying to us: “This is what it will be like in the future Messianic Age when the world is ready for My presence. Now, I am giving you the Torah and Mitzvot. These are the instruments of bringing Me into the world in a overt way. The rest is history.
From the book Safe Kabbalah, Part Three: Journeys of the Soul by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg, published by the Jewish Discovery Center.
