RESPECTING OUR LEADERS L’ASID LAVO

Who’s Who in the Times of Moshiach • Part IV • We now have to address the obvious resulting question: If Moshiach will be the Nasi and Melech, what will be the role of all previous Jewish leaders and kings that will be resurrected in the times of Moshiach?

Dear Reader sh’yichyeh,

In a previous article entitled “Who will be Moshiach’s vice president?” we explained at length that Moshiach will have two main functions: 1. He will be a Nasi who will teach Torah to all the Jewish people; and 2. He will be the Melech (king) of the Jewish people.

We now have to address the obvious resulting question: If Moshiach will be the Nasi and Melech, what will be the role of all previous Jewish leaders and kings that will be resurrected in the times of Moshiach?

The Rebbe addressed the first part of the question in a sicha (Parshas Pinchas 5745):

“Concerning the nesius (leadership)…beginning with the first leader, Moshe Rabbeinu, as well as all the other Jewish leaders throughout the generations, up to [and including] my father-in-law, the Rebbe Nasi Doreinu, the question arises: what will their leadership be like after the coming of Moshiach Tzidkeinu, when “Dovid, My servant, will be their leader forever?” For example, regarding Moshe Rabbeinu, the first leader, what will his leadership be like when the nasi will be Moshiach Tzidkeinu of the seed of Dovid, from the tribe of Yehuda, given that Moshe Rabbeinu is from the tribe of Levi?

“It goes without saying that the coming of Moshiach will not cause them to slip from their respective spiritual rungs; on the contrary, his coming will upgrade the spiritual status of all things and all people, including these leaders as well.

“In evidence of this, the Sages teach that in the future Moshe Rabbeinu will come to the Land of Israel ‘at the head of the people’ – at the head of the generation of the wilderness – i.e., as the nasi and shepherd of the Jewish people.”

From the above it is clear that the previous Jewish leaders will fill a significant role in times of Moshiach. They will be the ones that connect their students and followers to Moshiach.

Yet the above only answers the question regarding previous Jewish leaders. Regarding Jewish Kings, the Talmud (Chullin 60b) writes that “There can not be two kings with one crown.” If so, what will be the role of the previous kings in the time of Moshiach?

The Avnei Neizer (Orach Chaim 391:6) answers the above question based on a ruling of the Rambam. The Rambam (Hilchos Sanhedrin 17:9) writes: “When, by contrast, the head of the academy transgresses, he is given lashes in the presence of a court of three, but does not return to his position of authority. He also is not reinstated as one of the other judges of the Sanhedrin. The rationale is that we ascend higher in matters of holiness, and do not descend.”

This reasoning, says the Avnei Neizer, applies to previous kings in the time of the geula as well. Nevertheless, although they won’t be active as kings, the masses will be obligated to show them respect. They will still maintain their halachic status as a king, and they must be treated accordingly.

The Eitz Yosef proves the above point based on the following Gemara:

The Gemara (P’sachim 119b) describes: R. Avira lectured… “The Holy One, blessed be He, will make a great banquet for the righteous on the day He manifests [yigmol] His love for the seed of Yitzchak.

“After they have eaten and drunk, the cup of Birkas HaMazon will be offered to our father Avraham that he should recite Birkas HaMazon, but he will answer them, ‘I cannot say Birkas HaMazon because Yishmoel issued from me.’

“Then Yitzchak will be asked, ‘Take it and say Birkas HaMazon.’ ‘I cannot say Birkas HaMazon,’ he will reply, ‘because Eisav issued from me.’

“Then Yaakov will be asked, ‘Take it and say Birkas HaMazon.’ ‘I cannot say Birkas HaMazon,’ he will reply. ‘I married two sisters during [both] their lifetimes, whereas the Torah was destined to forbid them to me.’

“Then Moshe will be asked, ‘Take it and say Birkas HaMazon.’ ‘I cannot say Birkas HaMazon, because I was not privileged to enter Eretz Yisroel either in life or in death.’

“Then Yehoshua will be asked, ‘Take it and say Birkas HaMazon.’ ‘I cannot say Birkas HaMazon,’ he will reply, ‘because I was not privileged to have a son…’

“Then David will be asked, ‘Take it and say Birkas HaMazon.’ ‘I will say Birkas HaMazon, and it is fitting for me to say Birkas HaMazon,’ he will reply, as it is said, ‘I will lift up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of Hashem.’”

Why will Dovid be asked? Because he is a king, and one must respect a king, even in the times of Moshiach.

It is interesting to note as well that according to many commentaries (Tzemach Tzedek, Ohr HaTorah Mikeitz page 682 and Sichos VaYishlach and VaYechi 5752) it seems that when the Gemara states David’s name, it refers to “David Malka Meshicha” – Moshiach Tzidkeinu.

Rabbi Avtzon is the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Lubavitch Cincinnati and a well sought after speaker and lecturer. Recordings of his in-depth shiurim on Inyanei Geula u’Moshiach can be accessed at http://www.ylcrecording.com. Weekly shiurim on Moshiach topics given by Rabbi Avtzon can be viewed at chabad.info.