In Each Generation, a Mashiach Learns Among the Children
“תרעו אל ובנביאי במשיחי תגעו אל”
According to the simple meaning, the passuk is referring to our ancestors, Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov - that Hashem did not allow the residents of the Land to touch them. The Radak explains (Divrei Hayamim I 16:22) that the Avos are called meshichai because they were as important and respected as kings that are anointed (mashu’ach) with oil. But Chazal explain (Shabbos 119b) that the word “meshichai” refers to the tinnokos shel bais rabban, the children, and the passuk warns not to touch them, because it is in the merit of the breath of their mouths that the world is sustained.
Rashi (ibid ad loc. Bimeshichai) explains why these children are called meshichai. It is because they would often anoint the children with oil. But Rav Yoshiyahu Pinto, in the commentary of the Rif on Ein Yaakov (ibid) explains that the tinnokos shel beis rabban are called “meshichai” from the term שיח שפתיים, that because they do not properly understand what they are learning, all they have is the movement of their lips.
In the times of Harav Chaim Soloveichik, a number of residents of Brisk wanted to institute changes in the learning in the cheder in the town. When they presented their plans to the Rav, he replied:
The early sages revealed to us that in every generation, a person who is worthy of being Mashiach is born, and if his generation merits, then he is revealed, and if not, he is not revealed. We can derive form this that in every generation, in one of the talmudei Torah, there is a child walking together with his friends and peers, and he may be revealed as Mashaich. In a “fixed” cheder like you are suggestion, Mashiach cannot learn! Therefore, I firmly oppose your plans.
Harav Chaim then wittily explained based on this the reason why the passuk calls the children “meshichai”: Because in each generation there is among these tashb”ar someone who is worthy of being mashiach, the passuk warns “al tigu bemeshichai” – do not touch the way of chinuch of the tashb”ar! Because in order for Mashiach to be able to grow among the walls of the Talmud Torah, he has to do everything al taharas hakodesh, without any foreign intervention or influence, even one that according to halachah does not seem to have any problem. (Harav MiBrisk, Vol. I, p. 239)
