Yearning for the Redemption
There are those who argue that our generation--with all its problems, weaknesses, and apathy--is not fit for Moshiach. How is it possible that our generation will be fit to see the revelations of the future redemption, revelations of such magnitude that the glorious and noble generations of the past did not merit to see? Is our generation better than the preceding ones?! Actually this itself is proof that now is the time for the revelation of Moshiach, as our Sages state: “Moshiach will come b’hesech hadaat” (Lit. “in a time of forgetfulness,”)--when we aren’t expecting him.
Our Sages speak not only about belief in Moshiach’s coming, but also of the importance of anticipating and yearning for his arrival. Maimonides, in his Thirteen Principles of Faith, emphasizes, “If he tarries, wait for him.” And, in fact, in the Ani Maamin prayer based on Maimonides’ Thirteen Principles it says, “Even though he tarries, I await his coming every day.”
At the outset of Maimonides’ discussion on Moshiach in his magnum opus, the Mishne Torah, he states: “Whoever does not believe in him, or does not await his coming, denies not only [the statements of] the other prophets, but also the Torah and of Moshe, our Teacher.”
The Talmud even states that one of the questions a person is asked on the Day of Judgement is, “Did you yearn for the Redemption?”
Thus, it is clear, that every Jew is actually required to yearn for the coming of Moshiach in addition to believing in him.
Awaiting the Redemption facilitates the proper belief in Moshiach, as well. For, we are not only enjoined to believe in Moshiach’s coming in general, or that Moshiach could come eventually, but to believe that he could come today. Thus, the concept of “to await” is appropriate because it shows that we believe not that he will arrive in some distant future, but here and now. True belief in Moshiach means believing that he can come today, and therefore awaiting his arrival today.
Yearning for the Redemption is also one of the principles that hastens the Redemption. The Midrash states that after the destruction of the Holy Temple, our forefather Isaac approached G-d and asked, “Master of the World! Why have you not returned the children?” G-d answered, “When there is a generation who yearns for My sovereignty, they will be redeemed immediately...”
Another Midrash states, “Even if the Jews have nothing in their hands [i.e. no other merits] but their hope, they can gain the Redemption in the merit of their hope.”
As the Chofetz Chaim expressed it so beautifully, “We ask for the Redemption so many times in the course of our daily prayers. But requests alone are not enough. We must demand the Redemption, like a worker demands his salary.”
