Expert: Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner - 10/29/2007

Question
Hello Rabbi Lerner,

I want to ask what is the Conservative Jewish position on the Messianic Age and the World to come?

I've been studying Orthodox Judaism for almost 4 years, and for the most part, it makes sense to me why their beliefs are that way, like seeing it as allegory, the result of their experiences and knowledge in the world, in response to historical events, etc.

But the part about the Messianic age and world to come, I don't quite understand, because form where I am seeing it, it seems that the idea of the Messiah was to re-establish the Kingdom of Israel under King David's descendents, but later on did it add it's quasi-supernatural elements.
World peace and other down to earth aspects I could understand, but the reality of it is that it takes everyone's constant effort and willingness to make peace in their minds as well, and no one would really accept a Global Monarchy.

I also don't quite understand the World to Come concept. Where no eating, sleeping, no envy or competition, pretty much nothing happens but to sit in crowns on their heads and bask in the divine presence. In a way it sounds a little similar to Nirvana, which some translates as nothingness, but it could mean beyond description because nothing of this world happens.

These are just some of the issues I have with the Orthodox opinions, I had a hard trying to make sense of it because some parts it seems they just accept without question but others it's just the best of their knowledge. I try asking, but after they knew my non-Jewish background, they just kept refering me to the Noachide community.

So I just want to ask are those two concepts also allegory as well or what's the conservative opinion?


Answer
Dear Daniel,

Thanks for writing.

The reality is that Conservative Jews don't have to explain or deal with the Orthodox opinions - that is their task.

Eschatology from a Conservative point of view is considerably simple, from my own point of view: we don't know what is going to happen and in what fashion. It is all
speculation and a very wide spectrum of thought.

Consider reading Rabbi Neil Gillman's "The Death of Death" and the new 2007 Encyclopedia Judaica for articles on the topics in which you are interested.

In short, the messianic expectation was for the exiled Jewish community to return and re-establish a united Jewish kingdom under a descendent of David. It was not the propheti speaking to 500 years later or more, the messianic idea that developed with Christianity.

Best wishes

Rabbi Dov