Some Chabad chassidim teach that the Lubavitcher Rebbe is the Messiah.
But the claim does not begin with a slogan. It begins with Torah sources that explain:
The leader of the generation will be the Messiah, and the Messiah can be revealed at any moment when enough ‘return to relationship with The Creator’ (Teshuvah) happens.
So once Lubavitch chassidim accepted the Rebbe as the leader of the generation, some drew the next conclusion:
The Rebbe is Mashiach.
But this also has to be said:
Rambam teaches we cannot be 100 percent certain a leader is Mashiach until he builds the Third Temple. So this should be discussed with humility.
Others avoid teaching that publicly, because the Rebbe opposed campaigns that create division or hateful anger.
But both begin with the same belief:
The Rebbe is the leader of the generation.
What did the Rebbe say about greeting Mashiach?
The Lubavitcher Rebbe did say during his last physical years:
“The principal avodah (work) today is kabbalas pnei Mashiach.”
That literally means to receive or greet Mashiach.
Some interpret that as a directive to keep publicly repeating:
“The Nasi, the leader, is Mashiach.”
Many teach it only means:
To integrate Mashiach into who we are. To live with redemption in our thoughts, emotions, choices, and responsibilities.
I think it means Chabad Lubavitch should develop clearer education around what it means that there is a leader of every generation. And why Lubavitch chassidim believe the Rebbe is guiding everyone today.
His teachings, which are 70k+ pages, and directives guide our generation through his Shluchim. Not his physical presence.
If not the Rebbe, who is guiding our generation?
If someone disagrees, they are welcome to name who they believe accepted the responsibility of guiding the generation.
Who is guiding more Jewish people toward Torah, commandments, helping the poor in Israel, and a deeper relationship with The Creator than the Rebbe’s teachings and directives through his Shluchim?
Because the question cannot only be:
“Do you accept this claim?”
The question also has to be:
“If not, who do you believe is guiding our generation?”
When the Rebbe once heard complaints about his shluchim, he responded with the idea:
“I am not the Maharal of Prague. I cannot create people. I work with people.”
That matters. A leader of the generation does not guide angels. He guides real people. People with limits. Personalities. Struggles. Mistakes. And potential.
And leadership means:
Caring about every individual. Revealing deeper ideas in Torah so people can understand that The Creator is good. And creating campaigns that get people excited about commandments.
What has Chabad Chassidus been explaining for 200+ years?
Chabad Chassidus has been explaining the deepest ideas for more than 200 years.
How to understand the soul.
The world of souls.
The purpose of creation.
The goodness of The Creator.
And how a person can actually live with awe, trust, joy, and responsibility. The Rebbe expanded that mission in our generation.
His teachings fill more than 70,000 published pages. And his shluchim continue bringing those teachings into real life all over the world.
How do these teachings change real lives?
These campaigns help lift people out of spiritual disconnection, they help transform people with atheist beliefs.
In Egypt, the Jewish people reached the 49th level of impurity. If they had reached the 50th, redemption would have required Mashiach. A leader of the generation helps people rise before disconnection becomes final.
From disconnection to holiness.
From confusion to direction.
From distance to relationship.
Is this about slogans, or about leadership?
So for Lubavitch chassidim, this is not mainly about making slogans. It is about leadership.
Who is caring for the generation, teaching the generation, and raising the generation toward Torah, mitzvos, and relationship before The Creator?
That is why some teach openly that the Rebbe is Mashiach.
And that is why others avoid making it a public campaign.
But both begin with the same belief:
The Rebbe is the leader of our generation.
If his way of explaining The Creator’s goodness was strong enough to help people who lived through the Holocaust, then those ideas did not become irrelevant for later generations that went through lesser trauma.
Another idea:
For some, teaching the Rebbe is the Messiah is about expressing appreciation for the relationship, loyalty to the mission he gave, and trust in the Rebbe’s view of reality.
Should Torah books be used for lotteries?
The Lubavitcher Rebbe explained not to use Torah books for lotteries, like writing a question, and putting it in a random page, lotteries are mundane matters and he writes it’s a practice people used to do when they didn’t know what to do or who to ask.
Because of the love one should have for holy books, they shouldn’t be used for lotteries or any mundane matter, a lottery is from Hashem, and can be done without a Torah book.
A lot of Lubavitcher chassidim don’t know this.
– Source: Parshas Bamidbar: erev rosh Chodesh Sivan, תשמט, around page 489.
Questions people ask
Why do some Chabad chassidim teach that the Rebbe is Mashiach?
The claim does not begin with a slogan. It begins with Torah sources that explain that the leader of the generation will be the Messiah, and that he can be revealed at any moment when enough return to relationship with The Creator happens. Once they accepted the Rebbe as the leader of the generation, some drew that next conclusion.
Do all Lubavitch chassidim teach this publicly?
No. Some teach it openly. Others avoid teaching it publicly, because the Rebbe opposed campaigns that create division or hateful anger. Rambam teaches we cannot be 100 percent certain a leader is Mashiach until he builds the Third Temple, so this should be discussed with humility. Both begin with the same belief: the Rebbe is the leader of the generation.
What does kabbalas pnei Mashiach mean?
It literally means to receive or greet Mashiach. Some read it as a directive to keep publicly repeating that the leader is Mashiach. Many teach it only means to integrate Mashiach into who we are, and to live with redemption in our thoughts, emotions, choices, and responsibilities.
Can you open a Torah book to a random page to get an answer?
No. The Lubavitcher Rebbe explained not to use Torah books for lotteries. He writes it was a practice people used when they did not know what to do or who to ask. Out of love for holy books, they should not be used for any mundane matter. A lottery is from Hashem, and can be done without a Torah book.
“The role of the leader of the generation: care for every person and reveal ideas in Torah that make the Creator’s goodness understandable.”
Explore the NextSelf Blog. Start with this post explaining the world of souls. And my Youtube.
The blog lists all the difference patterns to study, understanding patterns is how one can develop 'Daas' [felt knowing].
Update: As awe, trust, and love deepen, they can allow greater openness and intimacy with the Creator. That intimacy can include sadness when you notice how much more of His goodness can be revealed.