# Who Is Moshiach? | Learn about Moshiach | Moshiach Life > Moshiach is a king from the House of David (Rambam, Hilchos Melachim 11:4). The Rebbe taught that the leader of our generation is Moshiach. URL: https://moshiach.life/learn-about-moshiach/who-is-moshiach/ Language: en Site guide for agents: https://moshiach.life/llms.txt --- [Learn about Moshiach](https://moshiach.life/learn-about-moshiach/) # Who Is Moshiach? ![The Tower of David and the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem](https://moshiach.life/assets/archive/learn-about-moshiach--the-rebbe-as-moshiach.webp) Moshiach is a king from the House of David who leads the Jewish people in the Torah’s ways, rebuilds the Beis Hamikdash and gathers the exiles (Rambam, Hilchos Melachim 11:4). The [Lubavitcher Rebbe](https://moshiach.life/learn-about-moshiach/the-definition-of-the-rebbe/), King Moshiach, taught that the leader of the generation is the Moshiach of the generation, and that the leader of our generation is already revealed. ## What did the Rebbe teach about who Moshiach is? The Rebbe taught that every generation has a descendant of Judah worthy to be Moshiach (Sichos In English). In the talk adapted by Sichos In English as “Mashiach in Every Generation,” the Rebbe explained that Moshiach is not only a hope for the future. In every generation, and surely in ours, there is “a person from among the descendants of Judah who is worthy of being the Mashiach of Israel.” The Rebbe cited the Chasam Sofer: from the time the Beis Hamikdash was destroyed, one was born who in his righteousness is worthy to be Israel’s redeemer. Only obstacles held him back. Then the Rebbe added: > “Moreover, these obstacles no longer exist, for when the service of the Jewish people over the centuries is considered as a whole, everything that is necessary to bring about the Redemption has been accomplished.” So our task now, the Rebbe said, is “standing prepared to greet Mashiach,” waiting for his revelation and ready to accept him eagerly. ## Did the Rebbe say the leader of our generation is Moshiach? The Rebbe said in talks he edited in 5751–5752 that the leader of our generation is Moshiach. The Rebbe edited the talks of 5751 and 5752 himself, for publication in Kfar Chabad magazine and the Algemeiner Journal. The booklet *Yechi HaMelech* (N’Shei Chabad, based on Rabbi Shloma Majeski) lists where the statements appear: - The leader of our generation is Moshiach, and he is already revealed: Vayeira 5752, Chayei Sarah 5752, Vayeitzei 5752, Vayechi 5752 and Mishpatim 5752. - The name of Moshiach is Menachem: Tazria-Metzora 5751 (footnote 67), Yisro 5752 (footnote 96) and Tetzaveh 5752 (footnote 81). - The name Mendel: Naso 5751 (footnote 150). On Shabbos Parshas Shoftim 5751 the Rebbe said it must be publicized that G-d “has chosen and appointed a person” to serve “as a judge, adviser, and prophet to the generation.” That prophecy includes the words “Behold Mashiach is coming.” In this way the Rebbe himself [made the identity of Moshiach known](https://moshiach.life/learn-about-moshiach/moshiach-self-identified/). ## What does the Rambam require of Moshiach? The Rambam rules that Moshiach is a Torah-devoted king from the House of David (Hilchos Melachim 11:4). The Rambam lists the signs of a king who has the status of presumed Moshiach (*bechezkas Moshiach*): 1. A king from the House of David. 2. He studies Torah deeply (*hogeh baTorah*) and keeps the mitzvos of the Written and Oral Torah, like David his ancestor. 3. He leads all Israel to walk in the Torah’s ways and repairs its breaches. 4. He fights the wars of G-d. If he then succeeds, builds the Beis Hamikdash on its site and gathers the dispersed of Israel, he is certainly Moshiach (*Moshiach vadai*). These two stages are the heart of the [Rambam’s laws of King Moshiach](https://moshiach.life/learn-about-moshiach/rambam-laws-of-kings-moshiach/). The kingship itself belongs to David and his descendants forever (Hilchos Melachim 1:7). ## Does the Rebbe meet the Rambam’s criteria? The Rebbe fulfills every condition of bechezkas Moshiach in Hilchos Melachim 11:4 (Geulah Weekly). The Rebbe is a direct descendant of King David. Geulah Weekly explains, from Horayos 11a and Hilchos Sanhedrin 4:13, that a Torah leader accepted by the people in exile has the standing of a king. Each sign of 11:4 is visible in the Rebbe’s life: - **Torah:** he mastered every area of Torah and was one of the most prolific teachers of Torah in Jewish history. - **Mitzvos:** his [mitzvah campaigns](https://moshiach.life/10-mivtzoim/) brought Jews on every continent closer to Torah and mitzvos. - **The wars of G-d:** he worked to fill the world with justice through the [seven Noahide laws](https://moshiach.life/learn-about-moshiach/the-seven-laws/), a “peaceful war” fought with good deeds. Geulah Weekly sums it up: the Rebbe has already fulfilled all the conditions to be the presumptive Moshiach, as the Rambam set them out. ## Is Moshiach a man or a divine being? Moshiach is a human king born of a father and mother, not G-d and not an angel (Numbers 23:19). The Torah says plainly that “G-d is not a man.” Moshiach is a [man and not an angel](https://moshiach.life/learn-about-moshiach/moshiach-angel-or-man/), a perfectly righteous king who serves G-d with total devotion. The Rambam adds that he does not need to perform wonders to prove himself: Rabbi Akiva held Bar Kochba to be King Moshiach without asking for any sign (Hilchos Melachim 11:3). A human king does not compete with G-d’s kingship. Geulah Weekly explains, from the Rebbe’s talks, that the role of King Moshiach is to reveal G-d’s kingdom in this world, by bringing the Jewish people and all humanity to keep the Torah. This is a key reason Judaism rejects the claims made for [the Christian messiah](https://moshiach.life/learn-about-moshiach/jewish-messiah-vs-christianity/). ## Can Moshiach be recognized before the Redemption? The Talmud and the Bartenura teach that Moshiach can be recognized within his own generation. The Talmud records Rav saying of Moshiach: “If he is among the living, it is our great teacher,” Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi (Sanhedrin 98b). The Bartenura writes that in every generation someone is born from the tribe of Judah who is worthy of being Moshiach. The Sdei Chemed adds that in every generation there is someone presumed to be Moshiach. Geulah Weekly points out that the Rambam gave his signs for the time of exile. Once the Redemption arrives, no signs are needed. The signs exist so that we can recognize the true Moshiach now, follow him and accept his guidance. That is why the Rebbe’s teaching that [the Rebbe is Moshiach](https://moshiach.life/learn-about-moshiach/the-rebbe-as-moshiach/) rests on the Rambam’s own words. ## What changed at Gimmel Tammuz? Since Gimmel Tammuz 5754 the Rebbe is concealed from physical eyes and continues to lead (Yechi HaMelech). The booklet *Yechi HaMelech* explains that Gimmel Tammuz did not interrupt the Rebbe’s life. It is a concealment to “our eyes of flesh.” The Rebbe’s leadership, his teachings and his directives continue. For this reason Chassidim continue [the declaration of Yechi](https://moshiach.life/learn-about-moshiach/yechi-adoneinu-meaning/), which the Rebbe encouraged. As that booklet explains from the Rebbe’s talk of Beis Nissan 5748, the declaration crowns the king, adds life to him and brings the revelation of Moshiach, removing every concealment.