VIDEO
Mysteries of the Bible: Messiah. Videocassette © Filmroos, Inc. for A&E Television Networks, 1997. Running Time: Approximately 50 minutes.
REVIEW
The A&E film Messiah, from the Mysteries of the Bible series, will serve as a resource in teaching non-Jews about the Orthodox Jewish concept of the Messiah. It greatly differs from what has come down to the present as the Christian concept (perhaps pervading the public consciousness in mainstream Anglo-America). The film takes a well-rounded look at the biblical antecedents of the concept, with David as the foundation. Moving then through a series of false-messiahs (and that term may bear explanation – perhaps several of those later deemed to have not been the messiah had legitimate intentions), from Jesus to Bar Kochba to Sabbatai Zevi, the viewer is exposed to many events of Jewish (and at times Christian) history. NOTE TO TEACHER: This film provides the Orthodox Jewish viewpoint on this topic. While most gentiles are not aware, it can be said that this video espouses a somewhat fundamentalist approach to the Messiah topic. Please inform your students that this is a point of view shared by perhaps only 10% of American Jewry. Other Jewish denominations have changed their position on this important topic – they do not necessarily see the messiah as a person but rather focus on a messianic time of peace and harmony to be worked for. I would say, however, that study of the subject matter will establish for your students a traditional line that stood between Judaism and Christianity because both envision a linear rather than a cyclical movement of history leading to a happier time for humanity and have a reason to hope for a better future.
The filmmakers offer viewers a substantial amount of detail for a relatively short program. Members of the Jewish clergy and university professors from around America provide expert commentary during each segment. Generally a Jewish view is portrayed, but when applicable, the film does provide a contrasting viewpoint. Important for your students will be the ability to discuss these alternate points of view and to appreciate the differences. Of note is the segment on Jesus, and the attempt of the Church to de-Judaize both he and his mother, Mary. While the statement is made that Mary is undoubtedly a Christian (in the eyes of the Church), the role of Jesus as a Jewish reformer, participating in numerous Jewish rituals and practicing obviously Jewish beliefs, poses a problem for some. Your students may wish to take an extended time to deal with some of the stated differences between Jesus as the Christian messiah, and Jesus as the religious rebel the Jews know.
The film ends with a section about the messiah in the post-Holocaust world. Several issues are raised concerning Jewish redemption, the question of the condition of Jewish peoplehood during and immediately after the war, and the beginning of the modern state of Israel. The commentators provide contemporary views on the hope for the coming messiah, and leave the discussion on a positive note.
If the teacher cannot commit to showing the entire film, my recommendation would be to show at least two parts: the portion on Jesus, and the story of Bar Kochba. Of course the story of Jesus should be familiar to many audiences, thus eliciting ample discussion. The opportunity for comparison and contrast of “messiah” in regards to beliefs of American Christians and Jews should enliven the classroom. Also of note is the segment on Bar Kochba. As the messiah is defined in Jewish terms, Bar Kochba seemed to fill the bill. He was a military leader, he threw off Israel’s persecutors, and he was able to maintain power for a short time. However, the final outcome of his adventures is depressing and astounding, as the power and rage of Rome won out and resulted in a disaster for the Jewish people. The statistics at the end of his story serve as a precursor to your later discussion of the events of the Shoah. See below for an assignment that deals with the messiah being killed in battle.
PASSAGE/QUOTE FOR CLASSROOM USAGE
After the discussion of Jesus of Nazareth, the film touches on the Jewish uprising of 66-73 CE. It is stated that there was no unity among the people as insurrections popped up around Palestine – the differences between the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes kept this lack of unity at the fore until Pharisaic Judaism eventually came to the fore and helped sustain the Jewish people. A number of would-be messiahs came to the fore, and many had some degree of success against the Roman legions. Of course, we know these successes would be short-lived. The following statement is made:
Messiahs in victory were outcasts in defeat.
Ask your students to contrast that statement with what they might know about Christian doctrine on the Messiah. Possible answers might include –
Stress to your students that the Jewish concept of the messiah differs greatly from how Jesus has been portrayed as the Messiah of Christianity. Draw comparisons and contrasts between Jesus and the Jewish concept (the film does a good job on this issue), and stress that, from a traditional standpoint, Jesus doesn’t seem to fit in. See below for further study on the Jewish idea of messiah.
RATIONALE FOR USAGE/UNIT RELEVANCE
My feeling on Holocaust education is that in order for the events of the actual Shoah to be fully absorbed, the student must have a background of major beliefs of the Jewish people and then survey their history. Whether students gain knowledge through reading, interview with a Jewish person, or through film, the concept of the messiah is of particular note, given the theological underpinnings of a discussion of God in the Holocaust. The last segment of the film does address the aftermath of the WWII era. Let me, however, repeat – NOTE TO TEACHER: This film provides the Orthodox viewpoint on this topic. While most gentiles might not be aware of it, it can be said that this video espouses a somewhat fundamentalist approach to the Messiah topic. Please inform your students that this is a point of view shared by perhaps only 10% of American Jewry. Other Jewish denominations have changed their position on this important topic. I would say, however, that study of the subject matter will establish for your students a fundamental differences that stood between Judaism and Christianity.
CLASSROOM METHOD OF USAGE
I use this film during my discussion of Jewish beliefs/practices. It ties into material I use from the second chapter of the Internet text The Holocaust: A Guide For Teachers, accessible on the web at http://remember.org/guide. That chapter is entitled Who Are the Jews? See below for an activity for post-film viewing.
STUDY QUESTIONS/DISCUSSION GUIDE
Included below is a reading on the Talmudic account of two messiahs and the Jewish tradition of the end-time. As this material will probably be completely new for students enrolled in largely-Christian schools, it might be a good idea to at first read the quoted verse from the Bible (Zechariah 12:10), and then read the essay as a class aloud. Discussion questions follow the reading.
ZECHARIAH
12:10 and the TWO MESSIAHS
Rabbi Stuart Federow; Edited by John Stone
http://www.jdstone.org/cr/files/zechariah12_10andthetwomessiahs.html
In the
Talmud there are indeed two messiahs. One is known as Moshiach ben David from
the tribe of Judah, the other is Moshiach ben Joseph a forerunner to the king
Messiah. Very few Christians know anything about this, because all they can do
is read the English Christian Bible translation of Zechariah. Joseph had two
sons, Menashe and Ephayim. Ephrayim is
believed the one who is meant to be the messiah, HaMoshiach. Christians,
without proper guidance from the Talmud, would read this as prophesying Joseph’s
[the New Testament carpenter] son as Jesus.
While
the “anointed” (moshiach) one, the son of Joseph is an important personality,
do not be confused, he is not HaMoshiach―The Messiah. At
the end of days ben Joseph will lead the Jewish people into battle against
those who attack Jerusalem. Although the Jewish people will be victorious, this
extraordinary leader will be killed in battle prior to the coming of the Moshiach
ben David. This cannot be referring to Jesus because Joseph was never a
warrior, nor was he killed in battle.
Read the context. None of this had anything to do with Jesus who did not
lead the Jewish people to a victorious war.
So, who
is this Messiah the Son of Joseph? Rabbinic texts say there will be a period of
about seven years of terrible famines and other troubles. The land of Israel
will at that time be under non-Jewish control, and a leader of the tribe of
Ephraim (the Zohar Chadash says specifically a descendant of Jereboam the son
of Navat), will arise to lead militarily against those nations who control
Jerusalem. He will be successful, but after initial victory he will die IN
BATTLE. This will cause a great mourning and many will lose faith. At that time
(still within the seven years) the Messiah the son of David will be revealed;
he shall finish the battle. After which, he will resurrect all the dead,
starting with the Mashiach Ben Yosef (Joseph).
Both of
them will go up to Mount Zion to fulfill the prophecy in Obadiah verse 21: “And the saviors (plural - both Messiahs)
shall go up onto Mount Zion and judge Mount Esau, and the kingdom will be for
the Eternal.” From this, one can clearly see that the time when the
Messiah, the son of Joseph, comes ends with a period of peace. There is the
fulfillment of ALL the major prophesies like an end to war and a world at peace
with the Jewish people in a restored Jerusalem with the Third Temple. The
Rabbinic sources are:
·
Pesikta
Zetrusa (Parshas Balak)
·
Midrashim
on Mashiach from the Otzar HaMidrashim (OH) p 390-395
·
Sefer
Zerubabal OH p 160
·
Rabbenu
Saadia Gaon in Emunah VaDeos book 8 from chapter 5
·
Responsa
from Rabbenu Hai Goan OH page 387
The following points are agreed to in all the Midrash that deal with the
Messiah the son of Joseph, and the Messiah the son of David.
1. They are two different people from two
different tribal families.
2. They live at the same time.
3. The Messiah the son of Joseph never
takes the throne nor is he entitled to it. The Throne can only go to a direct
bloodline descendant of King David, meaning the Messiah the son of David.
4. The messiah the son of Joseph is a
warrior and not a man of peace.
5. The messiah the son of Joseph will be
killed in BATTLE and will be the first to be raised from the dead by the
Messiah the son of David.
6. The period of time from when the
Messiah the son of Joseph first comes into prominence until he is resurrected
after the Messiah the son of David comes to his throne is very short, certainly
under two years.
7. The basic chronology of events is that
there is a seven-year period. It starts with continual problems, it starts to
improve and then in the sixth year it gets worse again.
In the
seventh year there are great wars in which the Messiah the son of Joseph is
first successful and then he is killed in that later part of the year. Many
Jewish people will become depressed and fall away.
At the
end of the seven years, the Messiah the son of David comes and finishes the job
and there comes the resurrection of the dead.
In
addition to the sources previously mentioned, there are the following partial
sources:
·
Succah
52a
·
Sanhedrin
97a
·
Midrash
Shir HaShirim 2:14
·
Derech
Eretz Zuta 10
Note
that the final battle that the Christian community sees coming is “Armageddon,” which, according to
Christianity, is a final battle with Jesus (and presumably some kind of divine
army) against demons from Hell. According to Judaism, this battle will be
between two human beings and their human armies – not to mention there is no such
thing in the Hebrew Bible as the Christian concept of the devil and hell.
NOTE TO TEACHER: Large parts of this entire site, http://www.jdstone.org/, are polemical in nature, claiming to “reveal the errors, distortions, and falsehoods of Christianity”. As perhaps your Holocaust course is, like mine, probably intent on promoting social justice and tolerance, you might throw in a disclaimer sometime during use of this essay – “It’s not wrong, it’s just wrong for me” – something to that effect might be helpful for some students.
For discussion – answers may be written: