The Rebbe's Rambam | Marking the completion of the entire set

Hilchos Melachim | Ch 12

mikln zekld

445

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anything will be changed from the established order of the world, or that there will be any innovation in the order of creation. Rather,

 when Moshiach comes, and all the miraculous proph ecies regarding the times of Moshiach are metaphors. However, multiple sources seem to contradict this opinion: The Toras Kohanim writes that when Moshiach comes, “even the barren trees will bear fruit.” 466 The Talmud echoes this opinion: “Rav Chiya bar Ashi said in the name of Rav: In the future, all barren trees in Eretz Yisrael will bear fruit.” 467 From the context of the Toras Kohanim, it becomes quite evident that this teaching is meant literally. It is a continuation from many other blessings, all related to real physical changes in the times of Moshiach. The same is true of the Talmud’s teaching; it comes as a continuation to other actual, down-to-earth changes that will occur when Moshiach comes. How can these teachings be reconciled with the Rambam’s point of view? Some suggest that according to the Rambam, the world at large will continue in its natural cycle, but in Eretz Yisrael, perhaps, things will change. 468 Others say that the Rambam only refers to new occurrences in the natural order, but a return to an old nature isn’t really considered a change. When the world was created, all trees produced fruit, and some merely lost this ability through the sin of the Tree of Knowledge. Therefore, barren fruits producing fruit again won’t constitute a true change from the natural pattern. 469 Neither of these explanations really fit into the Rambam’s terminology. He writes unequivocally that “the world will continue [to function] in its usual manner,” implying that this applies everywhere. It also seems implausible that he would differentiate between various types of change; he writes “in its usual man ner,” implying there will be no variance from its current manner. In fact, the Rambam himself says that Rabbi Akiva viewed Bar Kochba as Moshiach, without any miracu lous behavior on his part! To resolve this difficulty, we must first examine the

Pardes Hamelech

Rambam’s opinion regarding the Messianic era in general: His opinion regarding the unchanged natural order seems to align with the opinion of Shmuel, who holds that “there will be no difference between the current age and the Messianic era except the emancipation from our subjugation to the gentile kingdoms.” 470 The Lechem Mishneh points out that the Rambam seems to contradict this point in two places: 1. Shmuel’s opinion is stated in dispute with Rabbi Chiya bar Abba, who holds that “all the prophets only prophesied with regard to the days of Moshiach. However, with regard to the world-to-come, ‘No eye has seen it, Hashem, aside from You.’” 471 In other words, the prophecies regarding Moshiach’s arrival describe an actual change in the physical world, while the world-to-come is a greater, more spiritual revela tion. 472 In Hilchos Teshuvah , 473 the Rambam repeats this teaching of Rabbi Chiya bar Abba, in seeming conflict with his opinion over here, where he follows the opinion of Shmuel. 2. In Hilchos Shabbos , the Rambam rules that “We may not go out [wearing] any weaponry on Shabbos.” 474 This ruling is based on the Sages’s opin ion in the Mishnah, that weapons are not considered an adornment (which would enable one to wear them on Shabbos), because the prophecy says regarding Moshiach that “they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks.” 475 If weapons were indeed considered adornments, the Sages argue, why would they be eliminated when Moshiach comes? Again we see that the Rambam clearly rules against the opinion of Shmuel, who holds that the only thing that will change when Moshiach comes is the “emancipation from our subjugation to the gentile kingdoms.” 476 The explanation: The Rambam agrees that the times of Moshiach will bring drastic change to the natural order of the world, as evidenced by the fact that one of the 13 Principles

.472 .á ,ãì úåëøá .473 .æ"ä ç"ô .474 .à"ä è"éô úáù 'ìä

.466 .ã ,åë àø÷éå ô"äò é"ùøôá àáåä .467 .á ,áé÷ úåáåúë .468 .øúà ìò æ"áãøä ìò ãñåéî .469 .ç"ìô á"ç ùãå÷ä úãåáò

.475 .ã ,á åäéòùé .476 .á ,ãì úåëøá

.470 .á ,ãì úåëøá .471 .â ,ã"ñ åäéòùé

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