IF AN INDIVIDUAL DIES A NATURAL DEATH, DOES THAT DISQUALIFY SOMEONE AS MOSHIACH?

The answer in short is: NO!

I want to clarify: I am not saying that Moshiach needs to pass away before the Geulah. I am just explaining, that if you see an individual that has the Chezkas Moshiach, and is successful in his activities (see previous article) and then he passes away, it is not against Judaism to still believe that this individual can still be the eventual Moshiach.

[ A perspective: I know that many people reading this may be coming alarmed. Does this not sound like Christianity? The "second coming"?

Let us set the facts right:

1) Just because something sounds like Christianity, does not mean that this is not a Jewish topic. If you understand that Christianity was started by Jewish people to recruit Jewish people, it only makes sense that many ideas sound similar.

2) The reason that we do not believe in " The Christian Messiah", is - not because he died, rather - because he destroyed Torah and Mitzvos. In the words of the Rambam (Hilchos Melachim 11,4) " The Chachamim have prophesied that Moshiach will strengthen Torah and Mitzvos and bring all Jewish people back to Eretz Yisrael. He - " The Christian Messiah " - has caused the destruction of Torah and the dispersion of Klal Yisroel". It has nothing to do with the fact that he was dead or alive.]

Where do we see this idea in Torah sources?

I will give you a few:

1) The Talmud in Sanhedrin (98,b). The Talmud says that Moshiach can either be from the living or the dead. The Gemara says " If Moshiach is from the living, it is an individual like Rabbeinu Hakodosh. If he is from the dead, he will be like Daniel." (see Rashi there).

2) The Abarbenel writes ( Yeshuos Meshicho 2,1): " It should not be hard for you to think that the Moshiach can be from the dead. This idea has already been discussed in the Gemara Sanhedrin, and clarified. See Sdei Chemed Ois Ayin.

3) The Lubavitcher Rebbe writes (Likkutei Sichos 2 page 518 - regarding statements he made regarding his father-in-law after his passing): I have been asked to explain my statements that I mentioned that my Father-in-law can still be Moshiach. Does it not say the resurrection of the dead, will be after the coming of Moshiach?

The answer is: The general resurrection will be after the arrival of Moshiach. There can be - and has been (see Avodah Zarah 10,2) - the resurrection of individuals throughout the ages."

4) The Rambam only disqualifies only an individual that has been killed (see previous article), not an individual that has been successful but passes away before building the Bais Hamikdash and Kibbutz Galiyos.

We are still left with a question:

Are we supposed to identify this individual before the Geualh?

This we will explain IYH in our next article.