Messiahs of the post-Talmudic period to the Renaissance are the subjects of the third lecture in David’s series “The Messianic Idea in Jewish History.”
David discusses:
- The emergence of ‘the Midrashic Messiah’
- The concept of the false messiah
- The disappointment of Bar Kokhba
- The influence of Islam on the messianic idea
- Spiritual messianism
- The impact of the Spanish Inquisition and Expulsion on Jewish messianism
- Other messianic movements.
He examines several messianic figures, including:
- Nehemiah ben Ḥushiel
- David Alroy
- Avraham Abulafia
- Shlomo Molcho and David Ha Reuveni.
David also explores different messianic types, including:
- The ‘classic’ Rabbinic messiah
- Ishmaelic and Edomic models.
And discusses various ideas of messianic manifestations through Jewish history, including the messiah:
- as warrior
- as king
- as magician
- as persecuted
- as kabbalist and wonder worker
- as penitent
- with a plan.
David examines passages from key Jewish texts which chart discussions about the concept and role of the messiah. He also provides historical context to the people, events, and developments mentioned throughout the lecture.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:19:50 — 60.5MB)
This talk is the third of a four-part series presented for Caulfield Shule in 2021 as part of its scholar-in-residence program. Due to COVID lockdown restrictions in Melbourne at the time, it was filmed at home.