Hope vs. Hype - The Danger of Messianic Frenzy

A leading בעל מחשבה and מדריך בהשקפת התורה in our world, has spoken out about the danger of messianic speculation and frenzy (evidently some people have been engaging and indulging in it recently, as has happened at times in the past, esp. during times of great stress and conflict).

Hype of imminent arrival of Moshiach may give birth to a false messiah

ב"ה we have such גדולים to guide us in a responsible Torah manner, in accordance with our מסורה, our holy tradition.

In one particular segment of his words that I especially enjoyed, he shared:

When the גדולי ישראל went through the '73 (Yom Kippur) war, the '67 (Six Day) war, like Rav Schach, Rav Moshe Feinstein, (זכר צדיקים לברכה) we didn't hear such things from them, they weren't talking about משיח, they were talking about התחזקות כראוי (general proper spiritual strengthening). 

The difference between hope and hype may be limited to one letter, but, as we know, even an אות אחת wrong renders a ספר תורה unkosher.

יה"ר מלפני אבינו שבשמים שנשמע ונתבשר בשורות טובות ישועות ונחמות בקרוב

Litvishe Gadol Expounds on Self-Esteem's Importance - Toras Avigdor Spells it out for us

The matter of self-esteem and the fundamental importance of it in the Torah worldview has been touched on here in the past. For example, we observed that some people think that it is a Chasidic matter, a חידוש (innovation) of that group, and like to cite Reb Zadok of Lublin, for one, on the subject. 

Of course, that is absurd (as when some Chasidim pose as the inventors of the idea of serving G-d with joy, an explicit ancient scriptural verse in Tehillim), as way back in the Mishnah it states that a person is obligated to say that the world was created for me.

But some people might want, need, and enjoy a more extensive mainstream treatment of the subject, especially due to its importance in our day and age. So therefore I am pleased to share with you that the very recently released Toras Avigdor for Shabbos parashas Bo 5784, has an extensive and comprehensive treatment of the subject (particularly from page six onward). 

Let the lights of ישיבה כנסת ישראל of Slabodka and רב אביגדור מילער זצ"ל elucidate and illuminate the subject for you based on classic, ancient Torah sources.

Enjoy and share. :)