Mashiach

Mashiach is a Hebrew term meaning “anointed one,” used in Judaism to refer to a future human leader who will be descended from David and will fulfill specific biblical prophecies. In traditional Jewish thought, the Mashiach is an individual who will emerge in the end times to redeem Israel and inaugurate an era of peace and divine knowledge.

Core expectations associated with the Mashiach include the ingathering of the Jewish exiles to the Land of Israel, the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem, and the establishment of a just and righteous reign. The Messianic era is expected to bring universal recognition of the God of Israel, an end to oppression and war, and a period when the Torah is known and observed by all peoples. Some classical descriptions also mention the resumption of Temple sacrifices, though in many modern interpretations these sacrifices are viewed symbolically or contingent on a rebuilt Temple.

A related motif in rabbinic literature is the idea of two Messiahs: Messiah ben Yosef, who prepares the way through struggle, and Messiah ben David, who completes the redemption and establishes the Davidic kingship. Not all sources affirm this twofold model, but it has influenced later Jewish thought.

Belief in a Mashiach varies across Jewish movements. Orthodox and Conservative Judaism generally affirm a future human Messiah and a Messianic era, while Reform Judaism has emphasized ethical redemption and a future era rather than a personal redeemer. In all strands, the Mashiach remains a central, though variably interpreted, element of Jewish eschatology.