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MESSIAHS AND FALSE MESSIAHS IN JEWISH HISTORY: FROM ANTIQUITY TO THE PRESENT TIME Eliezer Max Lesovoy. Where does the tradition of expecting the Messiah come from? How can we distinguish real candidates for redemption from mystic adventurers? Is it at all necessary, from the point of view of Jewish tradition, for a redeemer of flesh and blood to come and become the spiritual and political leader of the Jewish people? Why does Rambam claim that an orthodox Jew must expect the Messiah every day? Beginning with the era of the Second Temple, hopes and expectations for a quick redemption have awakened many times in the history of the Jewish people. At the epicenter of these hopes stood mystics and politicians, military leaders and hermits, semi-literate preachers and recognized sages of the Torah. Some of them were impostors and adventurers, some believed in their calling themselves, and some were nominated for the role of “messiahs” by their followers against their own will. Bar-Kokhba and Jesus, David El-Roi and the “Mashiach from Yemen”, Rabbi Avraham Abulafia and Yosef de la Reina, Shabtai Zvi, Yaakov Frank and others. At our meeting we will tell the most striking stories of “Mashiach candidates” from the past and present and try to dream about a possible Mashiach from the future. Presenter Eliezer Lesovoy. - lecturer, translator, guide and developer of educational projects. He is one of the founders of “Midrasha Tzionit” educational network, former programming director at the Jewish Agency, and a director of education at the EnerJew youth movement. His current position is a Director of Education at the Yael Foundation. Eliezer is a licensed Israeli guide and developer of heritage and academic tours in Israel and in Eastern Europe.