Anyone have the idea the messiah could be just a myth in Judaism?

[Rainbow Mage]

Like does anyone take an alternative view that rather then wait on a messiah, Judaism should progress onward in a different way, rather then always waiting?

 

[Ben Masada]

Like does anyone take an alternative view that rather then wait on a messiah, Judaism should progress onward in a different way, rather then always waiting?

As long as we wait on an individual Jewish Messiah we will be, as you say, always on the waiting list. The belief in an individual messiah, as you also say, is a myth. There is a consensus that the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53 is the Messiah. I believe it so. Well, the Prophet identifies that Servant with Israel by name, read Isaiah 41:8,9; 44:1,2,21. Besides, the individual is born, lives his span of life, and eventually dies. Are we to expect a Messiah in every generation? Obviously not. The Messiah is not supposed to die but to remain as a People before the Lord forever. (Jer.31:35-37) The Messiah is supposed to be collective in the People of Israel.

The Collective Messiah - Isaiah 53
We all know that the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53 is the Messiah. So, no argument about it. But then whom did Isaiah have in mind when he wrote chapter 53? In fact, who was in his mind when he wrote the whole book? That's in Isaiah 1:1: "A vision about Judah and Jerusalem." That's the theme of the book of Isaiah: Judah. Or the House of Jacob called by the name Israel from the stock of Judah. (Isa. 48:1)

Now, how about the Suffering Servant? Isaiah mentions him by name, which is Israel according to Isaiah 41:8,9; 44:1,2,21. Now, we have extablished a syllogism. If the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53 is the Messiah, and the Suffering Servant is Israel, the resultant premise will obviously be that Israel (the Jewish People) is the Messiah. Rashi thought so too, and a few other thinkers of weight.

Now, if the Messiah must also bring the epitet of son of God, there is no problem. We can have it from Exodus 4:22,23. Here's what it says in there: "Israel is My son;
so, let My son go, that he may serve Me," says the Lord. That's why Hosea said that
"When Israel was a child, God said, out of Egypt I called My son." (Hosea 11:1)

Last but not least, Jesus no doubt was part of the Messiah but not on an individual basis. The Messiah is collective. What we need from time to time, especially in exile, is of a Messianic leader to lead or inspire the Messiah to return home. Moses
was one for bringing the Messiah back to Canaan. Cyrus was another for proclaiming
the return of the Messiah to rebuild the Temple; and in our modern times, we had Herzl who was also one for inspiring the Messiah with love for Zion.

Ben

 

[David_2010]

I haven't read it, but, I've heard about this book 'There is No Messiah and You're It' by Robert N. Levine which takes the premise that the Messiah is something that each one of us can be, not someone with superpowers who'll fly in to save the day, it might be similar to what Ben talked about above.

I'd be interested to see if anyone would recommend Levine's book?.

 

[Levite]

Like does anyone take an alternative view that rather then wait on a messiah, Judaism should progress onward in a different way, rather then always waiting?

I don't think it's an either/or proposition. Waiting for the messiah doesn't mean we don't deal with what needs to be dealt with now, or not change anything, or just try to keep it all static. "Waiting" for the messiah is actually an extremely active process, since what will bring the messiah is tikkun olam, the healing and perfecting of the world. So, rather than passivity, waiting for messiah actually implies a lot of work and change.