Editing The Rebbe as Melech HaMoshiach (section)

== Identifying Someone as Moshiach in History ==
In every generation there is someone worthy of being Moshiach, and if the generation merits it, he will redeem the Jewish people from exile. This stems from the belief in the coming of King Moshiach, a human being who will redeem Israel, and from the anticipation that he will come any day - something possible because he has already been born and grown up beforehand.

The Chasam Sofer writes: "From the day the Temple was destroyed, immediately someone worthy in his righteousness to be the redeemer was born, and when the time comes Hashem will reveal Himself to him and send him... but due to our many sins, several have already died and we did not merit that the spirit of Moshiach should rest upon them even though they were worthy, but the generation was not worthy. However when the time comes, G-d willing, Hashem will reveal Himself to him like He did to Moses at the burning bush and will send him."

" The Sdei Chemed writes similarly: "And so it is in every generation there needs to be someone qualified, perhaps they will merit," and more.

Based on this, in every generation they searched for who is the Moshiach of that generation. This identification does not guarantee that he will be the Moshiach who will actually redeem Israel, but only to say that at that time he is the most suitable to redeem Israel if indeed they merit it. The Gemara in Tractate Sanhedrin tells about how the students of the Amoraim found hints that their teacher is Moshiach: "What is his name? The school of Rabbi Shila said his name is Shiloh, as it says 'until Shiloh comes.' The school of Rabbi Yannai said his name is Yinon, as it says 'May his name endure forever; may his name be continued (yinon) as long as the sun.' The school of Rabbi Chanina said his name is Chanina, as it says 'I will show you no favor (chanina).' And some say his name is Menachem son of Chizkiya, as it says 'Because the comforter (menachem) that should relieve my soul is far from me'... Rav Nachman said: If he is from the living, he is like me, as it says 'Their leader shall be from among them and their ruler shall emerge from their midst.' Rav said: If he is from the living, he is like Rabbeinu HaKadosh."

Let me translate this text while maintaining its original Judaic terminology and adapting it for a Chabad Chassidic audience.

On these words of the Gemara, Rashi writes: "Each one would expound based on his name." The Rebbe analyzes from this that it wasn't that the students made this interpretation, but rather their teacher interpreted this before them, saying that Moshiach's name needs to be such, and such is his name.