Introduction
The Babylonian Talmud, particularly,
is authoritatively quoted as the foundational text to support and bolster almost
any argument within Jewish law and theology. But what happens when a talmudic
view seems to fly in the face of principles that are held as true, fundamental
and essential to the very faith itself? A case in point is the statement by R.
Hillel that “There is no Messiah for Israel”:
R. Hillel says: ‘There is no Messiah [coming] for Israel, as they [the prophesies relating to the Messiah] were already fulfilled during the days of Hezekiah’. Said R. Joseph [in response]: 'May R. Hillel's Master forgive him! When did Hezekiah live? In the time of the first Temple. Yet Zechariah, prophesying during the time of the second Temple, said: "Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion, shout, daughter of Jerusalem; behold, your king comes unto you”’[1] (b. Sanhedrin 99a).
