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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>To tie this discussion with another, this is
exactly my point. We have an obscure midrash about MbY. The Rambam is clear
about taking midrashim literally (he doesn't). So take that idea, his silence in
Hilchot Milachim regarding MbY, and I come to the conclusion that the Rambam
doesn't hold that one has to believe that this person will ever
come.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Ben</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
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style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=joelcsalomon@gmail.com href="mailto:joelcsalomon@gmail.com">Joel C.
Salomon</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><BR> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr>
<DIV class=gmail_quote>
<DIV>Put it this way: Our <I>nevi’im</I> have prophesied about
the re-establishment of <I>malchus beis dovid</I> and the coming of
Eliyahu haNavi. We also have a very obscure <I>masora</I> about someone
called “Mashiach ben Yosef”. Rambam gives the rules
for identifying a <I>navi</I> and Mashiach ben David, but how
would you <I>possibly</I> positively identify Mashiach ben Yosef, and what
halachic significance would this identification have?</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>--Chesky</DIV></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>