Comments on: Cryptic jewish kids on parade...

Question: Cryptic jewish kids on parade...

Wavelet — Fri, 23 May 2008 20:12:01 -0800

I ran into a parade of children from our local Hebrew school today...what were they chanting?

While out and about on errands today, I ran into a strange parade. At first I thought the Amish had made a break for it, given the long beards, sideburns, and bowler hats on the adult men in the parade, but it quickly became apparent that it was the kids from a local Hebrew school (plus teachers), carrying signs that read things like "Proud to be a Jew!" and chanting.

A bit of googling indicates that this was probably apropos of the holiday Lag BaOmer, which is apparently celebrated with children's activities and even parades. So, that mystery is solved. But, what I can't figure out is what the kids were chanting. They were saying "We don't want to wait for *some word that starts with M that I can't remember*! We want *that aforementioned word* now!" Whatever the word was, it was something that I had not heard before, about three or four syllables, and I think it began with "M." Help me askmefi! What didn't the Hebrew school kids want to wait for?!?!

By: brina

brina — Fri, 23 May 2008 20:13:55 -0800

Moschiach. MO-SKE or SCHKE- OCK or OCH.

(The messiah.)

By: brina

brina — Fri, 23 May 2008 20:22:42 -0800

Oops. More commonly spelled Moshiach. Like this.

By: bingo

bingo — Fri, 23 May 2008 20:24:40 -0800

Why would they be saying they want the messiah to come faster? And chanting it in a parade? I'm Jewish and I've never heard of that. Granted, I'm non-practicing and didn't grow up in New York, but it still seems strange.

By: buriedpaul

buriedpaul — Fri, 23 May 2008 20:28:24 -0800

There were almost certainly Lubavitch hasids.

By: LSK

LSK — Fri, 23 May 2008 20:48:07 -0800

Upon Moshiach (Literally, 'messiah'), Jews believe that all will be resurrected and live in unity in Israel. Somehow they'll al fit in ut at once.

By: weebil

weebil — Fri, 23 May 2008 21:41:18 -0800

Most Lubavitch Hasids believed that Rebbe Schneerson would become the Messiah. His death in 1994 threw a bit of a wrench into the works. Some still believe that he is the Messiah (or the catalyst for the Messiah's coming) and will be resurrected (or emerge from hiding because he never really died) soon.

By: walla

walla — Fri, 23 May 2008 22:12:05 -0800

My knowledge of Hasidic (or, more particularly, Lubavitch) Jews is minimal, so someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

Certain actions, such as observing the Sabbath and other Jewish commandments, are thought to hasten the Messiah's arrival. Therefore, saying that they "Want Moshiach now" encourages the children to follow and promote what they think of as ideal Jewish behavior.

By: Salamandrous

Salamandrous — Fri, 23 May 2008 22:20:19 -0800

Theoretically all Jews are eager and waiting for the messiah to come, but currently some Jewish groups make a bigger deal of it than others.

By: rossmik

rossmik — Sat, 24 May 2008 08:30:40 -0800

The Hebrew school kids probably spelled it משיח though.

By: Wavelet

Wavelet — Sat, 24 May 2008 10:41:55 -0800

Thanks, everyone! This is all very enlightening.