Messiah Problem, The

...Witch-hunting is back in vogue. When Jews encounter an unfamiliar belief or idiosyncratic practice amongst their fellow Jew, they resort to cries of heresy and the concomitant "demonization" associated with such a laden charge.

...History threatens to repeat itself and I feel compelled to speak out. It is with a considerable measure of reluctance that I venture to publish this book. From a pragmatic point of view, I am tormented by the proverbial advice: Do not pick a fight with someone who has an abundance of time on his hands. From the perspective of Chasidic philosophy, it is usually counterproductive ti fight with darkness head on: "A little bit of light" we are told, "dispels a lot of darkness".

Yet, certain experiences made me change my mind. I witnessed a number of distasteful exchanges, that made me realise how vulnerable even the most observant Jews are to the plaqgue of "religious animosity". This book is intended for those of my fellow people whose minds and hearts are still open to reason and Jewish feeling. It is to you that I appeal: Please do not allow yourselves to be swept away with this new tide of treachery. Post-holocaust Jewry should know better.

I pray for the day on wich all our brethren, who have allowed their idiosyncratic obsessions to fuel the globalisation of religious warfare, will realise that there is a higher goal to be achieved in our lives. I pray for the day when sincere brotherhood will reign amongst all the Jewish People and we will form "one band" to serve our Father in Heaven. Perhaps then the world will be ready for the "imminent" redemption.

Chaim Rapoport was born in Manchester, England in 1963. He attended the Yeshivot of Manchester, Gateshead, Torat Emetin Jerusalem and the Central Lubavitch Yeshivah in New York. He has an MA in Hebrew and Jewish Studies from London University. He has been head of the leeds Kollel and served as Rabbi to the Birmingham Central Synagogue, England. In September 1997 he assumed his current position as Rabbi to the Ilford Synagogue, Essex, England.

In 1998 he was appointed as member of Cheif Rabbi's Cabinet and Advisor to the Cheif Rabbi, Professor Jonathan Sacks, on matters of Jewish Medical Ethics.

Chaim Rapoport is the author of several books and articles in both Hebrew and Engliush.

For the last three years he has also been a visiting lecturer at the London School of Jewish Studies.