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Tzivos Hashem, the international Lubavitch youth group, has "We Want Moshiach Now!" in its logo, and Lubavitch children are taught to say and sing that phrase.

I have heard that some authorities have publicly expressed disagreement with, even protested, the use of the phrase.

  • On what basis? (Citations, please, where possible.)
  • How do they reconcile their disagreement with our constant prayers for mashiach now? For example, in sh'mone esre we say "וקבצנו יחד מהרה… לארצנו" and "ומלוך עלינו מהרה" and "וכסא דוד עבדך מהרה לתוכה תכין" and "את צמח דוד עבדך מהרה תצמיח".‎
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  • Those prayers are for Mashiach (among other things) soon.
    – Double AA ♦
    Commented Nov 13, 2013 at 22:45
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    hebrewbooks.org/… though the actual answer is probably the same reason we don't go around chanting "we want techiyat hameitim now".
    – Double AA ♦
    Commented Nov 14, 2013 at 2:55
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    I don't think there has to be Torah-based answer to this question. IMHO a more likely answer would be politics.
    – Danield
    Commented Nov 18, 2013 at 22:20
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    @Danield It is always easier shrug off an opposition which is just playing politics.
    – Double AA ♦
    Commented Nov 18, 2013 at 22:32

2 Answers 2

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A demanding "tone" in prayer is deemed improper. Consider what Shimon ben Shetach said to Choni heMeagel after successfully demanding rain from Hashem (vowing not to leave a drawn circle until it was given, modifying the request multiple times):

שלח לו שמעון בן שטח ואמר לו, צריך אתה לינדות; אבל מה אעשה לך, שאתה מתחטא לפני המקום כבן שמתחטא לפני אביו, והוא עושה לו רצונו. עליך הכתוב אומר, "ישמח אביך, ואימך; ותגל, יולדתך" (משלי כג,כה). (תענית יט א)‏

As I understand it, the lyrics of the song are:

Am yisroel, have no fear

Moshiach will be here this year

Am yisroel, have no fear

Moshiach will be here this year

We want moshiach now

We want moshiach now

We want moshiach now

We don't want to wait

The "we don't want to wait" coupled with the "now" seems (to me) a bit demanding in its tone, which is different from a deferential request that mashiach comes now, or soon.

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  • Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
    – msh210 ♦
    Commented Apr 17, 2018 at 3:34
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I read online once, forgot the exact source I think it was Rav Shach that it's problematic in its insistence, as if God is not doing the best thing by delaying it.

This contradicts the principle that all that H' does is for the good.

Yes, we are supposed to wait for it, but not insist and demand that it comes, as if God is witholding good or that He doesn't know what's best ch'v.

(I'm sure the Rebbe zt'l had good reasons though)

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  • Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
    – msh210 ♦
    Commented Apr 17, 2018 at 3:38

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