[ A perspective: Everything in Judaism is judged by the "bottom line" - practical action. This includes Mitzvos which are  even centered  around the emotions of the heart. 

For example: There is a Mitzvah to love Hashem.  The  Rambam explains in Sefer Hamitzvos  (Mitzvah Ahavas Hashem)  that this commandment includes spreading the word of Hashem to those that don't know him (i.e.Mivtzoim). For if you really loved something or someone, you would "share the love" with others.

We see from the above that there is a practical application to every Mitzvah, even to those which are inherently emotional.]

The Rebbe explains the above concept in Likkutei Sichos ( Volume 28 parshas Chukas page 135) bases on a few - seemingly - extra words in the Rambam.

The Rambam writes (Hilchos Parah Adumah end of Perek Gimmel): " Moshe Rabbeinu was commanded to sacrifice the Parah Adumah (Red Heifer). During the course of history, the Jewish people sacrificed nice Paros Adumos. The Tenth will be sacrificed by King Moshiach - May he be speedily revealed, AMEN!

There are two very obvious questions:

1) What is a prayer doing in middle of a book of laws?
2) If the Rambam wants to pray for Moshiach - for whatever reason - would it not be more fitting to place the prayer in the section where Rambam explains the laws pertaining to the times of Moshiach - the last two chapters of Hilchos Melachim?

The answer (in short):

The Rambam - who is a codifier of Jewish law - is teaching us a law! The law is, that one one hears about Moshiach - even as a side topic - it must evoke by him the feeling to pray for Moshiach.

When must one pray?  When one feels that he is missing one of his needs (see Hilchos Tefila of the Rambam). When one feels so strongly about Moshiach, that when hearing it mentioned he feels the need to pray for Moshiach, then you know that he is truly anticipating Moshiach's arrival.

[ One may ask: If the above is the law, why does Rambam write a prayer for Moshiach, every time he mentions it in his books?

The answer is simple: Rambam is a codifier of Jewish law, so he teaches you the law once and expects YOU to pray for Moshiach.]

Even after the above, we still have to explain: Why do I have to anticipate a human Moshiach and not just a messianic era?

We will IY"H explain that in our next article.

 
Hatzlacha Rabbah!  Moshiach Now!

Rabbi Gershon Avtzon
Menahel - Yeshivas Lubavitch Cincinnati