Please forgive me if that are some stupid questions. I have so far heard and read about a variety of references to the concept of messiah and what is expected to happen once he comes. To summarize my fragmentary knowledge so far (and please correct me if I got something wrong):

- there has not been a messiah yet
- if he comes, the world will enter a state of peace and people will live in harmony

and (according to one hassidic jew, so I'm not sure if that's a specific hassidic belief or universal to Judaism) the world will recognize the teachings of Judaism as the ultimate truth and all non-jews will too support the cause (with varying interpretations of what exactly that entails).

Also, the messiah is not g-d and can have flaws, but it will be known that he has arrived because of the effects that are accompanying him. 

So, I was wondering, is it specifically said that the messiah will be ONE person? Or could it also be several people, a collective? Or several people at the same time? And even, is it specified that it will be one PERSON? Could the messianic age also be started by, let's say, a revolutionary innovation or something like this? Maybe far fetched, but what about AI (Artificial Intelligence, not suggesting this, just as a hypothetic question)? 


How open are such statements for interpretation in front of our modern world and the technologies and societal developments that this entails? And, independently, how "set" are those statements (for example, if it is written about a male messiah because of the reference to a gramatically male gender, would it still be possible to have a female person being the messiah?)?

From The New American Haggadah, the Reconstructionist haggadah, something you might want to find a place for as you go through the seder. 

http://www.hebrewworks.com/

This program allows me to choose which Latin characters to use to represent the Hebrew ones, on a sound-by-sound basis. Do the resulting transliterations of complete words count as having been seen "in the wild" and made up by someone other than the person setting the equivalencies?

John 17:5 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

5 Now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence
with that glory I had with You
before the world existed.

Some say Jesus is claiming preexistence; some say Jesus is not.

I'm interested in what the Greek says.  Does the Greek indicate that Jesus was claiming preexistence?

Thank you.

Shalom everyone my name is Robert and this is my first post question.  I have an interesting background for the most part.  My Great Grand Parents were both Ashkenazi Jewish born on my mothers side in Germany several decades before WW2.  Sadly they were wiped out by the Nazis during WW2 and the Great Synagouge of Danzig where they worshiped was burned to the ground. Fast forward to me, the next several generations mixed with the Goy blood and here I am!  My parents took me to a christian church as a lad and I was taught in it's ways.  However around the year 2000 something changed within me and I started to awaken to my Hebrew roots!!  I started to have an urge to learn about Torah, His Name, Shabbat, His Feasts, eating Kosher, blowing the shofar etc.  I know wow right!  Maybe the Jewish DNA kicked in! I don't know but anyway here I am and am getting ready for Pesach this year and although I read and study scripture often I wanted to see if I could "pick the brains" of my Jewish sisters and brothers and get their opinion or insight into my question.  Ok so here it is; when I read in Shemoth 12:23 The Heavenly Father says he will pass through Mitsrayim around midnight on the 14th of Aviv/Nisan and if the blood of The Lamb is not applied to the door posts and lintel he will kill the firstborn of every house.  From reading the Scriptures it appears that the 14th is definitely the night of Pesach, however, it appears that during the return from the Babylonian exile during Ezra and Nehemiah's restoration of Jerusalem that the feast was combined from the 14th to the 15th and became standardized tradition .  So my question is this, is midnight on the 14th of Aviv the original correct time of Pesach or is it at midnight on the 15th?  Thank you in advance for any insight that you may have!  Shalom shalom

Hey! I know that Passover is still a ways away but I saw this commercial that seemed to me would be very useful during that season when you have to get rid of your bread and other leaven items. It's good to be making these plans ahead of time.

Does anyone have any favorite Jewish quotes they'd like to share?  Here's one of my favorites (I don't know who originally said it):
 
Don't tell HaShem how big your problems are. Tell your problems how big HaShem is.

My four questions:

1. Do you have a favorite haggadah?
   
2. Do you allow kitniyot?
   
3. Do you add an orange to your seder plate?
   
4. What is the secret to preparing a great brisket?
   

I have a similar question, and seeing how helpful everyone has been, I was wondering if you could help me with the word

תמימות

I am interested in its meaning. I understand that it can mean innocence, naïveté, completeness... How weird would it be to wear on a piece of jewelry, like a bracelet? It’s something my husband calls me- he does have a Jewish heritage, but like mine, it is only on the paternal side. Would this be a culturally acceptable way to honor that part of my heritage?

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and opinions. I don’t want to commission something that turns out to be insensitive or absurd rather than meaningful.

Hi everyone,

I recently attempted to understand and learn the lyrics of Lecha Dodi. While discovering many beautiful renditions and versions, it seemed to me that there are as many as the google results that I got for that search. It really seems that each new interpretation adds its' own perspective on that song, a new feeling, sometimes subtle, thoughtful, sometimes very joyful. I have been enjoying all those versions so far!

So, I wondered, is it a tradition or custom to interpret that Song in a new or personal way? I have never seen another song being sung to so many different melodies! I have found this explanation: click. What do you think about this?

Which version do you sing during your local services?

Also, would you mind sharing your favourite versions?
And is there a "standard" version that is the most popular/widely used today?