More Discussions for this daf
1. "Avosos ha'Agalah" 2. A "remnant"? 3. Moshiach ben Yosef and Yetzer Hara
4. A remnant 5. Arba Charashim 6. Mashiach
7. Mashiach Ben Yosef
DAF DISCUSSIONS - SUKAH 52

Elie Samet asks:

Shalom kollel hayakar!

Just a weird question. In the rambam why doesn't he take the effort to mention mashiach ben yosef. The gemara mentions it.....

The Kollel replies:

Shalom R' Samet,

Very nice question. There may a number of reasons.

First, some Gaonim maintain that if the Jewish people will repent, then Mashiach Ben Yosef will not necessarily come [1]. Some suggest that this could be why the Rambam chooses not to mention the issue [2].

Second, even if he will come, some commentators maintain that the process is not so clearly understood, so one cannot say too much about it [3]. It is possible that the Rambam felt there was no pressing reason to write about it.

Third, the main reason Rambam describes Mashiach at all -- at least in Mishneh Torah -- is because it is a critical article of Jewish belief [4]. Rambam even recommends that one should not too deal too much with these issues [5]; if so, perhaps we should not be surprised to see the Rambam not delve into it.

I hope this helps!

Best wishes,

Yishai Rasowsky

Sources:

1. האמונות והדעות - סעדיה בן יוסף https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=31359&st=&pgnum=180

2. Rabbi Immanuel Schochet

https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/101747/jewish/Mashiach-ben-Yossef.htm

3. אור ה' - קרשקש, חסדאי בן אברהם

https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=22063&st=&pgnum=379&hilite=

4. https://www.sefaria.org/Mishneh_Torah%2C_Kings_and_Wars.11.1?lang=he&with=all&lang2=he

5. https://www.sefaria.org/Mishneh_Torah%2C_Kings_and_Wars.12.2?lang=he&with=all&lang2=he