We say everyday in Pesukei d'Zimrah, "Hash-m builds Yerushalayim, He gathers the exiles of Yisrael," in that order. Also, as the Gemara here in Megilah explains, the order of the blessings in the Shemoneh Esreh places "Es Tzemach David" (Mashi'ach) after "Boneh Yerushalayim."

You are correct that Mashi'ach is a prerequisite for the rebuilding of the Beis ha'Mikdash, but not for the rebuilding of Yerushalayim (which will happen first, before Mashi'ach and before the Beis ha'Mikdash).

B'Virchas Kol Tuv,

Eliezer Chrysler

Good question. If you look in the "Nachem" prayer that we insert into the Minchah Shemoneh Esreh on Tish'ah b'Av, you will ask a similar question. We say there:

"Hash-m, our G-d, comfort the mourners of Zion and the mourners of Jerusalem, and the mourning and destroyed city, which is downtrodden and desolate, bereaved without its children, destroyed of its residences, downtrodden from its glory, and desolate with no inhabitant...."

How do we say about Yerushalayim today that it is "destroyed of its residences" and "desolate with no inhabitant"? There are over half a million Jews in Yerushalayim today!

The answer is implied by the next words in the "Nachem" prayer:

"And worshippers of foreign gods have taken her over...."

As long as we have not yet meritted that Yerushalayim be under the authority of the Davidic king and Torah rulership, the city is considered "desolate". It is true that there is much Torah learning and Mitzvah observance happening in the city, but there is also, l'Tza'areinu, much Torah neglect and sinfulfness as well. Also, there may be other cities with as much Torah learning and Mitzvah observance. The rebuilding of Jerusalem that we pray for in the Shemoneh Esreh refers not only to the physical rebuilding of the city, but its spiritual rebuilding as well.

Y. Shaw