Prophecy Today

Question

2500 years have passed since the last prophet (Malachi). Have there been others, and if not, why this long silence?

Answer

Thank you for your perceptive question.We have a tradition that prophecy is only possible to achieve under certain conditions, which have not been present for 2500 years.

We also believe that this “long silence”, as you put it so nicely, has a silver lining: it allows (or forces) us to relate to God via greater faithfulness, because for 2500 years His face has been hidden from us – we have no open miracles, we have no direct communication via a prophet. This greater faithfulness is ultimately what we need to redeem the world.

Rabbi Seinfeld
rabbiseinfeld.blogspot.com

Follow-up questions (2)

Question

Would you consider Jesus as a prophet?

Answer

Were I to have compelling evidence that he was, yes. However, Jewish tradition teaches that there were no new prophets since the destruction of the 1st Temple and, although it is possible that there will again be prophets, I have not seen evidence supporting any new claims of prophesy.

Question

What is the teaching of Judaism concerning psychics? I am not talking about divination or tarot cards, but people who exhibit definite precognitive abilities. And what of those who experience dreams, visions and the Bat-kol? Again, not talking about psychological problems such as schizophrenia etc. or experiences caused by occult practices of any kind.

Answer

We are not to listen to them. It could be that sometimes they have true prescience, but unless someone is a certified prophet of God, we don’t listen to them.