Our nation is the United States of America. We both served in the U.S. military, not the IDF. We both vote in U. S. elections, and support candidates financially, although I suspect the ones you support aren't necessarily the ones I'd support, starting with Shmuley Boteach.

We can be strongly pro-Israel, but that doesn't make us Israelis. I strongly support Canada, but I'm not Canadian.

I agree with you many of the great Tzaddkim and perhaps it can be said all of the great Tzaddikim believed as you do that the sainted Rabbi Shimon is the author of the Zohar. In making your argument you highlight my concern with Hassidism or if you prefer "Chassidus" which is that you marshal as support for your belief what others believed. In particular others who hold great moral and spiritual authority within your community. You do not engage in a rebuttal of the issues which prevent me and others from sharing such a belief instead you invoke authority. One does not need to be Modern Orthodox to be be critical of such an approach indeed many within the Yeshiva world have such concerns. A Posek generally has to prove his opinion a Rebbe merely has to utter it. I ask you to consider if one really understands and acknowledges what the Rambam's views on Messianism was as understood from his letters and editorial policy in the Mishne Torah is it really valid to interpret his words to support the notion that the Messiah could come after the Revival of the dead? In particular today would he view such a move by theologically traumatized Chabad Chassdim as being valid? Is it conceivable that any Early Authority (Rishon) who had to contend with Christianity (Ramban-Rabbeinu Tam etc…) and its pseudo messianic claims would conceive such a belief as having any validity or sechel? Is it conceivable that anyone who is aware of the long distinguished and misguided list of rabbis who have erred on the issue of the Messiah is it conceivable that when one takes into account this history that one would not moderate one's claims in this regard? While I do understand you are challenging me on the issue of the authorship of the Zohar i tend to see all too many individuals particularly within the Lubavitch camp as of late as having some fundamental obstacles towards including rational critical thought in their evaluation of their own beliefs whether it be about the Zohar or "their" Rebbe. I remain respectfully yours.