R' Oliver,
You leave me in an odd situation.
I'm convinced that you're wrong, that R' MM Shneerson did identify being a vehicle for Hashem's presence with embodying God himself. It seems self-evident from the words "Atzmus uMahus", as well as the rest of the ma'amar after that sentence. I really believe I showed this with selected quotes in an earlier comment.
However, I can't possibly argue that point. Because if I "win" that debate, all I succeeded in doing is giving people reason to believe in heresy.
And so, I must bow out.
I am perfectly happy leaving you a non-heretic due to your refusal to take the rebbe's words as saying what they say.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Chabad - Atzmut/Meant literally?
Rabbi Micha Berger has left a new comment on your post "Chabad - can only be understood from inside by tho...":
micha,
ReplyDeleteAs I said, proper study of the sicha, seeing the explanation that the Rebbe gives and not taking a phrase out of context, will simply not yield such an interpretation. I learnt the sicha several times while in Yeshivah and it never occurred to me to interpret it in the way that those who have no background in Chassidus (but plenty in other religions, apparently) insist on doing. (Also, this was before I'd even heard of the sefer Al HaTzadikim, which exists not to explain the concept to Chasidim, but to defend the Rebbe from the attacks of those who seek to twist his words.)
And this is the way that all Chasidei Chabad with whom I've discussed the sicha understand it (and other similar sources).
All this is especially so considering that anyone remotely familiar with Chasidus Chabad knows that its whole purpose is to explain the concept of Achdus Hashem, how Hashem has not changed whatsoever by creating the worlds, so much so that the focus on this belief is the entire centre of one's avodah (see, for example, Tanya ch. 33). Thus, if anything, the emunah of one who learns it is all the more strong than one who hasn't, and of all people, such a person is the least prone to thoughts of heresy in terms of Hashem, ch"v.
In conclusion, it's quite unfair (again, I'm understating) of you (and others here) to attribute such a status (I'm not repeating the term you used) to an entire group of frum Yidden based on your outsider, beginner-to-Chassidus interpretation.