https://hakirah.org/Vol%207%20Schochet.pdf
For many decades, the Conservative Movement sought to define itself as an authentic halakhic movement by selectively citing more liberal teachings and teshuvot from traditional sources.
This phenomenon ought not come as a surprise. Even the spokesmen and the followers of Shabbetai Ẓevi put forth great effort to authenticate his messianic identity by appealing to traditional, eschatological sources.
In truth, quoting an ancient view and using it as a modern movement’s mantra is not all that difficult a task. Our tradition is a broad one and diverse views are articulated on many issues in traditional sources. Minority voices are faithfully recorded in our sacred texts, and many an esoteric comment has been preserved for subsequent generations to study.
Two great works on Jewish ethics, Ḥovot haLevavot and Mesillat Yesharim, stand in interesting contrast to one another—to a great degree because of the deep Kabbalistic motifs of the latter that are lacking in the former. Yet, each is undeniably “authentic” to our tradition in spite of differences in emphases.
What is problematic is how followers of the Rebbe speak of him in a cult like fashion. Even our former chief rabbi would tell the same story about him for 30 years. Claiming that he was the greatest leader of all generations. But remaining conspicuously silent and failing to show his own leadership as chief rabbi of UK, when their moshiach meahugas was in full swing.
ReplyDeleteI remember my local meshulach looking at me with disgust when I told him I considered Rav Kook, ztk"l, as the greatest rabbi of the 20th century. I mean, obviously it was the Rebbe, the Nazi haDor, smarter than Shlomo HaMelekh, holier than Moshe Rabeinu, etc. How could I think otherwise?
DeleteBut this is the power of persistent PR and confidence. A Lubavitcher doesn't suggest that the Rebbe was the GOAT. He tell you as if it's the undisputed truth.
They don't know what Moshiach really is, but they have picked up on some of the aggadot and then try to frame the rebbe as this guy.
DeleteThey took Rambam's 3 criteria for Moshiach and rewrote them to fit the situation
Delete1) fighting the wars of the Jewish people was the Rebbe bringing down the Soviet Union (and all this time you thought it was Reagan)
2) ingathering the exiles is again the Rebbe bringing down the USSR which allowed the Russian Jews to move to Israel (except many moved elsewhere and lots weren't actually Jewish)
3) 770 is actually the Beis HaMikdash in disguise and when the Rebbe returns to reveal himself, it will magically transport itself to Yerushalayim and reveal its true form.
,, 770, what a poor joke
Deletethey hate it when I tell them that in reality the Rebbe was 0/3 but Ben Gurion was 2/3.
DeleteI also had fun telling people that Rav Goren ztl was a greater match than the Rebbe,
DeleteHe actually "compelled" people to keep Kashruth in Tzahal.
Was part of the process of gathering the exiles.
Whilst not rebuilding the temple. He fought the wars and helped liberate Jerusalem
Perhaps that's why the Chareidi world has spent so much time and effort trying to revise history and deny his greatness.
DeleteThey tend to do that quite a lot.
DeleteWith Rav Y ber soloveitchik, it's difficult to say he wasn't great. So they make up other lies about him instead.
Yeah, the same guys who say "How dare you not worship The Gedolim(tm)" refer to him as "JB"
DeleteHere is another logical absurdity that extreme Hareidi ideology will lead to. They claim that setting up a State or returning to israel or having an army goes against the Torah because the Torah speaks of Galut as punishment. So, they argue, if we try to change that "punishment" we are denying the Torah.
DeleteBut there are other things that are also punishments, agricultural droughts, famines, illness etc all things that are in the Torah as curses and punishments. So they would also need to ban irrigation, because we can only rely on Hashem to give us rain.. pesticides, etc. Because the beasts and plagues will eat our crops. There are many other aspects to the punishment that comes with exile. But i don't see the 3 oaths brigade eating only non irrigated crops...
I remember in the 1990's how the Conservative slogan was "The authentic voice of traditional Judaism" even as they made it more obvious that Harold Kusher and not Saul Lieberman was the guiding force behind their "hashkafah".
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to note that the system they used - cherry pick lenient opinions that had no halakhic force and announce that you're holding by those - was inherited by Open Orthodoxy to justify their narishkeit.