Anonymous Guest Post UPDATE - LINKS TO PREVIOUS POSTS
I couldn't help but notice the recent launch of 2 Biographies (arguably hagiographies) of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, one written by Joseph Telushkin and the other by Adin Steinsaltz. These book launches coincided with the very public events to commemorate his 20th yahrzeit. It is important to note, that by all accounts, Rabbi Schneerson was a very great man. he was an extraordinary Talmid Chacham and a formidable, charismatic leader who reached countless Jews in spreading Torah and Jewish values. However, since his sad passing in 1994, Chabad as a movement seems to have lost direction and has developed very disturbing problems to followers and other Jews around the globe.
Much has been spoken about the Moshiach issue and many debates have arisen in books and online articles about the compatibility of the Lubavitcher Rebbe being Moshiach and accepted Judaism. One such extensive piece is written here:
http://moshiachcontroversy.wordpress.com/
It seems to me, that even if it is possible for this Moshiach viewpoint to be halachically acceptable, it relies on outlying opinions and non-mainstream halachah/philosophy. It is therefore very much a "bedieved" position at best. Why do Chabad followers feel the need to rely on such a "bedieved" opinion at all? Why does it sit at the heart of the Chabad philosophy to the point that it is nearly impossible to find a Shliach that does not believe in the Lubavitcher Rebbe being Moshiach?
More worryingly we are seeing ever increasing cult-like behavior of chabad followers. Examples include:
1) Regarding the Rebbe (whether alive or not) as some sort of super human or Messiah
3) Aggressive programs of outreach to bring outsiders into the group. Notice that the Chabad outreach programs attempts to turn people into followers of Chabad, rather than Judaism.
5) Chabad Rabbis often set themselves up as a "parallel" community in towns where there is an established Jewish presence (Schools, Shuls, etc...). This was most notable in Russia where Chabad actually took over (
http://www.haaretz.com/news/no-love-lost-1.176188 ), but this is a common theme around Europe and elsewhere. Furthermore, when Chabad Rabbis hold pulpit positions in non-Chabad Shuls, it is often the case (although not always) that they slowly bring in Chabad customs and erode the minhagim of the community.
But it doesn't stop there. We have all read in the newspapers exposing some Chabad Rabbis as molesters having corrupt practices. This is currently most notable in Australia where it seems the whole Chabad infrastructure has been covering up abuse for decades. It is true that this is not unique to Chabad, but when Chabad have a marketing program with messages like these, a greater effort should be made to clean up their act:
"Chabad Lubavitch worldwide is organized to reach out and help the hungry and the needy among us. For it has always been the Chabad tradition never to turn away a person in need."
"I couldn't help but notice the recent launch of 2 Biographies (arguably hagiographies) of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, one written by Joseph Telushkin and the other by Adin Steinsaltz. These book launches coincided with the very public events to commemorate his 20th yahrzeit."
RaP: This is not unique to Chabad, it is done by all the groups all the time. ArtScroll publishing is constantly timing the release of biographies of various Gedolim to coincide within the year of their passing, or with some other related events. The 20 years since the passing of the last Lubavitcher Rebbe zt"l (known to most as "The Rebbe") is notable because in spite of all the difficulties the movement has faced without him at the helm, yet they have doubled their Shluchim and their efforts have continued stronger than even before undiminished and undimmed by the passage of time. In fact a generation of young Lubavitchers that has no direct personal experience of the Rebbe himself is now coming forth and getting ready to go into manning the frontlines with the same or greater enthusiasm than their elders.
"It is important to note, that by all accounts, Rabbi Schneerson was a very great man. he was an extraordinary Talmid Chacham and a formidable, charismatic leader who reached countless Jews in spreading Torah and Jewish values."
RaP: This is almost a superfluous statement. No one would say about any great Rebbe or Rosh Yeshiva that he was anything else but a great Talmid Chochem etc.
"However, since his sad passing in 1994, Chabad as a movement seems to have lost direction and has developed very disturbing problems to followers and other Jews around the globe."
RaP: This is not true. Not just Chabad, but Satmar has split into two factions after the passing of their last Rebbe (between two sons of the previous Satmar Rebbe) , so has Bobov in the USA split into two factions after the passing of their last Rebbe (between a son and son-in-law of the previous Bobover Rebbe). And so have Vizhnitz in Israel split into two factions (between two sons of the previous Vizhnitzer Rebbe). In Chabad there has been a split between the radical Meshichistim (mostly in Israel) and the less strident true-believers (mostly the global Shluchim), but they all have faith that the last Lubavitcher will never be succeeded by another. A big problem is that many of the youth in Crown Heights and children of Shluchim do not relate to these high Chasidic ideals and have gone off the derech (OTD), but that has not stopped the official movement in any way from
expanding.
"Much has been spoken about the Moshiach issue and many debates have arisen in books and online articles about the compatibility of the Lubavitcher Rebbe being Moshiach and accepted Judaism."
RaP: To Litvaks and Misnagdim and non-Chasidim this may be a puzzle, but it does not baffle people who know that from its inception Chasidism is a Messianic movement. The Baal Shem Tov the founder of Chasidism wanted to introduce a movement that inspires people to bring the true Jewish Mashiach. He succeeded where Shabtai Tzvi failed according to Rav A.Y. Kook, since the last era of the 6,000 years of world history is the era of bringing Mashiach. All Chasidic movements believe this, even about their own Rebbes, it is built into their spiritual DNA and it cannot be changed. It is what gives them strength. It is also what got them into trouble with the Vilna Gaon who put them ALL in Cherem (excommunication). So basically it is an ideological split in Ashkenazi Jewry between those who follow the Baal Shem Tov and those who follow the Vilna Gaon. The Chasidish world will never compromise on it, and the Lubavitchers are some of it loudest proponents. They have the Tanya which was written by the first Lubavitcher Rebbe and it is the "Bible" of ALL Chasidim, with the Shulchan Aruch HaRav by the Baal HaTanya as the Halachic basis for that as well. It is a very strong position and cannot be opposed, it can only be ignored and isolated but it cannot be expunged or removed at this stage of history because Chasidus, with Lubavitch as part of it is too powerful. Rav Shach zt"l in his day did his part of opposing the Rebbe and making the views of the Litvaks known, but since that time people who do NOT subscribe to Lubavitch have just let them
be since there is nothing to be done really.
"It seems to me, that even if it is possible for this Moshiach viewpoint to be halachically acceptable, it relies on outlying opinions and non-mainstream halachah/philosophy. It is therefore very much a "bedieved" position at best. Why do Chabad followers feel the need to rely on such a "bedieved" opinion at all? Why does it sit at the heart of the Chabad philosophy to the point that it is nearly impossible to find a Shliach that does not believe in the Lubavitcher Rebbe being Moshiach?"
RaP: Great question and your question is also your answer! It is part of their Chasidus, like asking people with blue eyes why they have to have such types of eyes. Answer: It is in their DNA! You need to get more acquainted with what Chasidus is all about. It involves learning something about the
Zohar, Kabbalah, writings of the Rebbes, Midrashim and Maharal. Basically it is about the NISTAR of Torah that Chasidim are revealing, implementing, practicing and spreading. That is the point of the spiritual revolutions begun since the year 5000 (the sixth millennium), equivalent to "Erev Shabbos" when the world gets ready for "Shabbos", during the 5000s there are spiritual revolutions, along come the Zohar, Ramban, the ARI and the many Mekubalim who reveal the Zohar, the Ramban, the Maharal, the Ramchal, the Vilna Gaon and his Kabbalah, the Mussar Movement, the Baal Shem Tov and the Chasidic movement with its Rebbes and Chasidus, they are revealing NISTAR (the "hidden"), the SOD ("secret/s") of PARDES, the "Ohr HaGanuz" the "Ohr HaTorah" to prepare the world for the true Jewish Mashiach, the Final Redemption, the Acharis HaYamim ("End of Days"), the Ingathering of the Exiles, the War of Gog and Magog, rebuilding of the Bais HaMikdash, and the entry into the Gan Eden and the Olam Haba with the arrival of Eliyahu HaNavi and the notion of Mashiach Ben Yosef and Mashiach Ben Dovid, and Yom Shekulo Shabbos, is integral to that entire continuum and process! And all Chasidus with Lubavitch is part of this and takes it very seriously and succeed on that basis because they are riding the next big and current wave in Jewish history, the coming of the true Mashiach. Okay so they believe that "their Rebbe" is it, but this is something that all Chasidim believe. Breslov has been supporting Reb Nachman of Breslov for a long time after he has passed
away and they are getting stronger than ever!
"More worryingly we are seeing ever increasing cult-like behavior of chabad followers."
RaP: One needs to be very careful with this "label" of "cult" because it is used against by enemies of any Charedi and Chasidic group. Thus if one does not like Yeshivisha people or any other type of Orthodox or Chasidisha people they get tagged with the "cult" label which while it may have some elements of truth is to miss the point. People even label Judaism and all religions as "cults" so it does not help to use this term in a serious discussion.
"Examples include:
1) Regarding the Rebbe (whether alive or not) as some sort of super human or
Messiah"
RaP: To all Chasidim, not just to Lubavitchers, their Rebbe is a superman because they believe that a Chasidisha Rebbe is the "Tzadik" ("tzadik yesod olam") who has direct access to God! All Chasidim look to a Rebbe to bless them and provide "CHAYEI (happy/successful life), BONEI (healthy/good children), MEZONEI" (food/wealth) and in return the Chasidim follow the Rebbe unquestioningly and give him money and do whatever he asks of them -- if one has never heard of this then they have not begun the ABCs of knowingwhat Chasidus and following a Rebbe, any Rebbe, is about.
"2) A large picture of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in nearly every Shliach's home"
RaP: Every frum Jew has pictures of the Gedolim he and his family venerate,so this is not noteworthy. Some Lubavitchers place photos of the Rebbe into their shulls. It is controversial. There is their view that some hold that because so to speak, God "puts his essence into a body" ("atzmus beguf") that it is the Rebbe that is the one in whom God places his essence ("atzmus in a guf") which is a controversial notion, but still within the range of what many Chasidim hold. To be sure, it is a different way of serving God, and very strange for those not part of it. But much of what Chasidim do is strange to outsiders, such as their dress, their education, their attitudes to secular education, to women, and many other things.
"3) Aggressive programs of outreach to bring outsiders into the group.
Notice that the Chabad outreach programs attempts to turn people into
followers of Chabad, rather than Judaism."
RaP: This not unique to Lubavitch, they are being copied by many others. The Modern Orthodox do huge amounts of outreach and every group that makes the effort wants the newcomers to follow in their ways. Among Chasidim, only Lubavitch and Breslov do massive outreach, because according to them the Mashiach cannot come until all Jews are reached anywhere and everywhere. On the other hand most other Chasidic groups, like Satmar, Gur, Bobov do not do outreach to secular Jews. The Belzer Chasidim have been doing a limited amount of outreach as well. But huge organizations basically affiliated with Agudas Yisrael, such as Lev LeAchim, Shuvu, AJOP, Chofetz Chaim Yeshiva,Neve Yerushalayim, Ohr Somayach and Aish HaTorah and many others do outreach all over the world.
"4) Many followers "consult the Rebbe" before making decisions like where to
live, who to date etc. This is done by visiting his grave or sending an
email to have someone else do it.
RaP: Visiting graves of venerated ancestors and Tzadikim is something that ALL Chasidim do very seriously. There are reasons for this. Litvaks have the Goral HaGra, believe in "Simanim", and consult Daas Torah all the time. Only the Modern Orthodox and Mizrach do not do any of this (maybe when they are caught in foxholes they may resort to it!)
"5) Chabad Rabbis often set themselves up as a "parallel" community in towns
where there is an established Jewish presence (Schools, Shuls, etc...). This
was most notable in Russia where Chabad actually took over but this is a
common theme around Europe and elsewhere."
RaP: Yes, Chabad is very aggressive and they work in an organized way to take over. The only strategy if one does not like it is to try to beat them at their own game. In the USA, the BMG Lakewood Yeshiva has exported dozens of out-of-town small Kollelim to dozens of communities. The Torah Umesorah Jewish day school movement has organized hundreds of Jewish days schools and helps to send hundreds of non-Lubavicth Yeshiva-educated teachers to these schools all over North America, while in Israel Lev Le'Achim sends hundreds of volunteers to learn Torah with secular Jews. There are also Sephardic organizations and rabbis, such as Amnon Yitzchak reaching tens of thousands of secular Jews all the time, everyone is doing it, and most are not Lubavitchers. It is a trend of the times!
"Furthermore, when Chabad Rabbis hold pulpit positions in non-Chabad Shuls,
it is often the case (although not always) that they slowly bring in Chabad
customs and erode the minhagim of the community."
RaP: That is true, but why should that be a problem since most of the shulls are dead or dying and are attended by Jewishly uneducated people who do not know the difference and the Lubavitchers are warm hosts, very welcoming and set themselves up in places where others fear to tread. The Lubavitchers have become the "default Jewish clergy" since there is no one else to do what they are willing to do, such as taharas, burials, bring kosher food, host guest in far flung places, attend the sick, teach children from all walks, plenty of patience for one and all, be non-judgmental and non-critical (often too much so), and their greatest not-so-secret super weapon are the Shluchos, the charming, determined, calm under pressure, always friendly wives of the Shluchim who are more willing to sacrifice everything than even their husbands to go on Shlichus anywhere in the world, something that girls from Boro Park or Bnai Brak or Golders Green would never do!
"But it doesn't stop there. We have all read in the newspapers exposing some
Chabad Rabbis as molesters having corrupt practices. This is currently most
notable in Australia where it seems the whole Chabad infrastructure has been
covering up abuse for decades. It is true that this is not unique to Chabad,
but when Chabad have a marketing program with messages like these, a greater
effort should be made to clean up their act: 'Chabad Lubavitch worldwide is
organized to reach out and help the hungry and the needy among us. For it
has always been the Chabad tradition never to turn away a person in need.'"
RaP: As you say, "It is true that this is not unique to Chabad" -- it is a universal problem and has yet to be solved not just in the frum world but in all of society. But that is not a contradiction to offering to feed hungry people or travelers who have had the benefit of Chabad hospitality. Not all Chabad people are "molesters" so this is a weak argument. Yes, Chabad people venerate their Rebbe even after his passing, but so do the Breslovers and Rav Nachman of Breslov has been gone more than two hundred years and they are still going strong, so it augers well for Chabad that they can easily keep going for more than another two hundred years as well. Complaining will not help. Only rolling up one's sleeves ands trying to win will succeed, otherwise all the complaining amounts to a case of sour grapes and will accomplish nothing while Chabad will continue to flourish and grow since
they are the masters of what they do so well.
"I do not wish to see the Chabad movement dissolved, nor do I want Chabad to
be segregated to a non-accepted form of Judaism."
RaP: Chabad will not go away and it does not look like they are shrinking.In fact more people, not just secular, people rely on, but in the global communty ALL frum Jews rely on them. Just look at who was murdered while visiting at the Chabad house massacre in Mumbai, all sorts of frum people and rabbis not connected to Chabad but relying on the hospitality of the Chabad house there. People use Chabad houses thousands of times every dayall over the world.
"However, I do think there are very serious issues affecting us all that
need to be debated. Many Rabbis won't speak out on these points because
there is too much political stake or conflict of interest. The Chabad issues
are the elephant in the room that will only get bigger over time unless we
confront them now."
RaP: What kind of "confrontation" is needed? What kind of "debate" and where? Which rabbis need to "speak out"? It is absurd to think that at a time when there is massive ASSIMILATION, INTERMARRIAGE, and APOSTASY among the Jewish people that a "civil war" should be started against Chabad, the very people who are on the frontlines doing the "dirty work" against theseproblems that they did not cause. May as well start a war against REFORM, CONSERVATIVE, and SECULAR Jews and their leaders who have caused the literal destruction of the Jewish people and who should be the real ones to face the music and the anger of everyone, and not the Lubavitchers with their quixotic Chasidisha ideas and ideals that seem so strange but is what gives them the motivation and energy to keep on going in the face of a terriblemeltdown in the general Jewish world!
