Rav Elazar Menachem Man Schach, זצ"ל, was a great תלמיד חכם and builder of Torah. In his later years, in particular, he also was a מנהיג of masses of Yidden at large, and an important source of דעת והשקפת התורה הקדושה for כלל ישראל.
A crowning achievement of the rich life of Rav Schach זי"ע was when he stood up, in his old age, with great sacrifice, against the dangerous messianic movement of Chabad-Lubavitch, based in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, in New York, and, with the help of הקב"ה and many clear thinking Jews, succeeded in raising awareness of the great danger of it, and the imperative of social distancing from them, for protection against infection from their confused and distorted beliefs and actions.
Rav Schach zt"l, however, was niftar (passed away) close to twenty years ago, and, since then, in the passage of time, the understanding of the necessity of continuing this distancing weakened among some, for example, among younger people, who hadn't seen the dangerous messianism at its peak up close themselves. Since Chabad-Lubavitch is based in a neighborhood in New York away from where most frum Jews live, it is easy for people to delude themselves into wishful thinking that Chabad-Lubavitch messianism is an issue of the distant past, not relevant today, as they may never have visited 770 Eastern Parkway and seen the lunacy there. At the same time, Chabad-Lubavitch and their fellow travelers have tried to rewrite history, cover up that past, break out of their isolation, and be accepted as part of the mainstream Klal Yisrael, especially among the more Orthodox and Haredi ציבור.
As a consequence of the above, there have been more incidents, ל"ע, in recent years, of breakdowns in necessary distancing from Chabad-Lubavitch.
Chabad-Lubavitch "Miracle Torah" of Fraud & Deceit
Recently, taking advantage of confusion and desperation during the Corona virus outbreak, a giant "Miracle Torah" (at other times called Unity Torah, or United for Protection) scam was run by Chabad-Lubavitch from Crown Heights. Fierce debate about the project was seen in various places online With the help of massive advertising and PR (typical of Chabad, as they were taught by their late Rebbe), a significant amount of people were induced to give a great amount of money for a dubious סגולה alleged to be from the founder of Hasidism, with the implication being that it would stop COVID-19 in its tracks miraculously. The organizers attempted to hide the project's connection with Chabad-Lubavitch, to make it seem like a mainstream community endeavor, when soliciting support from outside their group. They succeeded thus in duping some non-Lubavitch community leaders, even some Rabbis, with this duplicitous and deceptive approach. ב"ה many of our leaders saw through the Chabad-Lubavitch deception, and almost all Litvishe leaders did not fall into it. Overall, though, too many people were confused by it, so it is necessary to alert people, not only since it is has not ended, as they are attempting to continue it, by getting people to contribute more for another such "Miracle Torah", but also to alert people in general to the danger of this sect and their devious ways, to protect against other, similar present and future dangerous initiatives.
Why is the Chabad-Lubavitch "Miracle Torah" a scam?
Let's look at the results -
Firstly, in contrast to the implication of the Chabad advertising that the COVID-19 plague would end even before the Torah was finished, when the Torah project was merely underway, as the tale it was based on, the plague has continued for months, with victims upon victims.
Secondly, even after the "Miracle Torah" was finished earlier this week, and the extravagant celebration ended, Lubavitch media itself, just the other day, reported that COVID-19 was endemic in Crown Heights!
Where then, is the miracle?
They concealed the fact that it was a Chabad-Lubavitch project
They were mevazeh מרן שר התורה, R. Chaim Kanievsky שליט"א, by presenting him a distorted version of their project (they hid from him who it was from, that it is a Chabad-Lubavitch project, and hid from him that it was being advertised as a "Miracle Torah" - real גניבת דעת, which I suspect was done to other Rabbis too - shame on them, הוי זהיר בגחלתן, such deception and בזיון of a גדול בישראל, a מנהיג הדור, is a very dangerous "game" to play, even if they paid off people to assist them in it) and using it to get an "endorsement" from him based on that deception. There are two videos with Rav Chaim - one from months ago, and a more recent one. In both of them (it seems that they paid off Reb Y. M. Druk and Yanky Kanievsky to get a sham "endorsement" under false pretenses from Rav Chaim שליט"א - watch the videos closely and you can see how the whole thing looks like a big setup - א שאנדע און א חרפה) he is asked about writing a Torah for a זכות for protection from the virus - a "miracle" is not mentioned.
When the project was already well established, their Lubavitcher roots and agenda became more visible, such as when they went to the grave of the late Lubavitcher Rebbe right before the "Miracle Torah" was finished, and when the first leining of it took place at 770 Eastern Parkway, the morning after the dedication.
Was It An Official Chabad-Lubavitch Project?
While it seems that originally it was an initiative of individuals rather than "official Lubavitch", later on, the Chabad establishment got involved, to the extent that people like Reb Moshe Kotlarsky, and the brothers Reb Simon and Reb Y.Y. Jacobson took part in the big celebration
"Miracle Torah" vs. "Unity Torah"
The massive publicity promoting the project alternated between calling it "Miracle Torah" and "Unity Torah". Why was "Unity Torah" sometimes used instead of "Miracle Torah"? Perhaps the organizers realized that calling it Miracle Torah left them too open to charges of running a scam. However, it also points to another aspect of the project. The hidden messianic agenda involved. Chabad-Lubavitch has been promoting the writing of Torahs for decades to unite Yidden and to bring Moshiach. Despite the special COVID-19 angle of this one, the Chabad-Lubavitch mission to write "unity Torahs" to "bring Moshiach" was also a big part of it, whether explicitly acknowledged, or not.
A Teachable Moment - Takeaways from this episode
Beware of scam artists, even if they look "frum".
Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin was used to promote this. It should be made clear by now though that Rubashkin is not a מורה דרך for the general ציבור. Whatever ordeal he went through, he remains a Lubavitcher, with the continuing mission and goal of trying to spread Chabad-Lubavitch Chasidus, and the honor of their late Rebbe, to the world at large. It is time to stop the veneration of him as some kind of Jewish leader, when he gives shiurim at 770 Eastern Parkway, Messianic Lubavitcher HQ, with its giant 'Long live the Rebbe...' banners in the background, and when he referred to the late Rebbe with the expression שליט"א many years after his passing.
Keep a distance from Chabad Houses. If you travel, make other arrangements for food and davening. Do not compromise important Torah principles for the fleeting convenience of Lubavitch facilities.
Some Good News
Despite their massive event/webcast for over six hours earlier this week. the amount of letters subscribed to in their second "Miracle Torah" only rose about two percentage points, from about fifteen to seventeen percent. That seems to show that people are wisening up to their scam, and/or that the more gullible folks have already been had, and are thinking, enough!
In the merit of sticking to אמת, and staying away from falsehood and deceit, even when it is cloaked in "frum" garb, may we merit good health and the true משיח, soon, in our days.
May the light of Chanukah drive away the darkness of שקר.
A freilichen Chanukah.
P.S. Just saw an interesting Op-Ed at a Lubavitch site, where the project came under fire from within Habad for allegedly not being Lubavitch enough. Maybe that is why they came more out of the closet afterward.
Thank you as usual for a powerfully written and very insightful post. I really wish you would write more frequently!
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed puzzling that so many people were duped here. This had Chabbad fingerprints all over it from the start, and this should have been obvious even to non discerning observers.
The only points I would take issue with on what you wrote are these:
You point out that unfortunately this epidemic has not magically disappeared despite this event. You seem to use this to disparage the whole segulah .In my veiw, the organizers of this event-to their credit- did not sell it as some guaranteed quick fix; they did not behave like snakeoil salsemen. They did not make any more of this segulah than any other segulahs, all of which which may work or may be rejected. We do not know the ways Hashem.
Also, involving SMR is a bit unfair in my opinion, despite the saliant points you mention. I don't think you usually write about people's shortcomings and wrongful beliefs unless they have a bearing on all of us, which is not the case here (he is not proselytizing). More importantly, this man has suffered greatly and has demonstrated strong bitachon throughout. This is something we can learn from.
Thanks again for setting up this website. You skillfully articulate the frustrations of so many of us marginalized and silenced Non Chassidim.
Thanks for the comment!
ReplyDelete"the organizers of this event-to their credit- did not sell it as some guaranteed quick fix; they did not behave like snakeoil salsemen. They did not make any more of this segulah than any other segulahs"
I cannot agree with that, as it was marketed using the word miracle over and over again. Also, the fact that it was attributed to בעל שם טוב himself gave it much more marketing power among many people. If it was "just another segula", do you think it would have brought in so much money? Clearly it was not marketed and sold as "just another segulah", rather something very different and special.
Re SMR - if he was used to draw people into it in Lakewood (as it seems from what I saw), then he is part of it. You say re SMR "he is not proselytizing" - well, we need to define what proselytizing means. It is not necessarily the direct, loud, obnoxious, in your face, פראסט type of thing engaged in by many Lubavitchers. Rather, sophisticated Lubavitchers have another way of spreading their faith, as taught to them by their late Rebbe. He taught them that one could influence people subtly, quietly, by conducting themselves in an exalted manner, such that people would remark about them, אט גייט א חסיד (there goes a Hasid) when they passed by. People like SMR, Y.Y. Jacobson and some other more intelligent Lubavitchers aspire to that form of missionizing, rather than the more common, lower, louder form of many of their brethren.
You're both on target. Let me add a few points. The latest edition of the Jewish Press came out today. It features an article by a Chabad Rabbi from South Africa. He spoke about the one time that the Rebbe became confrontational. In the late 80's the Rebbe spearheaded a campaign to allow public Menorah lightings and he took his cause to the US Supreme Court, where of course, he won the case. Chanukah is the quintessential Chabad Yom Tov. Gather a few hundred Jews who couldn't tell the difference between a Maccabee and a Big Mac and convince themselves that that the light of this Menorah reflects the light of Torah. But the problem is not, just as you mentioned, with people like YY and SMR. Last week I read a local(Brooklyn) Jewish publication and two of the writers were gushing over the beauty of Chabad and the importance of Yud Tes Kislev for all Jews not just Chassidim. I won't mention their names but they are leading Talmudic scholars from YU. It's almost as if people believe that one must pay homage to Chabad to be accepted by mainstream Judaism. While I appreciate the opportunity to vent my spleen regarding Chabad, it's unfortunate that the noise made by the three of us seems to be drowned out by so many contrary voices.
DeleteHi Unknown!
DeleteRe your second point - I am aware of some manifestations as you describe, however, from what I have seen, they are mostly from some younger people, not the mature, older, leading scholars. Many of the younger generation of Modern Orthodox, on the other hand, seem more openly confused and afflicted with a severe inferiority complex vis a vis Lubavitch, and some of them have been converted to neo-Chasidus by YU Mashpia Rabbi Moshe Weinberger of Woodmere.
In general, however, I think it is important to understand that despite the power of the media, it does not give the whole story. There can be a silent majority that believes otherwise, beyond the line the media is pushing.
Chabad may seem to do well at times in some frum media - Why? Because there is fake frum news too. :)
Sheker has a big כח, and we are living in an עלמא דשיקרא. Remember that when you encounter images of some seeming glittering success of Lubavitch. To find the truth you need to go beyond the surface.
חזק!
You're right that Rabbi Weinberger is a big part of the problem, but there are many other non Lubavich Rabbis who are to blame including some in the Yeshiva world. Basically the Chabad message that every Jew is holy and wonderful resonates, but it clouds the truth. Hashem is looking for perfection from His people, and despite what Chabad promotes He doesn't do cartwheels if a Russian Jew puts Tefilin on one time in his life.
DeleteWhy do you care about chsidus coming to YU ? There was always something missing with the modern orthodox derech in yisdishkeit, it was very empty, and they found something more authentic in chsidus.
Deleteישיבת רבנו יצחק אלחנן, aka RIETS, has historically been historically a Litvishe yeshiva. As Rav Hershel Schachter shlit"a has said, it is a continuation of, or like, Volozhin, as it comes from a early American Yeshiva called עץ חיים (the same name as Volozhin, the name was changed years later after the petira of the Kovno Rav, Rav Yitzchok Elchonon z"l, to be in his memory). If some people there feel a void in their background, by all means they should try to fix that. However, the blanket claim that Chasidus is "more authentic" is questionable. There are various Haredi paths for those who want to move in that direction. For YU to suddenly favor Hasidism, by bringing in people like Rebbe Moishe Weinberger, to brainwash naive MO youth with his propaganda, is an unbalanced approach.
DeleteYou're absolutely right. Judaism isn't rocket science. It's about keeping the Mitzvos and learning Torah. I learn about five hours of Gemara a day(I also work fulltime) and I love it so this idea that people study Chasidus to fill some void is nonsense. The problem is that many people haven't found a Derech in learning which works for them. Rabbi Weinberger was quoted as saying that Chassidus is the Torah of Moshiach. This is straight out of the Chabad playbook. On numerous occasions Shmuel Butman said the following,"When Moshiach comes there won't be any more Shnayim Ochzin B"Talis." Then he added,"Yes there will be Shnayim Ochzin B'Talis, but it will only be the Kabbalistic interpretation." For me, the main problem with Chabad is that they're trying to redefine the religion. Unfortunately they have many sympathizers because there's such a premium on Kiruv. Chabad's media machine promotes the lie that the Rebbe invented Kiruv and his Shluchim are its foremost practitioners. In fact the Shluchim almost never disseminate Torah(there are exceptions). Instead they serve as unlicensed social workers who show up at strategic times of the year with a Menorah, Matzoh or Lulav and Esrog.
DeleteIt is wrong to call YU an empty lifestyle. Even though there were early Gedolim who were opposed to it, it was because they opposed the Torah Umada philosophy. An empty lifestyle is one devoid of Torah and Mitzvos or one where Torah and Mitzvos are just things to be get done, as opposed to a lifestyle. YU always emphasised a lifestyle of Torah and Mitzvos along with mada.
DeleteAnd if there are people anywhere who feel a void, this Neo Chassidus thing will not fill that void. It is an illusion. Singing, perusing chassisishe seforim, kevarim hopping, and other emotional things, are all feel good measures. They are no substitute for learning Torah and battling the yetzer harah when he attacks.
Emes leamito, and many Chabad people agree with you.
ReplyDeleteThey dream of rejoining the frum community and Torah study.
Some even dream of a new spiritual leader to engage the Chabad community.
Let's stop the thrust for hegemony over the Jewish world.
As far as YU, its far from being spiritually empty. A mosad with the likes of Rabbonim Schachter Willig B. Simon Twersky JD Bleich Blau Rosenzweig, Neuberger is hardly a empty place.
Its called empty by Chabad because the Gefes Musar Seforim Hashkofa etc that many there are maleh vegadush in are foreign to the Anshe Chabad.
Are you assuming that there are Lubavichers who want to enter mainstream Judaism or do you have actual evidence. If it's the latter, there must be a way to Mikarev them from their pseudo Judaism.
DeleteOver the years we've discussed several reasons for Chabad's popularity, its use of the media, their appeal to the masses, and the emphasis on Kiruv to name a few. Last night I heard an Orthodox lawyer on Jewish radio try to explain how Mr. Trump will win the election. He predicted that the Electoral College will rule against the people's mandate. When the host countered that this is ridculous, the fellow retorted,"On many occasions I've gone to court thinking that I don't have a chance to win, but I ended up winning." Such Gaonus. I'm surprised he didn't add that he's going to the Ohel on Sunday afternoon to ask for "Divine Intervention." The idiocy coming from many people in the frum community with regard to Biden's victory is almost shocking. I assume that these people learn but how can they understand Gemara if they're devoid of logic in their everyday lives. Don't get me wrong, I'm not endorsing the Democratic platform, and I wouldn't rule out the possibility that there was cheating but any rational person must recognize that Biden will become the next president.
ReplyDeleteAlong similar lines any thinking person should be able to see the glaring flaws in Chabad. Still we find that great men like Rabbi Miller, Rabbi Sacks and Rabbi Lau to name but a few have been seduced by their propaganda.
I don't know if we should bring politics in here, we have enough controversy already. ;-)
ReplyDeleteRe Chief Rabbis - they see and are faced with problems of galloping assimilation, secularism, and hedonism. They are desperate for any help, so are not too particular when a traditional looking group comes along offering free assistance. They might think that ideological purity is a luxury they cannot afford, and be wary of division. Be that as it may, they are dealing with a very different situation than people, or Rabbis, in Chareidi communities, who aim for a higher standard.
Rabbi Miller z"l grew up exposed to a different type of Chabad-Lubavitch, before the great transformations in the movement during the reign of the last Rebbe, particularly in its later years. If he would have grown up later and elsewhere, his position might have been different.
Anyway, I don't think the two are mutually exclusive. People can believe that Lubavitch is a useful ally against assimilation at times and places, but nevertheless, also recognize problematic aspects of the group that call for distancing at the same time.
I agree with you that chief Rabbbis tend to be diplomatic, but I think that Rabbi Miller's position is very problematic. Whether or not he would have changed his opinion is irrelevant. The issue is that his followers believe that Rabbi Miller loved Chabad and the Rebbe and they won't deviate one iota from whatever he said. As one Millerite said on the internet,"The beauty of following Rabbi Miller is that we know we're always right." My present Rabbi told me Chabad and Millerism are both cults. Given that Rabbi Miller's views are very influential in the Yeshiva world, his position vis a vis Chabad can't be dismissed.
DeleteInteresting. But למעשה, how does that belief of their's manifest itself vis a vis Chabad? I don't believe they visit 770 Eastern Parkway. Nor the late Rebbe's Ohel. Nor attend farbrengens generally. Correct me if I am wrong. So it manifests itself by defending Lubavitch verbally, and maybe davening with them occasionally?
DeleteThere are some things I have put aside from Rav Miller's teachings to post about, maybe will do so soon. But in general, I want to say about Rav Miller z"l, that the question is, who is the leader of the group you call "Millerites", or let me call them present followers of Rav Miller z"l. His einikel Rav Brog shlit"a leads his Shul in Brooklyn, but not being there, I haven't heard from him in general. Another einikel, Rosh Yeshiva of Tiferes Avigdor in Ohio, seems to speak somewhat in the style of his zeide, and have some of the outspokenness. Then there is a grandson by marriage, Rav Simcha Bunim Cohen shlit"a, in Lakewood, who follows the style of Rav Miller to a significant degree. I recall, a number of years ago, after the US Supreme Court ruled that toeivah so called marriage was recognized and legitimate in the USA, that one of the above leaders was asked the following question (it was around the time of July 4). We know that Rav Miller encouraged flying the flag on such days, to show support and hakoras hatov of the government. So the question was, since the supreme court had just ruled in favor of toeivah, contra the Sheva Mitzvos Bnei Noach, should the flag still be flown? My recollection is that the answer given was "I don't know". The questioner then asked, who would or might know? Rav Shmuel Miller (z"l, Rav Avigdor Miller's son)? The response given then was, the only person that would know the answer to that would be Rav (Avigdor) Miller himself.
So the question is, are the followers of Rav Miller z"l without a living Rebbe now, like Chabad-Lubavitch, or are they divided, with some following the above family members, or some other Rav Miller follower Rabbi, and maybe others deciding for themselves what Rav Miller would hold in new situations?
I write a weekly Dvar Torah and I quote Rabbi Miller extensively. This said, there were positions he took with which I disagree vehemently, just as there are things which the Rebbe said which I challenge. The Rebbe famously said that unlike the Geulah from Egypt in which 4/5th of the people died, at the time of the final Geulah no one will be left behind. When I ask Lubavichers to give me his source, they push me off saying the Rebbe transcends the Torah. They love that word transcend. As for Rabbi Miller, he's entitled to his extremist views, but his followers believe that everything he said was Torah MiSinai. I'll give you an example. I once told his Talmud Muvhak that many observant Jews don't accept 6 days of Creation literally. His response? Anyone who questions 6 days Ain Lo Chelek Olam Habo. I'm a Lower East Sider so I asked Rav Moshe's grandson for his thoughts on the subject. He answered that it's simply not true. Rabbi Miller regularly confused Hashkafah with Halacha and this led him to declare Ain Lo Chelek Olam Habo for routine activities like reading a newspaper. As I've hopefully made clear I'm not a lemming. If I hear something questionable I won't accept it just because the person who said it has a title.
DeleteSo its all settled because an anonymous grandson of Rav Moshe concurred with you. I see.
DeleteI would wager that there isn't even a maachlokes here. Rabbi Miller was reffering to people who simply deny in sheshes yemei beraishis. He was not reffering to the more complex issue you are talking about, which is something about the exact details of The Six Days (that question came up with the Slifkin book controversy).
I did not say that the matter is settled. What I said is that those who believe that the Torah's account of Breishis is allegorical, should not be labeled as Kofrim. The grandson I'm referring to is Rav Dovid Zatzal's son Mordechai, if that makes you feel better. As for your assessment of Rabbi Miller's opinion, his Talmud Muvhak, who I won't name, told me unequivocally that anyone who doesn't accept the literal meaning of Breishis is a Kofer Ain Lo Chelek Olam Habo. I have no agenda other than to speak the truth. If that ruffles some people's feathers so be it. On the other hand, if I say something which can be proven incorrect, I will gladly acknowledge my error, therefore there was no need for you to address my comments in a cynical manner.
DeleteBlessings on your head my friend.
ReplyDeleteWe have to look for אמת above all, and to question rabbeim and be נושא ונותן בדבריהם, even to argue, if a good basis and compelling case is there, is warranted and desirable. Rav Chaim of Volozhin discusses this important יסוד in his commentary on Pirkei Avos, פרק א, on the maamar of יוסי בן יועזר saying והוי מתאבק בעפר רגליהם.
Thank you so much for your kind words. They mean a great deal to me because I find that most people are locked into certain beliefs and they're unwilling or unable to change even when faced with irrefutable proofs to the contrary. I just wish that more people would join in this discussion.
ReplyDelete"A crowning achievement of the rich life of Rav Schach זי"ע was when he stood up, in his old age, with great sacrifice, against the dangerous messianic movement of Chabad-Lubavitch"
ReplyDeleteA crowning achievement? Really?
Are those Rav Shach's words or yours?
Ponevezh, Avi Ezri...I'm sure those would be things he would call his crowning achievements (among many others)
This not so much.
It was/is an unfortunate situation that he had to deal with.
My words.
DeleteRav Schach then showed himself to be not just a relatively typical, albeit leading Rosh Yeshiva, but a מנהיג ישראל, who could effectively deal with an unusual situation, a full-fledged, dangerous, raging, messianic movement of a significant amount of people.
אוי, מי יתן לנו תמורתו
I don't understand what BFG is trying to say about Rav Shach. He was certainly one of the few Gedolim who had the courage to speak out against Chabad.
Delete@L.
DeleteAgreed. And B"H we had him as manhig. Chaval al d'avdin
@Unknown
I wasn't saying anything about Rav Shach. I was simply pointing out that I highly doubt Rav Shach would call it a crowning achievement. That way of describing it has a certain implication which I don't see as accurate. I don't know if Mr L. intended to make those implications or not.
Was it courageous? Absolutely!
Was it vital and necessary for the safety of Klal Yisroel? Without a doubt!
But courageous and vital do not equal crowning achievement and the implication it has.
Thank you for your exhortation about avoiding Chabad houses despite their convenience. Please know that are still some of us left who wouldn't dream of davening in a Chabad house under any circumstances.
ReplyDeleteLB
I hope I won't lose membership to the club with this post, but I make it a rule to investigate whatever I hear. I'm friendly with a certain Lubavicher. This morning he told me something which he had mentioned once before. He believes that the reason for Rav Shach's animus for Chabad was personal. As he understands it Rav Shach wanted to get a job as a Rebbi in a Chabad Yeshiva in 1951 and he was passed over. I'd like to know if there's any truth to this or is it simply what Chabad tells its kids in Cheder.
ReplyDeleteYour membership in the club is hereby revoked, not only that, you are permanently expelled, and any dues paid will not be refunded (joke : D).
DeleteAnyway, I don't know if the Lubavitcher was your go-to gemara guy that you mentioned in the past, or someone else...but be that as it may...
What he told you is wrong. The reason for Rav Schach's stance was because the Rebbe never gave him a dollar. True that Rav Schach did not come to America then, but still, the Rebbe could have sent dollars to him with a shliach (joke :D).
Some people have little stories, they may not even be true at all, or they may be misunderstood, taken out of context, or blown out of proportion. In this case, there may be some truth in that maybe, many years ago, and many years before Rav Schach זצוקללה"ה זי"ע, came out strongly, publicly, about the inyan, he may have at one time been a candidate for a position by them. Who knows. It was a different world then. In 1951 the last Rebbe was just in the beginning of his reign. Lubavitch was very different then.
Anyway, Rav Schach should have thanked Lubavitch for rejecting him (if indeed that is what happened), and given שבח והודאה to הקב"ה for having saved him from such a fate. Rav Schach had already been on the faculty of a different Chasidic yeshiva before WWII in Europe, a much less controversial group, Karlin-Stolin, and had experienced some tension even there. קל וחומר, if he would have become a faculty member at a Lubavitch institution, it would likely not have been a good match. Rav Schach was neither a fool, nor a small baby.
Anyway, such stories may be useful for Lubavitch brainwashing and propaganda, but are laughable, in my opinion. As if Rav Schach had no principles, ח"ו. And why was Rav Aharon Kotler זצ"ל (a relative of Rav Schach through marriage) against them? Are they going to claim that he also was turned down a job at their institution? And Rav Avraham Kalmanovitch זצ"ל? And Rav Ruderman זצ"ל? And many others.
That is something you need to be careful with, when you have such friends, that they don't feed you some fairy tales passed off as the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, when the reality is different.
Thanks for asking, now we took care of some דע מה שתשיב hopefully. :)
והאמת יורה דרכו
It wasn't intentional, but I'm glad that I tickled Mr. Litvak's funny bone. Let me clarify. I learn Gemara using Artscroll. When I get stuck on a point I go online and listen to Rabbi Zajac who lives in LA. Somehow he almost always resolves my difficulties. As for this Lubavicher who told me about Rav Shach, we live in the same neighborhood in Brooklyn. We like each other although we're well aware of our differences. Hopefully this explanation will allow me to be reinstated into the Chaburah.
DeleteLest you question my sanity, before I discovered Rabbi Zajac I would go to or call Rabbi Shmuel Fishelis, who is Rav Dovid Feinstein's son in law with my questions. I'm not saying that Rabbi Zajac knows as much as Rabbi Fishelis, who's Baki in Shas, but it's convenient to listen on line rather than to make the trip to MTJ. Occasionally Rabbi Zajac makes a reference to Chassidus based on some statement but I can vouch that he's pure Torah. Look I acknowledge that my perspective is somewhat different than yours and the other contributors. I'm a pseudo Baal Tshuvah in that I went to Yeshiva growing up but I didn't really become religious until I turned thirty. The guiding principle in my life is Emes and that's why I find Chabad so offensive, because they lie with impunity. The reason I'm sharing this is that I don't have any particular allegiances and therefore if there's something rotten in the state of the Yeshiva world I will speak out, albeit taking care not to violate Loshon Hora laws.
ReplyDeleteOkay my friend...I admire your dedication to אמת.
ReplyDeleteOf course, in general, whatever anyone writes in a comment is their opinion, not necessarily shared by others. In order to have dialogue, we need a certain amount of openness and freedom of expression, of course, וזה פשוט. :)