Chabad-Lubavitch just concluded its kinnus hashluchim.
It is a major part of their PR and advertising, particularly the banquet. They use it to portray themselves as a large organization, with wide range, classy, professional, mainstream Orthodox, universally accepted, and so on.
Many people, unfortunately, fall for their act. The more alert and knowledgeable, however, will notice the multiple lapses evident, whether webcasting that dropped while in progress, mispronunciations, messianism, and more. And the lack of gedolei Yisrael there, while press, politicians, and machers are well represented.
A less knowledgeable observer can go away feeling that Chabad-Lubavitch is the leading Jewish movement, that is everywhere. Which is what they want you to believe.
But there is really another way it should be viewed. Like McDonald's.
McDonald's is the world's largest restaurant chain by revenue, we are told, serving customers in over one hundred countries, with over forty thousand outlets. But people in the know are aware, that no matter how ubiquitous it may be, or may seem, it is neither classy nor healthy. Those that want fast food, and people of less means, may patronize it, but people with more education and class shy away from going there.
The same goes for Chabad, which operates similarly to the business franchise model of McDonald's, where a central organization provides logos, promotional matter, marketing assistance, and so on. Like McDonald's, it too provides an inferior product, which it sells to the spiritually ignorant and indigent. The main market for Chabad Lubavitch shluchim are ignorant Jews, as is well known. Overall, the more Jewishly educated a person is, the less likely they are to attend Chabad.
So keep that in mind the next time you see a Chabad fast religion franchise. And give it the same treatment you would give to a McDonald's you pass. Keep on moving, giving it a wide berth.
Well said Mr. L. Two weeks ago Efrem Goldberg presented an interview in the Jewish vues with Rabbi Sacks in honor of his Yahrtzeit. At one point Rabbi Sacks said that he was disappointed in Modern Orthodoxy which he thinks must copy the Chabad model. He also bought into their propaganda. Very little of what Chabad does can be called Kiruv. At its worst we know what it is and at its best it's a portal for some to discover Judaism. About 10 years I attended the Jewish National Retreat, the Chabad annual convention in Washington DC. Rabbi Shemtov was the host Shliach and he said the following, "People think that we're an outreach organization but they have no idea of our international influence. The new ambassador to the US from Bahrain is a Jew and we've already made contact with her." I smiled when I heard what he said because the ambassador was my wife's distant cousin. With very few exceptions you'll never find a Chabadsker with any connection to Torah. It's all about promoting the brand.
ReplyDeleteThere is some Judaism in what they do, that is what gives it the attraction it has to some, especially some of the masses of ignorant Jews that they target. However, it is heavily adulterated with dangerous rubbish and nonsense, and, as you say, promotion of their brand, their sect, their late Rebbe, and so on. In DC, as elsewhere, they fool the ignorant, who think they represent mainstream Orthodoxy, and mainstream Judaism. Levi Shemtov, their representative there, is thought by some foreign (and domestic) leaders, diplomats, congressional staffers, etc., to be a legitimate mainstream Jewish leader, rather than the leader of a fringe sect that makes a lot of noise and is big on PR. But those who keep their eyes open and seek truth will find it. A few years ago that same guy was involved in a bitter dispute in that area with a fellow Lubavitcher shliach, which was reported in the general press multiple times.
ReplyDeletePeople who are critical of Chabad generally focus on the Moshiach issue. But what should be understood is that Chabad has deemphasized the importance of Talmud Torah. About 20 years ago one Chabad Rabbi told me,"There was someone in Crown Heights who was a genius. He learned day and night. So the Rebbe told him to close his Gemara and do something important, Kiruv. I don't know if the Rebbe really said that but this is the message that's been imparted to his Chassidim.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair Chabad and neo Chasidim are giving the masses what they want, feel good party Judaism. The fact that so many people are attracted to it is a sign that our yeshivot have done a poor job of presenting a correct understanding of what Hashem wants and expects from us.
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome comparison, Lubavitch as the McDonalds of Judaism. I definitely plan on quoting this בשם אמרו
ReplyDeleteThanks for great צום זאך post , as usual.
I'd like to bring this question to the group. If Chabad would have moved on from the Rebbe after he died and replaced him. And if they weren't fixated on the Rebbe being Moshiach, would their approach be valid? I.e international Kiruv. Dovid Lichtenstein, who's obviously biased, put it as follows, "What's better, the Chabad model which produces hundreds of thousands
ReplyDeleteof from Jews or the Yeshiva paradigm that produces five Rosh Yeshivos?"
1) Differences with Chabad-Lubavitch are deep, going back many, many years, centuries actually, and way beyond just the issues with their last Rebbe. Nevertheless, under him, and afterward, the issues seemed to increase.
Delete2) Re kiruv - that is a question that can be considered and discussed. The Litvishe or non-Chabad world is not opposed to kiruv per se, the Chofetz Chaim and others advocated it strongly, for example. However, we must (as has been expressed here in the past) strongly take exception to the notion, or the fantasy, that Lubavitch produces hundreds of thousands of frum Jews, which is way off the mark. A recent (or current) issue of Jewish Action magazine had some words about how many baalei teshuvah there are, or are typically "created" annually, and the figure given was far from what some people dream it is. And Lubavitch obfuscates things around this when they say things like that they want people to do mitzvos and don't count if they are "frum" or not. So that allows them to claim that they reached great numbers of Jews, while the amount that become "frum" is actually much, much less than that. Similarly, the idea that the (non Lubavitch) Yeshiva world just produces five roshei yeshivos is ludicrous. It produces a wide range and variety of products, including rabbis, kiruv workers, baalei batim, and teachers.
Every major chabad yeshiva puts out kovtzim of chiddushei torah at least quarterly. Ohlei Torah twice monthly (קובץ הערות וביאורים). Just curious if you’ve ever taken a look? While in other communities those less inclined to Limud hatorah might get a cpa, go into cash advance, or open a falafel shop, in chabad they by and large leave everything/one they know to live a life of mesiras nefesh in podunk kentucky or Washington DC.
ReplyDeleteI recognize the commenter as a Lubavitcher, of course, but let the comment through anyway. אהלי תורה IIRC is openly messianic, so I guess yechi is on the cover of the kovtzim. When people see such nonsense in the beginning, they might not go further, wondering about the sanity of the writers. Anyway, there are many kovtzim from many different yeshivos and kreizen, it is not like they are the only ones that have such a thing. Re the other matter, as you well know, not all Lubavitchers go out on formal shlichus. Merkaz shlichus is limited, and those who go outside of Merkaz are not unlimited either.
DeleteAgav, it’s interesting that R’ Boruch Povarsky said he learns the Rebbe’s sichos every week. Usually it’s the ner israel chevra that feel the need to assert their litvisher credentials by suddenly turning into gantz kenoyishe chevra when it comes to CHABAD.
ReplyDelete(Another comment from a Lubavitcher I note) If that is true, that is not really relevant to the Litvishe tzibur at large. R. Berel שליט"א, is from an earlier time, pre Ramash (the last Lubavitcher Rebbe), pre-dor shevi'i of Chabad. His father taught at a Lubavitch yeshiva for a period, and he learned there too for a time. So he may have some residual connection from then. But that was a limited time, many years ago. In later years, things changed greatly.
DeleteRe Ner Yisroel - I think you are not informed. Strong opposition to Chabad exists in many Litvishe (Chasidic too actually) yeshivas, the notion that it is limited to one is ludicrous, and way out of touch with reality.
Why is this blog called mr litvak. It has nothing to do with Litvishe culture. It only bashes Chabad and chasidim. Or maybe thats the only thing Litvish has to offer?
ReplyDelete"It has nothing to do with Litvishe culture."
DeleteLitvishe culture? What are you, a Yiddishist from the Arbeter Ring, or YIVO, or something like that? You want us to give classes in Klezmer, Yiddish dance, and language? FYI, this is a site centering on Torah and Yiddishkeit.
We follow the mesorah of Lita, and gedolei Lita, like אדוננו הגר"א זי"ע, Rav Aharon Kotler, Rav Ruderman, Rav Schach, and many others, זצ"ל, which includes pointing out and warning people of errors and misconceptions, even if those errors are not uncommon unfortunately, and are promoted with extensive PR.
Apparently I touched a nerve with my post that imagined a Rebbe less Chabad. So much so that even Lubavichers are chiming in. Let me share my situation. I am vehemently anti Chabad but I daven in a Chabad Shul six days a week. How so? The answer is that I reject Chabad theology but many Lubavichers including the people in that Shul are delightful. What do I reject? It's the notion that a dead Jew will come back to life to redeem the world. You can cite all the Zohars you want but the idea is straight out of the New Testament. I'd like to elaborated on a point that Mr.L made. All legitimate Jewish institutions reject Chabad. What you have are a number of prominent individuals who endorse the movement.
ReplyDeleteDo you ever go to Crown Heights, 770 E.P., the late Rebbe's kever? I assume not now, but perhaps in the past?
DeleteWhat's your point? That since the Rebbe is buried in a Lever that means that Lubavichers accept that he's dead. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The only thing that unites all Lubavichers is that the Rebbe is Moshiach and he'll return to conquer the world.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to comment on Kiruv. Kiruv is fundamental to Judaism and so everyone believes in Kiruv but it must be done with Seichel. Let me explain. I'm a dentist. When I have a patient I take care of him, but when the office is free I learn. Have you ever seen a Lubavichers with a Sefer? That's a rhetorical question. 95% of the time they have no customers to put on Tefilin but they'd never think of using their free time to learn. I guess they're waiting for the Rebbe's email.
ReplyDeleteChabad-Lubavitch theology has a different approach and value system in certain areas. For example, related to this, while others stress learning, they teach that המעשה הוא העיקר, the main thing is action.
DeleteThis comment is completely false. "Have you ever seen a Lubavitchers [sic] with a sefer?" If you haven't, that's because you stay far away from Lubavitchers. Lubavitchers, like all frum Jews, spend their free time learning Torah.
DeleteI actually spend much time with Lubavichers since I daven during the week at Chabad shul. So I'm quite familiar with what you call learning, Chitat, Dvar Malchus and Chayeinu. But even..if we'll call that Chabad Torah learning, the truth is that you guys don't believe in.what you study.Chabad brags that it makes a Siyum on Rambam every year, but Rambam clearly states the criteria for identifying Moshiach and he never mentioned giving a speech on Basis Ligani.
DeleteMr. L. You're far more diplomatic than me. You say that Chabad has a different value system than conventional Judaism. The simple truth is that Lubavichers are programmed puppets who simply wait for their strings to be pulled.
ReplyDeleteI think there are different types. They are not all identical robots. Even if a group was composed of 100% robots (for argument's sake), not all robots are the same. There are many different kinds nowadays (different models, manufacturers). Not all robots are compatible with each other. ;-)
ReplyDelete