Latecomers Skipping For Tefillah Betzibbur - The Chasm Between Chasidim & Non-Chasidim

 I have long been aware, of course, that the issue of skipping parts of davening to catch up to and daven "שמונה עשרה" (aka "the amidah") with the tzibbur, is a case where Chasidim and Non-Chasidim differ. Non-Chasidim follow the Shulchan Aruch in אורח חיים סימן נב, which prescribes omitting specific sections for latecomers to catch up to the congregation. Even the Chasidic Shulchan Aruch, the Chabad-Lubavitch שולחן ערוך הרב, of the first Rebbe of the group, also says that one should skip in such a case. 

However, practically speaking, widespread Chasidic practice differs from that, holding that the regular order of tefillah should be followed, even at the cost of davening Shemoneh Esrei alone, missing that תפילה בציבור. They claim that changing the order is מהפך הצינורות (cf the old Yiddish expression פארדרייט די יוצרות).

I just learned more about this issue via a recent post at a Chabad-Lubavitch website. There, not surprisingly, it is reported that they staked out an extreme position on this, encouraged by their late last leader, who gave a reason for it based on a teaching in the foundational Tanya work of their faith, that claims that in later generations tefillah is the main avodah and its details are more important to be followed.

Of course, non-Chasidim, generally stick to the Shulchan Aruch on this. This idea that tefillah is the main avodah now is not theirs, and they don't change halachah for such a notion. They stand firm for the old hierarchy of values, with תלמוד תורה maintaining its high and central position, along with קיום המצות. Thereby they gain the koach of תפילה בציבור, and also align with the teaching in שולחן ערוך אורח חיים סימן א, that טוב מעט בכוונה מהרבות בלא כוונה. Intent and understanding is prioritized above verbiage.

Summing up: While Non-Chasidim stress basic traditional tefillah betzibur and kavannah, Chassidim, to a great extent, prioritize Kabbalistic theories about prayer.

In this zechus of proper תפילות, may we be זוכה that they be accepted favorably on high.

כתיבה וחתימה טובה

Openly Messianic Lubavitcher Installed as Chief Rabbi of Moldova, Elaborate Cover-up Follows

An openly meshichist follower of Chabad-Lubavitch, wearing a yechi yarmulka, with a messianic paroches in the background, with a photo of his late Rebbe on display describing him as King Moshiach (in Russian) was recently installed in a public ceremony as chief rabbi of Moldova, by Rav Kalman Ber, and Lubavitcher shluchim director R. Mendy Kotlarsky.

True that Moldova is a poor backwater, but for a רב הראשי of מדינת ישראל, and R. Mendy Kotlarsky to be part of it? What a joke, makes a mockery of purported opposition of such figures to the Chabad-Lubavitch messianism that maintains that their long deceased (over thirty years) Rebbe is Moshiach now.

This can be seen clearly here, in this report, in the video and photos. 

1) New Rav with yechi yarmulka at ceremony.

2) Messianic paroches (top part is so as well, has yechi on it, can be seen elsewhere).

3) Display of photo of late Rebbe with Russian script describing him as Moshiach.

Note as well all the yechi yarmulkas among the attendees, that didn't happen accidentally.

It could be that Rav Bar was blindsided, didn't realize what he was getting into until he arrived, but Kotlarsky knew, Chabad Moldova is a longtime messianic hotbed. Even now, Chabad.org doesn't seem to have a report on the event.

What was quite interesting was what followed later. The story was carried at some other sites, e.g. YWN, COL Live, and as paid jcn publicity, but with a big change, great difference. These later versions were scrubbed of these open messianic manifestations! Some propagandist evidently "cleansed" the coverage to avoid complications.

As the saying goes, however, you can't fool all of the people all of the time. This site is not fooled and its readers should not be either.

Beware of the Chabad-Lubavitch fraudsters, don't fall for those scam artists, say no to Chabad con men.

From One Folly to Another - TYH Hero Rebbe Shows Us Where His Foolish Path Leads

 Update: Links fixed (sorry, there was an error involving the links earlier, now corrected and usable). 

We have written here multiple times about the serious error of the so called "Nikelsburger Rebbe" and his TYH and other followers, promoting the incorrect, and absurd notion that "every Yid is a big tzaddik". This dangerous naivete (charitably speaking - it could deserve a stronger description) is not even fitting for the tots that he used to teach, let alone adults. It displays and advocates a deliberate and shocking lack of הבדלה, the spurning of that so important ability that we seek with the דעת that it goes together with, which we daven for regularly.

עבירה גוררת עבירה, שטות גוררת שטות

This summer we saw where such foolishness can lead. As reported at YWN.

This fool then didn't suffice with erasing and blurring the distinctions between different levels among Yidden, but he proceeded to do so between different faiths as well, Jews and non-Jews, by chanfing (חנופה ר"ל) an outside visiting liberal soft on crime politician, the type of which we suffer from, ר"ל, showering him with multiple brachos that were made for כלל ישראל (see video).

This so called Rebbe should step down, announce that he is no Rebbe. He needn't disappear, he can say that he is a שמש instead, that way he can continue to serve kugel, chulent, other refreshments, and direct parking in the Catskills, but spare us the confused ideas, and lack of Torah discernment displayed.

In the zechus of appropriate הבדלה may we be zoche to additional דעת from above.

Niggun Limud of Rav Boruch Ber זצ"ל

 לכבוד חמשה עשר באב 

Enjoy some old-fashioned Litvishe נגינה. 

א פרייליכען יום טוב

h/t HV

Chabad Drinking Culture: Camp Version

Anash.org raises the alarm to fellow Lubavitcher "Chasidim".

Chabad-Lubavitch Alcoholic Culture (cont.) - Breathalyzers Campaign, and Girls Drinking

 If you didn't believe what has long been known and revealed (here and elsewhere) of the deep and historic connection between Chabad-Lubavitch "Chassidus" and hitting the bottle, here are some additional illustrations that just came to light to consider.

1) Breathalyzer project:

A campaign has been launched to distribute breathalyzers to Chabad centers in advance of the upcoming thirty second death anniversary of their late leader on 3 Tammuz, later this week.

The Chabad-Lubavitch drinking culture is very revealing of the sect.

2) Female Chabadskers joining in:

The problem is not limited to male members of their faith (!).

This is not some outsider making this up, this is coming from insiders of  Chabadianity, longtime practitioners of Lubavitchism.

ב"ה, thank G-d I was raised Jewishly, with traditional Torah attitude in this area.

Prominent Chasidic Author/Speaker Pleads for End to Chabad-Lubavitch Drinking Culture

Chaim Dalfin, a prominent Lubavitcher author/speaker/propagandist recently issued and disseminated impassioned, forceful pleas against the deep-rooted major problem of drinking and drunkenness in the Chabad-Lubavitch faith, among his fellow "Chasidim".

Exhibit #1

Exhibit #2

You can see from how he speaks how deep rooted and widespread the problem is. Even when their late leader tried to reign it in, he was not successful.

Note the large amount of comments and heated reactions as well.

Will a sect of bearded drunkards bring Moshiach? Would you be interested in an investment opportunity in an old landmark bridge in Brooklyn perhaps?

Interestingly, Dalfin's family is relatively new to the Chabad-Lubavitch faith, having converted from Vizhnitz Hasidism in the post WWII period.

May הקב"ה open our eyes and guide us in the proper Torah way, and may the confused, both individuals and sects, return to true Judaism.