A virtual shtick Lita (piece of Lita - Jewish Torah Lithuania) in Cyberspace.
A proud Litvak sharing a Litvish perspective and hashkafah, in a world where it is often drowned out by louder voices. Louder is not necessarily more correct or better.
If your modern Hebrew is shvach, it could be difficult to get I guess. You could try watching it a few times, maybe the chazoro will make it klohr. It is a skit about three neighbors in a building in ארץ ישראל in the COVID-19 era, a Litvishe guy, a Lubavitcher, and a Breslover.
The Litvishe guy tries to be nice to his Lubavitcher neighbor in quarantine, and offers to help him with anything he needs. I'll leave the rest for you to figure out.
Just a few words in honor of the great Yom Tov of Yud Shvat. Shmuel Butman wrote the following in his L'Chaim pamphlet. We're now entering the 71st year of the Rebbe's leadership. He continued,"The reader may be wondering why I'm speaking in the present tense, but it's because the Rebbe is still leading us." He then explained,"Since the Rebbe is a Novi and he declared that our generation will see Moshiach, it follows that our generation will continue until Moshiach comes." Such Lomdus.
He saw "Moshiach" (לשיטתו) a long time ago, he coronated his departed Rebbe like thirty years ago.
In less than two months (יא ניסן) will be the Rebbe's 119th birthday. Then he will enter into his 120th year. You know, like people say, until 120? Wow!
Just two points. I know someone who was a Ben Bayis of the Novominsker Zatzal. He told me that the Novominsker attended the Rebbe's acceptance of the Nesius in 1951 and he described it as a coronation. Second thing. I'm friendly with a Lubavicher so I spoke to him the other day about what Butman said. In particular I told him that your whole religion is based on the idea that the Rebbe is a Novi but that's against what the Gemara said. He responded that the Rebbe said that certain individuals do have Nevuah. We left the discussion at that point
Thank you for posting this humorous clip. It's indeed important to intermittently put lighthearted content on this blog, which usually addresses more serious matters.
I never thought of the L'chaim angle that you commented about. Perhaps that really is a limud zchus on these Crazies !
Regarding the Lubavitcher coronation. This obscure Yud Shevat celebration is becoming a popular thing even outside Chabad. No one stops for even a moment to ponder the absurdities. This is similar to the transformation of Yat Kisleiv from an obscure Chabad phenomenon to an eagerly anticipated event across the Chassidic world.
I do have to take issue re Yud Shevat and Yud Tes Kislev. From what I see, neither is widely, intensely celebrated outside Lubavitch. Of course, there are some naive neo-Chasidim who might indulge a bit, and maybe some ignorant Yidden who swallow the Chabad-Lubavitch talking points hook, line, and sinker. And Lubavitch continues to promote them as general holidays of course. But look more closely and you will see that people aren't buying it. Closer examination of reports, photos, and promotional material will reveal that. For example, a large MO Shul in S. FL just had a Yud Shevat event. But who was behind it? The local Chabad outfits basically. Maybe they rented the MO Shul's auspices, to make it seem like it was the Shul's thing. Or maybe the neo-Chasidic Rabbi (more on him later perhaps) of the Shul gave it to them. After all, he is learning Tanya with a local shliach regularly, as he related in a recent webcast, so he is under the influence. But did the giant membership of the MO Shul participate meaningfully? For the most part, I don't think so (maybe some tuned in for a free concert, but that doesn't make them Lubavitchers).
Just thought I should share this with my friends. As previously noted I have a Lubavich friend and two weeks ago we had a discussion about Dr. Berger's book. To be sure he was fed the typical propaganda that Dr. Berger was a failed academic who needed to make a splash so he chose Chabad as a "kapara yingel". In any case he knew that I read the book and so he was curious about what was said. I shared two points with him. First I noted that the author said that he won't eat Chabad Shechita because he suspects that the Shochtim slaughter with the Rebbe in mind and not Hashem. This Rabbi of course dismissed this stating,"Berger obviously doesn't know these Shochtim. They are the biggest Yirei Shomoyaim you can find." Then I told him that Dr. Berger stated that 8 prominent Chabad Rabbis claimed that the Rebbe is G-d clothed in human form. To my amazement this fellow responded that these Rabbis were correct.He then "proved" this thesis by telling me that every Jew has a spark of Elokus and the Rebbe, who's the Nefesh Klalli encompasses all the sparks and therefore it's proper to consider him G- . Then he threw in a Zohar to leave no doubt. So there you have it. This Lubavicher is an easy going guy and he regularly makes fun of the Chabad crazies who live in Israel, but he told me, in no uncertain terms, that he believes the Rebbe is I'll leave it at that.
Tell him that being that Harav Shach and the Satmar Rov where in similar positions of leadership as the LR, one can assume that they where also a nefesh klali and therefore also considered G-D.
I spoke to this Lubavicher again and he backtracked somewhat. Now he's still convinced that the Rebbe was/is the Nefesh Klali but he made sure to say that that the Rebbe isn't/wasn't G-d but he was G-dlike because he accumulated all the sparks of Hashem of all the Jews. Don't get me wrong. I believe in Chabad theology as much as I do Christianity.
I saw the video but I don't understand the point. A little pshat please.
ReplyDeleteIf your modern Hebrew is shvach, it could be difficult to get I guess. You could try watching it a few times, maybe the chazoro will make it klohr. It is a skit about three neighbors in a building in ארץ ישראל in the COVID-19 era, a Litvishe guy, a Lubavitcher, and a Breslover.
ReplyDeleteThe Litvishe guy tries to be nice to his Lubavitcher neighbor in quarantine, and offers to help him with anything he needs. I'll leave the rest for you to figure out.
Just a few words in honor of the great Yom Tov of Yud Shvat. Shmuel Butman wrote the following in his L'Chaim pamphlet. We're now entering the 71st year of the Rebbe's leadership. He continued,"The reader may be wondering why I'm speaking in the present tense, but it's because the Rebbe is still leading us." He then explained,"Since the Rebbe is a Novi and he declared that our generation will see Moshiach, it follows that our generation will continue until Moshiach comes." Such Lomdus.
ReplyDeleteYou have to read that properly. How can you even dream to understand the words there, if you don't follow the first instruction on top of it?
DeleteThe instruction is L'Chaim. First drink. After you are שיכור, then maybe you can get it, then nonsense make sense.
פארשטייסט? :)
He saw "Moshiach" (לשיטתו) a long time ago, he coronated his departed Rebbe like thirty years ago.
ReplyDeleteIn less than two months (יא ניסן) will be the Rebbe's 119th birthday. Then he will enter into his 120th year. You know, like people say, until 120? Wow!
Just two points. I know someone who was a Ben Bayis of the Novominsker Zatzal. He told me that the Novominsker attended the Rebbe's acceptance of the Nesius in 1951 and he described it as a coronation. Second thing. I'm friendly with a Lubavicher so I spoke to him the other day about what Butman said. In particular I told him that your whole religion is based on the idea that the Rebbe is a Novi but that's against what the Gemara said. He responded that the Rebbe said that certain individuals do have Nevuah. We left the discussion at that point
DeleteThe gemara (בבא בתרא יב:ב) says that nevuah was taken from נביאים after the בית המקדש was חרב, and was given to שוטים ותינוקות. :)
DeletePoint well taken.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this humorous clip. It's indeed important to intermittently put lighthearted content on this blog, which usually addresses more serious matters.
ReplyDeleteI never thought of the L'chaim angle that you commented about. Perhaps that really is a limud zchus on these Crazies !
Regarding the Lubavitcher coronation. This obscure Yud Shevat celebration is becoming a popular thing even outside Chabad. No one stops for even a moment to ponder the absurdities. This is similar to the transformation of Yat Kisleiv from an obscure Chabad phenomenon to an eagerly anticipated event across the Chassidic world.
The Propaganda Machine is winning again.
Hi OL - Thanks for the nice words.
DeleteI do have to take issue re Yud Shevat and Yud Tes Kislev. From what I see, neither is widely, intensely celebrated outside Lubavitch. Of course, there are some naive neo-Chasidim who might indulge a bit, and maybe some ignorant Yidden who swallow the Chabad-Lubavitch talking points hook, line, and sinker. And Lubavitch continues to promote them as general holidays of course. But look more closely and you will see that people aren't buying it. Closer examination of reports, photos, and promotional material will reveal that. For example, a large MO Shul in S. FL just had a Yud Shevat event. But who was behind it? The local Chabad outfits basically. Maybe they rented the MO Shul's auspices, to make it seem like it was the Shul's thing. Or maybe the neo-Chasidic Rabbi (more on him later perhaps) of the Shul gave it to them. After all, he is learning Tanya with a local shliach regularly, as he related in a recent webcast, so he is under the influence. But did the giant membership of the MO Shul participate meaningfully? For the most part, I don't think so (maybe some tuned in for a free concert, but that doesn't make them Lubavitchers).
Just thought I should share this with my friends. As previously noted I have a Lubavich friend and two weeks ago we had a discussion about Dr. Berger's book. To be sure he was fed the typical propaganda that Dr. Berger was a failed academic who needed to make a splash so he chose Chabad as a "kapara yingel". In any case he knew that I read the book and so he was curious about what was said. I shared two points with him. First I noted that the author said that he won't eat Chabad Shechita because he suspects that the Shochtim slaughter with the Rebbe in mind and not Hashem. This Rabbi of course dismissed this stating,"Berger obviously doesn't know these Shochtim. They are the biggest Yirei Shomoyaim you can find." Then I told him that Dr. Berger stated that 8 prominent Chabad Rabbis claimed that the Rebbe is G-d clothed in human form. To my amazement this fellow responded that these Rabbis were correct.He then "proved" this thesis by telling me that every Jew has a spark of Elokus and the Rebbe, who's the Nefesh Klalli encompasses all the sparks and therefore it's proper to consider him G- . Then he threw in a Zohar to leave no doubt. So there you have it. This Lubavicher is an easy going guy and he regularly makes fun of the Chabad crazies who live in Israel, but he told me, in no uncertain terms, that he believes the Rebbe is I'll leave it at that.
ReplyDeleteTell him that being that Harav Shach and the Satmar Rov where in similar positions of leadership as the LR, one can assume that they where also a nefesh klali and therefore also considered G-D.
DeleteI spoke to this Lubavicher again and he backtracked somewhat. Now he's still convinced that the Rebbe was/is the Nefesh Klali but he made sure to say that that the Rebbe isn't/wasn't G-d but he was G-dlike because he accumulated all the sparks of Hashem of all the Jews. Don't get me wrong. I believe in Chabad theology as much as I do Christianity.
Delete