It has long been known among people educated in such things, that Chabad-Lubavitch theology differs significantly, both from general Orthodox Jewish theology, as well as from that of other Hasidic groups. However, sometimes we can still be surprised by new revelations that come out. In the past, such things may have been kept more within the group, but nowadays, with modern communications, at times they reach the broader world.
This is the case regarding two reports recently featured online at Lubavitcher websites, in the wake of the passing of a leading theologian of Chabad-Lubavitch, Reb Yoel Kahn, which shared these two bombshells (among others):
1) What is the point of Lubavitchers (ostensibly) spreading Yiddishkeit? For example, promoting Shemiras Shabbos, and Kashrus? Answer: The pnimiyus, inner intention of such actions is to spread Chasidus (response to last question of an interview with the founder of Heichal Menachem, which, by the way, contains additional, similar material as well).
2) How could a Lubavitcher author write about non-Lubavitchers, like "the Rav", Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik OBM? Answer: His teacher, Reb Yoel Kahn, gave him permission to do so, if it would bring people closer to Chasidus. There you have it, from the author himself, Lubavitcher Reb Chaim Dalfin, on the motivation for his books (along with פרנסה of course :).
Let us hope that this enhanced knowledge and understanding of Chabad-Lubavitch belief and motivation will help guide us in our day to day lives, למען לא ניגע לריק ולא נלד לבהלה, ח"ו.
א גוטען חודש
I'm not sure I understand the point you're making. If you're saying that Chabad views non Lubavich Gedolim as pawns to further their agenda I think that's already quite manifest.
ReplyDeleteI think you are alluding to #2 in the post. What about #1? Did you know that one?
DeleteEither way, they both are significant because prominent Lubavitchers are saying them, black on white, rather than outsiders. If it would be coming from an outsider, some might take issue.
I'm sorry but I don't really understand the first point. Please clarify.
ReplyDeleteIf you click on the link and read the relevant segment, you will see that the interviewee says that the reason Lubavitch engages in (what it calls mivtzoim) doing things like promoting Shabbos and Kashrus, is not to spread Torah observance, as others involved in kiruv might say, but rather to spread Chasidus (which to them means Chabad-Lubavitch). That is quite surprising, shall we say.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the clarification. I guess we should be Dan Lkaf Zchus and quote the Berdichever, i.e. at least this fellow's telling the truth. But seriously, we can't overemphasize that this nonsense that Chabad developed its worldwide network to spread the wellsprings of Torah. If we objectively examine their modus operandi, be it when the Rebbe was alive and after, it's all about conquest. That they don't use conventional weapons dilutes their potential danger in most people's eyes, but that's a serious mistake. As I mentioned in a previous posting, Dr. Berger told me that the Rebbe spoke often about conquering the world, and I have tremendous faith in his assessment. The story making the rounds about the Lubavicher who was allegedly beaten up by a now penitent Satmar speaks to this point. What nerve do Lubavichers have coming to religious strongholds to expose others to their brand of Judaism. Would they welcome Rav Avraham Shorr to give a Mussar Shmuess in 770? Lately I've spent a number of Shabbosim in my old stamping grounds, the Lower East Side, and each time the Shul was visited at Shalosh Seudos by a Heiliger Chabad emissary, who made the long walk from Crown Heights. It went the same on each occasion. The young man starts off with a Dvar Torah of middling quality, but then you get what he came for, some stupid diatribe about the Rebbe and Moshiach. Most frum Lower East Siders aren't fooled by them but as for recognizing that ultimately the Rebbe is to blame for this perversion doesn't sit well with the masses.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, it is important to clarify that when a word like conquest is used in such context, it is meant in a spiritual way.
DeleteRe the speakers from Lubavitch that go out to different congregations on various occasions such as Shabbasos and Yomim Tovim - often the congregations that let them speak are weak, places that are desperate for help, so they fall for the offer of free programming and speakers. Either that, or they are fellow travelers, or of the "open-minded" persuasion. Serious, strong congregations don't usually let them speak for the most part AFAIK. People are not so stupid. As the saying goes, you can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time.
The Shul I'm referring to on the Lower East Side is actually fairly strong. The Rabbi is a Bobover and his grandfather was a legitimate Godol(he knew Shas by heart.) I'm not sure why they allow the Lubavichers to come and speak because there's no shortage of Bnei Torah in the neighborhood who can present quality Divrei Torah. Rav Dovid's son told me that recently they've been ramping up their actions. I don't know whether this is isolated to the LES or if it's a general trend. Look it serves the purpose of making their adherents think that they're accomplishing something.
ReplyDeleteRabbi Efrem Goldberg strikes again. He just made his pilgrimage to the holiest place in the universe, the Ohel. If these well meaning buffoons just took a step back and objectively examined the message of Chabad they'd stay as far away from them as possible. Rabbi Goldberg is a nice man and a good Jew and he had the greatest respect for our Gedolim, but he makes the mistake of assuming that since Chabad reaches out to the religiously unwashed that they obviously love Orthodox Jews. But this is simply not true. Chabad is following Amalek's m.o. which is to say that they want to grab all those who are religiously weak.Shmuel But man praised Mike Blomberg when he was awarded the Genesis Prize in 2014, calling him a committed Jew. I'm still waiting for him to praise any observant Jew and it goes w/o saying any Godol
ReplyDeleteR. Goldberg is a nice man, but I heard him say a while back that he is learning Tanya with a local shliach. So if he is doing that already, it is not surprising at all if he goes to the tomb of his chavrusa's late Rebbe next. As the Rabbis taught us, כך היא דרכה של יצר הרע, היום אומר לו עשה כך, ולמחר אומר לו עשה כך, עד שאומר לו עבוד עבודת כוכבים
DeleteThat's quite appropriate. Where would I find that quote?
ReplyDeleteתלמוד בבלי שבת דף קה ע"ב
ReplyDeleteThanks for directing me to that site, but it's an exercise in futility to engage in a "scholarly dispute" with Lubavichers. The only argument they use is "the Rebbe said so." That the Rebbe routinely played fast and loose with the Gemara means nothing to them so why bother trying to get them to see the light. Rambam clearly stated that no one will recognize Moshiach until he completes his mission but that doesn't stop them from proclaiming that the Rebbe is Moshiach.
ReplyDeleteIdeas have consequences. Wrong ideas have dangerous consequences. About a year ago a Lubavicher with whom I'm friendly asked me what Dr. Berger said about Chabad. I mentioned that 8 Chabad Rabbis said that the Rebbe is G-d clothed in human form. He then explained, "Every Jew has a spark of Elokus and the Godol Had or has the entire collection of these sparks. Since the Rebbe lived in this generation he accumulated all the sparks of all the generations, so he's like Hashem." When I saw him the next week he backtracked, but the point was made. In the 70's there was a commercial for the black colleges. It's catch line was,"A mind is a terrible thing to waste. " I'm sure that most Lubavichers have above average intelligence, they forfeited their free will.
ReplyDeleteThey can still do teshuvah, HKB"H is waiting and longing for them to return. As we say in davening soon, עד יום מותו תחכה לו, until their last day Hashem awaits.
DeleteYou're obviously correct, but I'm pragmatic and I've seen my share of Lubavichers who've crossed the 50th gate and I hold out little hope for them. On the other hand, there are those who can be spoken to and while I have to use tact still it's encouraging that they at least allow me to express my contrary thoughts. On a different note, I'd like to make an appeal to those reading this blog. Please don't let this become a dialogue between Mr. L and myself. While we're not looking for dozens of people to make mindless comments, intelligent remarks of the type you've made in the past are welcomed.
ReplyDeleteJust a suggestion. I think you should weigh in on the interview which Rabbi Besser conducted with YY Jacobson.
ReplyDeleteI believe you are referring to the Mishpacha video (https://mishpacha.com/take-2-with-rabbi-yy-jacobson/ or at YouTube).
DeleteMultiple comments can be made about the fawning lovefest, but for now, bekitzur, the following can be said.
It is revealing of the interviewer (and talented writer). Seeing how he flatters Reb Yossi Jacobson (as Crown Heights Lubavitchers know him), whom we have discussed in a previous post, one can extrapolate re how much credibility he has in his hagiographical writings generally.
He puts forth a notion of Reb YYJ as a meteor who came out of nowhere and conquered the frum world by storm, doing it his way. That is ludicrous. YJ is a product of Chabad-Lubavitch through and through, albeit more cosmopolitan and well-spoken than most others in that group. He followed in the footsteps of his older brother Reb Simon, who also, in the aftermath of the passing of their Rebbe, fashioned a career as a writer and speaker both within and without of their community.
Mishpacha thinks they can annoint people of their choosing as the gedolim and leaders of Klal Yisrael, as they claim that they drive the conversation in the community. Well, they may have "modestly" appointed themselves to such an imaginary role, but one day, they may stop driving for a moment, look back, and find that masses of people have moved on from them.
I don't read Mishpacha, so I can't really make a cogent comment about it, but I sense you're not a fan. Could you clarify your objection(s) and also what was Rabbi Besser trying to accomplish? He gave YY he simplest questions to answer and allowed him to present the Rebbe in glowing terms to the public.
ReplyDeleteWould anyone care to comment on the "Yom Geulah" scheduled for Sept. 5th. It sounds like another attempt to Kasher Chabad for the frum world.
DeleteI guess you mean "United for Geulah". Another harebrained Chabad-Lubavitch Bring Moshiach Quick scheme. Like their relatives, get rich quick schemes, they don't deliver, and leave a trail of disappointment, if not worse. And yes, as you seem to allude to, they did attempt to hide that it was basically a Chabad-Lubavitch thing, by including addresses from non-Lubavitchers, for example. However, there are no leading Litvishe speakers from the leading Torah centers. Of the two Litvishe on the program, one is a young inspirational speaker, who they perhaps got by paying his fee, and the other is a Rav chashuv, albeit from a distant part of the world, who perhaps was not fully aware how he was used by Lubavitch here.
DeleteA gut yahr to all. I'd like to call your attention to an article from Politico written in 2017. It insinuates that Chabad made a Shidduch between Trump and Putin. It's well researched and makes some salient remarks. I was especially impressed with Boteach's comment. He said that Chabad presents a third option in Judaism where one can remain nonobservant and still be accepted by ostensibly Orthodox Jews. He noted that this resonates with Russian Jews who consider Reform Judaism illegitimate but have no intention of becoming religious.
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