Tuesday, November 16, 2021

PSA: What's Behind the TYH Nation Movement?

 Thank you Hashem! הפעם אודה את ה.

A beautiful concept, and way to live. An attitude of gratitude, as the phrase coined by some clever person describes it.

When I first learned of this and saw their signature music video, I was quite impressed. They seemed to be doing good work, spreading a great message.

But then, over time, I saw more of what they were putting out, and started wondering more and more where they were coming from. Gradually, it dawned upon me, and I discovered more and more evidence to that effect, that it was another neo-Chasidus endeavor from the Five Towns area of NY, that hotbed of the movement.

A few illustrations.

1) In a recent video, a member of the family which started the TYH nation movement admits openly that it is about spreading Chasidus.

2) The singer Joey Newcomb, who is quite involved with them, seems to be quite involved with neo-Chasidus, at times with neo-Hasidic leader R. Yussi Zakutinsky (himself a close associate of senior neo-Hasidic leader Rabbi Moshe Weinberger of Woodmere, whose kollel he learns in).

3) A while ago they put out a song promoting the Chabad-Lubavitch doctrine that 'every Yid is a Chelek Eloka mimaal mamash', a doctrine that is outside of mainstream Orthodox theology, frequently misunderstood, and bordering on (if not outright) apikorsus R"L (for more on this important inyan, see this discussion online a while back).

4) Just a few days ago, they released a new music video "Every Yid's a Big Tzadik", based on a song and teaching of a Chasidic fellow from Brooklyn, NY, who is a Pre-1A Rebbe in a yeshiva there for many years, who some people call 'the Nikelsburger Rebbe'. The problem is, that it just ain't so, and is dangerously naive and misleading (it also goes against the Chabad-Lubavitch sefer Tanya, which says (AIUI) that most people are beinonim).

Anyway, based on the above, it is clear, that despite some cute songs and swag, caution is warranted and advised with regard to the TYH nation movement, שומר נפשו ירחק מהם, people concerned about their souls should keep a distance.

ולשומעים ינעם ותבוא עליהם ברכת הטוב

40 comments:

  1. Excellent investigative work. Brilliant! So amazing how you managed to expose the hidden agenda of these fraudsters who dare try to encourage a greater consciousness of Hashem in our communities, promoting Emunah, ahava and yirah, and simcha which the Chasam Sofer considers to be a mitzvah d'oraysa. Due to your incredible and important work, Jews will now be aware of this terrible attempt to restore the primacy of dveikus into Yiddishkeit - enabling them to continue to live in sadness, misery, and hopelessness. Ashrecha! You are truly saving am Yisrael!

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    1. A big problem with people like you is the rank deception you employ. You mention all these great sounding words (emunah, ahava, yirah, simcha, dveikus), making it seem like it is mainstream Orthodox Jewish Jewish, but conceal that it is actually a Neo-Hassidic organization, trying to spread Hassidism. Stop the deception, declare straight out that it is a Neo-Chassidic endeavor, and at least people will have a better idea of what it is, not be fooled, and then they can choose what they want to do more intelligently.

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    2. There is no deception. Emunah, ahavam, yirah, simcha, and dveikus ARE "mainstream Orthodox Judaism", inasmuch as we care about Torah sheB'ksav and Baal Peh. The couldn't have stated more clearly that their endeavor was affiliated with "Neo-Chassidism" (a term R' Weinberger happens not to appreciate) - that's why your "investigative work" here is so pathetic. What do you want them to do, put a disclaimer on their Chassidus shiurim that they intend to spread the messages of the Baal Shem Tov, which, again, are only basic concepts in yiddishkeit that have become marginalized and sidelined in favor of an intellectual and cerebral Judaism that is often (not always) devoid of the heart about which Chazal say "Rachmanah liba ba'i" and susceptible to tefillah which may be described as "b'sfasav kibduni v'libam richak mimeni" and has led to a mass malady of the "Mitzvos anashim m'lumadah" that Hashem so despises. If you can honestly look around at the state of our communities, with the multitude of issues we are facing on every level - issues Chassidus proports to, and is often successful in, resoliving - and claim that everything is peachy, you are delusional and not worth the time it takes to engage in conversation in this medium. But it's no matter - continue posting exasperated blogs here which no one reads and most comments (I checked) ridicule, while Yiddishkeit wins and fake "derachim" that run contrary to Hashem's expressed intention in His Torah continue to run themselves into the ground. There is nothing you can do to stop it. Things are changing, and am Yisrael is reclaiming its glory as we move into the yemos haMoshiach. Then, the whole world will forsake their small-minded folly and finally see the truth. But again, until then, have fun shouting into the wind. There is no one left to listen.

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    3. And what about the rank deception you employ, Mr. L, in your attempt to make it seem like there is some nefarious plot by the Neo-Hassidic organizations and those that you have deemed its leaders to infect the Jewish world with its poisonous hashkafos.

      You fabricate facts and use exaggerations to push your agenda.
      Joey Newcomb does not consider Rabbi Zakutinsky to be his rabbi.
      Rabbi Zakutinsky is not a talmid muvhak of Rabbi Weinberger.
      These are distortions of reality that you exaggerate to make it seem like there's an underground network of neochassidim out hunting for Jewish souls.

      You claim to be "sharing a Litvish perspective and hashkafah".
      I would love for you to actually do that.
      Perhaps that would help many people.
      Instead almost every post here in recent times is bashing other perspectives and hashkafos and saying that that's not the Litvishe mesorah and hashkafa.
      For the love God and your fellow Jews who are lost and searching please tell us what is the Litvishe hashkafa??!!
      I come from strong Litvishe family roots.
      I went to Litveshe yeshivos.
      I went through the system and like almost everyone else, came out not knowing what the Litveshe haskofos are.
      I was never taught what it is or guided what to learn to figure it out.
      Sure I can tell you about the differences between the Litveshe and chassideshe hashkafos in regards to learning Torah and other such specific details but not the overarching Litveshe hashkafos that should guide ones life and perception of the world.

      Oddly enough, I recently stated listening to shiurim from a someone that you would probably consider to be a member of the neochassidic soul hunters and I have learned a lot more of the Litveshe hashkafa from him in a real and positive way then anyone ever before.


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    4. I have seen Joey Newcomb working with R' Zakutinsky at his KMH congregation, so I thought he was a regular there. If he is only irregular there, I stand corrected. Either way, I think it is clear that Joey is part of the movement.

      R' Zakutinsky learns in Reb Weinberger's Kollel Emek Hamelech, and is definitely connected to him. If you want to claim that he is not his talmid muvhak, just someone influenced by him who learns in his kollel, nu nu. Those are just small details, the main points made still stand.

      Re Litvishe hashkofoh, okay, I agree, too many are ignorant of it. Too many think that it is just learn, learn, learn... Yes, that is a great yesod of it, but not its totality. Sometimes I talk about it, in general, or when distinguishing it from other paths. Maybe in the future we will be zoche to get into it more.

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    5. Astonishing that Mr. Anonymous could claim with a straight face that the Besht's philosophy was "mainstream Judaism" and his detractor introduced newfangled ideas. Mamash Moishe Kapoyer.

      To BFG:

      You want Litvishe hashkafah?? If you learned in yeshiva as you claim you dud, than you have it. They taught you the impotance of Torah and Mitzvos; you learned Nefesh Hachaim; you learned mussarand tried to be serious in Elul. THAT IS LITVISHE HASHKAFAH; TORAH, MITZVOS, YIRAS SHMAYIM,MIDDOS, PLAIN AND SIMPLE. The absurd idea that you need other thing to augment these things is inherently a Chasidic idea and is treif.

      (Diclaimer: I do have to admit, as I have in the past, that I do not agree with Mr. L's take on Miron. As I once wrote I am quite surprised that he holds this way, and I think it is unbefitting)

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    6. Mr L,

      You present yourself as a seeker and arbiter of emes and then when called out on your fabrications and exaggerations in your attempt to portray the "Neo-Chassidus Movement" as nefarious plot to poison people with kefira and apikorsus your response is
      "nu nu. Those are just small details.."
      No they are not small details. There is no plot by the "Neo-Chassidim" to snatch Jewish souls and infect them with kefira. Only to spread Torah, emunah, yiras shomayim, ahavas H" etc.. through ways and ideas that they have found work for them and they connect to. The ideas of Chassidus may not be your mesorah, that's fine. By all means, stick to your mesorah. If you feel they are kefira by all means shout it from the rooftops. But you do everyone a disservice by not explaining in a clear way why they are. There certainly are ideas in Chassidus that seem to be controversial. They are subtle and delicate ideas (after all it is pretty much based in the writings of the Ari Hakadosh) and need to be analyzed and discussed and not just blindly accepted or just cast away as kefira.

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    7. Old Litvak,
      "You want Litvishe hashkafah?? If you learned in yeshiva as you claim you dud, than you have it. They taught you the impotance of Torah and Mitzvos; you learned Nefesh Hachaim; you learned mussarand tried to be serious in Elul. THAT IS LITVISHE HASHKAFAH; TORAH, MITZVOS, YIRAS SHMAYIM,MIDDOS, PLAIN AND SIMPLE. The absurd idea that you need other thing to augment these things is inherently a Chasidic idea and is treif"

      I didn't claim that I learned in yeshiva, I DID learn in yeshiva. You actually think chassidus is coming to augment torah, mitzvos, yiras shomayim, middos?? Like for real you think that?

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    8. Speaking just about the ideas for a moment... I do not think deveiqus is a meaningful concept in non-Chassidic Yahadus.

      In a Litvisher hashkafah, one would believe that ahavas Hashem is, well, more like this quote from The Little Prince: "Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction."

      Delete
  2. It's good to know that the enemy is aware of our work. FYI, this week's Jewish Press has a full page Chabad infomercial. First it was FTJT now JP how long before the other so called right wing publications cave in? A week ago I read the following. One of Arik Sharon's military aides described meeting the Rebbe. He first spoke about the Rebbe's understanding of military strategy (no one doubts the Rebbe's genius). At the end, the retired general noted that he expected the Rebbe to mention something about religion so he was pleasantly surprised when the Rebbe told him that it's enough that he's protecting the Jewish people. Neo Chassidus Chabad whatever they call it is feel good Judaism. If we avoid subjects like reward and punishment, Olam Habo and Gehinnom they'll magically disappear. A Chabad rabbi once told me that the Rebbe said,"Olam Hazeh is Olam Habo." It's possible he was misquoting, but this is clearly in line with their Hashkofah.

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  3. What you are promoting, while there may be good intentions, is problematic, as outlined in the post. Saying that every Yid is a big tzadik is not true. Where do Chazal say such a thing? If every Yid is a big tzadik, a big tzadik is not a big tzadik. You cheapen the whole idea of tzidkus. When you teach people that a neshomo is a "piece of Hashem", you are getting into apikorsus and kefira territory. There is a difference between הקב"ה, the בורא, and אדם, the נברא. Blurring the lines between the two is dangerous.

    We need to thank Chasidus for what? The deaths of forty five people at Meron just a few months ago? The messianic movement of the late Rebbe of Crown Heights that continues today, decades after his passing, still considering him Messiah?

    Yes, there are problems all over, and we surely need to urgently address them. But don't try to fool us and tell us that Hasidism has all the answers. I am not interested in buying that big bridge near Crown Heights.

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    1. "If every Yid is a big tzadik, a big tzadik is not a big tzadik. You cheapen the whole idea of tzidkus."
      Foolish. No one thinks any less of the Chofetz Chaim or Rav Moshe Feinstien because of some catchy jingle.

      "When you teach people that a neshomo is a "piece of Hashem", you are getting into apikorsus and kefira territory."
      So address it in a real way, with real sources that discuss it, not the YWN coffee room. Dont throw out vague wording to make it seem like its kefira and there's nothing else to talk about.

      "We need to thank Chasidus for what? The deaths of forty five people at Meron just a few months ago?"
      Really??? Disgusting.

      "But don't try to fool us and tell us that Hasidism has all the answers"
      None of the "Neo-Chassidus" leaders say this. You claim they do but they don't. Its another fabrication in your attempt to portray this as a nefarious plot.

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    2. Really, saying every yid is a big tzaddik isn't true? So the pasuk "v'ameich kulam tzaddikim" (see Malbim ad loc, Pesachim 53b) is a joke? Do you really believe that the composer/producer/promoter of this song thinks that there is no difference between a tzaddik and a simple Jew on the street? The message here - which admittedly requires critical thinking skills that seem to be lacking in this corner of the internet - is that, like Reb Tzadok writes in Tzidkas HaTzaddik, every Yid contains a "nekudas tzaddik" within, wherein he is a "tzaddik l'oso davar" as he describes; a place where "bein kach ubein kach banai heim", where "af al pi shechata, Yisrael hu." The purpose of this message is to assure each and every Jew that it is possible to dig deep and uncover living waters of holiness that abide beyond the dirt of sins and lowliness that is entirely external (rooted in the Nachash HaKadmoni, see Nefesh HaChaim Shaar Aleph, how's that for a nice Litvish source), and that he or she can once more begin to reveal that point and achieve intimacy with Hashem. Cheilek Eloka M'Maal is a similarly nuanced idea, one which is treated in thousands of pages in Chabad Chassidus, pages you will unfortunately never have the humility to absorb because of your shallow assessment of Chabad as a community with no apparent awareness as to the mighty theology composed by no less a lamdan and Talmud Chacham than the Baal HaTanya over 200 years ago. These are big ideas, and the assumption is that the possibility of them being misunderstood and leading to the heresy that every Jew is God (never happened) is far, far less of a risk than the possibility of them never being taught leading to the prevalence of despair, shallowness, and hopelessness in our communities (literally happening every day).

      I cannot bring myself even to respond to your comment on Meron. Teshuvah b'tzidah. I think it speaks volumes about the kind of person you are (of course, b'chitzoniyus - you are a cheilek Eloka m'maal too, and even, in a sense, a big tzaddik in the recesses of your soul) and the quality of your thinking. Your disgusting comment on Chabad is addressed above.

      I don't say Chassidus has all the answers. Only Hashem has all the answers. But He has sent tzaddikim to the world toward the end of time who knew how to speak the language of a hurting generation. Where nothing else has worked, Chassidus and a focus on the interiority of our tradition is beginning to enliven Orthodoxy, igniting a new passion and interest across the spectrum and in Jews of all ages in yiddishkeit, with all of its access points and manifestations in a way that hasn't been seen in a very, very long time. And you have nothing better to do but sit on this blog and rant about "Neo-Chassidus" as some sort of sectarian, evil monster that must be eradicated when all it is doing - and exceedingly successfully - is bringing Yidden closer to Hashem, closer to their neshamos, closer to the purpose of our nation - not as a nation of lamdanim, but as "am zu yetzarta li tehillasi yesapeiru"?

      Take a good look in the mirror. It's shameful. Absolutely shameful. And it's not too late for you to wake up as well.

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    3. Let me elaborate a bit on my contention that 'Every Yid's a big tzadik' is not true.

      1) If it would have said 'every Yid is a tzadik', that would have been less of an issue. But a *big* tzadik? C'mon now...that is dangerous fantasy.

      2) The posuk of ועמך כלם צדיקים which you cited, which was read in a recent haftarah, is talking about לעתיד לבא. We know the klal of אין מקרא יוצא מדי פשוטו. Yes, Chazal do cite it (as an אסמכתא perhaps) when they say כל ישראל יש להם חלק לעולם הבא. But they don't say 'every Yid is a big tzadik'.

      3) In colloquial language, the way typical people speak, to say that a person is a tzadik means that he is very righteous. To claim that the song instead means an obscure pshat of Reb Zadok, which is not the simple meaning, the פשוט פשט of the words, is not adequate to justify it, as the hamon am will take it literally.

      Re 'cheilek Elokah mimaal mamash' - this was and is opposed by גדולי ישראל, who reject the position of the Alter Rebbe of Lubavitch on this just as they reject many of his other positions, for example, on what is the proper nusach hatefillah. Just like there is no problem for a Ashkenaz Yid in davening nusach Ashkenaz, despite the fact that Lubavitchers want him to daven their nusach which they think is the greatest, so too there is no problem with him rejecting the Alter Rebbe's position on other things. He is following his mesorah, his gedolim, which reject and have rejected Hasidism for hundreds of years.

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    4. "Let me elaborate a bit on my contention that 'Every Yid's a big tzadik' is not true.

      1) If it would have said 'every Yid is a tzadik', that would have been less of an issue. But a *big* tzadik? C'mon now...that is dangerous fantasy."

      Mr. L, this is joke, right?

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    5. וְעַמֵּךְ֙ כֻּלָּ֣ם צַדִּיקִ֔ים לְעוֹלָ֖ם יִ֣ירְשׁוּ אָ֑רֶץ נֵ֧צֶר מטעו [מַטָּעַ֛י] מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָדַ֖י לְהִתְפָּאֵֽר׃
      - ישעי' ס:כא

      See the Malbim, who takes a more inclusive approach, and Metzudas David who says that this is after chevelei moshiach... Only tzadiqim will survive, so Hashem's nation will be all tzadiqim.

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  4. Shakespeare wrote,"A plague on both their houses." There's an opportunity here to engage in a meaningful dialogue between opposing sides, and it shouldn't degenerate into epithets. Mr. L. it's a cheap shot to attribute the deaths in Meron to Chassidus and you're too fine a person to make such a statement. As for Anonymous it would help if you reveal your name and affiliation. I've been part of this blog for about 3 years and though it's relatively small in numbers I believe that Hashem is a fan because we deal in truth as opposed to what you offer which are meaningless cliches. I encourage you to write but I'll warn you in advance the truth always wins. By the way my name is Dr. Yaakov Stern. When you have nothing to hide you don't hide behind the Anonymous label.

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  5. "The problem is, that it just ain't so, and is dangerously naive and misleading"

    Maharal Derech Chaim
    אבל פירוש הכתוב, שרוצה לומר כי ישראל כולם צדיקים. ואין הפירוש שהם צדיקים על ידי מעשה, דהוי ליה לומר 'ועמך צדיקים ירשו ארץ', כי אי אפשר שיהיו כולם צדיקים. ומאחר שאמר "ועמך כולם", רוצה לומר שהם צדיקים בעצמם, בלא צד מצות ומעשים
    טובים, יש להם חלק לעולם הבא

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  6. Besht is basic concepts in yiddishkeit? You should see what the Rambam says about people who believe that the RBSO controls which way a leaf falls. It ain't complimentary.

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  7. Hi. It's Yaakov Stern again. I would probably describe myself as neo Orthodox in that I went to Yeshiva growing up but I wasn't totally frum(that came later). I can't match Posukim, Gemaras and Ma'amarei Chazal with others in the group but I think that's to my advantage because I rely on empirical evidence. About seven years ago someone started coming to shul to say Kaddish for his parents both of whom died within a few months of each other. I live in the same building as this fellow who's an overt Mechallel Yom Kippur (but he's a nice guy). One day he comes over to tell me that the Rabbi called him a Tzaddik. I went to speak to this Rabbi(Chabad of course) and asked him how he could tell this fellow that he's a Tzaddik. His answer? According to Chabad all Jews are Tzaddikim there's just different levels of Tzaddikim. This Rabbi's son once approached a Russian Jewish woman asking for a donation. The lady gave him a check to which he said,"This isn't enough. The money you give me is making up for the seventy years which you and your elders couldn't practice Yiddishkeit I'm Russia." You can guess what this woman answered. BFG wants to understand what true Litvish Judaism is all about. I don't know and I don't care. I practice G-d centric Judaism. Hashem's Middah is Emes and that generally doesn't exist in Chabad. And that includes the late last Rebbe who routinely changed Pshat on Gemaras so that they come out to his liking. A lawyer friend once told me,"The truth isn't actionable." I dare anyone to try
    and challenge me.

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  8. As this blog gains prominence, the amount of anymosity in the comments section seems to be growing.

    And that means that Mr. L. is indeed onto something big (as we knew all along). It is becomes apparent that he's touching a raw nerve with the Neos and their sympathizers.

    I appreciate Mr. L.'s keen instincts in spotting the hidden agenda of the Neo movement, as well as his ability to explain how their philosophy is misguided.

    Thank you once again.

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  9. Welcome back Old Litvak, your input is greatly valued. I used to listen to Shmuel Butman on Motzei Shabbos and this was one of his favorite refrains, "When Moshiach comes there won't be any more Shnayim Ochzin Btallis yes there will be Shnayim Ochzin Btallis, but only its Kabbalistic interpretation." Then he'd continue,"For 2000 years those Rosh Yeshivot have had their fun but now their time is over." This then reflects extreme Chabad theology to wit, when the Besht arrived Torah Judaism ended, and when the Baal Hatanya came the other Chassidic movements became null and void. In varying degrees all Lubavichers along with their sympathizers think like this. That's why Weinberger said that Chassidus is the Torah of Moshiach and why he made a stupid
    joke about Litvaks and Gehinnom implying that only Litvaks will end up there.
    So what's the difference between our side and the faction of BFG and Anonymous? We're looking for the truth and so if someone on our side makes an error we'll criticize him. To Mr. L's credit he prints posts which attack him. In contrast the other side waits for what they consider a slip up and then they pounce, but they're unwilling and unable to engage in a meaningful and open dialogue. In short they're bullies.
    "

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    1. Some time ago, I labeled BFG a contrarian and I believe that's correct. You never address any of the points which Mr. L and his supporters make rather you just look for errors to prove your "krum" agenda. We're probably not so far apart but we can't bridge the gap with someone who's intransigent. Why don't you start by telling us what you think of Weinberger's joke. The truth is that many frum Jews aren't cut out for learning and if they connect through Chassidus so be it. The issue that I'm raising is that neo Chassidus and Chabad are trying to redefine the paradigm and if you had any interest in the truth you would admit that I'm right. But I'm not holding out hope you're probably looking for grammar mistakes.

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    2. These are not grammar mistakes. They are Mr L's attempts to spin a conspiracy theory that there is a cabal of Neo-Chassidism poisoning Jews with chassidus and trying to snatch Litvishe souls.
      That is addressing his point

      I replied to his point about the song. I quoted the Maharal. The response? Crickets

      The intellectual dishonesty here flows like an open sewer.

      Regarding Rabbi Weinberger's joke, I understood the punchline differently than you did. But that's irrelevant, either way is was a joke deriding Litvaks and rosh yeshivas, And I found it as funny as I find jokes about Chassidim, Sfardim, Ahskenazim, Yekkes etc...

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  10. This is a little off subject but I think its worth sharing. I told over my weekly Dvar Torah(Vayishlach) to my Chabad friend. It alluded heavily to Moshiach so he was pleasantly surprised. I told him,"I want Moshiach just as much as you people, the only difference is that I don't care who he is." He made a face as if to say I was wrong, but then he just walked away.

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  11. Thank you for bringing this to public awareness. In any case the chitzoniyus of the TYH movement robs it of all true meaning. Ablosutely cheap shallow efort free feel good Judaism.

    LB

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    1. I think of them in the way R. Chaim Volozhiner writes of certain people in his time, אנשים אשר קרבת אלקים יחפצון, they are people that desire/seek closeness to Hashem, and that is good. They have been sold a bill of goods by certain people however, a certain derech, or derachim, that spirituality and penimiyus haTorah is basically in Uman, Lubavitch, Berdichev, etc., rather than Frankfurt, Pressburg, or Vilna, and maybe they don't know better. But someone needs to speak out when they are trying to peddle this falsehood to Klal Yisroel on a large scale, and too many naive kids and not such kids are falling for it.

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  12. Kudos to BFG. I didn't think he had the guts to respond to my challenge. Yes you deftly pushed aside Weinberger's joke, but what would you say to Butman's comment that conventional Talmudic study will be eliminated when Moshiach comes. I am not embellishing what he said by one iota. If you have any integrity you'll address that point. As for your argument that Mr. L is inventing conspiracy theories, perhaps he does go a bit too far, but there's no question that there's a movement afoot to supplant traditional Yiddishkeit with what is accurately labeled "feel good Judaism."

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  13. [Edited]

    I'd like to share the following incident. About 20 years ago a couple became observant. The husband was a billionaire in real estate. They moved to Cincinnati and Chabad hooked up with them. The husband gave mega millions to Chabad. In any case, the real estate market went sour and the fellow was wiped out. He then announced that he wanted nothing to do with a G-d who would something like that and he abandoned the faith dumped his wife and married a non-Jew. Feel good Judaism has no answers when such things happen. To be fair I also criticize extreme right wingers like R. Miller and Mizrachi who try to blame the victims. No one can assert why things happen but Mussar provides the tools to deal with life's vicissitudes. PS I went to a Yud Yes Kislev Farbrengen. There was a fellow there and he was totally gung ho on Chabad. You guys are the best, Chassidus is the best. The guy is in his late 20s. He comes to Shul only Shabbos mornings. You can guess the rest. Shmuel Boteach said it brilliantly in 2017,"Chabad is popular because it represents a third option for Jews i.e. you can come to an Orthodox shul but remain nonobservant. BFG you're still on the clock. Let's see how you get out of this one.

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  14. FYI Yochanan Gordon in this week's 5TJT writes a lengthy piece in which he advocates introducing the study of Chassidus into mainstream Yeshivos. Would you care to comment on this?

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    1. I found the piece I think you are referring to (http://www.5tjt.com/the-third-verse/). 5TJT is a Lubavitcher paper, readers are exposed to high doses regularly, caution is definitely warranted and advised.

      He wrote a clever pshetl, but I am not buying it. If he is such a big Lubavitcher, he should patronize only Lubavitch yeshivos. He is trying to have it both ways. Attend what he calls "mainstream yeshivas", but tell them to incorporate Lubavitch elements. Well, what do you think would be the reaction if a non-Hasid would go to a Lubavitcher yeshiva and tell them to teach Misnagdic teachings, say from the Vilna Gaon, Rav Schach, others? I do share with him the yearning for peace of course, we hope for שלום, ה' יברך את עמו בשלום.

      Since he mentions Moshiach and the Alter Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch in his piece, maybe he needs to be reminded that the Alter Rebbe said that Moshiach will be a non-Hasid, as we have written about here several times in the past (e.g. https://mrlitvak.blogspot.com/2014/11/moshiach-will-be-misnaged-seventh.html).

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  15. [Edited]
    Hi everyone it's Yakov again. Guess I should add magician to my resume since I apparently made BFG disappear. Let's get serious. BFG accused Mr. L of insinuating that neo Chasidus has devised a plot to poison Jewish minds. He never said that. What he and others of like mind are saying is that Chabad and other similar groups promote a distorted picture of Judaism which only focuses on the positive and that's why we've labeled it feel good Judaism. But this approach isn't limited to such groups. In 1995 I was a mentor in a Partners in Torah chapter. We'd meet on Wednesdays for an hour followed by a short Dvar Torah and then Mariv. One week the Rabbi was away so he asked me to speak in his place on the subject of Shabbos. I said that Shabbos represents the bond between Hashem and the Jewish people, so much so that the Talmud says that if a gentile keeps Shabbos he's Chayav Misah. One woman jumped up and menacingly asked me,"Do you think that's fair?" I told her I didn't write the Gemara. The next week I told the Rabbi what happened and he attacked me for lacking sensitivity. You see this woman was married to a non-Jew (I didn't know). In business the customer is always right, but with Avodas Hashem we must be mindful of what's right in His eyes rather than impressing the rich atheists like Michael Steinhardt.

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  16. "The Alter Rebbe said Moshiach won't be a Chassid". People in general and Lubavichers in particular aren't interested in facts. After we got married, my wife and I were invited to spend Shabbos in Crown Heights by her friends, a young Bal Tshuvah couple. I asked the husband if he'd like to learn some Gemara but he refused saying he learns Chitat. When I pressed the issue he got annoyed and said,"The Rebbe's Moshiach why do I have to learn?"(At that time I knew nothing about Chabad so I assumed he's just a crazy Bal Tshuvah.) A year later we were invited again and the first thing this fellow told me is that the Rebbe's Moshiach. He then" proved it". Chazal teach that Moshiach must undergo physical suffering, so now that the Rebbe's had his stroke he's ready to become Moshiach. We met for the 3rd time after the Rebbe's died and the guys first words were, "The Rebbe's Moshiach. It doesn't matter that he died, because the Gemara says that Moshiach can come from the dead." Then he added, "The Chafetz Chaim Paskened that Moshiach won't come from the dead, but who cares what he says."

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  17. The Miketz issue of the Jewish Vues featured Rabbi Mordechai Jungreis and his motto "Every Yid is a big Tzaddik." If he said that every Yid is potentially a big Tzaddik, then it would be no problem, but that's not what he said. So Ed Koch who bragged about eating pork on Yom Kippur is a big Tzaddik. And Mike Bloomberg who officiated at his daughter's wedding in a church is a big Tzaddik. Actually Shmuel Butman does consider Mr. Bloom berg to be a great Jew because he regularly lit his Menorah on Chanukah. That people like BFG don't see how this "dumbing down" of Judaism undermines our faith speaks volumes about their commitment. Rabbi Miller said that people who say they love everyone love no one. When we call everyone a Tzaddik the word loses its meaning.

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    1. I quoted the Maharal two and half weeks ago and you and Mr L. have not addressed it. Its ok, I don't expect you to. Certainly not in an intellectually honest way.
      If you'd like to learn it up and discuss this topic in a real way, I'd certainly be open to that.


      Alternatively, after 120, you can let the Maharal know that you feel that his "dumbing down of Judaism undermines our faith and speaks volumes about his commitment."

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  18. Right on the money!

    And Lubavitch honors people like intermarried Doug Emhoff at their 'national menorah' lighting. Opposite of the Chashmonaim. Chabad undermining Yiddishkeit once again. As long as they worship their G-d of PR.

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  19. The point, as far as I'm concerned, is not what Chabad and others of like mind are doing. That's obvious. What's troubling is how many people not only defend them despite all the evidence, but point to them as role models for Mesiras Nefesh. I don't accept the excuse that this is an Olam Sheker. People like Dovid Lichtenstein who enjoy showing off how learned they are and still distort the truth are anathema to Hashem and His Torah. I understand that no one wants to admit that they were duped, but it's better to admit you were wrong in this world than when you're questioned in Olam Habo.

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  20. BFG has latched onto a slogan, that this blog is intellectually dishonest. In June 2020 I sent a letter to the FTJT which was mildly critical of Chabad. Not only did the editor not print it, but Mr. Gordon sent me an email in which he called me crazy because everyone knows that 99% of Lubavichers are perfect. That's dishonesty, but Mr. L prints BFG despite the fact that his opinions are drivel. Now let's address the Maharal statement. If we're to understand it at face value then why should anyone keep the Torah? Just the fact that one's mother is Jewish is a guarantee that he/she will end up in Gan Eden. The Mishna in Chelek lists several categories of people who lose their Chelek of Olam Habo. I would assume that the Maharal was familiar with that Mishna and therefore it's clear that to appreciate what he meant some context and perspective is called for. Now since BFG understands the comment Kipshuto he clearly equates the Lubavicher Rebbe with Leon Trotsky.

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  21. BFG I apologize for making light of your "proof" from Maharal. By all means I encourage you to present your understanding of his position and then we can discuss it. I assure you that I'm not speaking in a patronizing manner.

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  22. Tanya actually says that most people are Rosholt vtov lo not beinonim

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