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".
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.
Let’s call a spade a spade. Yes it is more pronounced in Chabad but this is not only a Chabad problem. It’s a מכת מדינה . As a fully credentialed Litvak I can attest that right here in Lakewood drinking has become commonplace.
ReplyDeleteEven teenagers come staggering drunk out of kiddush celebrations, and from poolside parties as well ר"ל (although who can blame them when their parents themselves are alcohol connoisseurs . מה יעשה הבן ולא יחטא).
True that ”old-fashion” BMG style kollel fellows , families and ba’aleibatim (the ones that everyone lampoons) are not affected, the more up-to-date, affluent crowd, including people who formerly learned in prominent Litvishe yeshivas, have fallen prey.
On another note you gotta love Dalfin’s expression “it’s against the Rebbe, Chasidus and Torah” ; in that order. Talk about priorities!
Okay, others may have such problems to a degree too, but they don't have the "Chasidus" and Rebbe Lubavitchers claim to have, which should keep them in check and in place, לשיטתם, right?
Delete"the more up-to-date, affluent crowd, including people who formerly learned in prominent Litvishe yeshivas, have fallen prey" - I suspect that many such people have Hasidic roots, so even if they learned at some point in a Litvishe yeshiva, and perhaps had a Litvishe veneer briefly, aspects of Hasidic culture remained in them. If someone retains aspects of Hasidism, even if they passed some time in a Litvishe yeshiva, they are not rendered as Litvak in my book.
ReplyDeleteLet's be honest how many purebred litvaks are there in the bmg world?
ReplyDeleteI don't know, haven't seen the figures yet from the most recent census. ;-)
DeleteAnd what is a "purebred Litvak" anyway? Fact is that many people, both on Litvish and Hasidic sides, as well as Yekkes, Poylishe, even Hungarian, Sepharadim, Eidos Hamizrach to a degree, are of mixed descent, especially following the migrations and persecutions over the last century or so. How many purebred Skvere Chasidim from Ukraine are there in New Square? Very few, maybe 2% I've read. Rest are Hungarian converts. Are you complaining about that? How many Belzers are from Belz? Bobovers from Bobov? Etc. Many in those groups are from other backgrounds as well. Many Lubavitchers are of other background. Maybe go to New Square and raise a ruckus about it if you're concerned about such things.
Good point, most such types indeed have Hungarian backgrounds.
ReplyDelete