Are all Lubavitch still worshipping the Jewish God?
Robert
Rabbi Chaim Dov Keller, the rosh yeshiva (dean) of Chicago's Telshe Yeshiva,
published this essay in the Jewish Observer magazine (March, 1998). These
are the words of a senior and highly respected American Torah leader. They
stand on their own merits. This essay is posted here with the permission of
both Rabbi Keller and the Jewish Observer.
http://www.cyberus.ca/~dbclinton/essay/rabbikeller
In an article in the Summer '97 issue of The Jewish Observer, I wrote of 'a
movement... of active messianism which has lately taken a frightening turn
towards avoda zara.' As is quite obvious to anyone who read the article
carefully, I took great pains not to level this charge at the whole
Lubavitcher movement, but against one faction - the group popularly known as
'Meshichisten' (Messianists). To quote the article,
"We have seen a highly respected Chassidic movement, with great
accomplishments for Torah and Yiddishkeit to its credit, torn apart by a
machlokes (dispute) that touches ikrei emunah - the fundamentals of our
faith.
"The Rebbe progressed in the eyes of ONE FACTION WITHIN THE MOVEMENT
[emphasis added] from being a navi to being the most probable candidate for
Moshiach, to being 'bechezkas' Moshiach, to being Melech HaMoshiach, to
being a dead Moshiach who has not died, to being 'omniscient', 'omnipotent'
and being 'the Essence and Being [of G-d] enclothed in a body!' (2)
"More recently, a full-page ad featured in The New York Times advised
readers: 'The Rebbe, no longer bound by physical limitations, is accessible
to all of us, everywhere. Anyone, however great or humble, can turn to him
with their innermost thoughts and deepest prayers. There are no barriers.
There is no need to make pilgrimage or stand on line to receive his
blessing.' (3)
"The Orthodox world looks for guidance; the non-Orthodox world impugns us
with guilt by association; those in Lubavitch who are opposed to all this
look for support."
A response to my article was circulated by Rabbi Daniel Moscowitz, regional
director of Lubavitch Chabad of Illinois. He does not repudiate the
offensive statements as the opinions of a small minority - a lunatic
fringe - as I have heard from some of my Lubavitch friends. Instead he
defends the whole movement from the charge avoda zara by writing that 'these
statements are well within the mainstream of Torah thought as recognized by
the non-Chassidic world.' He then proceeds to cite chapter and verse from a
number of sources - Zohar, Yerushlami, Chassidus and even Nefesh Hachaim -
to 'prove' that they 'do not indicate any turn away from normative
Yiddishkeit.'
This to me is extremely disturbing, because Rabbi Moscowitz, whether his
hashkafos are normative Judaism or not, should, as the regional director of
Chabad Lubavitch of Illinois, certainly represent normative Lubavitch
thinking.
Let us look at what we are being asked to believe is 'normative Yiddishkeit'
and 'well within the mainstream of Torah thought':
1. The Rebbe is not dead but still lives (so that we cannot celebrate his
Yahrzeit) and is present everywhere.
2. One may pray to the Rebbe, who also knows our innermost thoughts.
3. The Rebbe is omniscient - which in simple English means he knows
everything - a quality which is possessed only by HaShem Himself.
4. The Rebbe is omnipotent - meaning all powerful - kol yachol - which is
also the exclusive attribute of the Creator.
5. The Rebbe is the Essence and Being of G-d enclothed in a body. This,
together with the idea of the second coming of a dead Messiah, has
heretofore been recognized as standard Christian - certainly not Jewish -
theology....
[much text snipped]
....Normative Yiddishkeit is a G-d-centered religion. We believe in an
omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent Creator to Whom we pray and Whose
mitzvos we fulfill because He has commanded us to do so.
What we are being asked by the Messianists to accept as normative
Yiddishkeit is a deified Rebbe/Messiah-centered religion. We are told to
believe in an omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent Rebbe, who is the physical
incarnation of G-d, to whom we should direct our prayers, and that the
mitzvos should be performed in order to bring about his second coming.
What we have seen developing slowly over a number of years is finally being
publicly proclaimed. In simple words: Worship of the Rebbe has been
substituted for worship of Hakadosh Baruch Hu....
[much text snipped]
....All sorts of new and bizarre practices have arisen. A new declaration has
evolved, which is at once a proclamation of faith and, to some, a form of
worship recited three times in unison after davening and at simchos or
public gatherings: 'Yechi Adoneinu Moreinu Verabbeinu Hamelech Hamoshiach
l'olam va'ed - Long live our master, our teacher, our Rebbe, King Moshiach
forever and ever.' (7) Eye witnesses report that this slogan is embroidered
on the paroches of the Aron Kodesh of Lubavitch headquarters at 770 Eastern
Parkway. (It should be noted that this was, and continues to be, a source of
internal controversy.)
To 'connect to the Rebbe' (hiskashrus im HaRebbe) - Chasidim close their
eyes and conjure up the image of the Rebbe (8). School children are being
taught to kiss the Rebbe's picture just as they kiss the mezuza.
People are submitting their questions and problems to the Rebbe, and
requesting his blessings by writing letters to him and placing them at
random in the Rebbe's volume of correspondence, 'Igros Kodesh.' Whatever
letter of the Rebbe happens to be on that page is considered to be an answer
from the Rebbe. The Rebbe's mikvah water has become a new wonder cure for
whatever ails you. Drink it or apply it locally and with a substantial
contribution to tzeddaka, miracles will happen. ...
[much text snipped]
....If the Rebbe is indeed Moshiach and 'the Being and Essence, 'etc., why is
it necessary to prove so in full page ads in The New York Times? Why has
the Torah community not risen up against these aberrations and allowed
matters to deteriorate so far without any more vigorous protest? I suspect
that it is because these Meshichisten are not taken seriously. People
consider them odd and shrug them off with a smile. But this is not a
laughing matter. We are living in an age of tshuva. Young people are seeking
spirituality and many of them are being drawn into this. What is perhaps
more pitiful, a whole generation of children in those schools controlled by
the Meshichisten are being educated into false messianism and avoda zara....
Please see the full essay!
Robert
A post by the moderator on the "Anything About Judaism" - Lubavitch forum
The reason for the strong opposition to Lubavitch in the past generation by
our Gedolim is very simple. There have been things taught in Lubavitch that
go against important fundamentals of Judaism. Things that, if you accept
them, our entire tradition as we have had it for the past 3,000 years goes
out the window. These things involve the Lubavitch beliefs about G-d,
Moshiach, Rebbes in general and particularly the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Chazal,
and Halachah. Although this may come as a shock to some people, we need to
understand that our Gedolim had did not just develop their revulsion for
Lubavtich and their total rejection of it just out of their hats c"v.
Rather, it was the result of distortions of the very building blocks of our
religion.
Check this out:
One of our 13 Fundamentals of Judaism is that we pray only to Hashem and to
nobody else.
The question then is, why do we ask Tzadikim to pray for us, when we can
pray to Hashem directly without using the Tzadik as a go-between?
The classic answers to this are either that the Tzadik does not pray for us
but rather because of the Ahavas Yisroel of the Tzadik, when someone is
suffering, the tzadik suffers too. So the Tzadik is really praying for
himself, to end the cause of his own pain, namely, the suffering of the Jews
(Teshuvos Chasam Sofer OH 166), or that the reason it is prohibited to use a
go-between is because you may think the go-between has some G-dliness
(Elokus), such as if we were to use a Malach as a go-between. But since
nobody can mistake the Tzadik for possessing Elokus, it is permitted (Bais
ElokimTefilah 12, Maharal Netzach Yisroel 62).
The Lubavitcher Rebbe asks the question, and without mentioning any of the
classic answers that have been accepted for hundreds of years, he instead
offers the following answer:
"It is not possible to ask a question about a [Rebbe being a] go-between,
since this is G-d Himself, as He has clothed Himself in a human body."
(Likutei Sichos II:p. 510-511).
He also adds the following regarding a Rebbe-Chosid relationship:
"Just as 'G-d and the Torah and the Jews are One' (Yisroel V'Oraisa V'Kudsha
brich hu chad hu), means not just that the Jews are connected to the Torah
and to G-d, but literally they are all one, so too is the connection of
Chassidim and their Rebbe, they are not like two things that become united
but rather they become literally one. Therefore, to a Chosid, him and the
Rebbe and G-D are one entity."
Until now, know that G-d and the Torah and the Jews are one. Now we have G-d
and the Rebbe and the Chosid is one.
What is the source for such a statement? Admits the Rebbe (ibid):
"I have not found such a thing in Chassidus. Rather, it is my feeling.
Therefore, whoever wants to feel it should feel it, and someone who does not
want to, I will not fight with him. Let him have what he has."
This is not merely a "Tzelem Elokim" thing. All Jews are Tzelem Elokim, but
they need the Rebbe to pray for them, because the Rebbe is more than just a
Tzelem Elokim. The question was not how can Jews connect to Hashem but how
can Jews use a Rebbe as a go-between. The answer is the Rebbe - the
g-between is G-d Himself put into a body. That's the Lubavitcher idea of a
"Rebbe" - God in a body!
The footnotes do not help. All they can come up with is statments such as we
have seen in past posts that Chazal were refered to with Hashem's name,
which as we saw in previous posts, is explained by the Rishonim as meaning
that the do Hashem's work, not that they are Hashem.
We all know that every Jew has a part of Hashem in his Neshoma etc. However,
none of this explains the Sichah, which is referring to Rebbe sepcifically,
saying that the Jew - the one who has a part of Hashem in his Neshoma - uses
the Rebbe as a go-between between him and G-d because the Rebbe -
specifically the Rebbe - is not merely a person with a part of G-d in him,
but G-d Himself put in a body!
With such teachings, is it any wonder we have the following statement from
Rabbi S.B. Wolpe (a meshichist, author of "Yechi HaMelech" on topics of
Moshiach, complete with Haskomos from many Lubavitcher rabbis praising him
and his book) in an article from the magazine "Kfar Chabad":
"Moshiach is the atzmus ain sof (essence of G-d Himself) clothed in a body."
As "proof" (sic), he cites a Medrash Yalkut on Tehillim 37:10 that for the
final Geulah, Hashem Himself will redeem Klall Yisroel, not a person. So
Rabbi Wolpe asks, "isn't Moshiach going to redeem the Jews? So why does it
say Hashem will redeem them?"
Obviously, the question doesn't start. Because we know that Moshiach will
not be able to complete the redemption without Hashem - the Medrash even
says that the third Bais HaMikdash will come down from Shamayim. So we know
that the coming redemption will be unique in that without the direct and
visible efforts of Hashem Himself, the Geulah will not be possible, even
after the contributions of Moshiach thereto.
Right?
Wrong. Answers Rabbi Wolpe: "From this [Medrash] it is proven that Moshiach
at the time of the Geulah obvious that he is not really flesh and blood, not
even like the flesh and blood of Moshe Rabbeinu, but the [person who is
Moshiach] is really Hashem Himself!"
So the Rebbe is Moshiach and Moshiach is G-d Himself. You do the math.
And you expect the Torah leaders NOT to say this is Avodah Zarah?
But its not over. Get this: this exact nonsensical "proof" that Moshiach is
G-d in a body has been used in the past. The following is a quote from Otzar
Vikuchim, a collection of the forced debates between Christians and Jews. On
p.209, in the "Debate regarding Moshiach and the Oral Law", the Christian
apostate claims that Jesus can indeed be G-d in a body, since - and again, I
promise I am not making this up - THE MEDRASH YALKUT ON TEHILLIM 37:10 SAYS
THAT THE FINAL REDEMPTION WILL BE DONE THROUGH G-D HIMSELF THEREFORE
MOSHIACH MUST BE G-D HIMSELF!!!
Yes, Rabbi Wolpe's "proof" is hundreds of years old. The exact same Medrash
was brought as the exact same "proof" that a human being can be G-d in a
body.
And, not surprisingly, the Christian had no better success with the "proof"
than Rabbi Wolpe. The Jew proceeds to demonstrate that saying such a thing
is Kefirah against the Torah.
Nowhere in the history of Chasidus has such a thing been said - and
remember - the Rebbe admits he has no source. The only place we find such
claims is in Christianity. Word for word, the same claims, the same proofs,
from the same sources.
The Rambam writes (Sefer HaMitzvos Aseh 7) that who uses Moshe Rabbeinu's
name in an oath because he believes that Moshe Rabbeinu possesses the
characteristic of "Amitas Etzem" (G-d Himself) is violating the prohibition
against "shituf", that is, the heretical belief that Hashem has a partner
c"v.
And what can we expect from Gedolei Torah when they see an article by Levi
Lezerson (Kfar Chabad 13 Tamuz 5743) called "An End or a Means?" where he
discusses if the connection to a rebbe is an end in itself or a means to
help us with our growth. His answer:
"Not only is the connection to a Rebbe an end in itself and not a means, but
it is the end that has PRECEDENCE OVER EVERYTHING . for through it, the
Neshomah gets the purpose of its original making, before everything, EVEN
TORAH AND MITZVOS".
Everywhere else in Klall Yisroel, there is only one End in itself - the
Torah. Rebbes are facilitators for us to do your job of fulfilling Torah and
Mitzvos. But in Lubavitch, having a relationship with the rebbe is not only
an end unto itself (?!!) but the first and foremost end - that precedes even
Torah and Mitzvos!!!!
Lezerson continues: "This, then, is the instructions for all rabbis,
mentors, or anybody that has it in his power to have an impact on his
surroundings - that when they meet a Jew, regardless of his situation, the
first thing is to take care of his Neshoma.meaning, through the medium of
the Kohen Gadol of the generation [i.e. the Rebbe]. And only afterwards you
should work on his avodas Hashem, his madreigos, and his refraining from bad
and doing good.
"In order for a person to fulfill his job fully, he must turn to the Rebbe -
the brain - by learning his Torahs and following his commands."
So first priority is the relationship with the rebbe. Afterwards, we work on
being religious.
What are in fact the Rebbe's "commands"? The lyrics of an old Lubavitch
wedding song from the 80's (sung by Yossi Piamenta on one of his albums)
describes some of what the "Lubavitcher Rebbe commands" (Mah shetzivah
haRebbi M'Lubavitch):
"That all women and girls should light Shabbos candles, and all Jews should
put on Tefillin, on all doors should be a Mezuzah, and all houses should
have a Tzadakah box . then Moshiach will quickly come."
Um, no. The Lubavitcher Rebbe said everyone should put on Tefillin? Have
Mezuzos on their doors? And although I imagine that those who sing this
song, if you were to ask them, would tell you that Hashem was the One Who
created this Mitzvah, nevertheless, to attribute your performance of a
Mitzvah to a human being, even a Rebbe, is 100% Avodah Zarah.
When you out tefillin on someone or teach Torah to someone, you are NOT the
Rebbe's Shliach. The rebbe's shliach means you are doing the Rebbes work on
his behalf. You are Hashem's Shliach. The Rebbe taught you how to do Hashem's
work. But the work is NEVER called the Rebbes work. To do so is heresy.
(Note: When the Baal Shem Tov sent "shluchim" around the world they were not
teaching people mitzvos in the Torah but rather the specific Torahs
originated by the Baal Shem Tov. The Mitzvos, on the other hand, were not
originated by the Lubavitcher rebbe c"v. So teaching Mitzvos "on behalf of"
the rebbe is not what you are doing.)
This deification of the Rebbe has become, in Lubavitch, has done more damage
than merely created an idol, though that's bad enough...
Robert
On false Messianism, idolatry and Lubavitch
In an extraordinary essay, David Berger argues that
the followers of the Lubavitch Rebbe revere him not
just a Messiah, but a God - thus writing themselves
out of Judaism altogether
Excerpt:
...Though the belief that the rebbe is the Messiah is
itself a repudiation of a fundamental doctrine, at
this point it is only the beginning. We now
confront an incredible reality which has surged
beyond the confines of false Messianism and the
"mere" affirmation of a Second Coming. A process
which developed over decades, even generations, in
Christianity and the seventeenth-century movement
of the Messianic pretender Shabtai Zvi is
unfolding with blinding speed in Lubavitch
Messianism. To a historian, this is a gripping
drama, the opportunity not of one lifetime but of
many; to a believing Jew, it is the bizarre rerun
of a nightmare. The Lubavitcher Rebbe is becoming
God....
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hall/8701/religion/schneer.txt
Lisa
> Are all Lubavitch Hasidim still worshipping the Jewish God?
>
> Rabbi Chaim Dov Keller, the rosh yeshiva (dean) of Chicago's Telshe Yeshiva,
> published this essay in the Jewish Observer magazine (March, 1998). These
> are the words of a senior and highly respected American Torah leader. They
> stand on their own merits. This essay is posted here with the permission of
> both Rabbi Keller and the Jewish Observer.
>
> http://www.cyberus.ca/~dbclinton/essay/rabbikeller
I have one kvetch. The permission referred to above was not
permission to reprint this essay on SCJM. The way you posted this, it
gives the impression that such was the case.
But that kvetch aside, and I know this breaks all precedent, I have to
thank you, Robert, for posting this. I read the entire "Tragedy of
Chabad" section on this website, and I was absolutely appalled.
Particularly since I live in Illinois. They recently opened a "shul"
called Beis Moshiach in a storefront on California Ave. in West
Roger's Park. Big ol' picture of the rebbe in the window, on the
eastern side of the place.
You've done a good thing by posting this. Tizkeh l'mitzvot.
Everyone else, *please* read the whole thing. This meshichist and
elokist situation has gotten way out of hand, and it's getting worse
and worse.
Lisa
Y. Macales
>
>
>
> Rabbi Chaim Dov Keller, the rosh yeshiva (dean) of Chicago's Telshe Yeshiva,
> published this essay in the Jewish Observer magazine (March, 1998). These
> are the words of a senior and highly respected American Torah leader. They
> stand on their own merits. This essay is posted here with the permission of
> both Rabbi Keller and the Jewish Observer.
>
>
> http://www.cyberus.ca/~dbclinton/essay/rabbikeller
>
>
>
> In an article in the Summer '97 issue of The Jewish Observer, I wrote of 'a
> movement... of active messianism which has lately taken a frightening turn
> towards avoda zara.' As is quite obvious to anyone who read the article
> carefully, I took great pains not to level this charge at the whole
> Lubavitcher movement, but against one faction - the group popularly known as
> 'Meshichisten' (Messianists). To quote the article,
I am aware that many people get quite agitated about this subject, but
I have
ignored it and I can tell you, that on the ground, here in Israel,
religious people
by and large aren't really interested in the subject. Chabad people
are still considered part of the religious community at large with the
same reservations that have existed for decades. The reason is
simple. NO ONE WANTS WITCHHUNTS
AND A CIVIL WAR. This is the last thing Israel and the Jewish people
need.
As long as they don't tell people to stop observing the mitzvot as did
the Shabtai'im (followers of Shabtai Zvi) and the Frankists, people
will adopt a live and let live attitude.
Lisa
So... if the Christians hadn't stopped keeping kosher, they'd have
been okay?
I don't get it. The frum community is happy to have witchhunts when
it comes to icky gay people. But apparently minor issues like avodah
zarah can be overlooked.
Lisa
Yisroel Markov
said:
Weren't they a part of the Jewish community until they started
worshipping J?
>I don't get it. The frum community is happy to have witchhunts when
>it comes to icky gay people.
And that *is* a great pity.
>But apparently minor issues like avodah zarah can be overlooked.
That remains to be seen.
Yisroel "Godwrestler Warriorson" Markov - Boston, MA Member
www.reason.com -- for unbiased analysis of the world DNRC
--------------------------------------------------------------------
"Judge, and be prepared to be judged" -- Ayn Rand
Shlomo Chaim
"Robert" <mrkai...@yahoo.com.NOSPAM> wrote in message
news:uFpjd.857377$Gx4.4...@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
Robert, I am a chabadnik myself. Seeing that you ascribe to the C line of
thought, and (I imagine) that you have no rebbes and so forth, I can see
your concern, and I'm glad you raised these questions. Maybe it would be a
good idea for you to print out this article, swing past your local Chabad
and talk with the Rabbi there. I'm not qualified to debate the specificities
of chabad. I can assure you, though, that the greater part of your concern
is misplaced.
Shlomo
beardless chased, tzaddik in training
Shlomo Argamon
li...@starways.net (Lisa) writes:
> "Robert" <mrkai...@yahoo.com.NOSPAM> wrote in message news:<uFpjd.857377$Gx4.4...@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>...
> > Are all Lubavitch Hasidim still worshipping the Jewish God?
> >
> > Rabbi Chaim Dov Keller, the rosh yeshiva (dean) of Chicago's Telshe Yeshiva,
> > published this essay in the Jewish Observer magazine (March, 1998). These
> > are the words of a senior and highly respected American Torah leader. They
> > stand on their own merits. This essay is posted here with the permission of
> > both Rabbi Keller and the Jewish Observer.
> >
> > http://www.cyberus.ca/~dbclinton/essay/rabbikeller
>
> I have one kvetch. The permission referred to above was not
> permission to reprint this essay on SCJM. The way you posted this, it
> gives the impression that such was the case.
>
> But that kvetch aside, and I know this breaks all precedent, I have to
> thank you, Robert, for posting this. I read the entire "Tragedy of
> Chabad" section on this website, and I was absolutely appalled.
> Particularly since I live in Illinois. They recently opened a "shul"
> called Beis Moshiach in a storefront on California Ave. in West
> Roger's Park. Big ol' picture of the rebbe in the window, on the
> eastern side of the place.
Note that the other Lubavitchers in town will have nothing at all to
do with them. So there IS a difference!
-Shlomo-
Yisroel Markov
Shlomo, based on personal experience, I suggest you refrain from
calling yourself a Chabadnik until you understand all that's involved
in this designation. And I'm not talking meshikhism here.
Lisa
And how long will that last? What's "acceptable" has grown in Chabad
since the Rebbe Shlita's death.
Lisa
Joseph Hertzlinger
wrote:
> So... if the Christians hadn't stopped keeping kosher, they'd have
> been okay?
If Christians had kept kosher, they would have been unable to recruit
that many gentiles for attempts to get around Judaism.
Wait a minute... I just had a horrible thought.
What if the Chabadniks join up with the Hollywood Kabbalists?
Don Levey
Chaba-Kaba-Hollywood?
--
Don Levey If knowledge is power,
Framingham, MA and power corrupts, then...
NOTE: email server uses spam filters.
Harry Weiss
When the Chabad class package JLI was doing Kabbalah, in their newpaper publicity
here they referred to Madonna.
> --
> http://hertzlinger.blogspot.com
--
Harry J. Weiss
hjw...@panix.com
Joseph Hertzlinger
<hjw...@panix.com> wrote:
> Joseph Hertzlinger
> <jcyclespersec...@nine.reticulatedcom.com> wrote:
> > On Mon, 8 Nov 2004 22:51:35 +0000 (UTC), Lisa <li...@starways.net>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > So... if the Christians hadn't stopped keeping kosher, they'd have
> > > been okay?
> >
> > If Christians had kept kosher, they would have been unable to recruit
> > that many gentiles for attempts to get around Judaism.
> >
> > Wait a minute... I just had a horrible thought.
> >
> > What if the Chabadniks join up with the Hollywood Kabbalists?
>
> When the Chabad class package JLI was doing Kabbalah, in their
> newpaper publicity here they referred to Madonna.
This may be how Christianity started.