Posted on 06/22/2004 12:10:37 PM PDT by Alouette
Thousands of Lubavitch Jews made a pilgrimage yesterday to the Queens gravesite of "the Rebbe" — Rabbi Menachem Schneerson — on the 10th anniversary of his death.
With prayer books in one hand and suitcases in the other, they arrived from all over the world, dressed in traditional black suits and hats, to pay their respects and ask for guidance and inspiration.
Some waited more than two hours through thunderstorms for the opportunity to leave a note for the Rebbe.
A Russian immigrant born in 1902, Schneerson turned what was a disorganized Hasidic community into an international movement set on reversing the assimilation of Jews around the globe.
And he did it throughout his 44-year leadership, almost without ever leaving Brooklyn.
Rabbi Avraham Berkowitz, 28, traveled from Moscow to the grave in Cambria Heights.
"He was perhaps New York's greatest export," he said. "Because of him, all Lubavitch consider this city the capital of the world."
Alouette is proud.
Yeah, but they sometimes act like the Crips and the Bloods.
Do you think there is an answer to that cognitive dissonance aside from living a very traditional Jewish life, or is that the only way to really be fully happy as a Jew?
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson passed away on June 12, 1994, at the age of ninety-two. His death came two years after he suffered a serious stroke. An exact replica of his house on 770 Eastern Parkway was constructed in Israel, so that if he were to ever make the trip, he would feel at home.
This house is very visible from the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway. I've seen it
Sounds like the way the Breslovers visit the gravesite of Rebbe Nachman. And like Chabad, of course, the Breslovers never chose a successor to him.
By LUKAS I. ALPERT, Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK - Thousands of mournful Orthodox Jews gathered Monday at the grave of Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, pausing on the 10th anniversary of his death to remember the man whose leadership transformed the Lubavitcher sect into a major force in Judaism and led some to believe he was the messiah.
Men and women from around the world lined up for hours to pass Schneerson's walled-in grave in the New York borough of Queens, bowed their heads in prayer and reflected on his life and work.
Schneerson, the seventh grand rebbe in an unbroken dynastic line that began in 18th-century Russia, died on June 12, 1994, at age 92. The observance was to run from sundown Monday to sundown Tuesday, according to the Jewish lunar calendar.
"Every rabbi is a reflection of the rebbe, and that is why there has been no one selected as a leader to replace him," said Rabbi Avraham Berkowitz, who traveled from Moscow.
The Lubavitchers were one of many Hasidic groups that were uprooted from Eastern Europe by the Holocaust and came to the United States.
When Schneerson took over as grand rebbe in 1950, the Lubavitchers became the most outward-looking of the ultrareligious groups, constructing giant Hanukkah menorahs in public places, proselytizing among less pious Jews and building Chabad centers from Sao Paulo to Bangkok.
His death left a leadership vacuum that has yet to be filled. The death also created somewhat of a schism in the group between those who still believe Schneerson was the messiah and those who do not.
I have heard from some sources that Satmar and Bobover hasidim will not accept Lubavitcher schechting because they believe that Lubavitchers have become idolaters of the Rebbe.
Is this just personal squeamishness on the part of some, or have opinions been publicly rendered?
For the most part, yes.
Postville, Iowa is home to Agriprocessors, the largest kosher meat production facility in the country. Even though the facility is owned by a Lubavitcher, they employ shochetim (ritual slaughterers) from a variety of other sects, and all the products are labelled accordingly.
My personal experience with Chabad hasidim is that they are friendly, sociable, intelligent and warm.
Unlike other hasidim I've encountered, they don't seem to view the rest of the world as evil or out to get them - they simply see the Gentile world as a given, and that while they don't want to assimilate into it, they recognize its good aspects.
They're very eager to explain what they believe and they have a good sense of humor. The one sore spot they seem to have is talking about the Rebbe. They are happy to talk about his accomplishments, opinions, good deeds, wisdom etc. but are very uncomfortable discussing "what" he is.
One of the most delightful sights you can see in New York is a Chabad family - husband wife and 7,8,9 + children walking down the street. There is a real, unfeigned devotion and love in their families that shines in their faces. It must be the greatest joy in the world to have a loving, devoted wife and a dozen smart, respectful children who love spending time with you instead of a television.
If Catholics would listen to the Pope, we would have such families too.
btt
Satmars are anti-Zionism.
LMAO! So true...
I think there is a way, but of course the devil is in the details. I work these things out in the way that seems right to me. But I don't fault those who have a different approach.
I thought I would only stay for a moment, and it turned into a much longer time. Thanks for the pic.
You don't hear much about it in the mainstream press (because it is obscured by the late Rebbe's "quaint" ethnicity) but he was not only a stupendous intellect but a staunch defender of literal six day creation. And from something I skimmed a while back in a bookstore, he may still have subscribed to the "pre-Copernican" worldview, though I'm not sure about that. I wish Orthodox Jews would discuss these issues more often and not confine themselves to combatting conventional bigotry alone.
I'm certainly not a "messianist," but as I understand it the "messianic" position is based on either one of two positions:
1) The Jews built the golden calf after HaSatan showed them a vision of Moses dead, and the death of the Rebbe is a similar illusion, or
2) Mashiach may either be from among the living Sages or he may be from among one of the resurrected Sages of the past, like Daniel.
With so many learned Sages having departed in the last few years, who exactly is the Nasi' of our generation, Alouette?
I am Jewish, and I am close to several Chabad Rabbis, who are open with me about their belief in the Rebbe being Messiah. It's kind of an involved discussion, but there is a Talmudic passage in Sanhedrin that indicates that Messiah can be from those who are resurrected.
My point, again, is that there are numerous Rabbis, who are qualified to rule and interpret Jewish law, who do not see a problem with the Lubavitcher's belief in the Rebbe as Messiah. Not everyone *has* to hold this belief; it is their choice. But holding this belief does not render someone a heretic or an idol-worshipper. The Chabad Rabbis I know are extremely dedicated to their Jewish observance and are in fact indistinguishable from other Chabad Rabbis, with the exception that I can ask them questions about the Messiah and they respond directly without any hedging. They are not afraid to discuss the issue publicly.
If Chasidic philosophy contradicts the written and oral Torah on this point, so much the worse for Chasidic philosophy.
Chasidic philosophy absolutely does not contradict the written or oral Torah in any way, as further study will surely reveal to you. This battle has already been fought (by the Vilna gaon and his adherents versus the Baal Shem Tov and his followers.) The belief that the Rebbe is Messiah is consistent with Chassidic teachings and with Jewish law. In fact, the Lubavitcher Rebbe in his public addresses constantly referred to his (deceased) father-in-law as the Messiah. Chassidim who refer to the Rebbe as Messiah are only following in his footsteps.
Thank you, ZC, I think you stated it quite well, in a nutshell.
With so many learned Sages having departed in the last few years, who exactly is the Nasi' of our generation, Alouette?
I kind of wonder the same thing, since the Rebbe in his talks mentioned quite a number of times that in every generation there is a leader like Moses, who has the soul of Moses, and who is the Messiah of the generation. Those who believe that the Rebbe is Messiah believe that he continues to be the leader of the generation. There are others who believe that the Rebbe's soul powers somehow passed into his followers, collectively, so that all of us are imbued with the powers of Messiah and are continuing his work. I think this is a good explanation and in essence, both beliefs are one and the same.
You don't hear much about it in the mainstream press (because it is obscured by the late Rebbe's "quaint" ethnicity) but he was not only a stupendous intellect but a staunch defender of literal six day creation. And from something I skimmed a while back in a bookstore, he may still have subscribed to the "pre-Copernican" worldview, though I'm not sure about that. I wish Orthodox Jews would discuss these issues more often and not confine themselves to combatting conventional bigotry alone.
You are absolutely correct in this. The Rebbe actually held that the Copernican view was rendered obsolete by Einstien, who proved that all bodies in space are moving so there really is no absolute vantage point to determine what is the actual center. Physics has also proven the power of free will to bring events into existence. So I think in essence that the Rebbe's point was that we are the center of existence when we *choose* to be the center of existence and act accordingly (not with arrogance but with all due humility - that G-d gave puny beings like us the ability to have a massive impact on all of creation.)
Thanks for the feedback, but I was referring to a much more literal definition of pre-Copernican: that the earth is the literal center of the universe, absolutely unmoving, and everything else revolves around it. I read something in a book on the CHaBa"Dniks in a bookstore that led me to suspect they might object to the traditional Copernican and post-Copernican helio- and a-centrism.
Of course maybe you're saying the same thing in a more profound way. I'm afraid I ain't that profound.
Besides, as I understand it, Einstein merely came up with a theory. It has neither been proved nor disproved, and it possibly never will be.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.