The Letters That Started It All

You can read the Lubavitcher Rebbe's shameful letter on the rescue of Ethiopian Jews, along with the letters he was responding to, here.

Comments

[Chomi]

I am very happy that your site is down! serves you well!!! (and no, i didn't do it)

WHAT A CHUTZPAH OF YOU TO WRITE A LETTER TO THE REBBE THE NOSI HADOR IN SUCH A WAY!!!!!

you are such a mechutzaf! u should be happy that the rebbe even answerd you!

from the way you write the letter to the rebbe it shows your dislike of lubavitch, and these are the letters that started your site of rchilus - loshon hora...???!!!!

shame on you!

how will you stand on yom kippur - the yom hadin in from of hashem begging for mercy from hashem while you come to hashem with DIRTY hands? you wrote to the rebbe with chutzpah and continue your chutzpah till today!

i think you should just drop your stupidity and become a normal person. you will be doing yourself a favor and maybe the nthe rebbe will have rachmonos on you and your problems will be resolved.

gmar chasimah TOVAH you really need it.

p.s. if i would be in your shoes i would be shaking about my fate this coming year, i wouldn't come into shul all happy that hashem is gonna give me a good year, i would beg hahsem for mercy for a good year. maybe go to the ohel and apologize to the rebbe for all your chutzpah.

[Shmarya]

I'll tell you what. Just as soon as the Rebbe (sic) and Chabad apologize for their abandonment of poor, starving, tortured Ethiopian Jews and for their racism, I'll "apologize" for calling them on it and for working to save dying Jews. Until then, it seems to me that Chabad should be doing the "shaking" this Yom Kippur.

[Brains]

Why don't u just grow up? you sound like a 5 year old!

you - a lowely being thinks your gonna win against the rebbe - the nosi hador? i wish you luck on your "holy war" against the rebbe. (maybe if it isn't working very well you can ask the palistinians how to fight a "holy war")

[why]

what i don't understan is as follows;

why should lubavitch save the eithiopian (jews?) and why?

why don't you go blame stamar for not rescuing th ethiopian (jews?)? and why?

do you think that just because you wrote a letter to the rebbe that is why he should save them? and why?

maybe there were other oragnizations taking care of them already? and why?

you sound like some narrow minded pepole who say "i worte a letter to the president not to go to war in iraq and he didn't listen to me" there is a bigger agenda for chabad and a goal for chabad and that is to be mekarev yidden to yiddishkeit, and it is not a red cross organization or a united nations relief fund! i russia lubavitych was very active in the underground to be mekarev the russian yidden to yidishkeit. and why?

maybe now instead of using all your efforts to curse out the rebbe maybe go do some mivtzoyim and be mekarev yidden to yiddishkeit? and why?

and anyways what did u do for the "jews" in eithiopia? and why?

where did u get the chutzpah to write to the rebbe in such a way? and why?

start shaking!

and like the rebbe said aniey ircha kodmin, so it wasn't lubavitch's job anyway.

so gmar chasimmah TOVA

[mike]

hi i used to go to a chabad house to pray, but now after seeing your site i no longer go to pray, i even stopped keeping kosher because i see that chaabd is fake, and religious jews are fake.

thank you for opening my eyes to the eviel i was about to get myself into, i was almost thinking of becoming a baal teshuva, but thank you for this site because now i will go back to enjoying life! pork chops yum!

now i know that when he told me to keep kosher it was not for my good it was for chabd good.

thanks!

[benny]

Shmarya,

If the above comment from "mike" is authentic, there is the absolute proof that the results of your website must be the opposite of ahavas Yisroel. Ahavas Yisroel never led Jews away from Hashem; never. But now it seems, you have. Korach also started out l'shem shomayim, but Hashem shows us what his argument-causing led to, and his horrible end. It seems that you may be headed in the wrong direction. If you are of true Jewsih blood, as it seems you are, then I hope you have the inner strength and capacity to still turn things around, and use your obvious Internet-publicity talents to promote shalom amongst people, goodness and kindness.

[Steve]

Shmarya, the Reality is, whether you like it or not, as far as the Ethiopians are concerned, The rebbe and basic anthropology converge.
Before a get called a racist let me say that if my children came home with ethiopian spouses I would wish them mazeltov and dance at their weddings-but then I would do the same if they came home with any suitable partner of any group-and thats the point.
Ashkenazic jews have nothing in common with Ethiopian jews at all.
All people with pride in their heritage look to certain defining characteristics.
Ashkenazic Jews have an above average concern for their children, love of education and a certain commercial talent.
Ethiopian Jews don't seem to have these qualities over and above any other african tribal group.
Put simply any "connection" you feel towards these people is totally intangible-and if the rebbe views jewish identity in more anthropologically veryfiable terms thats his business.
In saying that I would sooner give money to help save Ethiopians than create Mitzvah Tanks.

[sandra]

When there is an overwhelming positive occurance that is about to happen in the world, ie: Moshiachs revelation, there is an equall amount of negative, ie: this website. But don't worry, like oil, the truth comes up in the end. Which is very, very soon. May it be NOW!

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[Rivkah Epstein]

Well, I'm rather dark myself having 2 Jewish grandmothers & 2 Puerto Rican grandfathers. I was kiruved by Chabad although Im not Chabad so I have alot of respect for them. They were the only ones who gave me the time of day. When I decided 2 become frum in 1989 I was excited! But because of the color of my skin, the doors were closed 4 me in my old neighborhood on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Chabad helped me become the Frum Jewish woman,wife & mother I am today. When I moved 2 Midwood in 1996 I experienced racism & predjudice first hand from Orthodox Ashkenazi Jews. One example was Rabbi Balcony from a Bais Yaakov in Boro Park who's staff (Mrs. Kurlantz)treated me like dirt! I was 28 at the time & had 2 college degrees, probably more than he and his staff had altogether...anyway, he made excuses why my daughter couldnt attend the yeshiva like overcrowding etc... I wore a sheitel, I was as sneot as can be. What was wrong? I asked him many questions. He then yelled out 2 me in front of my husband, 5 yr. old daughter & newborn son that I was dark! I look Puerto Rican and didnt look "Jewish" & if anyone saw me picking up my child from school there would be a mass exodus!!! OMG!!! I left, weeping in the middle of Boro Park! Im not a convert! & if I were I would have ripped off my wig & went home & put on some jeans & ate a ham sandwich! BUT I WAS BORN JEWISH ACCORDING TO HALACHA. So that was definitely out of the question. When my Raizel looked at me and said "Mommy I wish you were white like me & daddy" I wanted 2 die!!! What are we as Orthodox Jews? Freakin Nazis? How disgusting!!! I continue to be disgusted with the Orthodox Jews for this reason even though I am one myself. The difference is, I'm not a racist or an elitist! Moshe Rabbeinu A'H was a very dark man! Real Jews are dark! Thats what happens when you live in the desert! There were no Streimels, knickers or any of the other things you see the Askenazim donning. But yes, loshon hara & racism are a part of everyday Jewish life people, unfortunately. Im light tan! Imagine what Ethopian Jews & African American/Carribean Converts or half breeds like me go through? WAKE UP PEOPLE! Most of the Russians thought to be Jewish are not! But because they are WHITE they get everything! Most of these so called Russian Jews hate Jews & Judaism! Russian "Jewish" immigrants who 1st went to Israel then Bklyn, would make it a point to make pork & eat it on Shabbos! They even had pictures of J.C. in their home! Ok guys, keep kissing the Russian's back side! This is what you get! I say, White doesnt mean right! We should know this people! Did the Askenazim adopt Hitler's ideology? There is no master race & if the Askenazim were one, it wouldnt be "MASTER" it would be "MEDIOCRE"! Especially with all of the genetic diseases they carry too many to name. My 2 sons inhereted a form of Autism from their Ashkenazi father...gee thanks for the contribution!!! And both of my sons are White with dark blond hair & green eyes. Alot that will do for them! Cut the crap! Stop being racists pigs! Observe Torah v Mitzvot & stop being judgmental predjudiced jerks!!! Then maybe others wont leave Yiddishkeit because of your ignorance! It's not my fault even though I dress modestly I still look like a beautiful Latina woman! Hey better for me!!! I guess it's my better half! Baruch HASHEM!!! AMEN!!! LOL!!!

[Rivkah Epstein]

Oh! And by the way! The Russians contribute to more crimes in Israel due to PROSTITUTION, drugs, money laundering, child pornography, human trafficing, ETC... Too many more to name. But Yes, there are many Russian prostitutes here and especially in Israel. They are not a good contribution to the Jewish community. When they do come to us, they want a hand out. They try to take advantage of wonderful things like Tomchei Shabbos which is geared towards helping Shabbos observing families whom are less fortunate, a helping hand with food & a small donation for Shabbos. The Russians try to take full advantage of this(although they dont keep Kosher or Shabbos), and other tzedaka based organizations. That, is an injustice!!! Not the Ethiopean Jews!!! They are a blessing! They are the children of Shlomo ha Melech A'H. Not the children of Boris & Sveltlana!!! Wake up people!!! On the average day the normal Orthodox Ashkenazi Jew uses the word "SHVARTZA" many times, too many to count! Or now the new name from Israel is "KUSHIM"! Gee thanks! Sounds like the way the Germans used to call Jews racist names. What's next? Anti-Ethiopean characateurs like the ones the Germans used to put up against the Jews portraying them as sick, evil people? Terrible! Have the Askenazim adopted racist nazi ideology? I think the answer to that question, or like my Safta used to say, the proof is in the pudding! For shame! Im not a NUT! Im a realist. Sorry if I offended anyone, but like a wise man once said "The truth hurts". Shalom all!!!

[HM]

Rivkah, I stumbled upon your post/this forum while googling "Ashkenazim and blond hair" and had to respond.

Being 6 months later I don't know if you'll read this, but I think what happened to you is shameful!

If you're reading this, perhaps you would consider Reconstructionism. I come from a different Jewish experience than you, mostly Reform (but not completely non-religious) at home growing up but went to Hebrew School/Bar Mitzvah in a Conservative school.

Anyway, for the last High Holy Days, a friend introduced my wife and I to a Reconstructionist temple. We had been going to a Conservative temple, but in this economy couldn't afford to buy "tickets" anymore (an issue I've long had, call it "economic discrimination"). At the temple we went to this year, you give a "donation" and even that is optional. I was very surprised by it because I had a bias (with no knowledge whatsoever) that it was "less traditional than Reform even" when it reality it is kind of "Conservative Judaism adapted a bit for the 21st Century".

While I wouldn't call it "Orthodox", services are very traditional, they take Shabbos and kashrut seriously, and most of all, they are very respectful of "mixed" backgrounds. At the High Holy Days at the temple I went to in White Plains, NY, there were a few families consisting of a non-white spouse and mixed children, Asian, Hispanic, black, and no one in the congregation bat an eye, so no one will look at you funny there.

I'm sorry that the Orthodox/Chabad Judaism treated you and your family like such dirt but I wanted to note that you can find reasonable alternatives.