Building History One Spin At A Time

What Chabad Claims:

Chabad of District of Columbia

Chabad-Lubavitch's sophisticated operations in D.C. have a rather unique focus. Over the past 45 years, this office has administered support for causes of national and world Jewish concern. Yet beyond these vital Jewish interests, Chabad-Lubavitch has not abandoned its educational imperative even here. Outreach programs include twice-weekly Torah classes for Congressional staff members, a growing lecture series on various Jewish concepts, and many holiday awareness programs and special events. A new center has been recently inaugurated.

The Truth:

1. Chabad had no permanent office in Washington, DC until the 1990's, when Rabbi Avraham Shemtov's son was old enough to open one. (This was not due to a lack of suitable rabbis – it was due to a lack of suitable Shemtovs. In other words, nepotism.) Before that, Rabbi Shemtov worked had to prevent other outreach organizations like Aish HaTorah from opening in Washington (got to hold the place for the kid, after all) while at the same time doing very little toward outreach in the nation's capital. (Yearly menorah lightings, photo-ops with politicians, fundraising …) As you may know, Rabbi Avraham Shemtov is based in Philadelphia.

2. See here for the Rebbe's perception of Chabad's activities in Washington, DC. You'll note that it seems to clash with the current Chabad spin. Especially note the Rebbe's refusal to help starving, persecuted Ethiopian Jews by asking Congress for help with aid and rescue.

3. See here for the Chabad-DC/American Friends of Lubavitch website.

Comments

[Ladron]

Nepotism is in the Chassidic tradition. For years, the greatest scholars & those to be revered were sons or sons in law of ...
At chabad.org , the previous Rebbe is still Rebbe Rayyatz . The current Rebbe is of course no other than .... One wonders what is R' Sh. Junior instructed to tell those being lobbied -in case they ask- what are his beliefs concerning the "current" Rebbe .
Another perplexing thought at the sight of the photos of AFL , what do they say about Hillary C. behind her back , whe she addresses the middle east peace process .
Oh ! I forgot , that is not hypocrisy , it's Kiddush Shem Shomayim and Darkei Sholom .

[schneur]

There are various sides to the new "post rebbe" Lubavitch. In my opinion the educational and pastoral activities deserve support of the wider Jewish community.
The PR activities of this movement are generally geared to fund raising in the guise of " work for klal ". Where the Orthodox Union and the Aguda have serious shtadlanim in Washington (both directors are trained lawyers) whose work is to protect the Orthodox jewish citizen as well as day schools Israel and other special interests, Shabbos, kashruth, etc,as far as I can tell the agenda of Chabad there is to glorify its own name. It would really be beneficial if Chabad appointed a trained political lobbyyist to run this office.
Since the Chabad movement is basically funded by the wider jewish population of the U.S. nepotism should have no role in its activities, yet the movement is bridled with such. In CA the Cunins operate the franchise, In NJ the Hersons operate the franchise, in PA etc its the family of Shemtov, in NY R. Butman's son operats the ritzy Scarsdale franchise. This is true in almost every city of the country.
Clearly qualifications and experience play only a minor role in the appointment of personel in Chabad.
One wonders who will inherit Krinsky , chances are it will be another Krinsky.(as far as I know none of Rabbi Moshe Sherer's sons or sons in law has any impt position in the Aguda)
Were this a self contained movement like Popa or Krasno I would not make these remarks, but the movement claims to operate for the benefit of the broader Jewish community !
I always find it interesting that Chabad wishes to involve itself in all aspects of American jewish life yet refuses to allow any outside monitoring of its own activities. On many occassions when talking to Lubavitchers about Chabad their response is why is it your concern ? So essentially all they want is the non-Chabad person's financial resources but no involvement otherwise.
What Chabad needs is some form of democratic reorganization enabling it to continue its good works in line with more modern organizational methods( civil service not nepotism).
I f Chabad is not run by a rebbe , then it really needs to reform its business organization in line with organizations like the Orthodox Union, Young Israel, Torah U-Mesoarh, Agudath Israel, Yeshiva University and similiar groups.

[Pinchas]

Don't forget Yichus. If your Yichus is lacking you have no hope of advancement in ChaBaD. I know Luby's that laugh and point at their own "brethren" when backs are turned; for their lack of Yichus.
A sick and twisted group of individuals if you ask me. What was it that Moshe Rabbenu said about the generation? Not much has changed in 3500 years.
Every time I have to shake one of these peoples hands I feel as if I have to wash it.

[schneur]

Actually you touch on an interesting note. In fact few Lubavitchers today can claim a "geza" White Russian pedigree. In other words few Lubavitcher chasidim can trace themselves back to ancestors who were chasidim of the MAHARASH or even the RASHAB (died 1920).
I was once eating with several Lubavitcher Baale Teshuva , when in the course of discussion I noted that I can trace my Lubavitcher lineage back 4-5 generations to chasidim of the Rashab, they asked to "touch me" ( I make no claims of being a Lubavitcher) as I was the first such person they met even their shliach- mentor was only a second generation Chabadnik whose father was a chasid of the 7th rebbe.

[shua]

When I scroll through this site I can almost see the bored losers who have nothing better to do in life other than sifting through the net looking for bits of information to distort against an organization which accoplished an continually accomplishes way more than this idiotic site could ever damage. What motivates a person to go through the effort of creating such a site I cannot possibly imagine, other than some personal bitterness agaist someone in the organization.