NY Jewish Week On The Fight For 770

The New York Jewish Week reports on the fight for control of the main Chabad-Lubavitch synagogue in Crown Heights:

The two camps — the anti-messianists run the Chabad worldwide outreach, while the messianists, a smaller but very active gorup, control the street in Crown Heights — have waged a simmering war since 1994, when the Lubavitcher rebbe died. But in recent weeks the battle has intensified over who controls the main synagogue at 770 Eastern Parkway, Lubavitch headquarters and home to the messianists.

In actuality, the messianists control the Chabad street in Israel, Crown Heights, Russia, France, California and many other locations and are far and away the largest grouping within Chabad. Further, the so-called "anti-messianists" believe exactly what the messianists believe – the argument is over whether or not to publicize the belief, not over the belief itself.

So what takes place in Chabad's main synagogue?

During a recent visit to 770 several men downstairs, having just finished the afternoon prayers, were passionately singing the chant that has become the messianists’ slogan: “Long live our master, our teacher, our rabbi, King Messiah, forever and ever!”

One man clutched a fistful of small plastic yellow flags with the messianic crown on it. A few others danced around during the song. Many of the men in the sanctuary, however, did not participate.

“It’s very inspiring davening at 770 because everyone davens with special power because the rebbe is there,” said Michael Rosenthal, a 24-year-old Lubavitcher who works for the emissary in Great Neck, in an interview outside.

Now for the two dumbest quotes, one of them from frequent FailedMessiah.com commenter Ariel Sokolovsky:

Rabbi Ariel Sokolovsky was among the men arrested [in a riot sparked by police attempting to protect 770's dedication plaque from defacement by messianists] Nov. 3. The Boston resident is an ardent messianist who visits 770 several times a year.

“I describe the rebbe as alive,” Rabbi Sokolovsky said in an interview. “The body of moshiach does not die, even if it appears to be so. A tzaddik [righteous person] can materialize himself in the world if he needs to. “Concealment does not mean that the rebbe has an invisible body,” he said. “It has to do with people’s readiness to see it. It’s people’s perception.”

Rabbi Sokolovsky said he has met people who have seen the rebbe in person since he died.

That perspective offends some. [Some?!? A more appropriate choice would be "many."]

“For so-called Orthodox Jews to say this undermines a basic argument against Christianity that’s been going on for over 1,000 years,” said Rabbi Berger. “It’s a betrayal of the Jewish belief in messianism, whose parameters have been defined to exclude the possibility that the messiah would declare the redemption is coming in his generation and die without completing the task.”

That's really pathetic. On one hand we have a guy who believes the Rebbe still walks this earth. On the other, we have a guy who defines the Jewish belief in a messiah by what it is not – for Rabbi Berger, it's all  about anti-Christian polemics, not positive Jewish theology. Sad.

Miriam Shaviv's take on this can be read here.

Comments

[Paul Freedman]

Arieh, is this true? Forgive me, but when you are asked to explain why Rebbe is Messiah when there has not been techyias mettiim you explain that techias mettiim is a metaphorical concept.not an actual physical miracle that the Messiah must preside over.

But then, you profess to believe in ANOTHER, non-metaphorical physical miracle: the Messiah himself only appears to physically die; he actually undergoes a spiritual bittul emanating his true essence for those who are spiritually aware--notwithstanding (what makes this a physical miracle and not a metaphysical one) that doctors and attendants and numerous others say that, in conventional and mortal physical terms, the "body" of the Rebbe has indeed "died".

So in the one case that tradition speaks of: metaphor. For the Rebbe, true physical miracle, indeed techyias mettiim ;without the mettim part, histalkut memash.

I dunno, what makes a person alive usually is that they are visible to anyone and everyone of any spiritual attainment as soon as they walk in the door.

[Schneur]

As the post stated there are very few real Anti Messianists in CH or any other place in the Universe of Lubavitch.
Those that exist are Anti Messianist solely for financial reasons as they are on the payroll of Agudas Chaside chabad directed by Rav Yudel Krinsky.
The battle in CH is between Krinsky and Shemtow on one side and the greater Ch public over control of various Chabad institutions.
Krinsky has tried to take over ULY (they fought Rabbi Shusterman's appointment tooth and nail) and the rabbinate as well. He and his friends know they need to solidify control in CH and are busy doing it.
In truth many Messianist themselves do not believe in their rhetoric its just a good advertising slogan , especially effective in CH - a community of non-Shluchim or failed shluchim. These people can not partake of the "Other Chabad" that is of the world of fund raising and public relations and of fame and fortune. For them the Messianic slogans is all they have in a Lubavitch without a rebbe or other charismatic leadership.

[Schneur]

In last weeks JW , Dr. Marvin Schick made a very cogent observation that orthodoxy especially Chabad has adopted a "comfort zone "in regards inter marriage.
Some shluchim I have met have labeled inter marriage as "just 1 of the 613 Mitzvot" lets say not different than "Shiluach hakan" or "maaka".
After all so far its not the shluchim's kids who are dating non Jews.
Todays Chabad is built on an opportunistic approach fed by a quest for fame and fortune.
I just hope that in the process they do not destroy Chabad and orthodox Judaism.I wish them all well.

[Neo-Conservaguy]

"I just hope that in the process they do not destroy Chabad and orthodox Judaism"

As if the Orthodox movement needed any more threats than many of its own leaders? Any movement that becomes entrenched can't survive the long run; swim or die, your choice.

[Adam Neira]

Rabbi Schneerson was/is not Moshiach. The Lubavitchers who believe this are deluded souls who are doing great harm to themselves, and potentially to others they come in contact with.

The Divine Clock is ticking...

The next six weks are crucial to the future of humankind. Prayer, vigilance and right action will see us all through.

A 2005 update to Avos, should read..."Make for yourselves a new teacher !"

[Paul Freedman]

R. Ariel Sokolovsky would like to post the following reponse to my previous posting:

----
B"H
Shalom uBrocha!
See:
http://moshiachtv.blogspot.com/2005/06/open-wound-in-good-journalism.html

More to the point I told you that as I understand the general revival of the dead is the higher level of teshuvah. And I told you that eternal life of the Rebbe King Moshiach is primarily expressed thru his influence thru his teachings as well as his answers thru Igrot for example.

The concealment of Moshiach is primarily concealment of correct understanding about the concept of Moshiach and identity of Moshiach among the people at large.

However there are certain  people who merit to see the Rebbe in person even now.

Brocha veHatzlocha!
Ariel Sokolovsky
Yechi haMelech haMoshiach!

 

[rebeljew]

"However there are certain people who merit to see the Rebbe in person even now."

I shall doubt this until I see the nailmarks in his hands! Ooops, wrong religion.

[Saint Thomas]

Hey Rebel!

That's MY line.

[Ariel is a Jews for Jesus plant]

Nope RebelJew!!
You have the right religion!
'Chabad used to the closest religion to Judaism, but it ain't that close anymore!"
'Rabbi' Ariel Sokolvsky is a Jews for Jesus plant.They need Chabad to inch a bit closer to their side, so they can try convert other Jews.

[Ariel Sokolovsky]

B"H
Shalom uBrocha!
It's beyond me why some of you or Berger or the like would categoricly declare that it's not part of Judaism that a tzadik (not just Moshiach) can appear to someone even after his apparent death when there is plenty of evidence from the Talmud Midrashim and Kabbolah and later sources (much of it is even translated in English and can be found online) that this is possible.
Brocha veHatzlocha!
Gut Shabbos!
Ariel Sokolovsky
Yechi haMelech haMoshiach!

[rebeljew]

Ariel

In the words of Elliot, of ET fame:
This is ... REALITY, Ariel!

[Paul Freedman]

Ariel, I will review the links you sent to me, but I would like to re-word my earlier point: a) although the tradition has examples of souls or spirits, etc. of those who have passed to olam ha ba reappearing, as you note, that does not make them Messiah (though religious thinkers may make connections between the one and the other). The appearance does not prove Messiah and (the problem) many people feel that Messiah should not have to appear from olam ha ba or after his apparant physical death--his work should be done before it comes to that.

That is, Messiah is felt by many (most, although things get more complicated after the Haskalah and Zionism) to be someone who does such and such and such in his physical lifetime.

If a Messianist wishes to say, well, these things HAVE been done or have started to be done because the true meaning of such and such and such is a higher level of tshuvah, etc., OK, we can consider that. The Messianist is asking us to consider the very point of view from which we view our spiritual reality and claiming that Messiah changes that point of view and becomes a manifestation of that point of view shifting. And, if a Messianist wishes to say that the Rebbe is not extinguished in death because of this or that, his neshma is alive or we have appearances or manifestations of him, well, the tradition has a literature of supplication at the kever of chachmiim and mekubaliim connected to those beliefs/assertions.

But to attempt to "clinch" the Messianist argument by THEN stating that IN ADDITION to these arguments, the Rebbe's very physcial flesh was NOT like other people's flesh and his PHYSCIAL DEATH, his bodily death, did NOT occur (so his earthly career is still in progress) causes more problems than it solves. This argument seems not only to undercut the other arguments but, to my knowledge, has no support in the religious tradition.

[Paul Freedman]

A shorter version of the above post: a Messianic argument that needs to rely upon the thesis that even physical death did not really happen is in trouble because the tradition doesn't speak of a Messiah or a tzaddik or an anybody who has special flesh or a unique body that doesn't physically die despite doctor's reports--end time nullification of physical death would be general.

[jb]

rav shach was on the money just look at what has become of them

[Ariel Sokolovsky]

B"H
Pesach, RebelJew asks the right question on his blog here:
"So all in all, the primary question is not whether the CR died, but what do adherents mean when they say that he is still alive?"

http://rebeljew.blogspot.com/2005/02/did-chabad-rebbe-die.html

And I have already explained this to you on the phone anyone else who wants to clarify the meaning and the "legality" of "Long Live our Master our Teacher and our Rebbe King Moshiach Forever and Ever!" and related concepts according to halocha Kabbolah and Chassidus can contact me thru my blog , by email or phone.

With respect and blessing . May you all have a good and sweet year!
Ariel Sokolovsky

Long Live our Master our Teacher and our Rebbe King Moshiach Forever and Ever!

[Adam Neira]

From time to time I check back on what I wrote years ago, like what I am doing today. I do this not for egocentric navel gazing purposes but to see what effect I may have had on the zeitgeist. Nearly six years later after this article first appeared, I find once again that I was correct in what I said. Ariel Sokolovsky changed his tune somewhat and late in 2010 requested to be a Facebook friend. Funny how things turn out.

“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”

- Mahatma Gandhi

P.S. World Peace 2050 was founded in April 2000. moshiach_productions@yahoo.com.au was first registered in 2003.