Chabad and Modern Orthodoxy; Chabad and Non-Jews

Onionsoupmix, a sometime commenter on these pages, writes perceptively on her own blog:

On page 21 of the [Chabad women's] Neshei Newsletter, we have an article about the power of words. Basically a typical story about a guy who blasts Chabad because his wife comes home late from a lubavitch event. Then the guy suddenly gets sick and is in so much pain that he needs to be hospitalized for some time. After shlepping from hospital to hospital, he realizes the error of his ways, apologizes to the person who taught the shiur and begs forgiveness from Chabad in general. He finally ends up with some tefillin that were left in a taxi which belonged to a Lubavitcher. After he does the mitzva and returns these tefillin... miracle of miracles... the pains in his body subside and he is cured! Hooray! Boruch Hashem Yom Yom.

On page 58 of the same issue, a woman writes in to blast women who do not dress modestly. Those of us who wear low necklines and tight skirts are not to be trusted in halacha because  we do not respect halacha. Even our husbands are suspect because how can they eat the food from our kitchens and be really frum? On and on. The next paragraph goes like this: Some call this dress Modern Orthodox.  Modern Orthodoxy finds every possible heter or not possible heter as an excuse for leniency and sometimes gives logic precedence over Torah. They try to first be secular and then to fit Judaism into their lives somehow.

So after some careful thought, I figured it out. Hashem only doesn't like when people speak ill of Lubavitch. So people who intend to blast chabad should be careful lest they fall prey to some mysterious illness. But those who blast Modern Orthodoxy, have no fear, that is fine. Hashem loves that and will probably give you some extra credit brownie points.

In fact, in the very same issue, we have another article which explains this concept even further. On page 34, Rabbi Shusterman explains that truth is more important than peace. Because  if one chooses peace over truth, the truth is lost... and the peace, if achieved will be superficial and will not last. If one chooses truth over peace, one has truth for sure and theres a good chance one will, in the long run, gain lasting peace as well. 

Good advice to keep in mind during those stupid marriage fights we all have. Whose turn is it to take out the trash? Who was supposed to go shopping and who missed taking the kids to their swimming lesson?  The truth, Rabbi Shusterman teaches us, is more important than peace.

Anyway, it's gonna be a long time before the Messiah shows his face 'round here. How many different factions of Judaism think that only their own version  is the authentic truth?

In a related post titled "Hypocrisy,", she writes about a rabbi who lies to Jew to get the Jew to bury his mother according to normative Jewish law. Is lying okay in kiruv, she asks? Then she tells a story that goes back to so many of the discussions we've had here regarding the inferior status of non-Jews in Jewish law and theology:

There is a new organization [run by Lubavitchers] called AskNoah. It is for gentiles who wish to observe the Sheva Mitzvos. The Neshei article has a whole big feature on what a great and inspirational effort this all is. It would be very nice, except that a while ago, I met one of the founders. Stayed in his home for shabbos. At one point, he and his wife were discussing a pleasant experience that they had with a kind gentile worker or neighbor or something. He then says, "this guy was so nice, it was almost like he was Jewish."

Why, if you are a gentile, would you possibly want to learn rules from someone who thinks you are an inferior being?

Our more recent discussions of non-Jews in Jewish law and theology can be found here:

1, 2, 3,  4,  5, & 6.

Comments

[Yos]

"Anyway, it's gonna be a long time before the Messiah shows his face 'round here."

That should be engraved on a satellite that orbits the earth once a day.

[Yochanan Lavie]

As a young BT I thought Lubavitch was the coolest thing. It was like a hipster version of Fiddler on the Roof, I thought. As I became more into Modern Orthodoxy, my first doubts about Lubavitch was over the condescending way they regarding Modern Orhodox. If you're not frum at all, they act all lovey dovey. If you are MO, they treat you like an ignorant inferior.

(Disclosure: I consider myself traditional now, rather than Orthodox).

[Ben Noah]

I honestly can't believe that even you would have something negative to say about the people at asknoah. Do you have any idea how many of us gentiles have had our lives changed in a remarkably positive way as a result of the efforts of asknoah?

"Why, if you are a gentile, would you possibly want to learn rules from someone who thinks you are an inferior being?"

Maybe because, despite what anyone's personal feelings might be concerning Non-Jews, some of us have figured out that HaShem desires for us to learn about Him from the Jews and have been greatly blessed for it.

The more interesting question would be why so many people continue to worship a dead Jewish man who called gentiles dogs and swine...sometimes right to their face. I can tell you that the Jewish teachers and Rabbis at asknoah have never treated me like a dog under the table, they have only treated me exactly like what I am, a Righteous Gentile.

[chief doofis]

As a "modern" Torah observant Jew, I find that Chabad has no appeal whatsoever to the already observant. Basically, although they appear to be Ultra - Orthodox (whatever that may mean) the rank and file are much less learned than your typical Yeshiva product.

Many of their synagogue services are totally unimpressive to all but the ignorant. Halachik violations in Chabad synagogues are rampant, eg. announcing pages between Ge'ula and t' fila, total disreagrd for z'manim, changing nusach of existing synagogues, etc, etc.

If you want to hear an in depth shiur, the last one you'd go to is a Chabadnik. Of course, if you want to hear Bubba Maases about the Ball Shem Tov's horse, or how the fourth Rebbe's third daughter spoke to a fish, roll right in!!

[yona loriner]

who the hell cares?????

[Sarah]

Some Chabad rabbis are so uneducated, not only in secular studies, but even lack the most basic Jewish learning. Probably know less than most M.O. Spent too much time learning mysticism or just come from the right "established" family. One rabbi in Brooklyn who was teaching Hebrew to yuppies in DUMBO had to be taught by his students what idioms and prepositions are. A supposedly prominent rabbi who was doing outreach in a fancy NYC neighborhood needed help when he only knew a word in Yiddish but couldn't remember it in English. And the rabbis' wives: don't ask!

[Lev]

Dear Shmarya, Sarah, Chief Doofus!
I posted on this blog similar information and much worse that happens not only in USA/Israel but in Russia/Ukraine.
For that some "Avrohom" or whatever called me a "lowlife" and said that I have a "heart of stone".
I don't think that even you, Shmarya, was insulted like this by Shoimrei Tznius.
Even UOJ was not insulted as much.
Sarah, you should know that by the Order of the King (Tzar) Messiah, NO boys School in Crown Heights has ANY Secular Studies AT ALL!!!
Even Satmars-Willliamsburgers have some sort of "English"(See book called: "Teacha! Stories of Yeshiva").
Forget about idioms and prepositions!
Chief Doofus, remember that the main ENEMY of the CHABAD is not neo-KGB but fellow hareidim.
Rabbi Schah just told truth about them, and they continue abuse and insult his name for QUATER OF A CENTURY!
Now poster "Avrohom" equalled me to the late Bnei Brak Rabbi. I am flattered of sorts.
But remember, Doofus(or Cosmo?) that Lubavitch will disgracefully use MO as a pawns in their efforts to undermine Aguda in the most places out-of-town.
Current leaders of the cult, whether pro-Putin or anti-, fought for many years to have Prof. David Berger(another truth-teller), zul zain gezunt, FIRED from Bernard Revel Graduate School of YU.
That great American institution always stood its ground, never to throw one of theirs under the bus.
I think the thanks go to Mr. Richard Joel, the current President of YU, "a blessing on his head".
BTW, Doofus, do you know that Kramers are...the Einiklah of the Vilna Gaon!
If you ask "Avrohom" or any lubavitcher, they'll tell you that he was worse then Ahmadinejad, imah shmoi, because that is a friend of Putin, and Gaon was not...

[Lev]

P.S. One of the main enemies of Chabad in Chicago and elsewhere is a hareidi Rabbi Chaim Dov Keller. Very nice and polite man BTW, NICER than any Lubavitcher I ever met.
But Moshihisten and Elokisten are afraid to attack him.Why? Chicago Lubavitchers are BTs and "shluhim"--not only no different but much worse then kollel "benchwarmers", and poor.
Wealthy people-in nursing homes, real estate--are strong Keller's supporters.
To translate V.V. Putin: "Small box opens very simple".

[avrohom]

lev hoeven,

you are still the same low life.

Put in your head: your godolim produced THOUSANDS OF SHNORERS, a culture and mentality of people who are taught to live by shnorerrey of donors, but worse they put a tremendous hardship on their immediate family who has to support 4 sons in law and look for an equal kolel ungerman for the next daughter...and your godolim created it and are so blind that they do not see the mess they are in and are not looking for ways to get out of it.

Whereas lubavitchers are taught from young on that they must fend for themselves. Whether you like or not shluchim serve the community. Obviously whether you like it or not there are people who offers their help from their own volition (not because the gadol ordered and blackmailed the tzibbur to cave to the system); which means: they work for a living and serve people and do with selfless sacrifice.

btw, Scottyis almost an equal ooprtunity basher: besides Rav Aharon, he bashed all "godolim" look in the archives...even the righteous amongst them...he bashes all observant jews and espcially haredim.... that you use his blog to bash habad (while your partner theowner of this sheketz bashes gedolim and he goes back to chamey hamishnah vehatalmud and gedolim vetzadikim from all generation Arizal and all "rabbis") speaks volumes of your hatred and probably jealousy to chabad that you would be a partner to someone who bashes all of our messora abee you give a shtoch to the Lubavitcher Rebbe! It is probably one of the big gems that you learned in lakewood ir hakodesh vehashnorerrs vehakovrey of their shvers sixfeet under!

[Sarah]

When my family and I brought friends and family members to Chabad functions in Manhattan and Brooklyn (no longer go to any of them), the Chabad rabbis would zero in on anyone we brought who appeared to be wealthy and schmooze them up and ask for their e-mail and tel #. Then they'd hit them up. Anyone who did not look like he/she had money was ignored. It was SO obvious. They must be trained so sniff out money from yards away. This is serving our people? Btw, Aish is not much different.

[Alex]

I guess secular studies are evil but ripping off secular jews is ay okay!

[Fleishike Kishke]

Lubavitch is like some of those national fast food chains. Their product is harmful. It is served up (for the most part) by uneducated, unskilled, workers. And they never stop pushing it. Anyone with a little education and critical thinking can tell that Lubavitch and their leader the dead and fully decomposed Mr. Schneerson are a waste of time. As for their fundraising, it has to do with the old saying, a fool and his money are soon parted. People who regularly donate to Lubavitch deserve them.

[Avrohom]

flessshike rotten kishke,

you said asher yotzar already...or don't bother because you soon will need it again...

You can all rot away from jealousy, as the Rebbe was all million light years from all of you...if he targeted older people you stary saying he looked for their money...he looked for the poor and people in the jails you say he looked for the criminals...he put energies to save children to have a jewish education you claim lubavitcher is not into learning...he brought the wealthy to donate to jeiwish causes...you jealous haters say he was after the money (interesting look as lev hoeven a few posts ago hailed rav keller from chiacago and mentioned how the big money people are with him...) at the end of the day the rebbe's mark in jewish life is everywhere to be found and inall areas of life..whereas all off you have your mark in the end of your rotten lives in stupid hateful antisemitic blogs with antisemitic rants...nothing more and nothing less to show for yourself....we will see who decomposes and who does not...and remember

\ושבח אני את המתים יותר מן החיים

give me any day "one Rebbe "Dead" over all your antisemites alive!" (as even all rabbis together do not one rebbe make! al achass kamoh vekamoh the reshoim bechayem kruyim messim gmurim!!!)

[Moshe]

Any shmuck (or organization) that thinks the world is less than 6000 years old should be ignored and not supported. It's amazing that people who are smart enough to run the biggest schemes
(like the diamond industry) are really so bloody stupid. And yes I've attended Chabad lectures and those of modern orthodox. The Chabad rabbis know very little in comparison.

[Lev]

Avrohom, Avrohom, thank you for adding a Hebrew word to my Russian name...
I can't argue with you any longer about Lubavitch, Rebbe, Lazar, Putin.
Just check how Mr. Litvinenko died a horrible death.
What is better, tell me please, what is better: to sit in kollel or to GIVE IMPRIMATUR TO SUCH A REGIME?!
You mentioned my post about Rabbi Keller.
I'll say again: he is nicer and more decent then any Lubavitcher shaliah, janitor, schnorrer, etc.
Please believe me: I know MANY of them.
I also know Lakewood world well.
With all its problems, there are NOBODY (exept for nepotistic Rabbis kids)who has FIVE sons-in-law in kollel. May be one or two.
Avrohom, you never been to Lakewood.
Again, with all their problems, their "middos" are million(your expression) times better then of any members of your New Age cult.
It is better to be a schnorrer and "bench warmer" than farbreingen drunkard and sex predator(ask about "Shaya" in Kiev synagogue in 1988).
Putin retairs next March.
Who's gonna be next Lubavitcher Rebbe and for how long?
Lowlife lev hoeven

[Lev]

Avrohom, Avrohom, thank you for adding a Hebrew word to my Russian name...
I can't argue with you any longer about Lubavitch, Rebbe, Lazar, Putin.
Just check how Mr. Litvinenko died a horrible death.
What is better, tell me please, what is better: to sit in kollel or to GIVE IMPRIMATUR TO SUCH A REGIME?!
You mentioned my post about Rabbi Keller.
I'll say again: he is nicer and more decent then any Lubavitcher shaliah, janitor, schnorrer, etc.
Please believe me: I know MANY of them.
I also know Lakewood world well.
With all its problems, there are NOBODY (exept for nepotistic Rabbis kids)who has FIVE sons-in-law in kollel. May be one or two.
Avrohom, you never been to Lakewood.
Again, with all their problems, their "middos" are million(your expression) times better then of any members of your New Age cult.
It is better to be a schnorrer and "bench warmer" than farbreingen drunkard and sex predator(ask about "Shaya" in Kiev synagogue in 1988).
Putin retires(I'm sorry) next March.
Who's gonna be next Lubavitcher Rebbe and for how long?
Lowlife lev hoeven.

[avrohom]

Lev,

Argue anything that you wiSH about putin, lehavdil Lazar but do not put my REbbe in it or you will hear aboput the immoral and tragic things your mentors have brought to this world and all the geneva gezela and tragedy to THOUSANDS of families....

RAv Keller is by you an upstanding individual because the wealthy people in real estate and nursing homes respect him...but a Lubavitcher Shliach who build a Shul or School and brings Judaism to the place is "Schnorrer? So i have got news to tell you: Rav Keller is the same schnorrer as them...but with one difference: They are taught that they must serve the communities but he teaches people to sit and scnorr and rely on handouts from goverments and shvers and obviously it must come with a house and they will not marry to someone who is from "Bney aniyim' this is the culture taught by people like Rav Keller. I'm not interested in bashing or denigrating the aforementioned talmid chachom but if you will tak negatively about my Rebbe you will have to endure my replies to you.
You do not know what i know or do not know about. I can tell you that i know first hand about families who are forced to support their sons in law when they cannot afford. They teach the yungeleyt to continue milking and milking they teach the boys to marry only if the future father in law will give a house...and promises to supoort for a long number of years...i have a relative that has not been married and is in his fiftiees! and i blame partially on that system....

IN any event: respect my rebbe i'll let you off the hook; disrespect him and i'll tell you about your heroes and villains...

ksiva vechassima tova,

avrohom

[pushkina]

shmarya,

i think that it should be a rule here on the blog that posters write in ENGLISH, not yiddish, not the inauthentic, transliterated yiddish-inflected, ashkenazi-mutilated lashon used by many of the most repugnant, rudest and just plain meanest culprits against the laws of lashon ha-ra and simple common courtesy. one should only be allowed to revert to lashon ha-kodesh for extremely TECHNICAL reasons, i.e. discussing or naming a particular concept such as "'lashon ha-ra', which has been translated into 'evil speech' but has many far deeper meanings than just that one." if one must cite from Tanach or other text, then citations should preferably be in 1.english; 2. ivrit (in ivrit characters); 3. transliterated from ivrit in a universally accepted STANDARD for transliteration (in either ashkenazi or sefardi hebrew). other motley collections of words should not be allowed.

many who may drop in here for a read (fortunately) cannot understand the habitually vitriolic posters such as avrohom. who can know what he really means when he gets started using his own peculiar language? all that is really clear in my mind's eye of him as he lashes out at the owner of this blog and at anyone else who might somehow earn his wrath, is that all the while he is ranting, there are little flecks of spittle, raining all around. that is the sum total of what his non-english language communicates to me.

any language that is so very non-communicative either positively or negatively should be banned. any one who cannot manage to write and share their thoughts, opinions, life stories or whatever else in english, should be banned.

such fanatical posts which originate from some such as avrohom, while amusing at first, quickly become annoying, angering and upsetting. they are always frustrating and rapidly move to the world of the terrorist. at the same time, these sadly rabid posts soon move to become soul-crippling and soul-destroying for those of us at whom the attacks are aimed, and even the most rabid anti- everything charedi yid would admit that we (shmarya, me, and any other self-proclaimed fighter of the loobie messianism) too possess jewish souls, apikorsim or not, and that those souls are owed the respect due any other jewish soul.

our jewish souls are also entitled to self-defense, hence my suggestion on banning such posts as i described.

[avrohom]

pushkina,

when you and the owner of the blog compltely denigrate and bash jewish leaders with such viciousness you lose any right for self defense. ON the contrary you earn the title of an apikoress who must be treated accordingly. When you and the owner of the blog will stop the antisemitic rants aainst observant jews and their leaders you may earn an ounce of respect. until that time you are not immune from the laws of how to treat those bash jews and their leaders as described in the code of jewish law.

[Alex]

when you and the owner of the blog compltely denigrate and bash jewish leaders with such viciousness

truth hurts doesn't it?

[Alex]

when you and the owner of the blog compltely denigrate and bash jewish leaders with such viciousness

truth hurts doesn't it?

[Yochanan Lavie]

Pushkina: I don't read avrohom anymore. He's a one trick pony.

Yiddish is a legitimate language with a brief, but glorious, literary tradition. Shakespeare and other greats have been translated into this language. Many great authors have written in it. The chareidim are not preserving the language. The mix English words with Yiddish, and vice-versa. (When counting change, a friend who REALLY knows Yiddish corrected a chasid who said "finif and a quarter," which should be "finif und ferteil," for example). They consider the great Yiddish writers to be harmful and worthless. In no yeshiva do they learn Sholom Aleichem, Peretz, the Singer brothers, Itzik Manger, and many others.

Yiddish is a creole, a language born of a mixture, as is modern English. Modern English is a mixture of Anglo-Saxon, a dialect of Medieval German, and Norman, a dialect of Medieval French. Modern French, Latin, Greek, Dutch, Scandanavian and other words round out the vocabulary. That does not make the language of Shakespeare, Milton, and Wordsworth any more "bastardized" than the language of Moliere, for example (itself a vulgar Latin).

Yiddish, similiarly, is Medieval High German mixed with Hebrew-Aramaic, and some Slavic and Latinate elements. It is a product of Jewish genius, just as Hebrew, or Ladino, is.

I hate it when Ashkenazim bash Sephardic culture, but I hate reverse snobbery as well. I wish Jews would value their own culture the way other peoples value theirs.

[Avrohom]

Yochanan,

You are right. It is shame how yiddish is not being preserved. Even years ago ..they would talk more yiddish and teah in yiddish, but today amny kids do not know yiddish and many schools who once taught in yiddish teach today in English or Yinglish.

kssiva vechassima tova and a good and blessed year,

avrohom

[avrohom]

alex,

You bash and denigrate with vicious and malIcious LIES.

[Yochanan Lavie]

kssiva vechassima tova and a good and blessed year,

And to you, too.

[Alex]

riiiiiiiiiiight. an orthodx jew would NEVER blame the reform jews for the holocaust, not to mention other stuff.

[pushkina]

hi yochanan,

my quarrel is not with yiddish (or any of the other jewish langauges: ladino, judeo-persian, judeo-arabic, yahud-kurdi, and others, some which have been lost,all languages which use the same 'formula' of using the lanugage of the place as the basic vocabulary, addition of hebrew and aramaic vocabulary and some grammar, but written in the hebrew alphabet): instead it is with certain writers on this blog, who use the language to either hide behind, to exclude others (as an example of how 'more' authentic or orthodox jews they are or to insult others on this online conversation. This use of language to either exclude or insult is what offends me, not the poor use of the language.

I absolutely agree with you about the entire group of Jewish languages as proof of the genius of our people. One of my great joys is being able to teach Jewish adults in our program about the breadth of still living (but barely living) Jewish languages as many of my students believe that only Yiddish is the only extant and legitimate Jewish language, aside from the resurrected/recreated Modern Hebrew and what little they know of the textual languages of the Lashon ha Kodesh, and/or CLassical Medieval Hebrew.

I believe that we have been given languages by g-d as a tool to use to expand our mutual understandings and not to use as a weapon against anyone who happens not to agree with our particularistic take on the world.

I can make the same accusation about the use and abuse of the English used by some folks here. We (the Jewish people) have been given very clear laws about the misuse of language and words. I just wish we could all take the teachings of the Chofetz Chaim more seriously and incorporate those rules in our daily lives, all of us and me especially. I admit that I am weak when it comes to the use of words: I dom't like others to abuse words at me and I mostly always regret when I get into the mud pit with them, as they slang insults at me and I throw them right back.

But it is now Elul, and we are all supposed to try to take spiritual stock of ourselves. To me, Elul means more than just sending the greeting in hope that one is written in for a good year to those we know or encounter. It means making a spiritual contract with oneself to try to do and be better.

Elul aside, this message is for avrohom: you don't know me. If you met me in the street, you wouldn't know me (as pushkina on this blog who you have insulted and maligned so readily and so easily) from any other jewish woman. In fact, there might be an occasion that you might stumble into one of my classes for JEwish adults and you might walk away thinking, "This is really someone who knows something that I didn't know before."

But without knowing me, you have most recently accused me of
"compltely denigrate[ing] and bash[ing] jewish leaders with such viciousness you lose any right for self defense. ON the contrary you earn the title of an apikoress [usage: apikorsa] who must be treated accordingly. When you and the owner of the blog will stop the antisemitic rants aainst observant jews and their leaders you may earn an ounce of respect. until that time you are not immune from the laws of how to treat those bash jews and their leaders as described in the code of jewish law." (whatever that last bit means)

I have NEVER denegrated TRUE Jewish leaders, those who hold the people close to their hearts and look out for their well-being. Unfortunately, in the real world, there aren't many such Jewish leaders. What I HAVE done is disagree with the concept that all loobies are the direct gift of Heaven, and I have done so because I have examples from my own personal history which have taught me the truth of my convictions.

As a younger woman, I wanted to believe that Lubavitchers were all good people, good rabbinic leaders, all were close to the MAster of the Universe. When I was abused of that notion, I chose to believe that thre were just a few individuals in Lubavitch who were corrupt as there were only a few haredim who were corrupt. Alas, I was stripped of that notion also by life experience.

Since the death of the Rebbe, I have come to see that the notion, sometimes secret, sometiems open, of the Messianic nature of the Rebbe, that the REbbe is the chosen one, is a totally evil and dangerous notion which is reminiscent of that of Shabtai Zvi, something which holds the potential to damage an already weakened Jewish people. For me to see such a danger and to remain ignorant of it and silent about it would make me complicit in whatever the evil which might result from it. Therefore, I have a responsibility to know and to speak out against such corruption.

Haven't we as a people suffered enough in the past century because of silence and inaction when Jews saw trouble coming and did nothing?

So when you, avrohom, accuse me of visciously denigrating jewish leadership (which YOU and a MINORITY of JEws hold to be holy) and calling upon halachic punishment to be called down upon me, you don't know about which you speak AND you break the same halachic law, which you hold to be hold and binding. So, in the name of Elul, please try and refrain from such acts.

"SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON

Torah Study vs. Loshon Hora

The Talmud states (Arachin 15b): "R' Chama bar Chanina said: If one has
spoken loshon hora, how can he rectify his sin? If he is a Torah scholar,
he should toil in Torah study, as it is written, 'A healing for the tongue
is a tree of life' (Mishlei 15:4). Torah is the 'tree of life,' as it is
written (ibid. 3:18), 'It is a tree of life to all who grasp it.' "

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue" (ibid. 18:21). Evil speech
can deny one the eternal bliss of the Next World. One who seeks to heal his
tongue of this terrible malady should partake of the tree of life that is
Torah. At the same time, he must be on guard to avoid repeating past sins.

This can be likened to a person who is being treated for food poisoning. It
is not enough to take the necessary medicines; one must also be careful to
avoid eating more contaminated food.

The Talmud further states that immersion in Torah study is itself a
preventive measure against speaking loshon hora. As Scripture states, "For
man was born to toil" (Iyov 5:7). The Talmud (Sanhedrin 99b) understands
"toil" as a reference to speech, specifically the speech of Torah study.
The Talmud is teaching us that man's tongue differs from his other limbs in
a very important way. Use of man's other limbs requires energy. If man is
lazy, his limbs will not be put to maximum use. Such is not the case with
the tongue. Man need not overcome any innate laziness to engage in
conversation. To the contrary, he is naturally bent toward speech and it is
to refrain from speech which requires effort. Thus do the Sages state that
"man was born to toil" refers to the toil of speech.

It is for the toil of Torah study that man was born. However, man has free
choice to decide what the nature of his speech will be. If he will not use
his natural inclination toward speech for the study of Torah, then
inevitably he will speak other matters and will transgress the laws of
forbidden speech."

[around the world]

First i would like to say that i think the guy that runs this site has serious self esteem problems , and bad experience with chabad ,something against them , and that might be why he behaves in such a manner of writing , which in NO WAY excuses it !
As far as the Lub.Rebbe goes , he was a tzaddik and there ARE MANY TRUE stories across the religious spetrum ,whatever 'color' , whether modern orth. or anything else ,that he accepted and helped all . I am not chabad. As far as so called 'chabad shilichim' , i can tell you stories too, of the good and the wicked shlichim . those who are there to help and those who are make it a 'famly business', and the positions go to their ego ,especially those in the former Russia, and other places around the world. However, lubavitch has done a lot of good in many places, where noone else would ever have gone ,and help fellow jews. [ take India as an example, with all those israelis] The 'old ' lubavitchers , those that are lubavitch from russia for generations are tried and true for the most part. [every group has a few problem ppl. unfortunatly. ] But, some lubavitchers, whether they are BT, or their family 'switched'[converted] somehow along the way from another chassidus ,THERE is where the problem ppl.and personalities start. HOWEVER , I personally know Rabbi Lazar to be an upstanding person . Do those who have made comments about him, know him or someone that can vouch for things that are written against him.[ that he did dor didn't do , or behave in a certain manner?] there is also 'plenty' of 'rabbis' who are not chabad ,in the former russia, who might have gone 'at the beg' to help , who either the position , among other things went to their head, or some fell in their yiddishkeit or went off alltogether. It is NOT for everybody to go on shlichus, whether you are chabad or other, it is a dangerous thing , where sometimes souls are lost , when what they went out there to do is 'help ' other jewish neshamos to learn abt. judaisim . Very ironic and twisted.
Hashem sees and knows all , but does NOT interfere with bechira chafshis.
The power and position go to ppls. heads, very few [if any] escape this fight with the yetzar hara.
As far as the Rebbe t'zl being the moshiach....they say that in every generation there is someone capable of being the mashiach ,but that if the jewish nation is not deserving , then mashiach will not come during that time. The 'rebbe ' could have been moshiach , but we weren't ready. Is he it now? no , b/c he is dead. But, may he be a meilitz yosher for all of klal yisroel.
As far as secular subjects, it is not the worst in the world if it is not leaned thruout high school for instance. If somebody wants to learn these subjects and it is not offered, they should go somewhere else that offers them Why bash someone who hAS A DIFFRENT SET of ideals ,as long as they are shomer torah u'mitzvot.. Remember , the Rebbe ,t'zl spoke MANY languages , and was a very knowledgable about secular subjects, including math. however , he was schooled at home for the most part, b/c of the era of that time in Russia ,[russian school system and matzav witht he local pop.] which shows what independent study can do.
The steipler t'zl said that children should learn the language of the land they live in, math, and other subjects thru 8th grade.
As far as mod, orth. and tzinus.... tznius is a serious thing , and applies to both men and woman. tznius encompasses many things , those being dress . speech , behavior ,both inside and outside one's house for the most part. hemlines do not have to be 'measured' , but it is imp. and should not ! be taken lightly. How tight or loose clothing is on a person is imp., and should be a basic tenent in a frum person's agenda.
As far as language , there is nothing wrong if ppl. want to speak yiddish as their main tongue [ladino is almost lost],but , yes, they should know the language of the country they are living in.[do you know that there was a time in russia during the czar's reighn or right after I think , that certain aristtocarats 'refused' to speak russian, instead speaking only french .]although ppl. from diffrent areas in europe varied on some words and dialect in yiddish [it is a mix of german , polish and russian really], for the most part , when jews met other jews e.g. a jew from hungary , czech, or poland , although they usually 'could' not speak to eachother in the other's country tongue , they could speak to eachtoher and be understood in yiddish .

You also seem to have a big bad issue abt. ppl being negative about goyim,well you are wrong ! Ppl. SHOULD be very cautious with their dealings and friendlieness ESPECIALLY in today's day and age, as any and all could chas v'shalom be sucked in.
It says one should not be too close friends witht he goyim ,and this is correct.
It sayd that a person should not trust himself till his dying day, do not become complacent , thunking 'you ' are safe. It is 'constant' work , for some it is harder and more tempting than for others.
ALL human being are created B'tzelem Elokim, but many do not live up to it sadly , be they jew or goy, BUT a jew HAS a responsiblity to be a 'Light among the nations' , AND which goes without saying, for their fellow jews.

To end off, unfortunatly it seems that there is a majority of ppl. that do not behave becomingly as far as being a frum jew is concerned , rabbi, laymen ,student or a pashita yid , the world looks at us , we are responsible for OUR behavior and will be held to it after 120. as Rav Yisroel Salanter t'zl said , you start with yourself , then family, neighborhood etc.. if you get past neighborhood your'e doing unbelievable !,but to work on one's self and to set an example for one's family takes a lifetime of work. B'eH we should be successful, then the next generation will behave accordingly , that is the best and only way to be somewhat assured of our continued mesorah for our children ,and to be mashpia on our fellow jews.
Think about it, Rosh Hashanah is coming up.
It is said that EVERY catastrophe in this world ,floods , ,tornadoes or worse r'lz,chas v' shalom, is a message Hashem sends to the jews,so LISTEN ppl. he talks to us every day !

[pushkina]

dear around the world,

thank you for the mussar lesson; really thank you. i think that you are spot on (for the most part) in most of the things you have said in your post; i cannot agree with you about the L. Rebbe being a tsaddik, but that doesnt' mean that I don't believe that there are other rabbonim who are tsaddikim; at least though you shared with us your opinions in a careful and respectful manner. that respect that you've shown is indicative of real menschlickeit, something i appreciate greatly.

Elul formally gives us a chance to examine ourselves and out lives and see how we can improve ourselves for the future. I believe and was taught that we should do this each night as we prepare to sleep but sometimes we forget, and so, we should ALL use the oppportunity that Elul provides us to examine ourselves and our own souls.

AS a people, we are blessed with many great examples to follow, such as R. Salanter and the Chofetz Chaim and their teachings. even though i am not 'frum' or 'haredi', i hope that i do take benefit from their teachings; i just wish that others here would also avail themselves of those same opportunities.

I hope that this Elul will help you in any way that you wish, find the ways which will help you and your soul to grow as much as possible, and that the coming chagim will find you written and sealed in the book of life. with the menschlich way which you write, I am confident that the Master of the UNiverse will find favor with you.

i wish you all the best for the coming new year: a fruitful, peaceful, happy year, filled with joy and contentment.

[Lev]

Dear Alex! Dear Pushkina(Aleksandr Sergeevich?)!
I would like to thank you for what looks like some token of support(but only I got the title "Lowlife" from Avrohom!)
Yochanan, thank you too.
You right, man, overweight people, some of whom call themselfs "hasidim" speak and WRITE IN HEBREW LETTERS in some bizzarro mixture of American English and Yiddish.
You also right that ALL of Jewish languages, and I'll add Gruzini-Jewish and Tat-Jewish(there are such!) are the parts of our Heritage.
Dear Around The World, you make many good points and Pushkina(A.S.?) replied you on religious questions, and I want to talk about something else.
Honestly, you are not very familiar with Russian General and Jewish history.
We don't have place here for such talk.
Only several points.
Many of the "neshamos" from Russia,etc. threw out shackles of Lubavitcherism, Hasidism and Judaism right after coming to the Goldene Medina(Pushkina, don't worry, it's just for comparing with Krapistans).Avrohom constantly, between abuses, talks about religious Russians, but where are they?
But the most important, Around The World, with all your knowledge of Lazar, Russian Judaism as preached by Lubavitch, ocasional mentioning of tzelem Elokim, WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE?
OUTRAGE about so-called "privatisation",when shiksa-fornicating "friends of Lubavitch"(check the plagues in Maryina Roscha) plundered Russian People's Property!
OUTRAGE about Lukashenko faschist dictatorship!
OUTRAGE about Chechnya!(people were deported by Stalin, Jews were next.)
OUTRAGE about State Church-supported antisemitism, like NOWHERE in the World!
OUTRAGE about close friendship with Hamas, Iran, Syria, Hizbollah, North Korea!
And finally, OUTRAGE ABOUT GRUESOME DEATH OF MR. LITVINENKO AND MS.POLITKOVSKAYA!!!
That would be true Judaism, not some stupid summer camps and "saving" something.
BTW, Avrohom, Rabbi Keller happens to be a NICE person just so, not because of his supporters.
P.S. Pushkina, your jib to Avrohom about "jewish leadership of Minority of Jews" remindes of the old joke by Woody Allen. LOL!
Good year to you guys.

[Lev]

P.P.S. A.S. Pushkina(sorry if..)!
You probably read the book by Dr. David Berger: "The Rebbe, The Moshiah And Scandal Of Orthodox Indifference".
Author is full Professor in the CUNY Grad Ceter and YU.
Like Avrohom calls you "apikoires", me "lion of stone"(?) and "lowlife", Lubabs call Dr. Berger "cheasburger".
So far so good.
But author contends that what is practiced is NOT Shabsai Tzvi but the ONE practiced by His Holiness Patriarch of Moskovy and All Russia Aleksii II, friend of Rabbi Berel-Pinhas(? see kremlin.ru) Lazar.

[Fleishike Kishke]

Lubavitch is a cult whose mission is to spread the personality, legend, teachings, and image of Menachem Mendel Schneerson. In the past 15 years almost 100% of the community has brought to the fore the doctrine of Schneerson being the promised Moshiach/Christ. They differ on whether to admit this publicly or to try and slip in this aspect of the doctrine surreptitiously. They do not care about Jews or Judaism. They care about the cult of Lubavitch. They often substitute the word Judaism for Lubavitch-ism to hide their agenda. Make this experiment. Next time you talk to a lay Lubavitcher, praise Schneerson, “The Rebbe” to the sky so to speak, and then (cross your fingers) and say the most horrible evil anti-Semitic outrageous lies, downright Nazi propaganda, about any and EVERY other group of Jews. Religious, secular, reform, Hasidic, whatever. And then throw in a few more praises of “The Rebbe” and Lubavitch. Watch the reaction. They will bubble with pride and joy. The hate and see as “other” Jews who do not accept the tenets of their cult. From what I observe the American Lubavitch community on the whole with every passing year they have less internal Judaism and in some cases even less outward Lubavitch appearance. They are losing members at an ever-increasing pace. Former Lubavitchers are becoming secular, or drifting to modern orthodoxy. Their hatred of and indoctrination against other Hasidic and Yeshiva-ish groups makes it impossible (with few exceptions) for their “Leavers” to even fathom joining those groups. Those who remain Lubavitchers, particularly if they are not “Emissaries,” whose business and livelihood depend on their sticking with the program, have begun to exhibit a loss of independent thinking and critical cognitive function bordering on mental illness. The Lubavitch movement must be starved of its funds. Parents must warn their children not to get involved with them on campus. Their Temples must not be patronized. Their food must not be eaten. Homes and institutions with pictures of that Avodah Zorah must not be visited. The risks far outweigh the benefits. The Jewish world, must announce that Schneerson-ism is not compatible with or part of Judaism. Those who continue with this folly alas must be formally excommunicated from Judaism. When the Orthodox (in my opinion wrongly) took their stand against Reform and Conservative Jews it was very difficult, but it was done. That is the effort and determination that must be exerted against the cult of Schneerson. Lubavitch is not your friend. You are their pansy.

[Yochanan Lavie]

Lev: Many of the "neshamos" from Russia,etc. threw out shackles of Lubavitcherism, Hasidism and Judaism right after coming to the Goldene Medina...

That includes my grandfather, who loved bieng Jewish as an ethnicity, but was turned off by religion. In Russia (Czarist Ukraine, actually) he was a Tchortkover Chossid (similar to Satmar). He was secular in America. If a more rational form of religion was presented to him, he might not have strayed.

[Lev]

Fleishike Kishke, you were also called names by Avrohom, the last post is A O.K!
TWO THUMBS UP!

[pushkina]

lev,

sorry, i've no relation to the great aleksandr sergeivich puskhin, aside from the fact that we both had grandfathers who came from ethiopia; i was given the nickname of pushkina by clients when i worked in NYC and other parts of the US resettling Soviet Jews in the 1980s.

and yes, i have read the book of dr. berger, but i had formed my opinions on lubavitchers long before i had read the book. i often assign portions of the book to my jewish studies classes at university, even though i have been asked not to "for the sake of communal unity."

again, if in the wider community, i see a crime in progress, i can be charged with complicity, then in my opinion, if i see a crime being committed within the jewish community and fail to do something about it, than i am complicit and responsible for the resulting damage; therefore, i assign the readings and hope that adults who have information can think and make their own conclusions.

[Lev]

Yochanan, you right, very good and...uderstandable.
Alas, DIFFERENSE is that Satu-Mare is well established and well-oiled buisness., while remaining Chortkovers have to schnorr from another Tchortkover, Senator Schumer of NY, man who loves Gays...
But heilige schnorr is a schnorr is a schnorr
We probably have different opinions on the matter but have you recently seen Karolina Kurkova of Victoria Secret Angels?
How a man can be gay after such experience???

[Yochanan Lavie]

How a man can be gay after such experience???

One of life's mysteries, my friend.

[Lev]

Dear Pushkina!
I agree with your thoughts and ideas 100%.
Maybe your resettlement friends will help or yourself would be able to find the book "History of Russian Church", definetly translated into English many years ago.(I am sorry, I don't remember the name of the author, one of the greatest Russian historians)
Read espessially on post-Nikonian Schism of the late 17th century.
From what is quoted in Russian-language book "Russia That Never Been", there is perfect picture drawn of contemprorary Lubavich.
You can and should share this with your students!

[Lev]

Around The World,
I am a Soviet Jew and can VOUCH for everything.
BTW, thanks to Internet and other telecommunications.

[Lev]

Yochanan, it's me again.
You mentioned "life's mysteries"...
Well, the main tone of this blog seems to be, well, materialistic(I don't want to and in no position to judge).
Karolina Kurkova/Gisele Budchen live in the neighbourhood of TriBeCa (where strait men already asked for schedule of the times when Karolina or Gisele prowl, because of obvious unability to control "equipment" when the Girls hang out)LOLLL!
May be we can help all thouse organisations like JONAH(that you obviously totally disbelieve) and make excursions from Greenvich Village to TriBeCa at a time of the P-R-O-W-l(Still,LOL!)

[Sarah]

Where did all this homophobia on here suddenly come from?

[Lev]

Sarah, I just don't understand the Gay thing, and my male hormones(forgot the scientific term) REBELL against man-on-man when Victoria Secret Fashion Show is broadcast on CBS...
The above said is bad but I never believed in the fact that only ONE Rabbi exist and he is Messiah also; never been Lukashenko, imah shmoi's "Chief Rabbi"; never powwoved with plunderers of Native People property; knew some scum but never belonged to the full of former Lubavitchers "Holy"(that's they call themself)Neturei Karta; never cooperated with antisemitic leoilom voed KGB, SVR, FSB; did nothing to endanger my brethren by making wild "Chanukka" party next to Archagelsky Cathedral in Kremlin, where Patriarchs, Grand Princes and Tsars of MOSKOVY(not Yerushalaim) are buried

lll

[Yochanan Lavie]

Sarah: Although I don't understand the attraction of homosexuality, I say live and let live. Lev and I just want to enjoy the scenery.

[Lev]

Yochanan, scenery IS enjoyable, espessialy during the PROWL.
I posted comment on Shmarya's Credo that I like to simplify things.
If the so-called "AGUDA" can scream:"No gay marriage!" "Homosexual acts are prohibited by Torah", and then powwow and take money from the most pro-gay(KAROLINA KURKOVA!!! GISELE BUDCHEN!!!)politicians, etc., ignore any protest of hypocricy(I was removed from Cross-Currents, no Aguda underboss answered my e-mails), THEN there is nothing wrong with my platonic obviously, unrequited love of Karolina, probably the most beautiful woman in the world.
P.S. Some of the Lakewood women are good-looking.
May be some of them will take up modeling to support their husbands "learning".LOVLLL!
(avrohom will like this)

[Abe]

By chance I discovered this blog and it is the saddest specimen of hatred that I have come upon in a while.

The arguments are superficial and nothing of importance can be learnt; except the knowledge that some very frustrated Jews exist who believe that having an agenda to throw dirt at entire communities is a worthwhile occupation.

Shame.

[Ben Ergaster]

@ "Ben Noah":
Please understand that the so-called Noahide laws are a fabrication, a fraudulent invention of Talmudic Rabbis, partially in reaction to Christianity.

"I honestly can't believe that even you would have something negative to say about the people at asknoah."

Maybe because even most Jews (outside of Chabad and other ultra-Orthodox sects) are aware that the "Noahide laws" are a fraud, as is the modern Noahide movement, and they are smart enough to see through the blatant hypocrisy of a group who look down on gentiles but call on them to become "Noahides."

"Do you have any idea how many of us gentiles have had our lives changed in a remarkably positive way as a result of the efforts of asknoah?"

I think it's remarkably sad that you or any other goyim would consider following a list of arbitrary rules for the sole purpose of being slaves to a Jewish sect to be a "remarkably positive" change in your life. How empty and spiritually void must your life be if you must turn to the Noahide slave religion.

"'Why, if you are a gentile, would you possibly want to learn rules from someone who thinks you are an inferior being?'

Maybe because, despite what anyone's personal feelings might be concerning Non-Jews, some of us have figured out that HaShem desires for us to learn about Him from the Jews and have been greatly blessed for it."

In other words, Mr. "Ben Noah" has been brainwashed by his slave masters. I do not wish to make faulty generalizations of the Jews as a whole. After all, there are many different types: religious or secular; Zionists; Orthodox and non-Orthodox (Conservative-Reconstructionist-Reform); ultra-Orthodox and modern Orthodox; frum and frei, etc., each with their own agenda. This fact alone refutes the paranoid anti-Semitic cliche that "Jewry at large" has some sinister agenda. That said, there is a subset of religious ultra-Orthodox Jews spearheaded by Chabad with the following beliefs and agenda:

(1) They take the "Noahide Laws" seriously, as literal binding rules, with literal death penalties attached. It follows logically that Goyim who do not follow and keep the "7 laws of Noah" (which never actually appear as such in the Tanakh) must be EXTERMINATED.
(2) Ultra-Orthodox groups like Chabad divide humanity into two "races," the Jews and the Goyim, "the Nations" (Gentiles). Among the gentiles, most are unfit even to be slaves and must be killed off. The "good goyim," i.e. "Noahides" may be spared, but will always remain beneath the righteous Jews.
(3) Consequently the Lubavitcher caste system consists of righteous Jews, righteous goyim (slaves to the righteous Jews), and the unrighteous (most gentiles).

If you truly wish to be part of this system, that's a shame! Were you genuinely interested in Judaism, good for you, but then you ought to speak with a rabbi and undergo a halchic conversion if you are still interested.

"The more interesting question would be why so many people continue to worship a dead Jewish man who called gentiles dogs and swine...sometimes right to their face."

I don't know, maybe because whether or not you believe that Jesus Christ is the Divine Son of God or just an ordinary man, you must admit that he was an exemplary moral teacher. And no out-of-context quotes from "Ben Noah" changes the fact. Jesus never referred to gentiles collectively as "dogs" or "swine." I can understand why Christians find spiritual fulfillment from their religion, just as Muslims feel similar spiritual fulfillment from being part of a worldwide Sunna or Jews by belonging to the Jewish community. What kind of spiritual fulfillment do "Noahides" get out of worshipping a Jewish god and following some Jewish ritual (albeit in watered-down form) but never getting the privilege of being Jewish. You get many of the obligations of being Jewish without the benefit of fully being part of the Jewish people.

"I can tell you that the Jewish teachers and Rabbis at asknoah have never treated me like a dog under the table, they have only treated me exactly like what I am, a Righteous Gentile."

Well, I'm happy they treated you nicely, but what do you expect? No matter how politely they treat you, those Rabbis will always view you as a "lesser" being. I suspect that any spiritual fulfillment that a person gets from being a slave comes from glorification of submission in some streams of Christianity. Righteous Gentile? Please, don't be so naive! That's just a euphemism for shabbos goy, useful idiot, SLAVE. I feel sorry for you, that you were so spiritually battered as to find such a condition of servitude to be "uplifting."

Understand what the Noahide slave religion truly is, "Judaism-lite for Goyim." Groups like Chabad Lubavitch expect you to follow the "Noahide covenant" because they see you as being unfit to follow and keep the Mosaic Covenant.

As for your analogy, I think it is ironically appropriate! They treat you like a "dog" (metaphorically) because that is precisely what you are (metaphorically). If Judaism is a good meal, your Rabbis get to partake, but they toss you table scraps in the form of the "Noahide covenant." You get half the obligations of true Jews, but no spiritual feedback.