Exclusive: In Internal Memo, Chabad Claims Deception, Denies Endorsement Of Shmuley Boteach's National Institute Of Jewish Values

"In light of the many posts concerning this matter I have been authorized to share an internal memo from our Chairman, Rabbi Y. Krinsky. I trust that this issue has now been fully clarified and resolved."

 

The following letter was apparently sent to members of Merkos L'inyonei Chinuch on behalf of its chairman, Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, and then leaked to FailedMessiah.com.

The meeting referred to in the letter was the opening of Rabbi Shmuley Boteach's The National Institute of Jewish Values. The institute says it intends to train young rabbis from Chabad-Lubavitch, Yeshiva University and other Orthodox groups to "advance Jewish values" in mainstream culture.

One of the attendees at the meeting was US House Majority Leader Eric Cantor.

I cannot verify the authenticity of the letter.

However, the letter, if true, makes it clear that deception was used to get Krinsky to attend:

Dear Chavayrim,

In light of the many posts concerning this matter I have been authorized to share an internal memo from our Chairman, Rabbi Y. Krinsky. I trust that this issue has now been fully clarified and resolved.

May each of us continue to diligently fulfill our Shlichus and give ‘nachas’ to our Meshalayach.

Internal Memo:
To:     The Members of the Board of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch
From:   Rabbi Y. Krinsky, Chairman

I welcome your inquiry regarding my attendance at a meeting last Sunday afternoon, in Alpine, New Jersey, which was reported about on various community websites.

I accepted the verbal invitation to attend this meeting with the understanding that it was to focus on matters Jewish with a small group of Jewish philanthropists and influential people. This I thought was appropriate of my participation. In retrospect I regret having made the decision to participate.

I had no prior knowledge that there would be an announcement about a new initiative and the establishment of a new institution. Would I have had prior knowledge of this unanticipated announcement I would have declined the invitation.

No endorsements were solicited and none were granted, but some, unfortunately, mischaracterized my presence at the event as an endorsement of this initiative and institution, by the Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch – the educational arm of the world wide Lubavitch Organization – of which I am Chairman.

That is clearly not the case, and I regret that my participation in this event was mistakenly interpreted and depicted as such.

Update 12:05 am CST 5-16-11 – Possibly in response to this post, Rabbi Krinsky's son Shmaya sent the following message through the Chabad shluchim list clarifying what happened:

Chaverim,
Please allow me a final word in putting this parsha behind us.
My previous comments may have implied that Shmuley issued me a verbal invitation only. In fact in addition to our oral communications Shmuley sent me an email with a flyer attached. I only read it cursorily, misunderstood its content and unfortunately never shared it with my father.
Nothing I wrote or the memo released yesterday should be understood to be saying that we were misled by Shmuley. It was my responsibility to have carefully read the flyer and I certainly should have shared it with my father before he decided to attend.
The misunderstandings and hurt that followed were due in no small part to my unfortunate mistake. I regret that sincerely.
Thank you for this opportunity to set the record straight.
 
Shmaya Krinsky

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Comments

[corn popper]

what aspect of Shmuly's new initiative is he against?

[WoolSilkCotton]

I don't blame Krinsky for being upset. He was blindsided by Shmuely.

Krinsky's presence at such an event would grant his- and Chabad's- imprimatur to whatever was being presented.

Krinsky should have been told in advance that Shmuely's farkokta Institute was being promoted, so that he could study the matter and decide what the implications would be for Chabad to grant an endorsement.

Even if Krinsky would later conclude that the Institute had merit, you don't blindside someone like him when you send an invitation.

At the end of the day, it's all about Shmuely looking for money, publicity, and political power for himself.

Can't blame Krinsky for setting Shmuely's e-mails to the automatic junk folder for next time.

[WoolSilkCotton]

Just from looking at the photo, you'll notice that Shmuely always knows where the camera (and microphone) are.

[WoolSilkCotton]

I would also like to commend Rabbi Krinsky for being the only frummer I've seen in a long time with a hat that is perfect in size, fit, and style!

[corn popper]

I would also like to commend Rabbi Krinsky for being the only frummer I've seen in a long time with a hat that is perfect in size, fit, and style!

Posted by: WoolSilkCotton | May 15, 2011 at 09:12 PM

That's only because you haven't seen mine.

[A E ANDERSON]

Gotta love it: "America's Rabbi" meets "Most Influential Rabbi in the United States"

Were it a pugilistic exhibition, we'd have to call it, "The Shturem in the Shetel." A tempest in a teacup is more likely.

Yudel seems to have more than evened the score on this one, leaving America's Rabbi with egg on his face after trying to pull a tawdry fast one on the MLCh chairman.

Didn't the Boteach learn how fast Chabad would leave him high and dry after his Rabin faux pas @ Oxford's Rabbi? Maybe he counted on Yudel's public disassociation, knowing well in advance that the controversy would bring him fresh ink, the oxygen of Boteach's illusionary world of bling and spin. Boteach's new "initiative" seems so corny that it may well have been made to order just for the purpose of getting Chabad reax.

At the end of the day, the question remains, "Who is playing whom?"

[Critical minyan]

I think this might be considered loshon horoh.

[ber]

he wasn't the only one there. M Kotlarsky also sent his representatives.

[R.W.]

I can't allow myself to experience the nachas that I otherwise would if I knew for certain that the memo is authentic.

[miss understood]

LOL @ WSC: Just from looking at the photo, you'll notice that Shmuely always knows where the camera (and microphone) are.

Krinsky doesn't seem too sure where he actually is .... thinking "Am I still in 770 Tonto?"

[Jeff]

At the end of the day, it's all about Shmuely looking for money, publicity, and political power for himself...

Just from looking at the photo, you'll notice that Shmuely always knows where the camera (and microphone) are.

Certainly, but still - they know what Shmuley is about, and they didn't check further? Then the son claims he didn't show his father the flyer... whatever.

Typical flip-flopping, anyway - "I was misled up until the point at which claiming I was misled could render me vulnerable to an accusation of slander - then I wasn't misled."

Meh, company man vs. self-promoter. Next.

[tooclose2detroit]

I think this might be considered loshon horoh.

Posted by: Critical minyan

ya think??

[A E ANDERSON]

Everybody wins!

The Boteach gets publicity as a pioneering Orthodox innovator who stands up to ancien regime bullies.

Chabad centrists get credit from the broader Orthdox world for 1) upholding Haredi orthodoxy against "MOs" and other now-heterodox factions, 2) policing themselves from loose cannons like the Boteach, whose heresy, like the meshichisten grates on them as much as on Lubavitch traditionalists.

[Jewish Cynic]

Just shows that Krinsky and son are not very aware of what's going on outside their world.
Anyone with any knowledge of Boteach would not want to be anywhere near him.
"Michael Jackson's rabbi" moves my creep-o-meter at least into the orange zone.