Chabad Blurs Out Faces Of Women

It's not just Satmar and the Litvaks who do this stuff. A large Chabad blog blurs out the faces of women at the groundbreaking ceremony for a new museum at Babi Yar, the sight of a massacre of more than 30,000 Jews carried out by the Nazis and their Ukrainian collaborators in 1941.

At Babi Yar, Jews were forced to strip naked and were then shot. In our hyper-sniut haredi world, the faces of their female descendants, even a member of Israel's parliament, the Knesset, can't be published in haredi newspapers and blogs.

From Chabad.info:

Above. Mk Sofa Landver speaking to another dignitary at Babi Yar.Note that Landver and the man she is seeking to both have their faces blurred, his apparently because it is too close to hers.

Above. Chabad's Chief Rabbi of the Ukraine Moshe Asman speaks to reporters at Babi Yar. Note that a female reporter and a female photographer both have their faces blurred.

Babi Yar.

[Hat Tip: Joel Katz.]

Comments

[seymour]

do these people even know that woman where massacred there too

sick

[David]

This is new for Chabad. AFAIK they have not done this before. Maybe they no longer care about turning away potential new cult members?

[David]

In the second photo they have not blurred the back of the woman's head and clearly show her hair. That's strange since a woman's hair is meant to be covered lest it cause uncontrollable sexual urges in their menfolk (but the sight of a woman's face is normally permissible).

[Robert Wisler]

They really need to start blurring out the faces of boys and young teen males given the sexual proclivities of hareidim.

[David]

Is it even acceptable to just blur the females?

Shouldn't they be erased as per the Clinton episode?

[BS]

GoatF**ers

[ruthie]

and how many women were killed there? omg

[jancsipista]

mentally disturbed people behave mentally disturbed they need to be put into an institution for the mentally challenged.

[visiting the sick]

Shmarya, this is not mainstream Chabad- Chabad.info is a messianic site.

Now, take a look at Chabad.org, the mainstream site. A story about university students receiving mezuzot (http://tinyurl.com/5se4htm) clearly shows female students, without blurring.

This is why I would never donate to your virtual pushka, because you distort and mislead your readers. Your blog does a lot of good, but you must own up to your mistakes and apologize.

[Shmarya]

Shmarya, this is not mainstream Chabad- Chabad.info is a messianic site.

Now, take a look at Chabad.org, the mainstream site. A story about university students receiving mezuzot (http://tinyurl.com/5se4htm) clearly shows female students, without blurring.

This is why I would never donate to your virtual pushka, because you distort and mislead your readers. Your blog does a lot of good, but you must own up to your mistakes and apologize.

Posted by: visiting the sick | October 06, 2011 at 08:34 AM

Please.

1. Most of Chabad is messianist.

2. The subhead modifies the headline.

3. It is a Chabad blog, run by Chabadniks, that covers Chabad news exclusively.

4. Without outing you, the rag you work for violates more ethics rules per issue than I have in my entire lifetime – several lifetimes, in fact.

5. The reason you don't contribute is because you're cheap.

[What kind of goyishe name is Harold z"l?]

The dead but robust rebbe was on top of the mountain and motioned to me to come closer so he could impart some wisdom to me. Well, I climbed up there thinking he would say something humorous like that he could see my house for up here but instead he surprised me and whispered to me over his alcohol smelling breath that women are nothing more than little boys with breasts. This seemingly nonsense has changed my life in so many ways.

[Reuvain]

Wow Shamya again has the truth. Chabad.org the official Chabad site, other Chabad news sites like COL etc. do not blot out woman, and now he discovers Chabad.Info, the messianic site. Well known for challenging the Chabad leadership. Alas as he says "Most Chabad are Messianic". Did he do a survey ? Has he visited the thousands of Chabad Houses, schools, centers, and seen the famous Yechie sign hanging.

No question that there are supporters of this theology but Shamaya has little real facts to back himself up. And its doubtful that sitting in the bunker in Minnesota he visits many Chabad centers to see what is really going on.

As for Chabad.info, its hostility to mainstream Chabad is well known.

[JRKmommy]

It would be more accurate to write "dissident mesichist Chabad site Chabad.info..." instead of just "Chabad".

In the context of the Haredi world, Chabad actually stands out as actively promoting the use of women as well as men in their materials, and putting women in more public roles (eg. stressing that shlichim run their centers as a couple). The Rebbe was quoted as saying that there "also needs to be a girl in the picture".

[Dr. Dave]

both have their faces blurred, his apparently because it is too close to hers.

Maybe they are just blurring out the faces of ugly people?

[Shmarya]

It would be more accurate to write "dissident mesichist Chabad site Chabad.info..." instead of just "Chabad".

No it would not.

They're the majority.

Krinsky controls most of the Chabad Houses. The messianists control most of the people.

[Shmarya]

No question that there are supporters of this theology but Shamaya has little real facts to back himself up.

Can't stop lying can you, little man.

Easily 90% of Chabad in Israel, France and Russia are messianists.

Crown Heights consistently elects messianists to control 770 and other comunity organizations.

But little lying Reuvain can't process all that, now can he.

[JRKmommy]

The Chabad Houses do the lion's share of the outreach. Chabad's support and reach goes far beyond the diehard Lubavitchers. The messianists have support in the enclaves (Crown Heights, Israel) but not much among the larger group of "people who are somehow connected to Chabad".

There's clearly a split within Chabad. Those who eat a Shabbat dinner at a Chabad House or send their kids to a Chabad daycamp or nursery school school know that blurring out women's faces is NOT what they are supporting.

[SkepticalYid]

I've noted that Chabad shlichim are prone to dissimulate when asked directly if they believe the Rebbe is coming back again as Moshiach.

[Shlomo]

Sorry for shmarya even Chabad.info has pictures of women and girls in other stories and JEM which produces Rebbe videos shown in most Chabad shuls after shabbat often have film women and women talking about the Rebbe. This might be the result of whoever provided the pictures rather than official policy
It does however disturb me to see this kind of stuff happening because it's like new invented chumras they spread like a flu epidemic.

[Fleishike Kishke]

Until a Lubavitcher Hasid privately comes to the realization that the Rebbe’s 40-Year Moshiach campaign was flat out wrong, as wrong as the Reverend Harold Camping’s Judgment Day May 2011 campaign, the delusion and nonsense still entraps them. And whether they admit it or not, whether they know it or not, these people are Meshichists. They are living in a cult, or near cult, that foolishly believes in the Messiah of Nicolaev. Probably less than 1% of Lubavitchers have truly allowed themselves to experience the cognitive dissonance leading to the understanding that the Rebbe’s fixation on the immediate redemption was imaginary. Despite the high excitement and emotion of the immanent revelation, leaving aside for the moment Moshiach’s identity, it just wasn’t real. Much as Reverend Camping’s beliefs were nonsense, and even comical to those not trapped in his cult, the messianic pronouncements of the late Lubavitcher Rebbe had no basis in literal fact.

[Joe in Australia]

ScepticalYid: the way David Berger tends to ask it (something like "Can you say with absolute certainty that the Lubavitcher Rebbe will not come back to life as Moshiach?") provokes an answer of no, I can't say that with absolute certainty. After all, belief in resurrection is fundamental to Judaism; the Bible refers to people who were resurrected; they're not privy to G-d's plans; therefore they can't say for sure that it won't be the late Rebbe. In fact, they think, making a statement like the one David Berger demands is impious (towards G-d) and disrespectful (to the late Rebbe z"tzl).

What actually distinguishes Meshichists from non-Meshichists is whether they think the late Rebbe is actually Moshiach; whether they think that they have a religious duty to proclaim his kingship and beg him (or beg Hashem) to be revealed. That's what Meshichists believe; that's why they went to all that trouble organising piskei din "ruling" that he was Moshiach; and that's the actual schism between Meshichists and those Lubavitchers who just think that their late leader would be an excellent candidate.

[Shlomo]

Joe in Australia the trouble with what you said is that it was never traditionally accepted that Moshiach himself will rise from the dead - it's too close to christian dogma for a start - the one source in Sanhedren was not accepted.
Its so far out that Rabbonim (eg R’ Aharon Soloveichik ז’ל )had to pasken that Lubavitchers are not heretics even though he was against the belief

[Adam Neira]

Silly !

Looking at these photos is reminiscent of what migraine sufferers have told me the world looks like when they are suffering.

[Adam Neira]

To Fleishike Kishke,

M.M.Schneerson was right when he stated that this generation would be the one that would witness the start of the Redemption, i.e. Counter-balancing of the dark energies by the forces of light. The process actually started in 1995. So the campaign to bring Moshiach had some merit, but the actual divine revelation to the anointed person happened completely away from any organised Jewish sect. Maybe people should be seeing the Rebbe as Elijah who heralds the coming of the righteous redeemer, not the man himself. It has been noted that hidden truths would be explained in the Messianic Age.

Your comment about cognitive dissonance is correct. Before people are amenable to new information they must be prepared. Sometime this preparation happens voluntarily, at other times it is forced upon them. As history attests, false conceptual models get smashed when a loftier paradigm presents itself. The stages of coming out of denial are : Unaware that you are unaware; Aware that you are unaware; Aware that you are aware; Healing/Reintegration and Re-invention.
It is true that there are some Lubavitcher who are secretly praying in earnest to G-d for M.M.Schneerson to reappear and validate their obsessions. In this respect they are not unlike many Christians and even some Mahdi hoping Muslims. The current conceptual landscape on Planet Earth is fascinating to behold. People are clinging madly to certain beliefs because they believe the sea is so wild and dangerous, when if they just took a deep breath they would see that things can be quite calm.

BTW, if you refute the Thirteen Articles of Faith then you are Jewish-lite.

To Joe in Australia,

As discussed above, you seem to be suffering from cognitive dissonance. You just can't bear to give up on the idea that M.M.Schneerson wasn't/isn't Moshiach because to do so will cast you out into a new world where you just may have to stand up on your own two conceptual feet.
The Rebbe cannot be Moshiach because he is dead. Sorry to be so blunt. Move on. To paraphrase Avos...

"Make for yourself another teacher !"

The idea of resurrection can also be explained. The prophecies allude to it, and the wise sages pre the destruction of the Second Temple Era analysed it at length. It does not mean a physical resurrection. (BTW, the Christian sects appropriated and packaged the resurrection prophecies. This was partly wishful thinking, delusion and blind hope. All the other monotheistic faiths are paths to the ultimate Redemption.)

Let me explain...It is the year 2065. Violence has been eradicated from the affairs of humankind. The General Welfare is at a healthy level for eight billion people. Workers toil for 35 hours per week on average. There is ample time for rest, play and reflection. The needs of the living are well taken care off. The Yet to Come are welcomed into the world. The Church of Latter Day Saints Genealogical Department opened their vaults to other researchers decades earlier. A vast map showing all the 40 billion human beings that have ever lived has been constructed. There are some gaps but it is an impressive achievement. Yad Vashem has been a big help with the project. Genealogy is a favourite pastime for many. People are able to sit down and reflect on who their ancestors where; what the conditions of their lives were; where they lived; what work they did; who they associated with; where they walked; the temperature at the time, what food they ate; what they wore etc. It is possible to get very close to understanding what they may have been thinking and feeling.

Empathy reaching back through time !

I have actually done this with my patrilineal great-great-great grandfather who is pivotal to my story. I have researched in great depth his life from 1815 to 1832.

Empathetic understanding is one of the highest points on the self actualisation pyramid. Most people unfortanately can't even empathise with themselves, let alone their partner, children or friends. The dead ? Forget about it !

In the mature Messianic Age, empathy for the living, yet to come and dead will be commonplace. Please note such behaviour is not necromancy. So the spirit of those who have come before will be manifest.

I can explain more on this subject, the timeline of the Redemption and the other Articles of Faith, but not here and now. I need to eat.

[Sparky the Wonder Dog]

This blog is an overtly messianic blog. Outliers tend to combine heterodox formulations with sharpening of pietistic attitudes. And we informed that the picture was edited by the submitters. And other Chabad organization blogs routinely display women.

The mainstream Crown Heights Info blog routinely displays women in focus.

http://www.crownheights.info/

Stupid, Stalinist Shmarya idiotically repeats his inflexible premise (all Chabad is messianic yadda yadda yadda) to ignore any evidence that would dispute his premise (all Chabad is messianic and blurs women)--namely that, no Shmarya, women are routinely shown in focus in the very blog you selected and other blogs.

Again, instead of answering the point, he repeats his flawed premise and then insults the individual who tried to reason with him.

[Dr. Dave]

the actual divine revelation to the anointed person happened completely away from any organised Jewish sect.

So who is the anointed person?

[Shmarya]

Stupid, Stalinist Shmarya idiotically repeats his inflexible premise (all Chabad is messianic yadda yadda yadda) to ignore any evidence that would dispute his premise (all Chabad is messianic and blurs women)--namely that, no Shmarya, women are routinely shown in focus in the very blog you selected and other blogs.

Again, instead of answering the point, he repeats his flawed premise and then insults the individual who tried to reason with him.

Posted by: Sparky the Wonder Dog | October 06, 2011 at 10:16 PM

Ah, the apologist for anything Chabad returns.

Process, Freedman: You don't know what your talking about.

You never have and I doubt you ever will.

Easily 90% of Chabad in Israel, France and Russia are messianists.

Crown Heights consistently elects messianists to control 770 and other comunity organizations.

But Paul Freedman can't stop lying, not now and probably not ever.

[Shmarya]

What actually distinguishes Meshichists from non-Meshichists is whether they think the late Rebbe is actually Moshiach; whether they think that they have a religious duty to proclaim his kingship and beg him (or beg Hashem) to be revealed. That's what Meshichists believe; that's why they went to all that trouble organising piskei din "ruling" that he was Moshiach; and that's the actual schism between Meshichists and those Lubavitchers who just think that their late leader would be an excellent candidate.

Posted by: Joe in Australia | October 06, 2011 at 08:07 PM

This is absolutely false.

The two groups believe the same thing: the Rebbe is the messiah.

They differ over whether that should be publicized or not.

As usual, just as Joe tries to cover up for Chabad's coverup of child sex abuse in Melbourne, he tries to cover up for this, as well.

And your little shpiel about moshiach and resurrection is ridiculous.

It has no support in more than 1000 years of Jewish history and was wholly and completely a Christian concept until Chabad used it to justify the Rebbe's death.

But facts have never been your strong suit.

Of course, neither has stopping child sex abuse and protecting children.

For you, protecting Chabad always comes first.

[Fleishike Kishke]

“M.M.Schneerson was right when he stated that this generation would be the one that would witness the counter-balancing of the dark energies ... “
Then the Grand Rebbe must have been talking about Steve Jobs HK"M and Apple. Because Schneerson’s Hasidim and Shluchim, almost without exception, are fucking idiots, wandering in the darkness, and knocking out light bulbs where ever they find them.

[Adam Neira]

To Fleishike Kishke,

The schliuchim invariably do a good job and are motivated by altruism. Many Chabad centres are real sanctuaries where people can visit and pray. You will never hear me criticize the good work that many schliuchim do. The Moshiach point is a different matter.

Steve Jobs died way too early. He helped make Apple into one of the most admired corporations in the world. To his detriment he neglected other parts of his wellbeing to concentrate on his business. He was motivated by idealism. He went form an adopted childhood to the top of the corporate world with real courage, brilliance, nous and intelligence. It angers me when people make a martyr out of someone after they die prematurely however. It would be better for Steve Jobs to be alive, healthy and broke than be a billionaire in the grave. I suggest the public service and intellectual sides of his character were too dominant. Some heroic souls neglect their true selves as they feel they need to be what others expect of them. Cancer is a metaphor for something that eats away at a person. The Neuroendocrine Tumors he suffered from were not genetic.

BTW, 1:24 of the Chinese population tweeted condolence messages yesterday. 50 million people.

I like this quote from Apple...

"Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do."

[A E ANDERSON]

HOW I SINGLEHANDEDLY STOPPED AN ACT OF CHABAD AVODAH ZARA ON YOM KIPPUR

CLOWN HEIGHTS, NY -- As Yom Kippur minchah droned on to a finish at the Chabad House L'Dovrei Ivrit, 845 Eastern Parkway, one of the daaveners, in a weakened voice arose to recite the "Yechi."

The Yechi is the statement of faith of those Lubavitchers who believe the late Rebbe is the Davidic Messiah, and didn't really die on June 12, 1994 but remains somehow alive, albeit in concealment, and will arise to ingather the exiles of Israel. They refer to him as the "Maham" (Melekh Hamoshiach)

In a flash, I recalled my own yeshiva training in Chabad, when mashpiim (religious commissars) would exhort us to be "pnimim" (internally directed) rather than Hetsoinim, or superficial religious showmen -- the ostensible hallmarks of the misnagdim and hagas hasidim.

So I blurted out "Hetsoinius, Hetsoinius, Hetsoinius" in the same accusatory voice that a Meah Shearimnik might scream "Shabbes" at a passing car.

Lo and behold, confusion took hold, and the the attempted Yechi was drowned out by the rising chorus of murmuring in the basement shteibel.

[Chicago Sam]

I wonder if the Chabad of Kfar Chabad would blur out the face of the Rebbe's wife ...

Anderson is correct, these folks are too hung up on chitzoneut--rather than penimiyut.

In this case, they are trying to "look like" the rest of the Haredim. BTW, when were you there A.E. Anderson? I spent four years of purgatory over there . . . (Actually, it wasn't that bad--for the most part).