In the federal court case between messianists and Chabad mainstream (but still messianist) faction over the right to use the official Chabad publishing house Kehat’s logo, Rabbi Leibel Groner, one of the late Chabad-Lubavitch rebbe’s secretaries, testified that late rebbe expressly allowed hasidim to identify him as the messiah.
It’s Okay To Call Me The Messiah, Chabad-Lubavitch Rebbe Allegedly Told Top Aide
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
In the federal court case between messianists and Chabad mainstream (but still messianist) faction over the right to use the official Chabad publishing house Kehat’s logo, Rabbi Leibel Groner, one of the late Chabad-Lubavitch rebbe’s secretaries, testified.
During that testimony, Groner was asked if the late rebbe ever approved using the appellation “melech ha-moshiach” (king messiah) after his name, Chabad.info reported.
Groner reportedly responded that he once asked the rebbe whether melech ha-moshiach could be used as part of the rebbe’s title.
The rebbe said that it could.
Later, Gromer read the exact wording of the title page of a proof copy “Besuras Hageulah,” one of the books in question at the trial. The title page has the rebbe’s title printed with melech ha-moshiach and Groner read that to the rebbe and asked if the book could be printed this way.
The rebbe nodded his approval, Groner said.
Groner testified that on a different occasion the rebbe asked him why Chabad-Lubavitch hasidim were saying that the rebbe is moshiach (the messiah).
Groner said he replied it was because all the criterion listed by Maimonides that the messiah must meet match who the rebbe was and what he had accomplished.
According to Groner’s testimony, the rebbe accepted that was true.