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Chabad on Mars Parody: Charming or Offensive?

Haaretz, a popular Israeli news outlet, profiled today a website parodying the presence of a Chabad center on Mars. While the website itself seems to be in good nature and clearly states that it has no affiliation with the Chabad movement, some images on the website would likely be deemed offensive to most Chabad Chasidim, such as one of the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s face superimposed on an astronaut suit.

From Haaretz:

The Chabad-Lubavitch movement, which maintains a network of more than 3,300 institutions and a workforce numbering tens of thousands of people all dedicated to the welfare of the Jewish people, has set its sights on a new goal: establishing the first Chabad house on Mars.

Or at least that’s what the website Chabad of Mars would have you believe.

The website, a parody, includes a disclaimer that says it is “purely hypothetical and is in no way affiliated with Chabad.”

Yet visitors might not grasp that right away. The site’s landing page features photographs of “Chabad Pods” and of the movement’s leader, the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson), in an astronaut suit.

The site explains that “for thousands of years, Jews have been at the forefront of new discoveries, new ideas and new worlds. Our mission from the Rebbe is to be where Jews are, wherever they are – in the universe.”

It also promises answers to questions such as when to light Shabbat candles and says visitors can ask the “Shliachonaut” (aka, space emissary) about when to keep the holidays, will there be alcohol and more. When you click on these, the site promises answers by 2025.

As for the “Chabad Pod,” the site assures “Fear not. Everything required for Jewish life is included in the plans for the Chabad Pod, including a Torah scroll (micro-size), copies of Tanya (full size), multiple pairs of Teffilin, a mohel/kitchen knife and of course, Rebbe pictures.”

“The Chabad events you love on Planet Earth will exist very similarly on Planet Mars,” it promises.

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10 Comments

  • CHLEAKS.ORG

    The meshichistim have spent these past 20 years making a complete mockery of the Rebbe zt”l and of Chabad Lubavitch.

    [Meshichistim have done worse then this web-site can ever do].

    Is there any more of a mockery that can be made?

  • Corny

    I see no reason to get offended. It seems like it was done in good humor. Let’s not look for people who hate us, there are plenty of real haters out there we don’t have to make up new ones.
    It actually seems that it was done out of respect to Chabad’s massive network.
    My only problem is that it’s a bit corny, other then that, I see no reason to give it attention beyond what you would give a high school comedy skit…

  • it's cute

    The Rebbe sent shluchim all over the world. So now it’s the universe! To #2, I think this IS kavod to the Rebbe – just shows how far reaching his efforts have been.

  • be honest

    Many Chabad chassidim are deeply offended by the weekly bizyonos heaped on our Rebbe in his Shul on a daily basis.

  • so funy!!!

    HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!
    so funy and it’s not even coming from a lubavitcher!!!
    they forget the 2nd part of the joke though ….coke- cola.

  • To chleaks whatever that means

    Why all the hate??? especially right after yud shvat
    Take your leaks and go find yourself another religion if you don’t like your fellow yidden!!!!

    And I say this with the utmost respect

  • latest "Applied Chassidus" weekend

    event,

    just shows how far we’ve wandered from the truth.
    God is not out there in the “remote” places
    He is in your own house, in how you spoke to another person.
    But we brilliant chasidim are mamash kipshotoy m’Kushar being miMaleh the hOyro’Os and going on meSiras neFesh to solicit pamphlets in Japan and making a diRah b’TachtOYnim.
    אונטערן לאמפ איז פינטער
    לעבן ים איז טרוקן