Lubavitch.com
The scene of the accident. Click here for the original article

Within Chabad-Lubavitch communities internationally, shock and grief over the deaths of three young Chabad students two weeks ago have now given way to a more introspective focus. Many have issued calls for a concerted effort towards greater achdut, or unity among Chabad chasidim, as they reflect on a tragedy that struck deeply, affecting every segment of the community.

In the Wake of Tragedy, A Call for Unity

Lubavitch.com
The scene of the accident. Click here for the original article

Within Chabad-Lubavitch communities internationally, shock and grief over the deaths of three young Chabad students two weeks ago have now given way to a more introspective focus. Many have issued calls for a concerted effort towards greater achdut, or unity among Chabad chasidim, as they reflect on a tragedy that struck deeply, affecting every segment of the community.

The tragedy and its circumstances, in which the students were killed in a car accident on their way to celebrate Chanukah with Israeli soldiers at an IDF base near Eilat, threw a pall of emotional and spiritual distress among Chabad Chasidim worldwide.

In the faces of the three students plastered on the pages of all the Chabad newspapers and websites, every Lubavitch parent, teacher and mentor saw his own child, his own student. Students were particularly affected, and at many Chabad yeshivahs in Israel, the U.S. and elsewhere, yeshiva principals have called assemblies in an effort to address the gripping sorrow. Many students have dedicated studying segments of Talmud and Chasidic discourses to honor the memory of their peers.

In response to similar tragedies in the past, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of blessed memory, called for enhanced unity and ahavat yisrael among his chasidim. While unity is an almost natural response in times of crisis, “we should not need to wait for a crisis to come together,” says Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, Chairman of the Lubavitch educational and social services divisions. Rabbi Krinsky will be travelling to Israel to address a special shloshim gathering to be held on Tuesday, January 16, in Tel Aviv. The assembled will also hear from his colleagues in the Rebbe’s Secretariat, Rabbi B. Klein and Rabbi L. Groner.

(R-L) Hatomim Yonatan Biton A“H, Hatomim Moshe Golan A”H and the Tomim Levi Hendel A”H.

23 Comments

  • fellowjew

    This tragedy must be taken as a wake up call for all chassidim. It’s time for achdus, let’s make up our minds and make it happen!

  • Heatbroken

    The Rebbe is not “a memory”….the Rebbe is not in the past. This article blames the lack of Achdus…but maybe it is putting the Rebbe in the past and constantly refering to him as “a memory.”

    I beg all of you, don’t include these precious neshamas in your political fighting. Don’t turn their horrible passing into a punishment of those we perceive do not have achdus.

  • zeldy

    It’s time for Ahavas Yisroel – which means
    not ignoring people who speak to you, not
    loooking people up and down – as if they
    are objects, going out of one’s way to
    do a toiva – what’s achdus – taking care
    of these type of things.

    May we have only simchas together with
    Moshiach tzidkeinu!

  • Anonymous

    To heartbroken:

    This is what’s breaking your heart?
    This is what is causing baseless hatred, strife and contention? Is this what you picked up from the whole article above?
    Writing “Memory”?

    Go learn maamer Heichaltzu 5659.

  • Rochel

    to heartbroken,
    why does everything have to be taken as an attack to the Mishichist, grow up already!
    this is about 3 bochrim,3 lost Neshomas and you are taking the article as an attack.
    Yes, the Rebbe used to PHYSICALLY tell us things, now his lessons are ingraved in us and they push us forward.They are a constant reminder of what we should strive for.He is still very mush alive withen us,and as the article states. IN THE PAST He said that archdus was the way to overcome such trajedies.
    May the families of the Bochrim and those around them be comforted.
    My students will be doing special Mitzvos in their honor.
    Rochel

  • Achdus

    To heartbroken:
    Your comment is the first I’ve seen since this tragedy that brought in politics and put blame on one side. Achdus is not about getting someone to see things YOUR way, true achdus and ahavas yisrael is about accepting another’s ways and views EVEN IF YOU DISAGREE. Take a look at the famous Lag BaOmer sicha where the Rebbe speaks about the lack of achdus between Rabbi Akiva’s students.
    If you were truly heartbroken such a thought would not have even crossed your mind in the wake of such a tragedy.

  • SILENT

    I AM APPAULED AT WHAT IS GOING ON HERE THERE IS AN ARTICLE ON ACHDUS L’ILUY NESHMAS THESE THREE BOYS AND THE COMMENTS ARE ANOTHER ARGUMENT
    STOP TAKING SIDES AND FORGET ABOUT MISHCIST AND NOT JUST BRING MOSHIACH

  • nauseated

    anti,
    you need your brain and your heart chcked- so much for a wake up call. you are already ranting and raving. we are so sick of all your diatribe. we are so sick of your angry outbursts. a wake up call means to give it up and practice ahavas chinam instead.

  • crying from pain

    btw, i am so affected by this whole tragedy. and every day i read another article, on different sites/…beis moshiach, kfar chabad, etc. but why don’t i hear anything around CH about it. the whole israel is in an uproar (in a good way) getting together, discussing, taking on hachlotos. maybe cuz i’m a girl so they don’t want to mention in school about bochurim, but it should affect everyone and we should all do somehting. this is a tragedy for everyone.
    AD MOSAI! MOSHIACH NOW!

  • john

    to above comment:
    soo ure saying theres a lack of achdus among the people who thinks there needs to be achdus and the people who thinks there is already achdus soo what we should do is
    CELEBRATE AND EXPRESS OUT LOUD ACHDUS AMONG CHASSIDIM!!!

  • dear Anash

    I cannot understand why the administrator allows for such comment as that of “heartbroken”. There is a forum for everything and this isn’t the forum for such emotions. I am not taking sides with “anti” all I am saying is that these arguments don’t belong side by side with this tragedy.

    I urge my fellow Chassidim to think twice before writing a comment, use your sechel, there is a time and a place for everything.

    And webby, please know when to allow feedom of speech and when to censor.

    People! Learn to take the energy and time expened towards these negative ends and use them for positive things.

  • ari f

    the rebbe used to cry out and scream ahavos yisroel all the time over and over we as chasidim of the rebbe are failing the level of hatred to one another in ch has gotten so bad how much more is this gona go on for we have had so many tradegties in this community escpecialy in israel the rebbe said what ever goes on in crown heights effects israel if we cant get along how do u expect the situation in israel to be better we all say we care about israel what are we doing to help the situation its discrase what goes on in ch enough is enough take ur stupid politics and shove it cut all the bs out of ur thick skulls this is costing lifes how much more of this can go on u say u care why dont you take hachlata and show you have ahavos yisroel go visit a sick person in hospital maybe you will apreciate life even more and see how this person is less fortunate than you and relize how much more of abilty you have then this sick person rl enough is enough that is true ahavos yisroel when visiting sick person that shows that you care that will define you as better person we must lear how to love each other and sometimes we have to go out of our way for each other even thow we dont want to isf someone needs a minyan 770 should not be in your mind help the person who needs the minyan ahavos yisroel thats what the rebbe wants and used to scream about enough is enough moshiach should come now amen

  • nabach

    Just reading all the above all I can add is it seems people have too much spare time in there hands. There are many organizations looking for volunteerse
    go get busy doing things that count instead of peckering on this web site.

  • ISchier

    If anyone wants to see achdus in action, come to the Beis Levi Yitzchak shul on 556 Crown for Shabbos. Some of us are heavily into yechi, some are totally against, most are in between, (and we also come from a range of backgrounds from gezhe to new and questioning BT) but everyone gets along and there is no such thing as politics at our shul.

    In general, though, the problem (at least in CH) is with the minority of “hard cases” on both sides of the fence, who are either deluded or obsessed with power struggles. The question is how do we who are not extreme drown out those loud voices so that we can promote real achdus.

  • Viewer

    With all these comments, I still think that Heartbroken has a very valid point. We rant and rave about the need for achdus, but when it comes to a very simple thing to show ahavas yisroel, it’s like we’re totally incapable of doing it.

    Everyone knows that it’s offensive to many chassidim to write about the Rebbe, “of blessed memory”. The article would have read just as well without adding those three extra words that are not necessary and just offend people.

    Why can’t we do even the smallest things to make people feel comfortable and promote achdus?

  • Bless You (1)

    Viewer wrote:
    “Everyone knows that it’s offensive to many chassidim to write about the Rebbe, “of blessed memory”. The article would have read just as well without adding those three extra words that are not necessary and just offend people.”

    Why don’t you go to the other web sites that don’t miss a moment to write MH“M every single time they mention The ”Rebbe” in one single artical.
    Get your head out of the hole.

    to be cont…

  • Hashem yeracaim olaynuu

    when we had r lossse in camp..two coussins a year apart ,,the Rebba said that those boys were not to blame and were a kapporah for the klall..and the Rebba said we must be beah` acduss..
    we are one family with one father..by
    the Rebba there is no anti`s or mechecesst
    or tzfatimim , stop the crap and think
    of thr rebba not yr self and putting down other chasidemm

  • BLY Shul

    Correction – Beis Levi Yitzchak is 566 Crown – entrance is via ramp on Albany Avenue opposite the Lubavitch Yeshiva.

  • rochel

    i am a cousin of one of the bochurim that got killed.
    During the shiva my uncle called a meeting with dif rabbis to improve & increase the achdus.
    No matter if someone is mishichis or anti or wtvr, they r still a jew & ahavas yisroel is required.
    AD MOSAI
    MOSHIACH NOW

  • Baruch

    The shulchan aruch (ever hear of that) states that one is required to write of boessed memory on your Rebbe that is no longer physically alive.

    Alas, some people find this halacha “offensive.”

  • YPK

    ACHDUS IS ALL GREAT AND BEAUTIFUL.BUT TRUTH BE TOLD; If we want to prevent another tragedy “chas vesholom” we all must take precations, and when driving, WEAR A SEAT BELT, DRIVE THE LEGAL SPEED LIMIT, BE CONSCIOUS OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS, TAKE A BREAK FROM THE WHEEL EVERY 2 HOURS & ROTATE DRIVERS WHEN FATIGUED!!

    UNFORTUNATELY we always talk about achdus so on so forth, and the real issue of “YOUNG DRIVERS” or whatever the issues in the community are at time of grief are NEVER dealt with.

    Wake up people. PLEASE!!

    Achdus is nice, but it does’nt independantly resolve real life issues.

    May we only hear GOOD things from now!!

  • NEVER AGAIN

    EVERY TIME WE WANT TO CALL ONE OF THE LOCAL ISRAELI BOCHURIM “TZFATY” AS AN INSULT THINK OF THESE THREE INNOCENT KIDS NEBECH WHO WOULD HAVE ENDED UP BEING ONE OF THESE VERY SAME BOCHURIM THAT ARE HERE NOW. CARE FOR THEM NOW WHILE WE CAN, RATHER THAN CHAS VESHOLOM BEMOAN LATER.IF THERE IS ANY LESSON TO BE LEARNED FROM THIS TRAGEDY LET IT BE A WAKE UP CALL TO H E L P THE LIVING GUYS THAT ARE STILL WITH US. THEY ARE N O T M O N S T E R S! WITH A BIT OF THE CHABAD “LOVE” THEY CAN BE GUIDED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

  • A Lubavicher

    Dear “Heatbroken”:
    it could be that your “rebbe” never passed away and sais you do not need to have achdus, but the lubavicher rebbe said that there must be achdus .I beg all of you “Heatbroken” ,dont say that you are a lubavicher