Chabad Caught in Middle of Israeli Political War
Chabad has become the center of an ongoing Israeli political battle dubbed by many ‘the war of recordings.’ Recently a decade-old recording was released in which Rabbi Meir Mazuz, the spiritual leader of the Yachad party, is heard attacking Chabad in nasty terms.
Rabbi Mazuz focuses his attacks on Chabad customs, such as the preference for woman to wear a wig, which in his opinion isn’t modest. However, some of the charges he makes are downright false: “They have a picture of the Rebbe [at the Chazan’s place] by the Shiviti Hashem,” he is heard saying, amongst other insults and accusations.
The recording shocked the Israeli Chabad community, as Rabbi Mazuz is considered to be a close friend of Chabad. He regularly participates in Chabad functions and events, and it is said that his wife was saved by a Brocho of the Rebbe. He reportedly went so far as to defend those that say the Rabbe is Moshiach.
Yachad has been running on a right wing platform and actively pursuing the Chabad vote. Rabbi Baruch Marzel, a long-time friend of Chabad, has been slated the fourth seat on the party list.
The recording has been reportedly leaked by the rival Shas party, in order to drive a wedge between Chabad and the Yachad party.
Former interior minister Eli Yishai broke off from the Shas party, lead by Arye Deri, and went on to form the Yachad party. The two have been locked in a political battle ever since. Damaging videos and recordings have been leaked against each party.
The leak of this recording is reportedly ‘revenge’ for a previous video clip released to the public in order to damage the Shas party. In the video, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the former spiritual leader of Shas, is seen calling Deri ‘An evil person and a thief’ – referring to his arrest and imprisonment for bribery. The video caused Deri to resign from the Knesset and temporarily step down from Shas.
“Someone is trying to pull a fast one on Chabad, but it won’t working,” said Rabbi Mendy Brod, the spokesman of Tzach in Israel. “Rabbi Mazuz is not a Chabad hater. He learned in the Chabad school in Tunisia. He has a wonderful relationship with many Chabad Chasidim and had a long-standing connection with the Rebbe.” He then added “to portray Rabbi Mazuz as a Chabad hater is disgusting.”
His statements were echoed by many others in Chabad, who agreed that this would not affect their vote for Yachad – as it is the only party with a clear position in regards to religion and a complete homeland.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe was adamant that Chabad in Israel not endorse or be affiliated with any political party. Nonetheless, the Rebbe instructed his Chassidim that they have a duty to vote in every election, and that they should vote for the party that would most uphold Torah Judaism and the integrity of the borders of Eretz Yisroel.
In the know
Just listened to the tape. It is absolutely a disgusting and ad hominem attack on the Rebbe, Chabad, Chabad women, our minhagim, the holy minhagim of our rebbeim.
He uses disgusting language, calls for chabad to be burned, pokes fun at the Rebbe.
This man is trash, sorry.
Sorry, sorry, sorry. If I lived in Israel, I would vote for Naftali Bennet, not this trash.
I don’t care if the tape was leaked to hurt Yishai, who seems like a decent guy. But as long as this lunatic is his rabbi, stay away.
Listen to the Rebbe not your emotions
Chabad is Moach Shalit Al Halev, so you have to listen to what the Rebbe says no matter if your heart says otherwise.
In this case the ONLY party with the Rebbes positions is Yachad!
The Rebbe clearly says to vote for such a party.
Chabad has no political affilation
And it should stay this way!
This leaked tape just proves why.
mad winter
We have to vote which party don’t make a difference thay are all the same don’t get involved in the machlokes we have better things to be doing like to bring moshich now
thats your opinion but chabad listens to the rebbe
there clearly are differences between the parties, and the votes do have a real effect on the shape of the next government.
It is every chasids duty to vote as the rebbe said many times ‘for the most religious party’
who fits that criteria is up to you and your mashpia/rov
maybe
Didn’t listen to the tape
but perhaps he is only trashing the “Moshiachisten”, which is really not the real authentic Chabad.
Just a pity this has to come from an outsider.
here we go... blame the mishechistim
‘authentic’ chabad don’t wear shaitels?
you sound exactly like an anti-semit when all else fails blame the jews i mean the mishechistim
to no 6
I guess a cording to you authentic chabad is the new age group who feel its ok to go with s tichel covering half the hair! With friends like you chabad doesn’t need enemies!!
Israeli elections
BAYIT YEHUDI, and only the bayit yehudi party!!!!!
We seem to be forgetting who signed for the expulsion of gush katif. How can any right minded Lubavitcher vote for anyone associated with the Shas party (Yishai or Deri alike).
check your history
Shas under yishai was in the oposition by the expultion of gush katif and fought to stop it. The other “frum” party aguda was in the govornment
Deri however let oslo pass by one vote
mad winter
Can we grow up all ready the loony don’t represent me u am chabad ok
48 yr in the hood,
PESACH THE BAL HAKOLA SAYS IT THE BEST
” IF THE HORSE DOES A JOB ON THE WAY
AND THE WHEEL FROM THE CARRIAGE
DIVIDES THE PIECE IN HALF .
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE
TWO PIECES ? BOTH TZAH
suspect
this was released for political reasons which makes it suspect. perhaps t would be best for someone to speak with Meir Mazuz before everyone jumps to conclusions.
To all who truly care
Public opinion pressure can get the Australian Rabbanite to put out statements, how about pressing the pressure button really hard on Yishai for R’ Mazuz to at the least come out with a statement of clarification.
Now is the time seize the moment “im lo achshove eimosay”?
mazuz does hate chabad
he made a book about it trying to show how evrything chabad does is rong but r’ sholom ber volpo put out a book making him look like a fool bh and evrything he wrot is utter am haratsus and burus
press snooze
Someone woke up?
Rabbi sdb volpo wrote a whole sefer after mazuz said this.
In the hakdama of his father’s sefer ish matzliach he writes that shluchim are out of their mind for staying in Tunisia.
Then we had him speak at the siyum harambam in ot several years ago.
Does it make a difference if he’s a hater? Won’t be the first one in the Israeli government.
kfar chabad
im voting for bennet or maybe even likud…
Voting Yachad
But I could still change my mind. In the end, Likud will lead the government anyway, I just want to see a stronger response to Hamas & Hezbollah.
Moishe
Let’s not get bent out of shape, the way rabbi Mazuz spoke is the same way maran Rav ovadya spoke thier way of speech is natrual and should not be held against them I hard the tape twice and am fluent in hebrew and he didn’t speak against the rebbe only against the person who spoke to sphardic women to put on shaitels and meshchistan still for our Ashkenazic ears this speech is to violent but I think we should look beyond this