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Video: Reform Leader at 1984 Farbrengen in 770

As we reported earlier this week, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, the president of the Union for Reform Judaism, attended the grand banquet of the Kinus Hashluchim as a guest of Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky. As the JTA’s Ben Harris noted, this is likely the first time that the leader of America’s Reform movement has attended this annual event.

However, Rabbi Alexander Schindler — the leader of the Reform movement from 1973 to 1996 — also had some notable contact with Chabad. It turns out, Schindler had once attended the Rebbe’s farbrengen in 770.

Here’s video of Schindler at the 1984 event:

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23 Comments

  • Fabrengen

    Rabbi Hershel Fogelman of blessed memory brought Rabbi Schindler to the Rebbe’s Fabrengen. Rabbi Schindler, I believe, was from Worcester, Mass. Rabbi Fogelman is standing right next to Schindler.

  • very nice

    what does that have to do with the price of cheese in china.

    can anybody compare, an official invite, and a seat nest to the director of merkas, to something where anybody can just show up and have a place?

    it does not exactly look like this leader, got some top seat.
    he actually looks just like another one of those people there.

  • moshe

    But I don’t see the Rebbe calling him “rabbi” (or that the Rebbe paid to him a special attention as was done here).

  • down under

    Oh please follow the Rebbe’s horo’o and don’t call these people Rabbis. You can use Reverend or spiritual leader etc.

  • reuvain

    The Rebbe met with many Reform rabbis through the years in Yechidus. Many attended farbrengens.

  • the system is the mushroom

    Merkos should NOT call these people Rabbi. They have caused horrible damage R”L to generations of Jews. Mikareving them is one thing, giving them honor is another.

    • zalman

      When you want to take on the Rebbes most trusted person for his “errors” sign your name, little man.

  • Heard from Rabbi Fogelman

    The Rebbe was very “meyaker” Schindler’s coming to the Farbrengen. After the Rebbe left the Farbrengen (possibly on the way out to his car to be drven home), as the Rebbe passed Rabbi Fogelman, he said to him, with a smile, “Nei’eh Birurim?”

    Not long after, the Rebbe mentioned his visit to the Farbrengen in a letter to a senior Shliach who had written to the Rebbe in a very Moroh Shchoireh’dike tone, (the toichen of the answer, although I don’t remember the loshon). The Rebbe was asking how is it that you are so “moroh Shchoiroh’dik at a time that “Afilu Schindler boh lesamcheini by dem Farbrengen fun Yud Tes Kislev”.

  • Surprised

    Very surprising that most if the commenters don’t get it. You are obviously are not in tune with the
    Rebbe’s Far outlook, maybe not surprising could be just a bunch of Orthodox Jews with short sighted ness.

  • How ugly (#12) can one get?

    I didn’t know the netura karta visit this site.
    This is not the Rebbe’s way.
    The Rebbe was mekarev every Jew.
    The Rebbe acknowledged Rabbi Schindler’s presence. And wished him “Life and Blessing.” Lchayim Ulevrocho.
    The Rebbe even asked Zalman Schachter to give him Birchas Koihanim at dollars!
    The Rebbe had other reform rabbis at his frbrengens. There were orthodox rabbis that complained and even walked out in protest during the farbrengen. The Rebbe didn’t change his position.
    The rebbe wrote letters to reform rabbis and addresses them as “Rabbi” so and so (Herbert Wiener, Schindler and others).
    So where does this hateful, reactionary responses come from? Not from chasidim of the Rebbe.

    Sitting next to Rabbi Krinsky (no head table even) at kinus pales in comparison to wishing Rabbi Schindler life and blessing at a farbrengen which was televised on cable tv!!!

    Yes, the Rebbe wrote a letter that it is forbidden to
    join a rabbinical organization that has reform rabbis in it. Is this what happened at the kinus?!

    How much Kiddush hashem did this create? Despite the fact that we are vehemently against their philosophy we still talk to their Jewish soul.

    Besides the point: How many people will feel more comfortable visiting a chabad house? Is it at all possible that a reform Jew somewhere will take on a mitzvah when approached by chabad as a result.

    Let’s not be hateful. And let us not confuse facts and chasidus from zealousness.

  • # 14 & 15

    Can I see these letters anywhere. I dont believe what you are staying in light of the Rebbes unambiguous statements about the reform and conservative

  • moshe

    how much acrobatics? The Rebbe gives a blessing lechayim velivrocho but does not select him and give him any special atention more than anyone else, he is a yid like everyone else, but didn’t even give him a special smile; he was waiting for the response of the Rebbe’s lechayim like all other yidden; no giving him title “rabbi” ….and not having the official news service report about it….this is the new agew lubavitch revisited in different shapes and forms….

  • Small minds

    I wonder why some readers seem to be so clueless without any nuanced thinking.
    Some of the commentors sound like they never graduated grade school.
    To all outsiders out there reading thus: The cooments here do not reflect chochma bina and daas. Sounds like young students of the Satmar school of thought.

  • Heard from Rabbi Fogelman

    I will try bez”H to find out the exact loshon both of what the Rebbe told Rabbi Fogelman and of the Tzetl.