As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them —President John F. Kennedy
A few weeks ago, when I submitted my column to Malibu Patch editor Jonathan Friedman, I was asked if the B”H at the top of the page was part of the column. After I explained what it means, we decided to leave it to another time, when I could address its meaning and importance.
It baffles me why so many authors and commenters on this website seem to feel as though people who do not act or think as they do are doing something wrong, and that they do so for all the same negative, prejudiced stereotype reasons (bad home, life, schooling etc). I am constantly reminded of the old saying that “everyone who does more than you is a fanatic and everyone who does less is an apostate.”
As a Bochur who is spending this year learning in 770, I am privileged all year round to immerse myself in the unique atmosphere found in and around 770 and at the Ohel. Now, as we approach the upcoming Kinus Hashluchim, there is a special buzz in the air, with Shluchim arriving from all around the world to recharge their batteries for the upcoming year.
A couple of nights ago a friend of mine and myself were speaking about just this, and the question that came to mind was: What does this all mean to a Bochur like myself?
Dear Reb Moshe Kotlarsky,
First of all, Yasher Koach for all the hard work that you do on a daily basis for all the Shuluchim. You and the Shluchim you care for are a true inspiration for all of us here in Crown Heights.
Hi, I’m an eleventh grader. Another eleventh grader wrote about how hard it is for girls in Crown Heights and other big Lubavitch schools to swim against the tide. One of the things that actually helps us teenagers create positive peer pressure is Achos Hatmimim (which deserves a whole article onto itself).
But what about the girls who don’t even have that??
Rabbi Shimon Raichik of Los Angeles recently wrote that he does not wish to enter directly into the “Chabad-Lite” issue, but simply to urge that we turn to the Rebbe for guidance. He quoted several passages from a published letter of the Rebbe, of which the following is representative:
Texas Governor Rick Perry, a contender for the Republican Presidential nomination, held a press conference at the W Hotel in midtown Manhattan a few months ago. It was a clear showing of his strong support for Israel, and criticism for what he believes are the failed and misguided policies of President Obama on Israel.
Recently there has been a public discussion taking place about Chabad standards. On one side of the discussion there are those that have taken a more lenient approach that is a direct challenge to what Chabad standards have been until now.
The other night I received a call from a friend. He was very conflicted and under a lot of stress. He works for a company and receives just enough money to cover his most basic expenses. Worse yet, he sees no room for growth within the company.
The annual gathering of Chabad’s global emissaries, the Kinus Hashluchim, elicits a paradox. Here is an organization that is truly international, operating even more outposts than the United States government. Chabad is not only the world’s largest Jewish educational network, it is quite simply one of the world’s largest networks period. Perhaps only the Catholic Church has a more extensive grid of schools and educational outposts. Yet, for all its internationalism Chabad continues to evince a largely parochial mentality. It is global in scope but not in outlook.
In the past four months, the Crown Heights Jewish Community has seen as many child abuse-related arrests and reports as there have been in the past 20 years.
In the early 90’s I fell in love with Steve Jobs’ new NeXT computer. I had used a Macintosh since I was 19 but after Jobs’ was kicked out of Apple I gravitated to his new invention which blew the Mac away. As Rabbi at Oxford, I regularly hosted world leaders to lecture to our students and I had to have Jobs. So I arranged a meeting with one of his top lieutenants and traveled to Redwood City, California.
Occupy Wall Street has become a powerful movement that is spreading around the globe. Its adherents claim they are outraged & feel hopelessly trapped by a cabal of bankers & corporations. This movement has been developing its own brand of philosophy & ethics.
It is not necessary to go into detail to describe the urgent crisis that is currently taking place in our midst regarding Shidduchim.
My best friend Shevi called me the other day, distressed over the shul her husband started attending. “Malka, you can’t imagine what the women are wearing there,” she said. “Yes I can,” I sadly replied. “He loves the davening, but I feel nervous with him going there,” she continued. “I tried to discuss it with him, but he likes the shul and doesn’t want to stop going. I totally understand, but why should he have to see women dressed that way?”
Dear Doe Namay AKA John Doe,
Your op-ed last week gave me a bigger jolt than my morning coffee. You stated your opinion against ‘Chabad Lite’ because they may, G-d forbid, call themselves Chabad. Do you consider yourself Chabad? Where exactly can I pick up some “Chabad” measuring tape? Is anyone who disagrees with your opinion really a hater? And how exactly can you say, after penning such an article, that you have Ahavas Yisroel?
A brother-in-law of mine residing in Crown Heights sent me an op-ed published on Crownheights.info entitled ‘Chabad Lite.’ In it, the author bemoans the spiraling state of altruistic Chassidic values which is widespread amongst many of today’s youth specifically in Lubavitch circles. It seems, in the words of the author, that people choose for one reason or another to identify with Lubavitch but are not prepared to hold themselves accountable and continuously refine their character and connection to the Rebbe’s ideals as old world Chassidim did.
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