Newsweek just published a list, “The 50 Most Influential Rabbis in America,” and placed you at No. 1. As a Hasidic rabbi and a leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, do you think you can rank rabbis or any other religious leaders as if they were athletes?
I am of the opinion that you can’t rank human beings. Every person has something to contribute to the welfare of the next human being. No two people think alike or look alike, and everyone has something that another person does not have. Who’s to say who is higher and who’s lower? In terms of the essence of human beings, I don’t feel it’s proper to rank them because we don’t really know what their mission in life is.
NY Times Interviews Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky
Recently, Newsweek published a list, “The 50 Most Influential Rabbis in America,” and placed Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky at No. 1. New York Times reporter, Deborah Solomon took this opportunity to ask him a few questions.
Newsweek just published a list, “The 50 Most Influential Rabbis in America,” and placed you at No. 1. As a Hasidic rabbi and a leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, do you think you can rank rabbis or any other religious leaders as if they were athletes?
I am of the opinion that you can’t rank human beings. Every person has something to contribute to the welfare of the next human being. No two people think alike or look alike, and everyone has something that another person does not have. Who’s to say who is higher and who’s lower? In terms of the essence of human beings, I don’t feel it’s proper to rank them because we don’t really know what their mission in life is.
What’s bothersome about the best-rabbi list is that it seems to exemplify a culture in which religious leaders of all stripes are fixated on power and politics, rather than philosophical questions.
Politics and religion are not soluble. They don’t mix. I learned from the rebbe, my teacher, my mentor. The rebbe in his tenure received Bobby Kennedy and many other politicians. He gave them all the time they needed and discussed whatever they needed to discuss. But he never chose, never gave any indication of who he favored.
You’re referring to Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the former leader of the Lubavitcher movement, which is based in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn. Weren’t you his chauffeur in your youth? Where did you take him?
I will tell you. He never left the city. The only traveling he did was to visit the gravesite of his father-in-law, which was about a 25- or 30-minute drive to Queens from Brooklyn.
He died in 1994 and named you as the executor of his will, but the Chabad movement has since split over the issue of whether he was the Messiah.
I was always opposed to that. I felt it was wrong. But there was a group of people that felt that the rebbe implied during his lifetime that he was a Messiah. They became very vocal about it and sometimes more than vocal. They made a lot of noise, like a penny in a can; shake it, and it makes a lot of noise.
How large is your endowment?
We don’t have an endowment. If we had any money in the bank we would be remiss if we didn’t invest it in Jewish life. If I had $50 million now, I could get rid of it within a few weeks. We run at a deficit.
What do you think of Mayor Bloomberg?
He’s a Bostonian, as am I. He betrayed me. He deserted the Red Sox.
What else besides baseball do you admire in American pop culture?
Bob Dylan comes to the Lubavitch outpost from time to time. Did you know that? He was at my house for dinner a couple of times.
Do you like his music?
I’m blowing in the wind.
What do you make of the popularity of various kabbalah centers that have created a fashion for Jewish mysticism?
What do you want me to say as a rabbi? That I’m elated Madonna studies kabbalah?
She is learning Hebrew; she lights candles; she seems sincere about it.
So what? In order to understand kabbalah, the Jewish tradition going back to the Zohar, you have to spend years in Torah study. In fact, many communities banned the study of kabbalah until the student finished 40 years of Torah studies.
Why are ultra-Orthodox men so regressive in their treatment of women? You wouldn’t ever shake my hand, would you?
No.
Why not?
That’s the custom. It’s a matter of modesty, the sexes not mingling.
I don’t understand why you’re unwilling to embrace social change, when you can embrace technological change. Why is e-mailing allowed?
Why should it be disallowed? If there’s anyone transforming the modern world with all this equipment and technology, it’s Chabad. We’re using all of it. We are trying to make the world a more God-friendly place.
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The New York Times has condensed and edited this interview
anonymous
excellent. rabbi krinsky answered the questions with wit, sincerity, sensitivity, and intelligence.
i have always admired rabbi krinsky and his tenacity amidst all the chaos and “sibling rivalry” in our chabad family.
rabbi krinsky, kudos to you!
Shmueli Burns
Kol Hakovod to Baila Olidort, Yaakov Behrman and the entire Lubavitch.com team for bringing honor to the Rebbe’s Mosdos and shluchim. Keep up the amazing work and Kiddush Hashem!
Shameful...
I cannot believe that the Rabbi representing Lubavitch gives such an interview. This is modern Lubavitch.
Reb Yudel, it’s not about you; it’s about the Rebbe. If only you’d have spent 10% of the time you spent talking about the Redsox, Madonna, and Bob Dylans music, talking about the Rebbe.
YOU did not “win” #1 rabbi. The Rebbe did. You are mixed up…
A 20 year resident
You must understand that when The new York Times interviews a Jew especially a religious one, they are also looking to make the Jews look bad beside the actual point of the interview. I must say, that Rabbi Krinsky gave very straight direct answers with a twist of humor when needed, and did not let the interviewer get what they really might have wanted.
Thank you Rabbi Krinsky for representing us.
Sholom Ner
To #3
Your small-mindness is glaring.
The article states that it condensed from a lengthy interview.
I’m sure he spoke about the Rebbe. Hey the Rebbe made him his spokesman. Surely for good reason. Unless you disagree with that choice chas v’shlom.
Bottom line: Kiddush Hashem for Lubavitch and the Rebbe .
To Shameful
You clearly have no idea how interviews work. they ask a whole lot of questions. and they pick which answers to publish.
all he did was answered the questions they gave him.
which i think he did a great job at.
just me
to Shameful!
Oh zip it! Your just jealous. The reporter tried to unerve him with silly issues which he handled pretty good.
What do you think? She wanted to know more about chassidus.
And of course we all know who what and wh…
Kudos:)
CrownHeights.info is has leftist agenda
“Why are ultra-Orthodox men so regressive in their treatment of women? You wouldn’t ever shake my hand, would you?”
What kind of true Chassid asks such a questions? How could a TRUE Chassid think that Torah Observant Judaism is regressive toward women?
Only someone who feels that Modern Secularism is of a higher moral authority than Torah Judaism.
Seriously, how does someone from Crown Heights seek to defend Madonna’s bastardization of kabbalah? “She is learning Hebrew; she lights candles; she seems sincere about it.” She’s NOT JEWISH! And if she was so sincere about it, was did does she hold concerts dress half naked in front of thousands in Israel?
There is something seriously wrong with Cro
Rhetorical Question:
Rabbi Krinsky, did you talk to the interviewer about Shabbos candles, or, Sheva Mitzvos Bnei Noach?
over my head
what does Rabbi Krinsky mean by the expression “I’m blowing in the wind”
to #6 and #7 (from shameful )
You miss the point.
The success of Lubavitch has always been that we represent our Rebbe. All of the Baalei Teshuva came not because we Shluchim were so charismatic and charming, but because in us they saw the “meshaleach”.
When a TRUE chosid gives an interview as the “leader” of Chabad today, he should automatically exude “Rebbe”. The interviewer however obviously did not get this impression, or she would have noted it.
(As a Shliach (Australia), I have done countless interviews with newspapers, radio and TV. However I always insist that they either publish the interview in full, or that they allow me to review the edited interview for comments. I have never been refused…)
BT
to #10: “blowing in the wind” is in referrence to a well known Bob Dylan song.
Shlichus
First off. He should have commented on “Why are ultra-Orthodox men so regressive in their treatment of women? and answered that, Chabad views women on a very high plank. We respect them with the utmost respect. Then make his comment on shaking women’s hands.
Second. I hate when people or krinsky himself thinks he’s the the new leader of Chabad. When she said “You’re referring to Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the former leader of the Lubavitcher movement” He should have replied “he’s still or leader. We follow his ways and try to make the world a better place.” Yes krinsky runs merkos or wtvr you wanna call it but he’s not the new Rebbe. we go on shlichus for the rebbe. its not hard to explain that we follow the Rebbe even after his passing. That just shows how great the Rebbe is.
Literate
To #8: you can’t even read the darn headline?!
To #10: see the entry “Blowin’ in the Wind” in wikipedia.
Grow up, or be silent!
Did they let ALL of the loonies leave the asylum today? Some of the above comments are so ludicrous that it’s unbelievable that sane people could possibly have written them.
A little intelligence here, people. Rabbi Krinsky IS a critically important person in Lubavitch. The NY Times interviewed the RIGHT person. And his answers were said with wisdom and cogency.
The Times prints what it chooses to print. That’s the way newspapers operate.
Rabbi Krinsky deserves much, much more respect and derech eretz than we peasants know to give. We are blessed to have a person like Rabbi Krinsky in our midst and representing Lubavitch.
Chachomim, hizharu b’divraichem!!
To: #10 over my head
It’s a famous dylan song.
Farmers
I doubt most of the farmers commenting here bothered to read the statement of the Times: “The New York Times has condensed and edited this interview.”
Why do you doubt that Rabbi Krinsky, the man the Rebbe chose to be spokesman for Lubavitch, didn’t properly answer the questions as you assume.
U’k’yedua the pisgam, when you assume you make etc.
Dear #17
Any Shliach knows not to allow journalists to randomly edit their interviews. The NYT WANTED to interview Rabbi Krinsky. He could have set the ground rules and asked to see the interview before editing.
z. chein
nice interview, we are fortunate to have rabbi krinsky. i cant beleive we have such negative and small minded people living in ch. you guys cant think out of a pea. rabbi krinsky is well educated in torah as well wordly matters, the way it hould be.
harchuvas hadas. may i remind you the rebbe was well informed as well.
SoldierBoyChick
This is fantastic! I don’t understand #3–how is this shameful as Rabbi Krinsky didn’t say anything obscene unless you mean his sense of humor. I glad that someone finally put Madonna and her so being into Kabbalah and everything Jewish into perspective.
Christian/Lebanese/American Perspective!
I agree- Ranking people is Ridiculous. I know many people who do great things. There are people who won the Nobel Prize for Science for curing a disease. They are not Ranked! I like the Rabbi- he makes a lot of sense. In Deutronomy 17, Moses says, “Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.”
md2205
I do not think that a good interview includes blaming Lubavitchers for thinking the Rebbe is Moshiach. There are better answers than that: One is to skirt the issue like he does in other answers by saying that the Rebbe said we should increase in goodness and kindness to bring the era of Moshiach. To say anything otherwise showed his true opinions and is nothing less than his betrayal of the Rebbe and of us.
antimesira
You know who the NYT should interview?
They should interview..
Zalman Lipsker,
J.B. Speilman,
Mendle Hendel,
M. Chazzan,
Elie Poltorak,
Yoel Kraus (from Ibiza, Spain),
To name a few.
Lets see how that one flies.
Levi w.
I believe rabbi krinsky handled this interview fairly well but I can’t help agreeing with comment number 11….. As im reading thru this interview I’m really not feeling the “rebbe vibes” and as a chossid of the rebbes those vibes should most deffintley be there, defiantly poking us in the eyes with every word we read….True rabbi krinsky is being interviewd as an “individual”, a man who achieved great success and ascended to the top of the leadership ladder but in reality, as a chabad representative, rabbi krinsky looses his individuality as a rabbi and represents the rebbe in his every sentence! The rebbe vibes (as I like to call it) should have been there and the fact that their noticeably MIA can imply very many negative things about his personality, character and beliefs….. Then again it’s very probable the NYT did a serious cut and paste job on this interview…. Yet I feel strangely discontented, somethings deffintely wrong here…
mixed messages
I was told my whole life (in lubavitch schools) not to listen to secular music or get involved in any secular media. We could only use chabad nigunim in the school productions and talk of modonna would certainly have sent us to the principals office (talking about Nsync and the backstreet boys did get me kicked out of school for a day when I was 10). I just don’t understand, it’s sending complete mixed messages to the youth. Growing up I saw this kind of behavior and viewed it as complete hypocracy.
Mordechai
#23 comment is a riot. If the outside world ever saw those nerds, support for Lubavitch would dry up in a nanosecond. People would think Chabad is nuts.
hm
Number 15!!!
your words are so true!
yeshar koach!!!
a lubavitcher
I’m sure he said a lot more than was printed, I can’t think of any Lubavitcher who wouldn’t talk more about the Rebbe, or give more than a one-word answer to “Why are ultra-Orthodox men so regressive in their treatment of women?” We don’t know why it came out the way it did, or whether he was allowed to review what was edited. Most likely, it is just a case of a journalist doing her job, trying to get the most readers interested in reading this article, regardless of whether it is a kiddush Hashem or actually reflects what was said. Most secular people reading an article about “ultra-orthodox Jews” already expect it to sound like we are crazy fanatics who are stuck in the 1800’s. Compared to many such interviews, this one presents a relatively more positive angle on Chabad and frumkeit in general.
Yossi
Eh.. Not so bad. Im sure it could have been worse. still, theres much to be said abot the fatc that he comes across as a little too openminded..
The question should be, would he hhe have said the same thing if the Rebbe was standing right next to him??
tsirel
i think rabbi krinsky was brilliant!
and we know journalists always distort everything to fit their desires!
Long-time lub. family member
Reb Yudel you did an excellent job. I realize the interviewer picks and chooses what she/he wants to bring out however, I think you made a kiddush hashem.
relax
to #25
I myself dont listen to non Jewish music and still if there is a famous or poplar song, i am sure to know about it or have heard it.
we are surrounded by it, chances are you going to know and hear it. Nothing wrong in commenting about it, specially if you making a joke about it.
I wrote #8
Sorry,
Embarrassingly enough, I did not read the headline and thought the interview was conducted by CH.info. My apologizes all around.
this whole thing is a sham
agree with #24- you cant feel the Rebbe in any of this. and whats this about rabbi krinsky achieving great success??? how ridiculous- chabad has acheived great success, the Rebbe left Rabbi Krinsky in charge of legal aspects, he is a good spokesperson too- but what does one have to do with the other? is this a joke? anyone with a brain who knows what goes on in lubavitch knows that chabad’s success has NOTHING to do with Rabbi krinsky and everything to do with the Rebbe and his shluchim. Krinsky handles the central office and does very little with it too. And I love it- he was a chauffer in his youth!!! As in when he was 65 or whatever with a white beard? he WAS the Rebbe’s chauffer, that was his job. this interviewer seems to think that this is some sort of corporate success story- krinsky started off as driver, now heads the company! and what is AMAZING is that krinsky makes no effort to correct her!!!!! the whole thing is unreal. Shame on those who use the Rebbe’s physical absence to promote themselves, while Shluchim all over the world slave to be nothing more than a reflection of the Rebbe.