Head of Reform Movement to Write About Chabad
At the end of this year, Union for Reform Judaism President Eric Yoffie will be stepping down after 16 years at the movement’s helm. Asked what he plans on doing after he retires, he responded thusly:
What’s next for Eric Yoffie?
I write for The Huffington Post, I blog for the Jerusalem Post, I have some other writing projects. I’m exploring. There’s a lot to do in the Jewish world, even outside of the Jewish world. I’ve thought of writing about Israel, I’ve thought about writing about Chabad. I’ve always thought about writing children’s books. I enjoy the blogging style. It fits my mentality.
What would you write about Chabad?
Their role in the community is fascinating. I see the intense reactions they elicit, both positive and negative, from people outside of the Chabad world both in Reform and non-Reform circles. There are those who feel it’s undermining other institutions in the community and at the same time people who have been touched by a Chabad rabbi or have found a Chabad connection.
There are Reform rabbis who say they specifically target our wealthy members and they feel that that’s outrageous, and other Reform rabbis who say they’re out there offering Jewish services in the competitive, free market society in which we live, and we have to do what we’re doing and we have to do it better.
M bas Y
Religion sells. The last words in this article are the emes. The point misssed is that when given the opportunity to compare value the better choice is authenticity. Chabad and others who offer a Torah way of life are consistently winning out over the constantly changing values of the latest trends. When people put aside preconceived prejudices and the thinking modes of others they begin to realize that HaShem’s ways and the wisdom of the ages not just based on Torah but according to Torah are the best and only way for a Jew to live. The sad truth of this is that while non-observant movements of Judaism have been incorporating more traditions and rituals into their practices they have failed to realize that they are only imitaions of authenticity. Like parve cheese cake or soy meat they may seem like the real thing but they are as real as a cubic zirconium so they must market thier products as a better value when they only serve to profit their “cause.” The leaders may be well intententioned but they are ignorant of the beautiful truth that the best and only way for a Jew shoild live is according to HaShem’s laws, not human reasoning.
CR
I recall the video of a Farbrengen in 770 which Alexander Schindler, UAHC President from 1973 to 1996, attended and shared a LeChaim with the Rebbe. All of them (C, R, R, etc.) know the truth, even when they spit lies!
no one special
To # 1: Your explanation reminds me of one who waves an America
and says that we are the best so everyone wants to imitate us.
Another possibility is that Chabad offers “FREE” food, “FREE”
Holiday Prayer, “FREE” Hebrew school, “FREE” etc, etc.
I believe that your suggestion & my suggestion are only part of what motivates someone to come close to Torah values.
(Sadly, people drop out of whatever avenue of Jewish expression that they embrace).
levi rapoport
its quite simple: Reform are hellenists, Chabad are Macabbes. “Whoever is for the L-rd, follow me”.
Zally
Reform know the truth, or can’t face the fact that they lie to themselves.
The reason:
Because they were so raised, and it would involve admitting their previous views were false, or
Because they couldn’t make it as orthodox Rabbi’s by any standard unless they implemented some sweeping changes in their own lives, that they are unable to do
It’s time we get the Or Lo’amim initiative going so they can work a pulpit without having to be a Rabbi (any Jew, even if struggling on the most basic levels can lead a congregation of b’nei Noach and promote Jewish values.
Learn From the Rebbe-s Approach
The Rebbe’s ahavas Yisroel was unsurpassed. Even though he vehemently disagreed with Alexander Schindler’s views, he sent shmura matzah to him (through the local shliach) every year! Now that’s a lesson for us all.