What particularly got me to write this report was a recent article in The Jerusalem Post by Marvin Schick, one who has a massive chip on his shoulder, may he be blessed (his soul needs it). An article which criticizes Chabad, ridicules, its traditions and accuses its Shluchim of permitting synagogue regulars to drive to Shul on Shabbos, and while I would expect an article to at the very least have facts, this once contains none. I didn't find anything of truth in the article and I feel pure hatred against Chabad in reading his article. He very nicely complains of how Chabad is growing too quick while other outreach organizations cannot keep up to it. The truth is, he is absolutely correct and sad for him because they will never catch up. I will paraphrase what I've heard from a rabbi of Ohr Same'ach: "We will never get anywhere close to Chabad and I don't know how they do it, I have to pay rabbi's to do a 9 to 5 job while in Chabad they leave on Shlichus not knowing if they will ever earn a penny".
Religious Intolerance?
This Chanukah Chabad enjoyed the most positive press it ever received, and this seems to irritate some other religious groups as well as freelance rag writers. Several organizations and newsletters have recently published Chanukah photo galleries with pictures of Chabad Menorah Lightings but would not dare give any credit or even a mention of Chabad. One such example; the Five Towns Newspaper in its photo gallery of Chanukah has a description for every one of their pictures. The big Menorah – with no description. Why?
What particularly got me to write this report was a recent article in The Jerusalem Post by Marvin Schick, one who has a massive chip on his shoulder, may he be blessed (his soul needs it). An article which criticizes Chabad, ridicules, its traditions and accuses its Shluchim of permitting synagogue regulars to drive to Shul on Shabbos, and while I would expect an article to at the very least have facts, this once contains none. I didn’t find anything of truth in the article and I feel pure hatred against Chabad in reading his article. He very nicely complains of how Chabad is growing too quick while other outreach organizations cannot keep up to it. The truth is, he is absolutely correct and sad for him because they will never catch up. I will paraphrase what I’ve heard from a rabbi of Ohr Same’ach: “We will never get anywhere close to Chabad and I don’t know how they do it, I have to pay rabbi’s to do a 9 to 5 job while in Chabad they leave on Shlichus not knowing if they will ever earn a penny”.
Just to understand where they are coming from, I’d like to share with you a phone call I’ve received from a friend of mine in South Africa recently. This friend has been a improving on his Mitzvos for some time already and recently took upon himself to keep Shabbos. On his very first try on keeping Shabbos he messed up and did something against Halacha on Shabbos afternoon. Depressed and very insecure he called me the very next morning to tell me that his Rabbi (not Chabad) criticized him and made him feel very uncomfortable. A Chabad Rabbi on the other hand would encourage the guy to improve the next week for no one is perfect but our job is to strive for perfection.
Upon first going on Shlichus, Rabbi Shlomo Cunin said it perfectly to the leaders of some Jewish organizations in Los Angeles. “We are a large freight train, traveling at high speed, with no brakes; either you join us or we’ll run you over”. Now I don’t how true this is but I once heard this and thought it is really powerful; Chabad must be strong and not get intimidated by anyone. At the same time, Chabad must be strong with what makes them Chabad, be a perfectionist in the observance of Mitzvos, learning not only Nigleh, but also Chassidus and keeping connected with the Rebbe. If the Rebbe is merely a person of the past, Chabad has no future.
The Rebbe has always encouraged living with the time. In this weeks Torah portion the Rebbe discusses the 2 roles of Menashe and Efraim, how they are to parts to our every day life. Firstly we must know where we come from and be proud of who we are and secondly, we must never be satisfied with that and constantly strive for improvement. (it’s a powerful Sicha, at the very end of volume hei, of Lekkutei Sichos).
The article that was posted on the Jerusalem post website had received numerous “talkbacks” (their word for comments) mostly blasting martin, but this one was a good one “Stay Tuned, Marvin’s next article “Blasting Moses” an insiders look as to the true identity of moses- is he as holy as we all thought he was?” you can view the comments HERE
Itzik_S
Good article – and yes, Marvin Schiksa does have a chip on his shoulder – it is called his head. The Schicksas of this world have no real information, so they must fabricate everything from thin air.
On the other hand, Larry Gordon of the 5 Towns paper is from a Chabad family and is very close to Chabad. The omission of the caption must have been an error.
berel b.
Itzik_S
that particular paper had 2 such errors in this past issue alone.
S.
BH
His Neshoma dosent need your prayers or blessings. Its his mind! His Neshoma is as G-Dly as your.
Otherwise great writing keep it up.
hay!!!
well then refuah sheleima for his mind!
Shmuli
A short translation of that sicha quoted in the article – from chabad.org
—
Joseph named his first born son Manasseh, from the word nasho, "forget." Joseph did not want his family to forget where they came from or who they were. The name Manasseh was a reminder, as if someone was constantly saying: Let us not forget that we are the descendants of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob, Rachel and Leah even though we are now living in Egypt. Wherever Jews, they must always remember who they are.
Joseph knew that G-d sent the Jews into to Egypt for a purpose. They are not just supposed to struggle through the exile in Egypt and remember that they are Jews. They are supposed to make the exile fruitful, like a garden which flowers and blooms. By using everything to do good deeds, we make the world a dwelling place for G-d. Wishing for this, Joseph named his second son Ephraim, which comes from the Hebrew word for fruitful.
This week’s Torah portion tells us how Jacob blessed Manasseh and Ephraim. Even though Manasseh was older, Ephraim received the greater blessing. Ephraim shows us the purpose of exile that a Jew should prosper and be fruitful in the Torah way. That’s why Jacob gave him the greater blessing.
Still, Manasseh is the older brother and he comes first. This also teaches us an important lesson. Ephraim can succeed and be fruitful because Manasseh constantly reminds him who he is and where he comes from.
—
I think this sicha is ever more important today as people such as schick try to make us forget who we are, we are lubavitchers, we have a Rebbe…
We must also be sure that we are constantly fruitful, gainning, improving and never be intimidated by people such as schick
me
In the past Marvin shick has written positive stuff on chabad. He is a communal activist and I don’t think he is motivated by hate. Some of the things he says is correct and some not, but that doesn’t mean that he hates us. We do have some friends out there who are concerned about us and give constructive criticism. Sometimes we have to realize that some people see us as going to far in some areas and they are hoping that we will step back and look at some of the things being doen and review them ( like the chabad shul in south beach, Miami being built by a gay man or the shalucho who walks around without covering her hair…..).
If he really wanted to bash us he would have focused on the moshiach issue!
sr41
to me:
dont know if you read that article he wrote but that thing is pure hatred, true we should take it as constructive critisizm and I think thats a very good point you bring up, however, I dont see that as the intention of his article.
What you write about the shul in South Beach.. and the shlucho.. many Lubavitchers do many things which are incorrect that does not mean that Lubavitch is heading in the wrong direction. And on the contrary any Shliach who does things against halacha shal not be called is not shliach, who’s he representing? if its not the Rebbe then it should be made known that this person is no more a shliach. And there are several rabbi’s i know personaly who are no longer shluchim because they’ve gone against halacha…
but don’t get me wrong, I like your point about constructive critisizm, we all must improve. (not that they won’t complain any more, but thats their issue)