Conservative School Principal Weighs in on Chabad

Here is a beautiful testimonial from the principal of the Solomon Schechter School in Montreal. The school is conservative and the person writing the newsletter doesn’t have a great love for Chabad.

From our principal – Dr. Shimshon Hamerman

I was never a supporter of Lubavitch as a movement or as an ideology. However, when I opened the newspaper and read that the movement sends 4000 emissaries around the world to bring Jews closer to Judaism, I could not help but juxtapose Hizballah that sent out 4000 Katyushas, war, destruction and suffering while Chabbad disseminates Torah, love and brotherhood.

This Chassidic group sends its emissaries to wherever Jews might be around the globe to help Jews stay close to their traditions. While our teachers were in Venice, Italy we really had nowhere to make Shabbat but for a tiny Lubavitch Kosher restaurant that had room for possibly 30 people and welcomed over 200 guests to help them make Shabbat.

Continued in the Extended Article!

Chanukah is coming. The lesson of Chanukah dates back close to 2200 years. The Hellenic culture was the dominant culture as the Greek armies of Alexander the Great conquered most of the world from India through Europe. All conquered people wanted to be like the Greeks. It was a classic case of status by association. The Jews were no different. They too adopted Greek names and Greek practices. Only a small group stood up and reminded Jews that one can be modern, up to date, au courrant and cool while still adhering to the principles of Torah and preserving the ways and traditions of Judaism. 2200 years ago, they were called Macabees.

We need to teach our children that the digital age, the play stations and digital gadgets, and the ways of Torah are not mutually exclusive.

Lubavitch has its emissaries in Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and six new centres in China. They are spread out in 72 countries and 1000 cities around the world. While Jewish Federations around the world preach Jewish continuity, the facts speak louder than words of who talks about continuity and who does Jewish continuity. 300 emissaries work in Russia alone.

I do not advocate that our children should be Lubavitch Chassidim to preserve Jewish traditions. I do advocate that parents should teach their children to take pride in their Jewishness and practice the ways of Torah; the ways of peace; the ways of brotherhood; the ways of kindness and the ways of the love of all human beings as we are all created in the image of God. Perhaps if we adopted the ways of Torah, school yards and the world would be much nicer places for people.

Happy Chanukah