Chabad is one of the great wonders of the Jewish world. Following World War II, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson assumed the leadership of the movement, the headquarters of which had previously moved to New York. In little more than half a century, Rabbi Schneerson took this small Chasidic group, which was little understood in America and which had lost most of its members in the Holocaust, and created a vast network of educational and religious institutions that today touch the lives of tens of thousands of Jews.
Reform Reflections: The Good and Bad of Chabad
Chabad is one of the great wonders of the Jewish world. Following World War II, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson assumed the leadership of the movement, the headquarters of which had previously moved to New York. In little more than half a century, Rabbi Schneerson took this small Chasidic group, which was little understood in America and which had lost most of its members in the Holocaust, and created a vast network of educational and religious institutions that today touch the lives of tens of thousands of Jews.
Chabad has always been deeply controversial. In the ultra-Orthodox world, some have deplored the willingness of Chabad to immerse itself in the affairs of secular society. In the modern Orthodox world, some have criticized the messianic elements of Chabad’s theology. I will leave these matters for others to discuss. But what might a liberal Jew think about Chabad?
Chabad’s monumental contribution to Jewish life has been its willingness to serve Jewish populations not served by others. In North America, Chabad’s representatives minister to Jewish prisoners long neglected by the Jewish establishment and reach out to college students in dozens of isolated communities. Throughout the world, in virtually every city where a Jewish community of even modest size is to be found, Chabad shelichim – emissaries – conduct religious services, visit hospitals, teach children, organize Jewish holiday celebrations, and offer Shabbat meals to lonely Jewish students and tourists.
The work is done by Chabad couples – usually young couples – who commit themselves to this effort with tremendous devotion and at great personal sacrifice. Whatever disagreements I may have with Chabad, I can only marvel at the dedication of their shelichim (emissaries) and regret that no other Jewish movement – Orthodox, Conservative, or Reform – has been able to produce a corps of similarly devoted young men and women who are prepared to serve the Jewish people in this way.
And what are my disagreements? I offer two.
In Russia, Chabad leaders have established an alliance with the increasingly autocratic President, Vladimir Putin. Such alliances have their purposes, but not when they are used to deny recognition and funding to other Jewish groups, Orthodox as well as Reform. Looking back at the history of eastern European Jewry, we all view with distaste those chapters that involve Jewish groups drawing close to ruling despots so that they might provide information on other Jews with whom they disagree. We do not need a modern version of that history in the Russian Federation today.
In North America, the issues are very different. Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox synagogues routinely require families wanting a Bar or Bat Mitzvah for a son or daughter to meet certain requirements. Generally, the child must attend a religious school for at least a year, if not more, and the parents are also asked to commit themselves to study and worship at the congregation. The premise is that in the absence of Torah learning and familial commitment and involvement, the Bar Mitzvah will be without meaning – an event celebrated primarily because of parental guilt or as an excuse for a party.
Chabad, however, is often the address for those who wish to avoid serious requirements for the child or family. It is the place that you go when you do not want to join a synagogue or subject your child to a meaningful course of study. The rationale offered is that no child should be denied a Bar Mitzvah, and even with little serious training, the child and family – who are probably unaffiliated – may later be drawn into Jewish life. Perhaps.
More likely, the lesson that is absorbed is that Judaism is not a serious endeavor and that even the most significant milestones require only a modicum of work and preparation. Let me be clear: no family should ever be denied membership in a synagogue because of inability to pay. But we should protest when Chabad, or anyone else, becomes a voice of Jewish minimalism that lowers educational standards in our communities.
Mendy
Considering that Rabbi Yoffe has…
1. Said far worse things about Chabad in the past
2. Said increasingly positive things about Chabad in recent years, and
3. Seems to be slowly becoming a friend of Chabad,
we should not attack him here. Comparatively, this was not only not negative, but actually very positive.
That-s pretty funny
Who would have thunk that Chabad “lowers educational standards”? I love it.
A friend of Chabad
Great article about Chabad but that is the meaning of “we all view with distaste those chapters that involve Jewish groups drawing close to ruling despots so that they might provide information on other Jews with whom they disagree. We do not need a modern version of that history in the Russian Federation today”? Maybe I am naive but is that what Lazar is doing? Or is this an overstatement on his part?
Aaron
I agree with Mendy. Yoffe actually published a pamphlet around 13 years ago entitled “What every reform jew should know about chabad”. It was a fine piece of chabad bashing. I am glad to see that he has many positive things to say here.
Personally I agree with him on his views about chabad’s alliance with Putin.
I disagree with his view that chabad represents a new minimalisim in Jewish education. The kids who go to chabad to become bar and bat mitzvah may get a mimimal education, but at least it is an education of truth.
Shliach from the South
If one will direct his web browser to the actual JPost webpage (
Questions that will likely go unanswered
“In Russia, Chabad leaders have established an alliance with the increasingly autocratic President, Vladimir Putin. Such alliances have their purposes, but not when they are used to deny recognition and funding to other Jewish groups, Orthodox as well as Reform.”
Is there any proof that Chabad has used this “alliance with the Russian government to exclude all other Jewish groups? your complaint is with the Russian government, not Chabad.
In regard to the second point, do you think denying someone a Bar Mitzva celebration for whatever reason will help them or anyone else in any way?
AICH BEIN A-SHLIACH
Shliach from the South,
Firstly by the name you used (i.e. ‘shliach from the south’) it seems that your trying to use your title ‘shliach’ to make your opinions more respected ‘I am a Shliach, I know what I am talking about’ this is not the first time I’ve seen such a title being used for posting comments.
I don’t mean to look like I have no respect for shluchim, chasidim that go on misarias nefesh for the Rebbe, every day their work is entirely for the Rebbe. Yes, I do have the proper respect. With that said: The fact you went on shluchus does not mean you know what your talking about! It does not mean you can learn for the life of yours.. Does not mean you know halacha, chassidus ETC. or anything else for that matter! I would love to take every point you wrote and tear it apart.. but time restrains, so you’ll have to live with me focusing on only one.
“While we may think of reform as very watered down Judaism we MAY NOT publicly state that”
Why not? Cause: “we are in essence being JUDGMENTAL. Chabad the world over preaches its NON-JUDGMENTAL atmosphere.”
That is completely ridicules! The Reform way is completely wrong, it goes against torah in every which way! If it is against the Torah it is wrong and there is nothing wrong with stating it! obviously I’m not printing publications or waving anti-reform flags, but stating that reform is not Judaism is the truth and there is nothing wrong with stating truth, people have an appreciation for Truth. Being swishy washy about it, doesn’t do any good, Chabad believes in halacha, and going against it, is wrong. It is not being judgmental to state that an organization that teaches that the Torah does not apply any longer since the world has changed, in other words an organization that teaches Kiferia, is Wrong! the fact that they use ideas from the torah doesn’t make them “watered down Judaism” you could say that modern orthodox is “watered down Judaism” You could say that the Judaism practiced in your ‘chabad’ center is watered down Judaism, from the way you write, and the way you use your ‘shliach’ title I could only imagine what kind of shliach you are, Huge chuip, the mechitza is border line with halacha,ETC. Afraid to be upfront! Bringing the torah DOWN to yidden (chas v’shalom) “watered down Judaism”
!!! not what the Rebbe wants!
The ability to speak truth, straight forward truth, in a proper manner Is the way of Chabad, the way of The Rebbe, it is by no means being judgmental! Hatzlach on your Shliuchus!
Peretz Rivkin
Perhaps Mr. Yoffe shourld first consider going by his jewish name (what is an Eric?!)..then he should reattempt voice of his concern about “Jewish minimalism”.
Milhouse
Yoffe isn’t demanding that Chabad should deny anyone a bar mitzvah, he’s demanding that before we do a bar mitzvah we first require at least as much from the kid as Reform does. If they require a year of Hebrew School, we should require at least that much. The problem is that with them the bar mitzvah is the last time they will see the kid in shul; so they try to make the most of it. With us the bar mitzvah is only the beginning, so when a parent comes and asks what he needs to do to make a bar mitzvah, a shliach will say “we’ll do it next week”, expecting that the kid will keep coming afterwards. Sometimes that works, but often it doesn’t, and the kid comes out takeh knowing less than he would had he gone to a year of Reform Hebrew school.
Just wondering
>I am deeply bothered however by comments made by certain people within Chabad…While we may think of reform as very watered down judaism we MAY NOT publicly state that. When we do write things like “Reform is this” “reformism doesnt know” or the like we are in essence being JUDGMENTAL. Chabad the world over preaches its NON-JUDGMENTAL atmosphere…I think bashing, admonishing and ridiculing Eric Yoffee strongly follows a path very different from Chabad principles!
I was just wondering whether you could find a precedent to the affect that this is “different from Chabad principals”.
You know, like a source. Not just boich sevaros.
No use to deny
>Is there any proof that Chabad has used this “alliance with the Russian government to exclude all other Jewish groups?
you should know better than to ask that…
yosef
chabad sufferd in russia for more then 300 years now we finaly have some power
and all the jewish org complain about it and any jewish boy as long as we know that he is jewish should not be denied a bar mitzvah/briss/jewish wedding
IRONY
ironic, isn’t it that out of all the iaaues within chabad he chose our minimalistic education……… i guess it is true what they say, that what you see wrong in others is what you need to change. i mean come on, reform is telling US that OUR education is minimal?
Shliach from the South
Do i really need bring a “source” to help you ‘believe’ Ridiculing and bashing is not something we generally practice? …umm… try this, “…V’Ahavta L’Reyacha Kamocha…” (Vayikra 19:18)
If we get angry and ‘attack’ back, then we are lowering ourselves to his level instead of maintaining the high road in this ‘battle’.
Resident
TO SHLIACH FROM THE SOUTH:
As a former Reform Jew and now a Chabadnick let me just to tell you how offended I am, that you, a Shliach, give this man, Eric Yoffie,WHO HATES YOU, any credit and praise whatsoever.
Eric Yoffie is a sly piece of work, and I have no problem as a BT saying it as I stand by my words and I feel bad for all BT’s who were pained by this man and his corrupt and abusive senior administrators. He, and Reform Rabbis who are inspired by his liberal teachings, has encouraged parents of BT’s to make life IMPOSSIBLE ON BT’s. He persuaded Condi Rice to force Israel turn Rafah crossing over to the PLO. He has also called on their being NO dialogue with anyone who votes Conservative….AT ALL. Finally, he does not believe that Jews like us should have our religious rights protected…simply we “Orthos” should become AMERICAN.
If you research his recent positions and read other articles you will see the the venom he spews and his saying how TERRIBLE Chabad is for their views.
Don’t be naive enough to think that just because he made some compliments in a JPOST article that he is your friend….any more than Arafat was a friend of Israel after he sent Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin a Rosh Hashannah greeting credit card in the fall of 1995.
Just like the previous Pope would reach out to the Jews for the benefit of the “Church” YOFFIE is only being nice to benefit HIS DARK AGENDA.
I grew up listening to his clergy people and his sumper camp staff in the 1990’s, under his direct leadership (he was a SENIOR Vice President then) talk HATE about ALL Shomer Shabbat people. I was trained on how to tell Orthodox people off, I learned “statistics” on Orthodox Jewish spousal abuse, and I learned how as a Reform Jew I need to do whatever I can to stay away from Orthodox Jews.even from simple conversation.
When I first became frum….the Reform movement treated my whole family who are not frum terribly under his direct leadership.
THIS IS A MAN whose mission is to make sure shluchim like you ARE PUT OUT OF BUSINESS. And guess what buddy, many Reform Jews who take the time to actually read his articles skim past the good stuff and LOOK FOR THE DIRT.
IN THIS CASE they will see that Chabad encourages Jewish laziness and that we are AUTOCRATS who turn Jews into the authorities.
Shliach of the South, if you dont get your act together, I assure you, trust me from personal experience on this one, Yoffie and his Religious Action Center political office, will be successful in closing you down…G-D forbid. Be careful against this man and his movement offices.
Another Shliach
The Frierdiker Rebbe said that as everything is bashert even an atheist has something to teach us.
In our context, yes, even a reform clergyman for all his faults has something to teach us. We are not flawless. We do not focus as much as we should on the chinuch of the kid – perhaps more on the check Dad will write out.
Not to say we should turn them away chas vesholom, but there’s really no reason why we shouldn’t be educating any potential Bar Mitzvah into some mainstream in advance of his big day.
To simply retort to such remarks doesn’t make you look better – it makes you look stupid.
No one is suggesting that we should imply endorsement of reform or anything of that naturem but there is a framework and context in which that should be done, and a knee jerk reaction to a raw nerve that he touched which may well be true is not that forum. Maybe the tea pot shouldn’t be calling the kettle black, but that doesn’t mean to say that the kettle is not black.
Responding as some did only, as stated, makes you look stupid – or worse still, guilty.
SHLIACH FROM THE SOUTH
TO RESIDENT:
I thank you and respect your comments however, with all due respect, I believe you completely missed my point.
If you read my comments thoroughly, you would will find that no where did i state the Yoffie is “our friend”. I believe exactly the opposite in fact. However, my point here has nothing to do with him being ‘friend-or-foe’. My point is of a higher level, as i stated in my small follow-up post. Chaassidus explains in many places that lowering yourself to petty argument is like letting idol-worship into your life. These arguments are the essence of letting our egos get the best of us.
(NOTE: If you wouldnt mind bringing me one example where Reform was succesful in closing down a Chabad Center, i would much appreciate it.)
Thank you to “ANOTHER SHLIACH” for his comments that compliment mine in getting this IMPORTANT point through. and as I previously stated “If we get angry and ‘attack’ back, then we are lowering ourselves to his level instead of maintaining the high road in this ‘battle’.
SHLIACH FROM THE SOUTH
to AICH BEIN A-SHLIACH :
While i would like to sit here and type about how much you have pointed out and taught me in your briliant post, I however CANNOT.
I CANNOT begin to tell you how HURT and BOTHERED I am by a person who does not even know me pointing out how much I DON’T KNOW. Here I am, my whole life, thinking that i “can learn for the life [of mine]” I thought – until now – that I “know halacha, chassidus ETC. or anything else for that matter!”
I CANNOT tell you how correct you are!…
… because you are WRONG in every aspect of your post!
I CANNOT tell you how smart you sound!…
…becasue that would be a LIE!
JUST ONE SMALL POINT:
Ask any shliach all over the world if they would ‘endorse’ – as you suggest – publicly announcing that Reform is not judaism. I believe the answer would be a resouding “NO”! To state that to people who are nuetral, will only have negative effect! People will automatically think that we hold that only we are true in Yiddishlkeit, and by and large, people do not tolerate that kind of “exclusiveness”! Our base as shluchim come’s from not-yet religious folks. By telling them that they are practicing – their entire life – something that is not Judaism, DOES NOT GET YOU OFF TO A GREAT START!
Israel
One thing every shliach out there should know, this Eric Joffe is a snake. If you don’t stomp him on his head he will turn around and bite you. Do not be fooled by his sweet words becaus e they are only designed to lull you into sleep and to let your guard down. This man is head of an organization whose only purpose is to undermine yiddishkeit. He has focused his sights on Chabad because he sees Chabad as a threat to his entire movement. So I say don’t let yourselves be sweet talked by this snake. A recent Jewish Press editorial also recognized this man for what he is “A Chazer Kosher Fissel”. V’Da”l
A Shliach
Just one comment to “another Shliach”
You wrote “ We do not focus as much as we should on the chinuch of the kid – perhaps more on the check Dad will write out.”
I would say Chas vsholom. How could you write/say that we are focusing more on the check from his dad then his Chinuch. We do not do Bar Mitzvah’s for a Jewish child without his commitment for a year in advance for his father’s check, we do it that what is our Shlichus is, to be mekarev Yidden lavihem shebashamayim, and to bring Moshiach, and if a Jew wants to be part of the Jewish community, we do so, no questions asked.
Yes, we need to be supported, but that is not ever the reason to do a Bar Mitzvah.
We are Shluhim, whose avoda is Torah and Mitzvos, not JUST to get checks etc.
Let us rememeber who we are and what our Avoda is.
Keep up the work
For years people have been talking about chabad, good and bad. Although it may be important to know what people are saying about us, the main point is we shouldn’t let it get us down. We should go from strength to strength in doing what our Rebbe wants from us, regardless of what peopke say. To all shluchim who posted, may you only increase in doing good, and may this article be a catalyst to propel you further on the right path.
fed up w/ misnagdiem
were was eric yoffie , in 1938-39 and after ,when they the jewish rats ,killing [w/ the goyim ]..chasideim
like flys, tell him now that we r doing the job, of kiruv with pride ,he should shut up
Not wondering anymore
>Do i really need bring a “source” to help you ‘believe’ Ridiculing and bashing is not something we generally practice? …umm… try this, “…V’Ahavta L’Reyacha Kamocha…” (Vayikra 19:18)
Did I challange you to explain to me why it might be stupid to write the responses you’re refering to?
I asked you to explain what exactly these ‘chabad principals’ are, and where I can find them.
On the side, I would find it interesting if you could find me a single pre-gimmel tammuz inside-chabad (or even outside) declaring that chabad is about being ‘non-judgemental’.
The chabad attitude was always to say – please excuse me – ‘yishakaini’. If you search the FR or the Rebbe’s sichos with a microscope you won’t find a solitary place where you will even find an allusion to your ‘chabad principals’.
If you read the Rebbe’s sichos you’ll see plenty of gotta-believe-it ‘ridiculing and bashing’. When the reform were making tzaros, the Rebbe SCREAMED about things exactly as he thought they were. It was the ‘shpitz’ shluchim who asked the Rebbe to STOP because they decided it was ‘hurting’ them.
When it came to Satmar the Rebbe never hesitated to call their leader the Shoteh Sheb’dor and to tell them where they belong.
And when the “bnei Teirah” of Eretz Yisroel started up, the Rebbe had no qualms saying what he thought about them and their leader (apikoros, Sitra Achara, etc.).
And believe it or not, the official chabad publication, Kfar Chabad, was for the first ten years of it’s life, dedicated to (gasp) ‘ridiculing and bashing’!
Where is the self-worth of someone who purports to be a shliach of the Rebbe? Would you say the things you said here to the Rebbe?
Resident
By the way.
If a misnagid or Aish Ha Torah rabbi were to write this I bet all of Chabad would be up in arms…even with the compliments.
Also to Shliach of the South, in 2001 Eric Yoffie was succesful in severly limiting the activities of Chabad of Ben Gurion Airport…it might not have shut him down, but came very close. It made the Jerusalem Post. The Reform took the guy to court.
In any event, I think when a nasty distigusting person like Yoffie, who has truly abused Jews like myself through his staff and made the life of BT that much more difficult, especially women, leading to break up of families, women being abandonded by parents…SHLUCHIM ESPECIALLY need to let BT’s like us know they still care and that they do not fall for this monster’s talk and take his “compliments” for what they are …political moves
ANOTHER SHLIACH…you are a lucky to never have had to learn in a Reform place. The year commitment is not what you think it is…dont say Chabad should require it….AND TRUST ME REFORM IS ALL ABOUT DAD’s CHECK
THERE IS NOTHING POSITIVE AT ALL TO LEARN FROM YOFFIE
Yoseph
All these people writing nasty things about Yoffie. Would the rebbe talk like that about a person? Personal attacks? The rebbe would send matzah every year to Alexander Schindler and had him at a farbrengen who was much more antogonistic to Chabad and promoted worse policies. When nessacery one has to disagree with LOVE if you want to have an impact on anyone or even to be mekayim mitzvs ahavas yisroel as a chosid.
Teach people the truth of Torah and they will understand that the other approaches are not true.
You have a chance of impacting them
C Jason Landau
Having spent some time with Chabad, both at their centers in the eastern USA, and part of Chanukah 1986 in Crown Heights, I find it difficult to “knock them” at all. These yidden have been open, warm and inviting, and with no agenda. G-d bless them all, even the “crazy Rebbe-as-Moshiach” folks !!!