21 Comments

• Chossid

  Has Chabad gone mad? A picture of a kid dressed in a very non-Chabad fashion!

  Do they really think that by showing a “modern” look they will get more respect?

  On the contrary, this will show our youth (who will inevitably see these publications) that it’s okay to dress like that.

  It has been my experience that you NEVER get more respect or interest from the non-frum by compromising. On the contrary, THEY ARE SICK OF THEIR FAKE WORLD AND ARE INTERESTED IN A WORLD WHERE THINGS ARE REAL AND SINCERE. This is not the real and sincere face of Chabad. Would Tomchei Tmimmim (in CH)accept a boy dressed like that?

  I wonder if they would have done this had the Rebbe been around to review this. I seriously doubt the Rebbe would have allowed this through.
  Disclaimer: I love Tzivos Hashem, I just disagree with some of their newer innovations.

• Chossid

  After posting my previous comment, I noticed one more serious issue. There seems to be a reference to the Movie “Happy Feet” which I’ve seen heavily advertised. This may just be a cute play on the movie’s title and have nothing to do with the actual movie, but are we sending a message that the movie culture has become part of an acceptable frum life?

• Go Tzivos Hashem!

  Exciting!

  What a beautiful cover!

  I especially like the voice on the video – where did we find him? He sounds like a pro…

• Offended

  Oh, the arrogance of youth. So the Torah was “then” and this piece of modernized flash is “now”? How unfortunate that the maker of this promo needs to put down the “old-fashioned” methods of those who have faithfully followed the Rebbe’s directives in bringing Torah to the olam.

• Shliach

  Dear Chossid:

  This newsletter is not made for Crown Heights. The positive impact that this newsletter has on the children that Shluchim deal with on a daily basis has been unbelievable. All the newsletters have been checked carefully to make sure that they fit within ALL the Horoos that the Rebbe has given on this issue to TH over the years.

  We the Shluchim applaud TH for all the new innovations that have helped us reach the children in our towns with the Rebbe’s message. Keep up the great work!

• TO Chosid

  Dear Mr. Chosid, I guess you were probably very distracted by the maamar you are probably in middle of learning so you didn’t have enough time to realize who the magazine is for. Think about it for a moment, is the magazine geared toward lubavitcher kids? If so, great! they now know when and how to make Brachos on the Lulav and Esrog and they know what Simchas Torah is all about. But wait, maybe it’s not for lubavitchers, maybe it’s for NON-Frum kids…. Whatever, you decide…

• MendelT

  I thought this publication was geared directly towards not yet frum children. If that’s the case, why are people getting all upset about the kid on the cover? He looks like a perfectly respectable and presentable Jewish boy! He might not be dressed according to OUR standards, but then again, this publication is not geared towards OUR kids – it specifically says so in the advertisement!

• I-ve read it!

  I can see why someone would think that the magazine is compromising on chassidish ideals in order to reach out after seeing this cover.
  But the truth is, I’ve read all the issues (I’m a Lubavitcher) and I realize that that is not what’s going on at all.
  On the contrary, every article in there brings a very Torahdik, non-watered-down concept in Torah and mitzvos for kids to learn/do. It’s not hiding anything.
  The only reason they probably have a not-Chabad-looking kid on the cover and inside is because the magazine is meant for kids who don’t relate to a very chassidish look. The magazine wants to give them the feeling that like on the boy on the cover – who they feel they can relate to, just because of the way he dresses – they can also have a lot of fun being frum.

  And the girl is always tznius and the boy always wears tzitzis and a yarmulkah very visibly.

  I give Tzivos Hashem a lot of credit. I hope everyone can find a non-judgmental place in their heart to give them a lot of encouragement. They really do try to do what the Rebbe wants.

• Copy TH Israels publications

  To Chosid,
  I echo your sentiments.
  It seems like Tzivos Hashem has lost it’s moral compass. From the outrageous auction/brochure this past winter, then this Kids magazine.
  It’s all the more surprising, knowing that the people running Tzivos Hashem are Chassidishe yungerleit.

  Tzivos Hashem is Eretz Yisroel put out every week a color brochure called Bamachane which is very professional yet rooted to it’s core beliefs.

• Proud to be Chabad!

  BH

  In answer to comment number 1:
  This magazine is geared for Chabad houses where kids happen to dress in the same fashion and Yes!!! When showing that piture they see themselves not the kid with black hat blowing a shofar. This would not be considered letting ones standard of yiddishkeit down that is showing them that it is their Judaism and the way they dress (with a yamuka by the way) they have to keep mitzvos etc….
  It all depends if you wish to look posotivly or otherwise…
  If “our youth” would be instilled with the pride of who we are and what we present they would not have issues with this… the misnagdim use these reasons so we should not gp on mivtzoim or help shluchim worldwide.
  Well done Tzivos Hashem for continueing to grow and build the next generation with a pride to be Yidden etc…
  Special thanks to the editor!

• Liana

  Such a handsome child and I love the ‘modern look’. It’s time that the magazine recognizes all of our people.

  We look forward to your magazine for the holidays!

• Offended

  If you are selling your magazine by saying that the Torah words carved into stone are “old” (I’m assuming that’s what you were trying to say) but your magazine is “new,” (as in better, more “with it”) then I have to be suspect of anything you are putting out. To think you are wiser and better than tradition because you are “with it” and everything that came before is nebach “old,” then forgive me but I think you run the risk of going down a misguided path.

• I-ll complain too

  There aren’t enough kosher animals available? We need to davka use a penguin? (In a nature article is one thing… on the cover?)

  Otherwise, fabulous work. And I don’t see a problem with the yarmulke or the chup. Completely within the bounds of tznius and halacha. Another bonus- it actually looks like they did a custom photo shoot, instead of doctoring a stock photo!

• teacher

  I think everyone needs to separate between Halacha and style. The message to these not-yet frum children, as pointed out, is that even they are connected to this. Of course, the children are doing Mitzvos and dressed properly, even if not as Lubavitchers. Since when have we ever taught people that they must wear black hats and kapotes to be frum?

• Sadie

  We are not part of the wider chabad community and my children are eagerly anticipating this next issue.
  I have no problem with my family reading this magazine – on the contrary, if they can learn more about their Jewish heritage – then so be it.

• perspective

  In all the old Moshiach Times covers by Nodel the boys had chups and wore clothing that did not necessarily reflect the standards we expect of unzer eigene. What mattered was that the boys all wore yarlmulkes & tzitzis, and the girls were dressed tzniusdik, and all those requirements are still upheld in the new magazines. Every single issue was checked & approved by the Rebbe before it was printed.
  We need to remember what the Rebbe’s standards are, and it isn’t necessary to embellish or be “more chassidish.”

• perspective II

  It’s also interesting that at the Lag B’omer parades on Eastern Parkway, Mickey Mouse, Richy Rich and Popeye, among other popular goyishe characters, were paraded at an event that was very much for Lubavitcher children as well – in front of the Rebbe.
  One can look at things with an attitude that the whole reason that “Happy Feet” was created, was in order for Jewish Children to learn what Simchas Torah is!

• Inspired

  Wow, Perspective II – fantastic comment!
  I love it!
  The Rebbe himself said the sole reason the concept of an army was created and put down on this earth, was in order that now, in this day and age, we would know how to make a program that would involve and excite children worldwide, about yiddishkeit. Namely: Tzivos Hashem!
  I guess the same goes for this, right?
  What a fantastic outlook on things: every single thing is here for US, to use and implement with Kedushoh!

• chana

  why isnt anything done for our children here in CH???????????? unless its a big money making thing. Tzivous Hashem used to have programs for OUR CH children but they did not bring in enough money so it was stopped. There was a pool but that didnt bring in enough money so it was closed.Hello there are plenty of children here for the summer with NOTHING to do???
  Y isnt Tziuous Hashem making some programs for them???????????? Do they have to be not relgious???

• Mrs. YW

  B“H

  Herein lies the problem. As ”Copy Israels TH….“ said,

  ”It’s all the more surprising, knowing that the people running Tzivos Hashem are Chassidishe yungerleit.“

  This is another case of FFBs confusing ”popular“ with ”right“ (not that BTs are immune from this!).

  But I have to observe that, even though Tzivos Hashem has maintained that KIDS Magazine ”isn’t for OUR kids,“ it is impossible to restrict access only to those who are NOT ”OUR“ kids!

  But I also see that Tzivos Hashem does NOT seem to be too worried about the following:

  *The first several issues of the KIDS Magazine were mailed to every household with a child in Tzivos Hashem. Yes, SEVERAL — NOT just once, but we were sent at least 3 of the first issues, right here in Crown Heights!

  *AND, KIDS Magazine was sent to all Tzivos Hashem members in Williamsburgh, Lakewood, Monsey, Boro Park, and Flatbush!!

  What a chillul Lubavitch! I wrote to several officials at Tzivos Hashem, to plead against the magazine, and (with one notable exception), my input entered the Bermuda Triangle of the bureaucracy, which seeks to protect itself, of course.

  ALSO, there are STACKS of the magazine, free-for-the-taking, at the museum, which, yes, ”OUR kids“ visit.

  Since when is a magazine a substitute for the real, sincere, face-to-face work of the Shluchim in Chabad Houses worldwide?

  I keep asking for even ONE example of even ONE child taking on even ONE mitzvah as a result of this KIDS Magazine. The publication has been out for about a year or more already, and no one has offered an answer to this question.

  Even more significant is that, NOW, for the first time in history, we, the parents of ”OUR kids,“ cannot just receive something that says ”Tzivos Hashem“ on it, and immediately hand it over to ”OUR kids“.

  I think the organization needs some new input on its Board, including some Ba’alei Teshuvah parents.

  L’havdil, the road to gehinnom is paved with ”good intentions”.

• mn

  to mrs yw

  the magazine that was sent to crown heights (and boro park, flatbush, etc), is the Moshiach Times, it has nothing to do with the kids magazine being discussed here.

  different content completely.

  (not that I see anything wrong with the kids magazine, but just to keep the facts straight).