Posted to Op-Ed on

What Would the Rebbe Say About Occupy Wall Street?

by Moishy Scheiner – Boulder Jewish News

Occupy Wall Street has become a powerful movement that is spreading around the globe. Its adherents claim they are outraged & feel hopelessly trapped by a cabal of bankers & corporations. This movement has been developing its own brand of philosophy & ethics.

Many Americans have split opinions and feelings over the issue. Some give full support to it, while others side with Occupy Wall Street ideology but not in their tactics. And there is a third group who are fully outraged that a large public group of citizens intends to challenge their philosophy of government and democracy.

So what does the Torah have to say about Occupy Wall Street?

In this week’s portion of Vayeirah, the Torah tells us of the story of how Abraham is sitting outside his tent in the boiling heat of the desert after he has just performed an excruciatingly painful circumcision at the age of 99. Although he should have been resting, he chose to sit in the heat and wait to search for any passerby or traveler that needed food or water. WHY?

Abraham recognized that life is useless if it is not used to do good in the world. He understood that every human being has a little spark of God inside of it that has infinite potential which, if left unused or unchanneled, is a great loss to humanity. Therefore he was sitting outside waiting to help whoever came along.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe spoke of the rebellion of the youth in the 60’s. The cultural & political authorities of that day viewed the Counter-culture as an attempt to combat the established system of governance, thus people were forced to take sides which often times broke up families.

The Rebbe explained, that rebellion stems from the fire of the soul which refuses to conform to the normal shallow perspective of society. This fire or energy constantly drives us to aim higher and reach for a better more Godly world. It is the voice of conscience that constantly compels us to seek for truth and place it in its right context in the world.

The challenge is to take that energy and channel it for good. Like Abraham, we must recognize that energy within us and use it towards our purpose and mission to spread G-dliness and therefore good on this earth. We must not conform to society and yet we must stand up for His morals and values regardless of the opinions of the society that encompasses us.

So do I agree with the Occupy Wall Street movement? That is not so important. But, do I believe it’s a powerful development? Whether it will produce any lasting good or just more unrest will yet be seen. Do I believe it’s a powerful development for the consciousness of change and good in the world? 100%!

Related Articles

23 Comments

  • A SHanda

    Who ever wrote this, do not bring in the Rebbe’s teachings to satisfy your liberal left leaning wackout ideas!

    These people are evil. You wouldn’t want them in your neighborhood, nor in front of your neighborhood. There are many Anti-Smittin. This was the same thugs that began with Kristlnacht. They are attacking the JEWISH GOLDMAN AND SACKS!

    Go Study Chitas and stop writting Jibberish!!!!

  • Menachem Mendel kosovo

    while this article shows a good understanding of the rebbe’s teaching we have to understand that the rebbe had a unique way of viewing things, meaning that we as followers cant equate situations from one to the other. would the rebbe approach this movement with love and try to gain positivity? Absolutely, however we cant say he would have the same reaction, thats part of why he is the rebbe and we are followers. However great article, I am glad someone has mentioned it

  • AA

    I’m not sure why the author felt the need to imagine “what the Rebbe would say.” It’s right there in Hayom Yom (24 Cheshvan):

    “In material matters one should always look at he whose situation is lower than one’s own, and thank the good G-d for His kindness to him.

    ”In spiritual matters one should always look at he who is higher than oneself, and plead with G-d to grant him the intelligence to learn from the other, and the ability and strength to rise higher.“

    So, simply put: those folks who are complaining about how ”the 1 percent have 99 percent of the wealth“ have it exactly backwards. Better that they should compare themselves to the 99% of humanity who have things much worse off, materially, than they do! Conversely, they should be aspiring to be part of the ”1 percent” in spiritual accomplishments.

  • teach about Moshiach

    A number of these people at these protests are Jewish. They are seeking a utopian world but not in a Jewish sense because they do not understand the concepts of moshiach and geula. People should go there and explain to them what will happen when moshiach comes and how to help bring moshiach,They are thisrsting for moshiach. Ad mosai?!

  • surprise

    not surprised anyone on this website has shown even one morsel of knowledge when it comes to politics…

  • moishe

    Occupy wall street speeches are reminiscent of the Hitler ym“sh era, these lowlifes of people have no jobs ”because of the Jews” so don’t come tell me what the Rebbe would or would not say, this is not rebellion it’s anarchy.

  • comment

    #3, I totally agree. Very tacky and a big mistake to say that he has any idea what the Rebbe would say.

  • nonsense

    its very unfortunate that people love writing articles about anything and everything under the sun and like to use the rebbe to make their ill informed point
    RABBI do you have any idea what this people stand for did you see their signs do you know who supports and fund them
    just look on the news listen to what they have to say

    they want the total destruction of the capitalist system that we have WHICH BY THE WAY THE REBBE CALLED MALCHUS SHEL CHESED and put in Communism socialism
    and many of them want the government to simply provide everything to them for free that are the facts so please do your homework next time

  • CHT

    I was there and saw these people. They consists of antisemits and Potz-yiden.

    There is a Russian saying that goes:
    A Potz a Yid huzhe Stahonovtza

  • Milhouse

    #6, they are not thirsting for Moshiach; on the contrary, they would oppose him and fight against him! Imagine telling them that a king will impose his rule on them, and execute thieves (if they are bnei noach). Their whole point is to overthrow the authority that protects people’s property and institutionalize theft! They’re also for avodo zoro (new age paganism and earth worship), giluy arayos and shfichas domim (abortion). So why would they be receptive to talk of Moshiach? Unless you lie to them and tell them Moshiach will impose “social justice”, i.e. steal from the rich.

  • Andrea Schonberger

    I would like to think that the Rebbe would say the Occupy Wall Streeters are COOL. After all, the Rebbe and his teachings were for the entire world, not just the top 1%.

  • Dovid

    Whenever someone comes and says “this is what the Rebbe would say” you should never trust them. This was a clear attempt by a Lubavitcher who supports the Occupy movement to give justification via the Rebbe.

  • Zev

    How do you know that the Rebbe would like this movement? Did the Rebber like Communism I ddon’t think so. This movement espouses ideaologies very related to communism and other movement which brough terrible suffering on us. I think that they should be stopped before it gets too vicious R”L

  • Hershel Moss, Crown Heights, Brooklyn

    Two weeks ago I went to Occupy Wall Street to find out for myself what is going on there. I spoke to people about my Jewish point-of-view and was very well-received.

    And Reb Moishe, you hit the nail on the head with your sensitive, optimistic post!

    I share it.

  • Lenin Redux

    The Rebbe would have been reminded of the riots that brought Lenin yemach shmo into power. Don’t fool yourselves. These are not misguided 60s style free love types. These are people who don’t want to bring themselves up, so they pull others down. They want to take wealth from those who work for it and distribute it to those of their own lazy, unproductive ilk.

    Your President is cut from the same cloth, and it is very frightening to see this from abroad.

  • Yaakov 770

    Those who Occupy Wall Street are against the Torah/the 7 Noahide laws. There is nothing positive to say about this movement.

  • Daniel Here

    Im fairly certain that the author does not learn Sichos or Maamarim. I dont think they are in touch with the Rebbes views on any matter.

  • Mitzvah Man

    If Barack Hussein Obama thinks OWS is positive, then surely the Rebbe thinks its bad. Its impossible they could share the same view on anything.

  • Talmud Brachot

    The gemara in Brachot tells us of the sages going to king David to ask him for help to make Parnasa, David tells them to help each other (take from the haves and give to the have not’s), the sages reply that this system can’t work, David agrees and instructs them to wage war (be aggressive and innovative to make money).

    That’s the Torah opinion of occupy wall street!

  • PEACE

    THEIR IS NO ANTISEMITISM AT OCCUPY WALL STREET, GO AND SEE FOR YOURSELF, I HAVE BEEN WITH THE MOVEMENT FOR A WHILE NOW, NOTHING BUT LOVE TO THE JEWS. WE HAD A GREAT SUKKAH UP THEIR AS WELL, IF THE REBBE IS HERE IM SURE HE WOULD HAVE CONSIDERED A VISIT!!! BTW THEIR WERE SHLIACHS THERE AS WELL- AND WELL RECEIVED WITH LOVE!