“My Daughter is Marrying a Chabadnik Parasite”

In a column in the Jewish Daily Forward called Bintel Blog, where Lisa Loeb answers letters from readers she received the following letter:

Dear Lisa,

My daughter, a beautiful, brilliant college graduate with a law degree and a good job is about to become engaged to a Chabadnik (who, by the way, has no job except for being what I call a lay “Jew for Moses” with Chabad).

It’s obvious that if she marries this parasite, she will become a second-class citizen and a baby factory, and I’ll never have any contact with my grandchildren, because, while we are proud Jews, we aren’t kosher and obviously don’t keep all the Shabbat commandments. (Don’t tell me I’m wrong. I’ve had other friends whose kids have drunk the Orthodox Kool Aid — this is what happens.)

Continued in the Extended Article.

Beyond the Checkpoint – Menorah Lighting at Abu Sneneh

It’s over. I knew it would end. When was the last time two and half weeks lasted forever? Memories and a few pictures – those will last – but the experience is behind me – left to be cherished and hopefully processed into
something productive.

I chose the timing my trip to Eretz Yisroel so I could participate in the Menorah lighting on top of the hill known as Abu Sneneh.

Op-Ed: The Forgotten Girls

A few months ago I stood by the Rebbe’s Ohel and cried from the depths of my heart. I cried tears of happiness, tears of fulfillment because I was on my way to fulfilling my life long dream. In but an hour I was about to embark on shlichus. I was about to undertake the great responsibility of going on Shlichus, of joining the elite group of the Rebbe’s army.

Yes, I was scared and yes, I was nervous. I was going a long way from home, to an isolated place, with no family support but I knew that I was taking the Rebbe with me. And I thought that the people who had spent years working for the Rebbe and had given him so much would help me along the way.

Continued in the Extended Article.