Posted to Videos on

Video: When the Rebbe Diffused My Tantrum

Torah Café

Rabbi Yizchok Schochet of London’s Mill Hill Synagogue talks about the weekly custom of his father, Rabbi Jacob Immanuel Schochet, to place his hands upon his head and bless him, and why this caused him to throw a tantrum in the Rebbe’s room as a little boy.


Watch on TorahCafé.com!

Related Articles

35 Comments

  • Hats off for R- Yitzchok Schochet

    Hats off to Rabbi Yitzchok! (That’s an expression of compliments and not to be taken literally to suggest that he remove his hat – his usual form of appearance being sans hat).

    I am so happy that he now identifies himself as a chosid, which must be difficult for him due to his position as a Mod-Ox Pulpit Rabbi, yet he is following the maxim of “When in Rome…”

  • LIke!!!!!!

    Inspiring, moving and hope filled message! Thank you Rabbi Shochet!

  • I SPY WITH MY EYE

    I was at a wedding on Wednesday night Vogel (Shochat grandson) and Weiner. Both Rabbi Shochat senior and junior were there and when they were leaving I saw Rabbi Immanual with his hand on his son’s head. It looked like a blessing, it also looked strange. After watching this I look back and think wow! It brings tears to my eyes.

  • NUMBER 4

    NUMBER 4

    Your sarcasm and likely jealosy reeks. You must be the same guy always popping up about his hat. Maybe because he gets asked by Lubavitch Youth Org, JLI, and Chabad Houses around the world, while you don’t. Maybe. But to say he is a mod. orth Rabbis is just plain stupid anymore than any other Chabad rabbi in a mainstream shul. Control your negative character. It is after all gimmel tammuz

  • Number 8

    It doesn’t matter what he has on his head – it’s what’s in his head that matters. That is the error of #4. But there is some legitimate confusion about his position within or without the official Lubavitch movement in the UK. Often he portrays himself as a “Shmulie Boteach wanna-be” with his media hunger and love of the microphone. The fiasco with him unofficially running for Chief Rabbi is a typical example of his modus operandi. Hot air balloons rise to the top even though they are simply filled with hot air – indeed, THAT is exactly why they rise to the top!

  • Tantrum

    Seems like someone is STILL having a tantrum. Clearly number 8 is written with hysterics in a desperate attempt for self defence. Question is, how do we deal with an adult tantrum??

  • Shmuley Boteach

    how come whenever someone has a beautiful post on here with something nice to say there is always someone else who has to post nasty.

    Number 4 is nasty. Number 8 is nasty. Number 9 is nasty. And all this around gimmel tammuz. And we wonder why Moshiach is not here? Look in the mirror.

  • temper

    I am willing to bet that number 9 is written by S. Boteach or one of his cronies. And number 10 same. No. 4 and 8 – just usual ch.info banter.

  • I don-t know about you

    I enjoyed the video very much. Not sure where all the backbiting comes from. Can’t we just enjoy some inspiration without the nonsense? How does a little speech become a whole conversation about Yitzchak Shochat. Clearly you have an issue with him otherwise wouldn’t feel the need to talk so much about him. Right SB, BS, GO et al

  • number 9

    number 9. must be written by an englishman who knows him and the english politics. says a lot

  • Nachliel Bamot

    BS“D
    23 years ago in Tammuz I think we were in 770 at Erev Shabbes. Kabbolas Shabbes was about to start.We were standing right in front of the Rebbe’s rug and one of my sons then 3 was moving about a bit. The Rebbe looked at him and with the sweetest smile lifted his finger to make a ”Shush” motion to him. I always think that the sweetened reprimand had its good effect on him for all time.

  • Controversy breads controversy

    The problem with Yitchok Schochet is that he is controversial.

    Even with the Lubavitch community he constantly creates controversy.

    Maybe that explains why whenever the spotlight shines on him, controversy comes up. I think he would make an excellent Rov in Crown Heights – a place that excels in controversy!

    No one is jealous of him – certainly not Boteach or any U.K. colleagues. If anything, they find him childish and very immature.

  • Bubba maysa

    The story should begin with “Once upon a time…”, like all other good bobba maysas.

    It takes gall to create a “new” Rebbe story that no one can confirm or deny and one that has no corroboration.

    This story is purported to have taken place four decades ago, yet no one ever heard of it till now…hummmm?

    The story also claims that the Rebbe publicly and openly acted contrary to Chabad minhagim…hummm?

    The Rebbe was real and there are multitudes of real stories about him. There is no need nor do we appreciate the making up stories about the Rebbe, no matter how “inspiring” the bubba maysa is.

    Keep the Rebbe real! Telling bubba maysas about him makes him a fictional character.

  • Fabrication

    I agree with 17 “Bubba maysa”.

    Pulpit rabbis often make up stories often about themselves to amuse or inspire their audience. It is a shame to use the Rebbe for entertainment or self promotion purposes. It seems that this generated all negative comments against this speaker because at some level everyone recognizes that it was a complete fabrication.

  • What is wrong with made up Rebbe stories

    What is wrong with made up Rebbe stories? Many of the stories about the Besht are made up and no one complains? As long as there is a valuable message and the listener gets inspired, go ahead and spin a good yarn and tell a tall tale.

  • What is it with rabbis and tantrums?

    http://www.crownheights.inf… R. Braun Throws Tantrum After Not Being Shown ‘Respect’; now we hear that R’ Shoichet threw a tantrum…what is it with these “rabbis” and their tantrums???

  • I

    I am sure you all would like to see the Rebbe again. so why do you fight? make peace have respect for each other and i am sure thet will see the Rebbe speedily again. the sooner we change for the better the quick we well have once again all good things.i am sure will make this happen sooner. may it be speddily in are times. amen kwiin yehi ratzon.

  • Y Z

    WHY DO YOU HAVE TO POST EVERY BIT OF GARBAGE (AND WORSE) THAT ANY PERSON WITH ACCESS TO A COMPUTER CAN POST. I”M QUITE POSITIVE THAT APART FROM THE NEGATIVE FEELINGS THAT ARE CREATED AMONGST ANASH (AND OUTSIDE AS WELL, V’DAL) THERE IS THE ISSUR OF LIFNEI IVEIR-FACILITATING ANOTHER TO DO AN AVEIRAH.
    PLEASE ON BEHALF OF COVOD LUBAVITCH, CENSOR ALL INAPPROPRIATE POSTS- USFAIKO LEHACHAMIR

  • true story?

    this story was told before gimmel tammuz lonmg before i heard it back in mem zayin in London by his own father and he’s not one to fabricate

  • I am an Englishman

    Actually I am from Chabad in London and we are quite proud of him here. Not sure where controversy in Chabad comes from except the same haters who post here

  • Nobody

    #17, you are ridiculous. There are numerous ways to collaborate the story.

    1. His age – was he 3 years old long enough ago to have been in Yechidus?

    2. Does his father bless the children every erev Shabbos? Seems like something people familiar with his family would know.

    3. No one has heard it until now because the Rebbe asked that it not be repeated. That keeps it under wraps at least until it is beyond the possibility of someone bringing it up with the Rebbe – for most people.

    4. By “no one has hear it until now” basically means you never heard of it.

    5. There is a Minhag Chabad to not give someone a blessing with that Nusach? This wasn’t an erev shabbos custom or something, this was just a one off blessing. Which, at least the yevarecha part, the Rebbe did on occasion publicly at a fabrengen. I think it is almost impossible to say there is a Minhag to *not* do something in that kind of context (R. Moshe Feinstein says the same thing in a tshuva in a different context).

  • Torahs Emes

    One of the logical proofs that Torah is emes and not simply written by Moshe is because if Moshe would be writing a book about himself, he would only include stories that show him in a favourable light. Since the Torah tells stories about Moshe that are “uncomplimentary” to him – that proves that it was dictated to him by Hashem.

    Stories told by chassidim that are self-promoting,raise credibility questions about their authenticity. This story, that the Rebbe gave a special and uncommon bracha to the storyteller, and such a brocha was NEVER given to ANYONE else in history of Chabad, is “suspect” to say the least!

    I am not accusing the storyteller of fabrication, like others did. Rather, I am explaining why so many take this story with a grain of salt and a dose of scepticism. Further, when someone makes up stories about the Rebbe, it raises doubts about true stories.

    Chassidic stories are the “feet” of chassidm. When the feet become unstabe, the chosid can fall! And that is no trivial matter.

  • He-s loose cannon

    #25,shluchim cringe each time he open his mouth to the media and sets off another of his loose cannons, including publicly attacking for no reason the good friend of Chabad, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, and multiple other examples. After he shoots off a few loose cannons, we scramble for damage control.

  • Somebody

    #27, you are ridiculous. It is foolish to say that when Yitzchok Schochet told this tale, he was “attacking” chassidim and knocking them off their feet. Only an unstable person would make such a foolish claim.

    #26, you are simply silly by saying, “it is almost impossible to say there is a Minhag to *not* do something”. If you look it our Sefer HaMinhogim, there are MANY things that it is our minhag NOT to do, e.g. to say V’shomru Friday night etc.
    #21, clearly you can’t read or comprehend very well. How do you compare the two? R’ Schochet was a THREE YEAR OLD INFANT in his story, while R’ Braun had a tantrum while being a member of the C.H. Bais Din!
    #20, are you for real? The Rebbe stressed how important minor details in stories are and encouraged to record stories accurately to insure their authenticity, while you dare suggest that we can “make up” stories about the Rebbeim??? That is insane!

    #11, 12, 13, you are trying to start one of those Shmulie vs Yitzchok debates, Shmulie Boteach has an axe to grind with Yitzchok Schochet. Let them have a fair debate without posting biting comments against each other.

  • Nobody

    #29, of course there are many things that are not our minhag to do. That is different that saying it violates a minhag to do something which is not the minhag (as opposed to doing it as establishing a different minhag). I quoted a source there, which is much better than your boich svoras.

  • You protest too much

    #26, you protest too much and bend backwards trying vainly to defend yourself. What damage you/he have done has been done. Now learn from this backlash for the future and don’t ever spin tall tales about the Rebbe. As #28 called you/him “a loose cannon” – think before you speak, especially in public: “Wise men be cautious with your words…” (and if wise men must be cautious, kal v’chomer, how much more so is this caution applicable to foolish men…).

  • YITZCHOK SCHOCHET, MILL HILL, UK

    While I would never trivialise myself to post or respond to negative posts on this site nevertheless since someone did draw my attention to what was being said I would like to state the following:

    I take no offence by words of animosity againist me personally. Loose canon or whatever else. I was raised with the principle of “sticks and stones,” etc. We each commit ourselves to doing our shlichus of the Rebbe and while there are always going to be those who like us and those who do not, that’s life.

    I do however take exception to the suggestion that I would make up a story of the Rebbe. I think that is offensive in the extreme as anyone who would dare drag the Rebbe into a made up story has a lot to account for. The mere fact that someone could even think and thereby accuse another of doing so, begs the question as to that individual’s own mindset and level of commitment to the Rebbe.

    Furthermore, the suggestion that the story (or any story of the Rebbe) is being used for self-promotion is also absurd, especially as it was said at a Gimmel Tammuz Farbrengen that I was invited to address at the Ohel, and with intent to bring out a strong message about how far the Rebbe would go to put paid to another’s tears. The story can be verified with my father zg“z, my various uncles, other family members and even members of mazkirus who have a long memory for these things. (As to the verification of age – the story took place in Tof Shin Chof Ches). Stories of the Rebbe are real. I have never known anyone to make one up or anyone else to challenge their validity. Doing so, is to challenge the validity of the Rebbe himself. That’s on your head.

    It’s a shame that a story and an event which B”H helped to inspire a lot of Bal Habatim on the night, is also use to breed hatred within the confines of this website. Whether those in charge of the site or the very posters themselves have what to account for is not my concern. What is, is the “v’es vohaiv basufa,” as per this week’s parsha. Here’s hoping, just after Gimmel Tammuz and before Shiva Asar, we can all get our heads out of the gutter and practice a little more ahavas Yisroel.

  • YITZCHOK SCHOCHET, MILL HILL UK

    I am the real Rabbi Yitzchok Schochet. The post before is a bogus impersonator.

  • YITZCHOK SCHOCHET, MILL HILL UK

    Maybe I have a split personality so there’s two of me each one unaware of the other. Then again maybe I’m the real Yitzchok Schochet and you two are both fakes.

  • Are you confused

    33 and 34, you must be confused and going through a crisis, may I suggest meds?