Pravda Ne'eman recently ran a caption contest, inviting readers to appropriately title a bizarre photograph, taken in an American Lubavitch girls' school. The picture depicted a red carpet, leading up to a tinfoil-wrapped ladder. A picture of the late Lubavitcher Rebbe adorned the wall just above the ladder.
Chaim Rubin, instead of submitting a caption, posted the following comment:
Wow, it's really nice to see such Ahavas Yisroel. You lose all credibility for the good work you do when you post something like this. I'm very disappointed with you. I expected better.When asked for a clarification of his objection, he wrote:
I guess you must really get kicks out of making fun of the Rebbe. This goes to show you that whatever issues guys like you have with Meshichisits is just a thinly veiled mask so you can attack Chabad in general.I would like to respond in full to Chaim's comments because I think it is typical, at least in my experience, of a very common Chabad mindset.
In his retort, Chaim differentiates between "Meshichists" and "Chabad in general." He implies that while it may be legitimate to "have issues" with the former group, attacks on the latter are unwarranted and indicative of a shameful lack of "Ahavas Yisroel." When faced with Chaim's "j'accuse!" I both agree and disagree.
You see, it all depends on the definition of terms. How does one define "Meshichist?" More importantly, how does one define "Chabad in general?" There are a few distinct possibilities:
1) Meshichists have a range of beliefs that include - the Rebbe is the physical embodiment of the Divine (atzmus u'mehus meluvash b'guf); the Rebbe is still alive and never really died; the Rebbe is omniscient and continues to hear and respond to the prayers of the Chabad faithful; the Rebbe is most certainly returning as the Messiah and this should be proclaimed loudly.
2) "Chabad in general" can mean a wide variety of things as well - a movement that venerates the Rebbe to the point of infallibility and can tolerate no criticism of their late Leader; a group of people who are absolutely certain (or at the very least, quite sure) that the Rebbe will return as the Messiah but are unwilling to publicize it for public relations or other reasons; a Hassidic movement that follows the customs of Chabad-Lubavitch while maintaining a strong connection to the works of their now-deceased leader; or extremely rarely, a Hassidic movement that recognizes the dangerous flaws inherent in their late leader's eschatology.
In my experience (which by the way, includes Chabad day schools, overnight camps and educational programs), most Meshichists believe that in addition to being the Messiah, the Rebbe is omniscient and continues to hear and respond to the prayers of his flock. At the same time, the "Chabad in general" view seems to treat the Rebbe as infallible and a shoe-in for the Messiahship. They may remain quiet about this last point due to certain P.R. sensitivities.
Now, if that is actually the case, then both groups are equally worthy of the very same mockery and criticism that I so freely dish out towards the Chareidi worldview that venerates its leaders to (nearly) the same extent. The beliefs held by "Chabad in general," which I believe to be most prevalent, are as silly and infantile as anything the Yated has ever printed.
So Chaim, please tell me: when you accuse me of attacking "Chabad in general," which Chabad are you referring to? Are you referencing reality, or are you constructing a a wishful strawman of a movement that does not exist on the streets of Crown Heights, Morristown, Detroit or Montreal?
J.D.
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