Crown Heights, NY – Rabbi Yisroel Belsky: A Uniter And An Honorary Lubavitcher

    189

    VIN News Editorial

    Crown Heights, NY – Much hay has been made of the recent imbroglio swirling around Torah Vodaath Rosh Yeshivah Rabbi Yisroel Belsky, shlita, never one to mince words.

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    He certainly didn’t pull any punches when it came responding in last week’s Mishpacha interview to a question regarding Chabad.

    Whether the question was or wasn’t loaded is a matter of opinion. It went thusly: “How should the chareidi community react to phenomena such as Chabad and the wide publicity it engenders with its Mashiach campaigns periodically splashed across the non-Jewish radio and TV Media?”

    At best, the question is legit: How indeed are frum Yidden to react to acheinu b’nei yisroel doing such seemingly bizarre and irresponsible things? Is this the Chabad we know and, yes, love? And who speaks for Chabad-Lubavitch?

    But it was Rav Belsky’s response that really raised Lubavitcher hackles. After fellow interviewees Rabbis Heinemann of Baltimore and Rabbi Miller of Toronto both proffered rather neutral responses, the senior OU posek had this to say:

    “I disagree. Chabad used to be about disseminating Chassidic teachings which the Baal HaTanya wrote, saying his divrei Torah, etc. In America, Chabad started out with shlichim [sic] going out and bringing the masses back to Judaism. These are goals which we share and do not contest.”

    “But present-day Chabad has nothing to do with the above. Present-day Chabad has become a personal cult centered on the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe. Everything they do, from beginning to end, revolves around this. They constantly project his image, talk about him and how great he was, how smart he was, how he was a better strategist than all the generals, that he was Mashiach, etc. This is the way people talk about a cult figure. There’s no room in Yiddishkeit for a personality cult in which an individual is deified and glorified. Whether he was great or wasn’t great is immaterial. There have been many great people in Judaism. The personality cult of glorifying an individual person, giving him unique titles, elevating the shape of the building he was active in, etc., has no place in Yiddishkeit.”

    It wasn’t long before the avalanche came rushing down. Hundreds of roiling missives continue to fill the heimishe blogosphere, particularly Lubavitcher sites. and here

    Poor publisher Eli Paley and his Mishpacha crew endured a hailstorm of letters, forcing a rare letter of regret e-mailed to every maddened Chabadnik. Even the venerable Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Weinreb, executive vice president of the OU, breathlessly emphasized his respect for Chabad and that Rav Belsky’s opinion did not speak for the Orthodox Union.

    Rav Belsky, for his part, continues to stand by his words, despite repeated calls for an apology.

    VIN has until now stood on the sidelines. But in response to mounting calls for a reaction by klal’s yisroel’s leading blog, we take the following position: Rav Belsky has done a mountain of good whether he realizes it or not (and we’re not sure he does).

    How can we say that? Consider:

    What has been the main thrust of the Lubavitcher response? One, a spirited defense of the legitimacy of the “cultish” Rebbe/Chosid relationship, both in Lubavitch in particular and in Chasidus in general. Two, an emphatic and unimpeachable assertion of worldwide Lubavitch’s peerless kiruv work, which orbits not around worshipping a human being but worshipping HaKadosh Baruch Hu through the popularization of Torah and Mitzvos. And finally, a clear and unmistakable divorce of the minute fanatical extreme within Lubavitch by the overwhelming mainstream of Lubavitch.

    VIN feels that it’s been a long time since anyone really understood Lubavitch. A thousand voices created an undecipherable cacophony, and things were just getting worse.

    Until Rav Belsky came along and opened his mouth.

    K’ish echod b’leiv echod, in one fell swoop, Chabad has retorted in one mighty voice, making the record clear about who and what it is and isn’t. Is this not a good thing?

    To Lubavitch, we say: Welcome back! We always knew you weren’t crazy. Thank you for speaking up finally. VIN record of admiring Chabad’s field work speaks for itself, and we’re not saying that to jump on the bandwagon. (To those tiny few who call themselves Lubavitchers and do insane things in the name of “Yemos HaMoshiach” like not fasting on 17 Tammuz or 9 Av, we say: Do you think that’s what the Rebbe wanted? Feh! We wouldn’t be defending Rav Belsky if you didn’t make us do so.)

    And to Rav Belsky, shlita, we say: Kol hakavod. You may not have intended such a hurricane, though a tremendously new-found respect for Chabad seems to be rapidly rising phoenix-like from the wreckage. But if you cleverly engineered this entire episode, you are a profoundly wise, conscientious and caring leader indeed.

    Because what has resulted is not sinas chinom and sinas Chabad, but quite the opposite. Now Yidden know what Chabad is, why it is not a cult after all, that there are normal people within Lubavitch—and that a tzadik’s last will and testament of dragging the subject of Moshiach Tzidkeinu out of the cold is a subject of respectable discussion at klal yisroel’s table, despite the chaos created by a few misguided fanatics.

    We believe this can ultimately only engender unity, and in that respect, Rav Belsky not only has not hurt Lubavitch, but has done it a historically momentous tovah that will carry forward for generations. We would even say that this has brought Moshiach, whoever he is, one step closer.

    We might even crown him an honorary Lubavitcher.


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    189 Comments
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    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Well written and mostly accurate!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I see nothing wrong with Rav Belsky’s statement, unfortunately he’s right, it’s just a PR issue of the OU organization in order the Chabad’skers shouldn’t ban the products bearing an OU kashrus certification.

    deepthinker
    deepthinker
    15 years ago

    When a great Torah teacher and Posek, like Rav Belsky, speaks his mind, good things happen!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    VIN NEWS THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS ARTICLE, YOU GOT IT RIGHT ON, BECAUSE OUT OF THE MILLIONS OF JEWS IN THE WORLD YOU FIGURED OUT LUBAVITCH AND ONLY YOU BECAUSE OF THE POWER OF THE BLOH KNOWS WHAT THE REAL LUBAVITCH IS & CAN SPEAK FOR THE ENTIRE LUBAVITCH!!

    AND BECAUSE YOUA LWAYS POST NICE ARTICLES ABOUT LUBVITCH AND BEACUSE YOU GREW UP LUBAVITCH AND WITH THE LOVE THAT LUBAVITCH OFFERS THATS HOW YOU CAN SPEAK AND TELL THE WORLD WHAT THE REAL LUBAVITCH IS, PERFECT VIN SHOWS ALOT ABOUT YOU AND YOUR SITE!!

    AMUST READ LETTER REGARDING REB B
    AMUST READ LETTER REGARDING REB B
    15 years ago

    The following was sent to Mishpacha Magazine

    B”H

    Rosh Chodesh Iyyar

    Dear Editor,

    As both a musmach of Yeshiva Torah Vodaas, and Rav and shliach of the Lubavitcher Rebbe ZT”L in West Bloomfield, Michigan, I take issue with the comments of Rabbi Yisroel Belsky concerning Chabad Lubavitch, which for the most part are unfortunate and inaccurate. Rabbi Belsky writes that “Chabad used to be about disseminating Chasidic teachings which the Baal HaTanya wrote… In America Chabad started out with the shluchim going out and bringing the masses back to Judaism… But present day Chabad has nothing to do with the above.”

    In point of fact, the number of shluchim going out today to far-flung communities throughout the entire world to bring the teachings of Torah and Chasidus to our brethren far exceeds the numbers of shluchim who went out years ago. One can reasonably argue that there has never been a Jewish leader who so inspired thousands of young families to leave the comforts of a frum kehillah and travel to cities and towns devoid of chinuch for their children, mikvahs for their wives, and basic kosher food. For Rabbi Belsky to state that “present day Chabad has nothing to do with the above” is a gross inaccuracy.

    In his critique of the veneration that Chabad Chasidim express towards the Rebbe, Rabbi Belsky writes “There is no room in Yiddishkeit for a personality cult in which an individual is deified and glorified.” Boruch Hashem I have been blessed with many children who have studied in Lubavitch Yeshivas throughout the world. Some are presently in positions of chinuch in the Chabad higher education system. I can categorically state that none of the Chabad Yeshivas in any way chas ve’shalom “deifies” the Rebbe. Rabbi Belsky’s statement is totally libelous and falls in the category of sheker and motzi shem ra. The issue of the role of a tzaddik has always been a point of contention between Chasidim and non-chasidim. A perusal of the works of such Chasidic luminaries as the Meor Ainayim, the Noam Elimelech, and the Tiferes Shlomo, to name just a few, underscores the central role that a Rebbe occupies in the life of a chasid. Ultimately we have come to respect these differences of opinions between the two communities. For Rabbi Belsky to reiterate this opposition to what he considers to be an improper chasid-Rebbe relationship only fuels the fires of sinas chinam.

    As a talmid of Torah Vodaas in the 60’s, I remember Rabbi Belsky as a respected Maggid shiur in the Yeshiva. Indeed, not too long ago I sat with him on a Bais Din in Detroit, and was truly impressed with his vast Torah knowledge. But especially during these days when Klal Yisroel in Eretz Yisroel is facing an existential threat, it is irresponsible to direct such inflammatory and divisive remarks against a world-wide kehilla of people most of whom are yereim and shleimim, and many of whom are on the front lines of spreading Torah and Yiddishkeit under the most difficult conditions.

    Chabad recognizes that there is a small (and unfortunately vociferous) group in our community which speaks irresponsibly about the issue of Moshiach. But there is no excuse for the unfortunate comments directed against the entire movement.

    It is because of my great respect for Rabbi Belsky that I find his words all the more painful. Rabbi Belsky and Mishpacha Magazine owe the world-wide Lubavitch community an apology.

    Sincerely,
    Elimelech Silberberg
    Sara Tugman Bais Chabad Torah Center
    West Bloomfield, Michigan

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I disagree with your premise, Lubavitch has been taken over by the crazies and the root of the problem is that for the most part the leaders did not speak out forcefully enough and what you are left with today, is a movement that is for the most part chutz l’machaneh, do they do great work, yes, but it is tarred with the same brush.

    From a Crown Heighters
    From a Crown Heighters
    15 years ago

    Thank you for such beautiful words, I just take offense to your praise of someone who said such a terrible thing about the entire chabad group. What you are doing to him is like praising a burglar because after you got robbed you decided to get the best security system and now you are more safe then ever.

    Lubav Fan
    Lubav Fan
    15 years ago

    Well Written & B’Loshon Sageh Naor.

    Hope Rabbi Belsky takes your stand and turns the tables to announce he really menat well.

    i say yechi
    i say yechi
    15 years ago

    most of the sophisticated, highly educated, smart, focused, PROFESSIONALS, that i know personally, say yechi. perhaps you should find out why.

    Chaim (Rubin)
    Chaim (Rubin)
    15 years ago

    A couple things …

    1) Thank you very much for the link.

    2) I literally started to tear when I read that post, thank you, you guys are true mentchnen in every single possible way.

    3) I’m inspired by the way you make it seem like R’ Belsky did this on purpose. You look for the ebst in everything and that is to be commended. I wish that were his actual intention though. It’s YOU who are turning his incendiary and ill informed words into a Kiddush Hashem. So Kol Hakovod to you. He didn’t say “the meshichists” are crazy cult followers. He said all chabad is a cult, and owes Chabad an apology.

    4) I really do hope people will get to know “modern day chabad” better, because things are Baruch Hashem very good. We still have our issues, but don’t we all? I am just afraid from what I see that is has become popular to bash chabad again. I hope with websites like Vos Iz Naeis, leading the charge for Ahavas Yisroel things will only be good for all Klal Yisroel.

    Keep on doing the great work that you do and being the best Jewish news website on the internet.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Great letter by R’ Silberberg, couldnt say it any better

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I don’t often agree with Vos Iz Neias’s personal editorials, but I find today’s post well written, well constructed and well intentioned. Bottom line? It’s US (Am Yisrael) against THEM (the Goyim who wish to destroy us).

    white socks
    white socks
    15 years ago

    hi I am Lubavitcher living in Crown Heights scared to open my mouth in public scared of the wacky nut cases. Its about time people start speaking up against the the Jews that are going off the derch. the sick wacky moshich sect in crown Heights will get violent against anyone that says the truth .The shame is that most chabad people have head screwed on but they don’t get attention

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Weinreb from the OU is a spineless weasel. If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen. R’ Belsky is great enough to be your Chief Rabbi, but when the hooligans can’t take the truth and come knocking on your door, you fold up like the cheap empty suit that you are.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I thaught Mishpacha was a neutral magzine?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    when every lubavitcher adds a Harachaman in middle of bentching to bless the rebbe, and every greeting is introduced with “yechi adonainu…” it speaks for itself, loudly and clearly where lubavitch stands. when infants have pictures of the rebbe hanging in their cribs and carriages, his deification is quite clear. like robin hood, their good deeds throughout the world do not justify their craziness.

    Baruch Gershom
    Baruch Gershom
    15 years ago

    Rav Aharon Feldman, shlita, has said pretty much the same thing. See http://moshiachtalk.tripod.com/feldman.pdf for the Hebrew text of his opinion.

    L
    L
    15 years ago

    Since we know that King Moshiach the Rebbe shlita controls everything, why are Lubavitchers criticizing Rav Belsky, maybe the Rebbe made him say what he did ????

    Martin Barton
    Martin Barton
    15 years ago

    Rav Belsky never minces words and said pretty much what every Yid outside of CHABAD sees from thier actions. CHVSLM a corelary just for an example. We know that there are muslims that are against the radicals of islam and thier behaivior yet they stay silent and therefore are culpable as a group. Lubavitch has done more good that bad for the Jewish people just ask any Yid living in a third world country, Asia, or in SmallTown USA the Shiluchim are Merisas Nefesh for the townsfolk Jews. However it is time for the good shepards to admantly distance themselves from the borderline balei avoida zorah meshichists. Unfortunatly it is hard to do. However we have been through this before in our history Seducees,Nazareens (Xtians). Haskalah,reform movement,Eidah.
    Nothing new under the sun

    Daniel
    Daniel
    15 years ago

    If the Rebbe isn’t held up as more than a human being, then why isn’t there a new Rebbe? A Lubavitch Chossid once told me that the Rebbe was so great, no other person could even come close to filling his shoes, and because he didn’t appoint a successor who he felt was worthy, therefore they can’t appoint a new Rebbe. It wouldn’t be even close to the previous Rebbe’s level, so they don’t do it.
    Is that the accepted reason? Can other Lubavitch chassidim weigh in on this?

    Anon
    Anon
    15 years ago

    Many frum yidden put pictures of tzadikim in cribs and on their walls, and today the gedolim worship that goes on is equal or greater then what Lubavitch does for the rebbe. Who wouldnt want the bracha of a tzadik, living or niftar. Do we not still pray to Rochel Imanu? Do we not still celebrate birthdays of Moshe Rabenu? Do we not buy magazines that plaster pictures of gedolim? In the last Oorah Chinese auction they were offering “brachas from a gadol” as a prize. Is that not making a mockery?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I am a Lubav Sheliach, and I must say That R’Belsky is unfortunately right on the money. Most of Lubavitch has turned into a cult, turning the Rebbi Z”L into a diety!
    I hate coming back to CH and seeing what unfortunately goes on in 770!
    There are many (hundreds) that are R”L being mispallel to the Rebbi!
    This has to stop and Klall Yisroel must focus on Lubavitch and throw out all Maschistin from Klall Yisroel or all Chabad Houses around the world will suffer!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    wienreb is not wrong except he should force belsky to resign

    i for one will not give the ou a dime and believe that belsky has caused more harm and for you to tell him kol hakavod for his comments because you imagine he meant well is very wrong he should have to pubklicly apologize or lose his job at the ou

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I come from a prominent Lubavitcher Family from Old Crown Heights. We (the sane ones) are afraid of our lives from the Mishagoim that believe that the Rebbi is R”L a G-D!

    Le”man Hashem, we are begging Klall Yisroel to shout on top of their lungs to expose whats going on! Our children are being robbed of their true and “emesdike” yiddishkeit!

    Please, Pleas put a stop to this maddnes!

    A hearty Yaser Koach to Rav Belsky for starting this!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Please go out and by the Mishpacha magazine this week to support them!

    Yankel
    Yankel
    15 years ago

    How can Rabbi Belsky be a Posek for the OU when a significant percentage of its Mashgichim and some of the regional directors of the Kashruth division are Lubavitchers. If they are beyond the norm of Yiddiksiet then how can he continue in his position.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    to anon 12:40. You are a shliach like I’m the dali lama ….

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    i love how all the anti semites – anti chabad – come out, its so funny to read

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I am a Lubavithcher chossid and my Grandfather was one of the heads of the Bais Rifka School System.

    I say thank you to Rav Belsky Shlita for saying what the vast majority us feel but are scared today.

    In the name of my Zeida a big YASHER KOHACH to the Rosh HaYeshiva of Torah Vodass

    to anaon 12:40 pm
    to anaon 12:40 pm
    15 years ago

    You are no Lubav Sheliach, you cant even spell Shliach, so please stop trying to make as if a chabad SHEliach is turning on chabad, why dont you write your real name so we can see who you are

    Holy Moe
    Holy Moe
    15 years ago

    to Anon 2:39

    Chas VeShalom no one prays TO Rochel Imenu.

    We ask her to pray for her children.

    We invoke her Zchus in our prayers.

    Praying TO her – chalila – is absolute Avoda Zara.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    i agree with alot of you

    I say yechi, The Rebbe is Moshiach, I am a Sheliach, and i hate Chabad lets all send $1000 to Mishpacha to support them, & Belsky is the best thing that happend to this generation, and hes got my vote for the next Lubav Rebbe!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    anon 12:39,no, normal frum yidden do NOT put picures of gedolim in their babies’ cribs, and no, we absolutely do NOT daven TO rochel imeinu or any other gadol, living or dead. when we daven at a kever we daven to HASHEM in the zchus of the tzaddik who is buried there. we do not celebrate the birthday of moshe rabbeinu. if anything, we make note of his yartzeit, which happens to also be his birthday.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    The Torah Vodass Dinner is honoring the neshoma of Rabbi Ahron Braun who had the forsight to chose Rav Belsky to be the successor To Rav Pam as the Rosh HaYesivah.Thank you Rabbi Braun.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Is Rav Belsky really not aware of the work of Chabad-Lubavitch around the world?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Does Rav Belsky not know of the Shiurei Torah given by Shluchim every day in Tanach, Halacha, Hashkafa, Daf Yomi, and more?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Once again this is about the money , greed, power.

    can any godol say anything without being politically correct. Years ago the gedolim said things that had to be said wether we liked it or not.

    Gedolim are here to help us and correct our ways according to the torah and not to be politically correct.

    the stupidity of the OU to care more about making people happy vs doing what is right is beyond anyones imagination.

    Who cares if the lubabitchers boycott OU products? Judiasm became a business and not a religion anymore. This is the sickeness initself and things are only getting sicker and sicker.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Does Rav Belsky not know this from his own Talmidim who rely on Chabad Shluchim for a place to stay for Shabbos, a Minyan, and Kosher food when they travel “on business”?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Rav Belsky didnt say the shluchim are no good as a matter of fact he said it is good.

    Sent to Mishpacha Editor
    Sent to Mishpacha Editor
    15 years ago

    Dear Editor,

    I always enjoyed your magazine. I thought it was insightful and informative. And it was nice to see a high quality English magazine geared towards the Chareidi Community.

    I must say that I am shocked that you published those shocking and dangerous comments by Rabbi Belsky.

    In these dark times that we live in, when there are modern day Hitlers and Hamans coming out of every crack, Anti- semetic crimes happening every day throughout the world and in our own Chareidi backyards (even in Eretz Yisroel with the Russian immigrants), The situation with Shleimus Haaretz and the Israeli Govt., Shuls and Kivrei Tzadikim being desecrated. So many people of all ages getting sick R”L, Immoral acts that remind us of the Dor HaMabul being spoken about openly in the media (even happening R”L in the “Chareidi world”) and legislators trying to legalize them. Unfortunately, this list can go on and on. Wouldn’t it make more sense for a magazine like yours to publish stories and articles that should bring us all closer instead of further apart?

    I can not ask you to answer for the statements made by Rabbi Belsky, who as a Rosh Yeshivah and Posek should be more careful with his words and actions and of course try to bring us all closer. But I can hold you responsible for the articles that are published in your Magazine.

    With heartfelt Prayers of AD MOSAI, may we be Zoche to the Geulah Shleima NOW!!

    deepthinker
    deepthinker
    15 years ago

    It is because of the crazy MeShichisTim that Rabbi Saul Deutsch, the “Liozner Rebbe,” left Crown Heights. He was the personal biographer of the Rebbe, and he couldn’t take the “idol Worship.”

    There are many fine ehrlich Lubavitcher Chassidim, and they are being tarred with the brush of the cult followers, wo are very vocal and visible.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I am a Lubavithcher chossid and my Grandfather was one of the heads of the Bais Rifka School System.

    I say thank you to Rav Belsky Shlita for saying what the vast majority us feel but are scared to say.

    In the name of my Zeida a big YASHER KOHACH to the Rosh HaYeshiva of Torah Vodass

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    to anon 1:01, Im glad you put your gemara kap to good use, because your ahavas yisroel sucks.

    When I write “to” I mean we daven to ask them to ask the aibeshter for help … the point still stands, you just chose to take my words and further your hatred of your fellow Jew. Give yourself a pat on the back.

    OH, and maybe you should start realizing what they do in lakewood is not the be all and end all of Judaism. There are other groups of Yidden and most of them DO hang picture of gedolim/tzadakim everywhere from the kitchen to the car to their falafal stands.

    to anon 1:13

    He said “modern day Chabad” that means everything Chabad.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Its pretty clear that there are people here pretending to be shluchim to make Chabad look bad. No Shliach would EVER write those comments.

    L
    L
    15 years ago

    Lubavitchers had a boycott of Satmar/Hisachdus products from years ago, they now want to stop eating OU products? Okay, if so, OU should release all the Lubavitchers that work for them. Let Lubavitchers eat only OK, we will see how far it gets them. Let them go try to find OK Vodka.

    brisker
    brisker
    15 years ago

    thank g-d for satmar

    brisker
    brisker
    15 years ago

    kiruv startts with yourself

    ex-lubavich
    ex-lubavich
    15 years ago

    thats what disgusted me with chabad

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I think it’s sad that a Magazine like the Mishpacha lowered their standards to allow machlokes and sinas Yisroel into their publication…

    misnaged
    misnaged
    15 years ago

    what did r`shach say