London – A wheelchair-bound rabbi’s son who is a self proclaimed “biker and punk rocker”, said he was “crushed” after he was turned away from a megillah reading at Lubavitch House in Stamford Hill on Saturday night.
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Roger Tann, 33, who goes by the name of Dr Gore, contacted Lubavitch on Friday to ask if they had a ramp for him to use, but after arriving 10 minutes late, he was informed by an unknown man that there was no ramp for him to use and that the megillah was almost finished.
Mr Tann, the son of the late Rabbi Leonard Tann, the former chief minister of Birmingham’s Orthodox community, believes that he was shunned because of his “alternative” appearance consisting of biker leathers, piercings and tattoos.
He said: “It’s the only shul near to me that I knew had a ramp to use. When I called, I didn’t mention that I’m a biker and wear a leather jacket. We do look a bit odd to the outside world.
“When I was told I couldn’t go in, I was crushed. It was obvious he said it because of the way I was dressed, because he had a look of disgust. I went home and spent my Purim locked in my house.”
Mr Tann, who describes himself as an “observant Orthodox Jew”, is a former horror magician and freak performer whose alter ego, Dr Gore, performed an act which included eating glass, piercing illusions and organ removal tricks.
His act made the semi-final of Britain’s Got Talent in 2007 but was ruled by Ofcom to be too violent for a family programme.
Two years later, he developed a neurological disorder and can now only move with the help of a zimmer frame or wheelchair.
“We all have an obligation to hear the megillah on Purim and I’m trying my best to be as observant as possible, so to be turned away because I look a bit freaky is more than judgmental.
“My main objective is to get the community at large to recognise the fact that they are pushing so many people away from the faith and they should adjust their attitudes.”
Bentzi Sudak, chief executive of Chabad Lubavitch UK, said: “I feel shocked and saddened that out of all the places for him to be treated this way, it was a Lubavitch institution.
“After looking into it we have found out it was someone from the outside who treated him that way.
“Nevertheless, it’s still upsetting and we are working to turn this into something positive by maintaining contact with him and finding some way of keeping him in the loop.
“Hopefully now this story will raise awareness.”
BSD
This doesn’t sound right. The first time I started going to shul as a youth, I went to Chabad, and I wore sandles, shorts and a tshirt on shabbos and they were extremly friendly and without their help I probably wouldn’t have ended up frum.
There has to be a misunderstanding or more to this story, Chabad doesn’t turn people away
either this guy had an agenda or some stranger turned him away.
if this was any shul BUT lubavitch i may believe it… but never heard of lubavitch, of all groups, turning anyone away
I don’t know what the true story was, but if that man came into my shul with a swastika on his shirt (look at the picture), I would throw him out myself. Lubavitch is the most tolerable Orthodox shul known to mankind. If he wasnt allowed in, he must have really done something to tick them off.
Maybe it was the swastika on his shirt (or am I imagining) or since he looks to jewish chabad didn’t want him they like goyshe looking goyim
HE IS WEARING A SWASTIKA ON HIS SHIRT!!
WHAT DOES HE EXPECT??
כתובת קעקע
For Lubavich this is a case of the exception that proves the rule, they don’t turn Jews away.
If that’s a swastika then its obvious, we don’t allow neo Nazis into shul to hear Megillah. How insensitive can you be?!
i doubt that was the reason they turned him away, because it could of easily been a purim costume, they didnt let him in because he was late which ruins the purpose of him hearing megillah and disturbs those who where on time.
There’s your answer. It WAS NOT a Lubavitcher. We don’t care…I’ve had more than one druggie at MY Seudas in my home, including someone who showed up high for my daughter’s Sheva Brachas. I should turn a Jew away??? No, he sat down, ate, & we watched him to make sure he didn’t drink & get ill. He was a nice young man.
Follow up (& this is all TRUE, he is a friend of my son in law) he is clean. He turned his life around & he is today married, a devoted husband & father, a Rabbi of a Shul & is loved by his congregants. Nobody knows except us. If you were to meet him you’d never know either. The piercings etc are all gone.
Believe or disbelieve. It’s true.
Look at the shirt a little more carefully before passing judgement. It’s an ANTI-nazi shirt. It has a red circle with a line through it which appears over the swastika. Similar to “No Smoking” signs.
nebech he needed more attention so he got it.
It’s strange to me that your average chabad house would turn down such people especially that they cater to any yid. it probably was some dum outsider who decited to take matters in his own hand.
I remember Rabbi Tann. A nice man. His son probably is too, despite what he looks like. But Lubavitch doesn’t discriminate. If they did, my Shluchim children wouldn’t have ANY people to work with. He’s blaming the wrong guys. Bentzi Sudak is a decent chap, (like father, like son there!) & he’ll make him welcome.
it’s a swastika CROSS-OUT, you chachmei Chelm !!!
it looks like a swastika with a line over it. like the no smoking sign.
I dont believe this story, I’ve seen a person pull up in a car on Shabbos and he was very warmly greeted by The Lubavitcher Rav of that shul, and btw, that person is now Shomer Shabbos.
I agree with the swastika bit…maybe even without the shirt, the chabad guy who denied himentry was scared honestly i’d be as well
idiods…look closely at his shirt. its against nazis. its a picture of a swastika crossed out.
Looks like the swastika has an international “NO” symbol in front of it. (Red circle with slash)
“observant Orthodox Jew”s don’t have tattoos.
If he was 10 minutes late and missed part of the megillah, he isn’t yotzeh anyways.
For those of you jumping to conclusions, there is a red circle with a red bar across and over the swastika. MEANING no to swastika, it is a little unorthodox.
Just as you jumped to conclusions, most likely the guy at the shul did the same.
He’s wearing a swastika on his shirt, WITH A SLASH THROUGH IT. (You know, like “no swastikas”). Think and look, people. Think and look.
It might have been because he was wearing a swastika on his shirt, and in that case he doesn’t belong around any jews or anybody for that matter until he removes that disgusting offensive symbol.
And yes even Chabad should deny such material into their institutions.
Yes, a shul must be accepting to everyone, but not anyone.
If a guy came to the shul with a swastika shirt, he should NOT be allowed in, because you must consider the OTHER CONGREGANTS and their feelings, worries, and comfort before you allow some loony to come in and upset people.
he’s wearing a swastiks with an X on, anyways it was purim almost anything passes so i don’t think his look should of been a factor but i think that maybe since megilla was insession they didn’t want him to make a rukuss in middle wich is still wrong they should of brought him in !!!
Story says he “was informed by an unknown man” he was late and couldn’t get in. If he called, I’m sure he could have found a reading. And the swatztika has a “no” line through it. Have a friend who says he saw a biker dude in a bar with what appeared to be black tzitzis. Turns out the biker dude went to Flatbush Yeshiva at one time…
the swastika is crossed out = anti swastika
it looks like he’s ready for purim all year round…he never should have been turned away….but a biker in a wheelchair…thats a little confusing. he must use the motorcycle with the sidecar ….ps. if he was wearing that swastika t-shirt, even if it has a red circle and slash through it, i wouldn’t let him into my shul..
guys, what r u talking about?!?!?! its a swastika w a X going through it. u guys r a disgrace, always jumping to judge negatively. disgusting sell outs
I also immediately noticed the swastika on his shirt, but none the less it is SURPRISING that he would be turned away by ‘Lubavitch’ of all people…
Makes sense what Rabbi Sudak said “After looking into it we have found out it was someone from the outside who treated him that way”…”Nevertheless, it’s still upsetting and we are working to turn this into something positive by maintaining contact with him and finding some way of keeping him in the loop.
GO CHABAD!!!!
He probably doesn’t believe a dead man is moshiach, so there was no place for him in chabad.
I cant believe they turned this guy away.
Almost as shocking as the guy wearing a kkk hood who was turned away from the NAACP conference….
As many other people pointed out, the swatztika is CROSSED OUT. Also, where in the picture do you see a tatoo????? And BTW: There are many Orthodox Jews that have tatoo’s, ever heard of a Chozer B’ Teshuva? There are also alot of other factors regarding what type of tatoo is assur, as not all are neccissarily assur.
lol, this idiot gave us all entertaiment for the day.
First, his shirt has a swastika with a red line through it, as in an anti-Nazi shirt. Next, how did they know it wasn’t a Purim costume. I can assure you my costume was more offensive!
# 10
The organization that is known worldwide to accept everyone is chabad,its undeniable
bentzi rocks!
It says that he came late to the laining, and they shut the doors after laining begins.
must be the reincarnation of Hillel.
A biker in a wheel chair – you got to be kidding. They way he looks it seems he has serious mental issues and is simply not credible. Chabad turns no one away even if they look that that.
First, his shirt has a swastika with a red line through it, as in an anti-Nazi shirt. Next, how did they know it wasn’t a Purim costume. I can assure you my costume was more offensive!
who turned him away a kid out side? and it sounds like they just told him that the megillah was almost over.he made up his own mind that it was because the way he was dress. this story is not chabad.
Isn’t anyone concerned that there were no handicapped accessible shuls in the area? So many shuls (and even some ocations where chabad houses have events) are not accessible.
I’m not so sure this pic was taken at the incident so don’t jump all over him. Anyway its a rachmanus on him and we need to be less judgmental .
I know this guy! He’s a proud Jew wearing a T-shirt that says Nazi Punks must die and he should be respected – whoever did that is gonna answer for it in shamayim
personally, i dont want to see swasticas in ANY FORM. x thru it or not. so dont come in my shul with a shirt like that. i woudl have been uncomfortable with the guy too. if he wants to be jewish. act like it. noone cares about the biker jacket.
1. Who says the picture on VIN is from Purim night?
2. Do people read the articles here? Or do they just comment without reading to make their point? – This person was not turned away by the Chabad Rabbi as it says in the story. He was turned away by someone else at the event.
3. Chabad welcomes everyone – If there is one thing people know about Chabad it’s exactly that.
Live and let live. Read the article and use your noodles before commenting.
May we all learn to love our fellow as a Jew should and may we merit Moshiach now!
Even if the guy was wearing a swastika with a line the fact is imagine a guy walking in to your Shul with that shirt asking to use the bathroom I don’t have a doubt in my mind that if you live in Brooklyn you wouldn’t have Shomrim there in 10 seconds
I became religious through Lubavitch, and they are SO ACCEPTING to all kinds of people, no matter how far they have gone. Our appearance does not matter to the. CHABAD CARES ABOUT EVERY JEW!
I OWE MY LIFE that I have now to CHABAD!