Counterpoint wrote in The New York Times several

months after the Rebbe’s death, that

At the same time, a distinguished
rabbi in the Traditionalist Orthodox
them, do not demonstrate his unaware-
ness of the passages in the Rambam
proves decisively and irrefutably how community contacted me to express his and Rashi, which he knows quite as
sympathetic I was to Lubavitch before longstanding hostility toward Lubavitch. well as Rabbi Posner does.

Debating Messianism it turned into a movement dominated

by false messianism (or, to put it more
accurately, before I realized this). He
This was my first direct, personal experi-
ence of the scathing, sweeping, almost
breathtaking denunciation of the move-
And so we move to the issues that
matter. To say that they matter is to
understate their significance grievously.
cites precisely one example of my ment in some quarters. The Rebbe, I was I am not sure that words can capture
allegedly oft-demonstrated prejudice, told, had regularly visited his father-in- how much they matter.
and the credibility of the accusation as law’s grave so that it should already be Rabbi Posner speaks of “deifiers” of
a whole is well illustrated by the quali- established as a shrine when he himself the Rebbe. He explains that they rest

I n his article “The Splintering of

Chabad” (fall 2002), Rabbi Zalman
Posner mentions those who quote
Rabbi Posner performed an impor-
tant service by explaining the theologi-
cal errors and hyper-literalness that
Rabbi Posner writes that, “normative
Chassidim, who, basing their ideas on
what the Rebbe had said, do not iden-
tify Mashiach.”
ty of this example.
In my book, I quote an unnamed
distinguished rabbi who told me that
the Rebbe regularly visited his father-
in-law’s grave so that when the Rebbe
would be buried nearby. He had his fol-
lowers construct and display giant meno-
rahs of an atypical sort, insisting on the
view that the spokes of the original
menorah were straight rather than
their case on a misunderstanding of
the Rebbe’s assertion that a rebbe of
the highest order is the Essence and
Being—Atzmut uMahut—placed in a
body, and he goes on to set forth his
opinions of Rishonim to suit their lead too many to deify the Lubavitcher The truth is that there is general died, it would be a shrine. This rabbi curved, “because every new religion understanding of this formula. In
purposes. Unfortunately, he engages in Rebbe, zt”l. It is critical that leaders consensus in Lubavitch that this is the also said that the Rebbe insisted on the needs a symbol.” I did not quite know Rabbi Posner’s view, it means that such
such a practice when discussing the with impeccable Chabad credentials last generation of exile and therefore use of atypical menorahs because every how to react and eventually came to a rebbe, though he is not God (or, in
menorah. such as he speak out on the subject to the Rebbe, this generation’s potential new religion needs a symbol. This realize that for all his sympathy to my another formulation, not “synony-
Though the Rambam and Rashi those both inside and outside of Mashiach, is the true Mashiach. As a report, says Rabbi Posner, shows that I argument, this rabbi saw nothing signif- mous with God”), he is “one with
agree that the menorah had straight Lubavitch. Slowly, the relative silence Lubavitcher, I know of no more than am aware neither of the fact that Rashi icantly new in the latest developments. God;” he has so nullified his own
arms, Rabbi Posner forgot to mention is being broken by courageous scholars four otherwise mainstream Luba- speaks of Caleb’s prayer at the grave of To him, Chabad had long been a species essence that there is no separation
that they are alone in this view. like Rabbi Posner. vitchers who do not feel that the Abraham nor of the sources in the of religion clearly outside the boundaries “between him and Him,” and his
Moreover, all depictions of the meno- Rabbi Posner, however, writes, “For Rebbe is the final redeemer. I am con- Rambam and Rashi that describe the of Judaism (p. 62). physical body “did not conceal God
rah from the time of the Beit the past half century, many Chabad fident that Rabbi Posner could not spokes of the menorah as angled rather In significant measure, this paragraph within man.”
Hamikdash—including an eyewitness Chassidim felt that were Mashiach to name enough such Lubavitchers to than curved. “How seriously can the was intended to illustrate my dawning The precise distinction between
account by Josephus, replicas found in be a person familiar to us all…the justify the term “normative.” reader take Berger after gaffes like recognition that I could not expect being synonymous with God and one
the Galil, carvings found in archaeo- best candidate would be the Rebbe.” Melech Jaffe these? Maybe Berger and his ‘distin- meaningful, public support even from with God is by no means self-evident.
logical digs in the Old City as well as This comment is critical in under- St. Paul, Minnesota guished rabbi’ should learn more people whose criticisms of Lubavitch If there is no separation between him
the Arch of Titus—show the menorah standing how Mashichism came to be. Chumash with Rashi.” were far more hostile and of much and Him, if he is one with Him, is
with curved arms. While many Lubavitchers agree with In his article, Rabbi Zalman Posner This is the third time that published longer standing than mine. In any that not the same as saying that he is
Rabbi Posner quotes a Rashi in Rabbi Posner that the Rebbe was addresses two major issues—the deifi- critiques by Lubavitch rabbis have event, it is self-evidently a report of part of Him? Does this raise questions
Sanhedrin to defend those who state merely the best candidate to be cation of the Lubavitcher Rebbe and cited this paragraph of the book as an assertions that I regarded as remarkable about the unity of Him of the sort
that Mashiach may return from the Mashiach, many others would say that the affirmation of his Messiahship— expression of my own views about the examples of breathtaking hostility. In that Jews have traditionally raised with
dead. However, Jewish tradition does he was the only candidate. They and one minor one—the “often…bla- Rebbe. In the previous instances I have recounting this conversation to several respect to the Christian trinity? How-
not come from picking individual would claim that as the scion of the tant” prejudice that accounts for my responded by quoting the few sen- people over the years, I noted that this ever one responds to these questions, I
opinions. Rather, it has always been a Chabad legacy, which represents the “quoting and accepting [my emphasis] tences without comment. Here I will rabbi, who is a well-known talmid hope that Rabbi Posner’s presentation
matter of what has been deemed only correct interpretation of the mindless criticism” of Lubavitch. preface the quotation by noting that chacham, had made three comments of what he sees as the standard beliefs
acceptable over millennia of Jewish Divine truth known as Chassidut, the Before turning to the subjects that substantial portions of the book, for about Lubavitch, only one of which I of his movement will help to lower the
learning and debate. (After all, there Rebbe was the culmination of all the really matter, let me comment on the reasons explained in the introduction, considered correct (that the military reader’s instinctive resistance to the
is even one opinion in the Gemara great souls who preceded him. He minor allegation, not only as a point are written in the form of a memoir terminology encouraged by the Rebbe assertion I shall soon make about the
that Mashiach will not be an individ- was the incontrovertible nasi hador, of personal privilege but as a symptom detailing my own education over the was intended to fulfill the Maimo- extent of avodah zarah within the
ual, which is certainly not the norma- leader of the generation. How could of the distortions that even so sober past years regarding both the Lubavitch nidean criterion that the Messiah would Lubavitch community.
tive view.) A solitary opinion notwith- anyone else be Mashiach? and ethical a Lubavitcher Chassid as movement and its critics. At one point fight the wars of God). In the para- In my book, I formulated this point
standing, a resurrected Mashiach has Both Rabbi Posner and Dr. Berger Rabbi Posner is capable of perpetrating in the narrative, I describe reactions to graph under discussion, I did not as follows: The language of Chabad
never been part of Jewish tradition. have served the Jewish community well when he sees his movement under my exchange in Jewish Action with the record the assertion I believed to be theology “begins at the precipice of avo-
Nor has a straight-armed Menorah. by publicly disputing the claims of attack. Like all my Lubavitch critics, critics of my first article on this subject. correct precisely because I wanted to dah zarah, so that the tiniest step
Rabbi Posner therefore cannot deny those who wish to distort our precious he completely ignores a quotation in [See “JBU: The New Messianism,” fall illustrate a stunning level of hostility; I toward literalism hurls the believer into
that the straight-armed menorah has tradition. I only hope that more lead- my book* (p. 8) from a review that I and winter 1995.] First I detail “the had already recorded the assertion earli- the abyss” (p. 103). A key question
always been exclusive to Lubavitch ers follow their lead and teach the con- most gratifying reaction,” expressed er, also in the name of a “distinguished then is whether or not a significant
and has become a symbol of the fused masses the truth about one of the both orally and in writing by Professor rabbi” (p. 9), indicating that I was per- number of Lubavitch Chassidim have
movement. thirteen principles of our holy faith. * The Rebbe, the Messiah, and the Isadore Twersky. And then comes the suaded of its likely validity. I should leaped into that abyss. Rabbi Posner
Nachum Lamm Gil Student Scandal of Orthodox Indifference following paragraph, which I quote probably conclude with the obvious: asserts that “the deifiers were sharply
Flushing, New York Brooklyn, New York (Oxford, 2001). here in its entirety: this rabbi’s views, however one evaluates condemned by Lubavitch rabbanim and
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their words repudiated…. [They] are even in an essentially monotheistic the rabbi of the synagogue by asserting messiahship “involves significant num- heaven next to the main headquarters dah zarah is so indigestible that
small in number and enjoy little framework, is no less avodah zarah than that the Rebbe is without limits. I bers within the Chabad community,” of his movement before the two build- observers will do almost anything to
respect. They act without the support the essentially monotheistic faith known received a message from a Canadian he describes those who “do not identi- ings move to Jerusalem. And after all avoid it. First they will say that only a
or approval of any individuals of stature as Christianity. Jew reporting that he discontinued his fy Mashiach” as the “normative” [his that, the Messiah will die and be small group believes the Rebbe is the
within the Lubavitch community.” Some influential Lubavitch apolo- attendance at a mainstream Lubavitch quotation marks] group. Admirably, buried in an unredeemed world. To a Messiah. Should they be persuaded of
In order to evaluate this assertion, we gists, citing occasional remarks in synagogue after an announcement was he does not directly mislead us by say- Jew loyal to the messianic faith of the falsity of this patently absurd
must know what Rabbi Posner means Chassidic writings that virtually no made before chazarat hashatz at a Sun- ing that the “normative” group is the Israel, this should be unthinkable. In proposition, they move to the position
by “deifiers.” If he means those who one outside Lubavitch takes literally, day morning minyan attended both by majority, though this is perhaps short, even if the Messiah could come that this belief is not so terrible after
use a liturgical formula calling the argue that the assertions in the previ- cheder children and neighborhood implied. There is no question, as I from the dead, he could not be a man all, thereby undermining the messianic
Rebbe “our Creator” and the like, then ous paragraph do not constitute a the- adults, that they should concentrate demonstrate in the book, that the who promised the Redemption in his faith of Judaism. When the discussion
he is quite correct. In many cases, how- ology of avodah zarah. Anyone who on the Rebbe. Someone else informed Messianists are, in fact, the dominant generation and then died with the shifts to avodah zarah, resistance to
ever, Lubavitch Chassidim refrain from agrees with such apologists under- me that he had broken off relations element in the movement. Rabbi promise unfulfilled. To put the matter recognizing the truth about the theol-
calling the Rebbe “our Creator” not mines Judaism at its core. Anyone who with a Lubavitch rabbi who, he said, is Posner goes on to say that belief in the bluntly, even if the Messiah could ogy held by central elements in the
because they deny his Divinity but for disagrees with them must recognize more learned than any of his own possibility of a messiah from the dead come from the dead, he could not be movement is even more intense. Worse
other, less fundamental reasons. My that avodah zarah is rampant in roshei yeshivah, when the rabbi told is established by one of Rashi’s inter- the Lubavitcher Rebbe. yet, some who come to recognize the
best assessment is that they consider Lubavitch, that it has affected the cen- him that the Rebbe is omnipresent. pretations of the Messianists’ favorite Second—and here I reproduce a widespread embrace of this theology in
the flat assertion that the Rebbe is God tral institutions of the movement in An admittedly strange-looking indi- passage (in Sanhedrin 98b), and so paragraph that I wrote in response to Lubavitch begin to say that even such
to imply at least one of the following Crown Heights, Jerusalem, Kfar vidual wearing a yechi yarmulke Lubavitchers believe that there is no another Lubavitch critic—the book beliefs are not so terrible. The unshak-
false beliefs: 1. The Rebbe is a deity Chabad, Safed and elsewhere. Thus, it walked into my synagogue for a week- heresy involved in their position. argues not only that a messianic mis- able article of faith is that the majority
unto himself rather than a manifesta- is a profound error to grant the pre- day Minchah, took out a color photo I cannot reiterate the entire argu- sion interrupted by death is alien to of Lubavitch Chassidim must be good
tion of the one true God. 2. God does sumption that a Lubavitch Chassid, of the Rebbe, wearing tallit and ment of the book here, and so I will Judaism. It further argues that any Jews. Everything—even Judaism
not extend beyond the Rebbe. 3. The whose views have not been deter- tefillin, and placed it alongside his be ruthlessly brief. I will not even purported descendant of Dovid who is itself—must yield to that faith.
Rebbe was intrinsically Divine from mined, is free of avodah zarah. The open siddur as he recited Shemoneh address the key passage in the put forth as a messianic candidate and David Berger
the moment he entered the world. assigning of such a chezkat kashrut, or Esreh. After I spoke during Jewish Rambam that decisively rules out the then dies can surely not be identified Broeklundian Professor of
Notwithstanding their denial of such presumption of acceptability, is Book Week in London in early March, Messianist position. I will simply sum- with confidence as the Messiah, which History, Brooklyn College and
beliefs and their consequent avoidance responsible for the likely use of non- I was approached by a sincere marize the two key points that I made. is, of course, precisely what the the Graduate School
of the crude declaration that the Rebbe kosher meat, wine, tefillin, mezuzot, Lubavitcher Chassid, appearing to be First, the God of Judaism does not Messianists do. To do this is to abolish City University of New York
is God, many of these Chassidim affirm sifrei Torah and even—God help us— in his late teens or early twenties, who send Mashiach ben Dovid to announce Judaism’s criteria for the firm identifi- Flushing, New York
a series of propositions that make them gittin throughout the world. said that he had asked his posek if it is the Redemption and then to die in an cation of such a figure. To put the
unequivocal adherents of a theology of Even after eight years of exposure to acceptable for him to say, “Rebbe, help unredeemed world. No Jewish source matter in the language of the beit Rabbi Posner responds
avodah zarah. these horrific texts, I trembled as I me.” The answer was yes. He asked legitimates such a scenario, and many midrash, it is to abolish the gedarim In response to Mr. Lamm’s com-
My book provides chapter and verse wrote the previous sentence, and I what I thought. Like a good Jew, I vigorously rule it out in contexts that (the defining parameters) of one of the ments, whether the menorah branches
documenting the following assertions know full well that even people who responded with a question: “Do you define the contours of the Jewish reli- fundamentals of the faith. I do not are curved or angled is not a halachic
culled from works published by the have no doubt that the propositions mean, ‘Help me by asking God to gion itself. Yet almost all Lubavitch know whether one who abolishes the matter, and therefore we need not
mainstream organs of Chabad, pro- listed above constitute avodah zarah help me’ or do you mean, ‘Help me non-Messianists, apparently including gedarim of a fundamental belief but negate even minority opinions. Since
claimed by rabbis in the major yeshivot will find it very difficult to digest. on your own’?” The answer was the Rabbi Posner, would have us believe affirms the belief itself is technically a there are no halachic consequences,
of the movement and written by impor- Before dismissing it, however, any rea- latter. I then asked, “Do you believe that Judaism allows for this possibility, heretic. I do know that to recognize aside from Rashi and the Rambam,
tant lay intellectuals. Righteous people sonably educated Jew, and surely any that the Rebbe’s entire metzius is so that one who affirms that it has such a person as an Orthodox rabbi, few, if any, Rishonim even addressed
on the level of Moses and the Rebbe rabbi asked to rule on the matter, is Elokus?” The answer was yes. Thus, a happened has not fundamentally vio- to appoint him to a rabbinic court, to the issue. Moreover, Rav Shach agreed
are, in the Rebbe’s formulation, the absolutely obligated to read chapters 8- non-extremist young Chassid in a city lated the boundaries of the messianic hire him as a principal of a yeshivah or with the Rebbe in regard to the meno-
Essence and Being placed in a body. 10 and Appendixes II and III of my considered moderate on this issue is faith. Thus, according to them, God as a teacher of religious studies—to rah’s appearance. ArtScroll’s Sapirstein
Their entire being is Divinity. For this book and articulate to himself in clear essentially praying to a Divine Rebbe. may send the true Messiah to the do, in short, what much of mainstream Edition of Rashi (p. 339, 341) also
reason the Rebbe is omniscient, and convincing fashion why these terri- The moment we say that such beliefs world to accept a document from a Orthodoxy is now doing—is to betray depicts a menorah with angled branch-
omnipotent, incapable of sin and entire- ble conclusions do not follow. Because and actions are acceptable, we erase group of his followers declaring him to the Jewish religion. es. Thus, it is hardly a Lubavitch issue.
ly without limits. He is an ish haElokim most Orthodox Jews are indifferent to the boundary between Judaism and be the Messiah and to declare that this I devoted a chapter of the book to Furthermore, there is no evidence
in the sense of man-God, not merely “theology,” our religion is imperiled Christianity not only with regard to is definitely the generation of explaining what I see as the scandal of that replicas from ancient times ever
man of God. When you speak to him beyond the wildest imaginings of peo- the messianic faith but also with Redemption, that the leader of his Orthodox inaction, and I elaborated a intended to duplicate the menorah of
you speak to God. It is permissible to ple who treat Lubavitch deviations as regard to our essential conception of movement is the Messiah of the gener- bit in the May issue of Modern Judaism. the Beit Hamikdash. The menorah
bow to him in worship precisely because the subject of casual humor. God. All that is left of our religion is ation, that there is a prophet in this One of the most significant impedi- depicted in the Arch of Titus was cer-
his entire being is Divinity. He is I should add that several experiences mitzvat anashim melumadah (the rote generation, that the avodat haberurim ments to action is clearly the deeply tainly not that of the Beit Hamikdash,
immortal in principle because only a and reports that followed the comple- practice of ritual). (the invisible, cosmic redemptive rooted instinct that people who look which stood between six and eight feet
limited entity can die, and so even his tion of the book have made me all the Finally, we turn our attention to the process) is complete, that the Messiah and act like Lubavitch Chassidim must high and was not easily carried. It is
body must continue to exist. I devoted more concerned about this issue. A belief that the deceased Rebbe is is already here and all that is necessary be fully Orthodox Jews. The notion possible that the menorah in the sanctu-
considerable effort in the book to distinguished Lubavitch figure spoke Mashiach ben Dovid. Although Rabbi is to greet him, and that the Third that large numbers of them could be ary of the Beit Hamikdash had to have
demonstrate that this sort of theology, in my neighborhood and scandalized Posner agrees that belief in the Rebbe’s Beit Hamikdash will descend from heretics or even practitioners of avo- angled branches while the menorah
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in its courtyard (mentioned in Al Jews, not only Lubavitchers. Reb Chaim Volozhin, a leading student however, the militaristic language is an suggest that this is how the Chassid asked, “Do you mean help me by ask-
Hanisim) did not. Mr. Jaffe notes my contention that of the Vilna Gaon, Reb Itzele, Reb echo of the future conquests of might have understood Dr. Berger’s ing God to help or…help me on your
Regarding whether or not Mashiach normative Chassidim “basing their Chaim Ozer and the Chafetz Chaim Mashiach. Dr. Berger is applying his own question: “Is the Rebbe subject to ego own?” The answer was the latter.
can return from the dead, since Rashi’s ideas on what the Rebbe had said…do were all Misnagdim, but their opposi- interpretation to the Rebbe’s words. inflation or is he totally subordinated First, is it really appropriate to
second interpretation is that he will do not identify Mashiach.” I must sup- tion was ideological, not emotional, Lawyers and physicists have lan- to Hashem?” The Chassid’s answer: deduce Chabad theology from a
so, it remains a possibility and certain- port this statement with an event I and certainly never tainted with hatred. guages of their own and the uninitiat- totally subordinated. teenager? Second, Dr. Berger’s ques-
ly does not constitute heresy. witnessed about ten years ago. After The following is background materi- ed cannot begin to understand what (Jewish Action readers may not be tion is entirely inappropriate and
Mr. Student says that, “many the Rebbe suffered a stroke, he could al that might be useful: The question, they are saying. Dr. Berger provides us familiar with the term rebbe as distinct meaningless to a Chassid. When a
Lubavitchers would say the Rebbe was no longer speak but could gesture. At “What is the Jewish attitude to the with dictionary definitions of words from rabbi, as well as what a Chassid Chassid is in need (for example, he has
the only candidate for Mashiach.” I an international meeting of Lubavitch Second Coming?” may have different like atzmut and metziut, but he is is, etcetera. My book, Think Jewish, a sick child), he will turn to his rebbe.
have two comments: first, the Alter rabbanim, some questions were put to answers, depending upon who is ask- unaware of the meaning these words which was recently reissued, addresses He does not question the rebbe as to
Rebbe, the first Chabad rebbe, once the Rebbe in writing. The mazkirut, ing the question. While medieval have for Chabad Chassidim. Dr. Berger these, among other points.) how he will help. The rebbe can help
said that Mashiach will be a Misnaged, secretariat, of about five members, Jewish scholars rejected the Second notes that he asked a London Chassid Similarly, Dr. Berger misinterprets in any way that he sees fit—by pray-
because if he is a Chassid the were all present to record the Rebbe’s Coming, they did so within the con- whether the Rebbe’s metziut (which, in the Rebbe’s own statement. To Dr. ing, offering practical advice or giving
Misnagdim won’t accept him but if responses to the various questions. We text of a church debate. Their rejection this context, may roughly be translated Berger, “Atzmut was placed in a body,” a berachah, etcetera. Most likely, Dr.
he’s a Misnaged Chassidim would asked the Rebbe: “Should the ongoing of the Second Coming was a rejection as “existence”) is Elokut, to which the implies that God’s essence was placed Berger’s question—as he meant it—is
accept him anyway. I presume the campaign to publicize the imminent of the Nazarene. However, as I stated latter answered yes. But what does into the Rebbe’s body, and somehow not what the young man heard.
Rebbe was smiling when he said this. coming of the Mashiach be contin- in my article, while to contemporary metziut mean to Dr. Berger? Does it there was a fusion of man and God. As an academic, Dr. Berger knows
Second, my father, a”h, who was high- ued?” His answer: “Yes.” We further rabbanim, the term Second Coming is mean the same to the Chassid ? The To a Chassid, however, it means that that recourse to original statements is
ly regarded by the past three rebbes, asked: “Should Mashiach be associated innocuous, to Dr. Berger, it has term is often used pejoratively by the physical body of the Rebbe did not imperative. And yet he fails to do this
used to say every Chassid should insist with a particular person?” His answer: Christian overtones. Chassidim; it implies ego and denotes conceal God within man. in regard to the Rebbe. The hundreds
that his rebbe is Mashiach. Every “No.” The refusal of the “normatives” Whether or not the Mashichists con- a person who is keenly aware of his Dr. Berger’s conversation with the of books of the Rebbe’s writings pro-
Litvak should insist his rosh yeshivah is to name Mashiach is in accordance stitute a majority of Lubavitchers is an own existence. Ego and self-centered- London Chassid, who, he admits was vide extensive background as to how
Mashiach. In other words—let him— with the Rebbe’s instructions. apparent concern of Dr. Berger’s. I ness are virtually universal flaws, which possibly a teenager, shows how alien the Rebbe thought and used language.
whoever he is—come, now! Incidentally, I once heard an anecdote asserted in my article that there are did not taint an Avraham, a Moshe, a the ways of Chassidim are to him. Dr. Equally important are his footnotes,
A concluding comment to Mr. that occurred when the Rebbe was still significant numbers of Mashichists Hillel, a Reb Yisrael Salanter, a rebbe. Berger goes on to say how the Chassid which provide Torah sources for all of
Student: When Rabbi Yoseph Yitzchak robust. A Chassid with access to the within the Chabad community, a true (Potentially, every single one of us can asked his posek if it is acceptable to say his statements. Is it acceptable to base
Schneersohn sent me to Nashville, Rebbe tried to get him to speak about statement by any standard. However, attain this level of self-nullification.) I “Rebbe help me?” To which Dr. Berger hostility on ignorance? JA
Tennessee, in 1949, the Jewish future the identity of Mashiach. As the two determining whether or not they con-
did not look promising. Immigration were walking together, the Chassid said, stitute a majority is a far more difficult
to the United States could never “They say in the street that the Rebbe is matter. Unlike almost every other
counter the assimilation in our society Mashiach.” Dismissing him, the Rebbe Orthodox group, there are no “mem-
and replenish the shrinking American said, “Don’t you know that the one des- bers” of Lubavitch. Belzer Chassidim
Jewish population. In the 1940s, way tined to be Mashiach knows nothing are recognized by their garb, the shul
before the onset of the outreach move- about it until five minutes before he is in which they daven, the yeshivot their
ment, many in the Torah community told, and I haven’t heard anything yet.” sons attend, etcetera. Similarly, in
attacked us Lubavitchers [for engaging Some comments regarding Dr. many Litvak yeshivot, there are
in outreach] saying, “You are going to Berger’s letter: The title of Dr. Berger’s straightforward standards for member-
influence them? They will influence book, The Scandal of Orthodox ship: if one is capable of learning, one
you.” Fortunately, the rebbes saw the Indifference, is intriguing. Is it indiffer- is accepted. Lubavitch, however, is a
potential. (But like so many pioneer- ence? Is it possible that the rabbis community comprised of a broad
ing ideas, Jewish outreach experienced referred to by Dr. Berger simply dis- range of people including the learned,
the following stages: 1. opposition 2. agree with him? Are they to be con- the newcomer to Judaism and the less-
imitation 3. imitators claiming to be demned for such incredible impudence? than-observant. Anyone who chooses
the inventors.) Dr. Berger’s charge of avodah zarah to call himself a Lubavitcher Chassid
The Rebbe’s achievements in out- among Lubavitcher rabbanim and can hardly be challenged.
reach, the kind seldom associated with shochtim is an exercise in hysterics, a Dr. Berger criticizes the Rebbe for
Chassidic rebbes, are sui generis, undu- swear-you-are-not-and-have-never- using militaristic terms like Tzivos
plicated by any current Jewish leader, been-a-Mashichist, Salem-style witch- Hashem, the army of Hashem. This
if ever. These accomplishments alone hunt. Unlike Dr. Berger, however, “army” is an incentive program for
would fill volumes. We should focus while the “indifferent” rabbanim may young girls and boys, which encourages
our attention on the incredible inter- not agree with Mashichism, they won’t them to do mitzvot and learn Torah.
national network of shelichim and their tar Lubavitch with avodah zarah. Exciting, fun and successful, the pro-
unduplicated accomplishments—these Opposition to Chassidus goes back to gram involves tens of thousands of chil-
must be part of the heritage of all its birth, well over two centuries ago. dren all over the world. To Dr. Berger,