I was standing in line in a Postal Annex with my brother, when in walked a bearded man. Seeing my brother's kippah (and beard and tzitzit...) he reached into his rear pocket and whipped out a kippah of his own.
"Hi, I am Rabbi Cohen, who are you?" he asked us.
My brother answered, "I am Abraham and this is my sister Rebbetzin E."
To my surprised Rabbi Cohen came back quickly with "No you're not! I met Rabbi E's wife and it was not you."
"Where did you meet her?" I asked. "At the funeral this weekend?"
"Yes."
"Tall, blonde...?"
"Yes." Again
"Ah." I answered, nodding. "That is the wife Rabbi E takes to public functions, I just stay home and have his kids."
...
I took mercy on him and explained that the woman he met was a congregant and that I really was Rebbetzin E. He eventually lifted his jaw off the floor.
So how is it that there is SO little understanding of what Chabad is and stands for, even by "Rabbis," that he would fall for this?
What about the local "Rabbi" who published his Rosh Hashana sermon, in which he called Chabad 'wolves in sheep's clothing' and advised his congregants not to donate to Chabad? He, by the way, went on to be the Rabbi of one of the largest congregations in America. More misunderstanding?
Chabad philosophy has a few basic tenets. Love of your Fellow Jew. Serving Gd with Joy. Controlling our Emotions through the use of our Intellect.
The Rebbe emphasized the concept of creating a dwelling place for God on this world or elevating the mundane and physical world through utilizing it in the service of Gd. The Rebbe also stressed that, at their essence, every human being has a core of Gdliness and that when we strive to identify with that we are uniting on a cellular (and 'soulular') level.
He sought to unite the modern world with the teachings of Judaism. And to unite the two most basic of his teachings. To that end, the Rebbe sent out Shluchim, emissaries, to the far reaches of the civilized and sometimes not-so civilized world.
The emissary's job is to bring Jews closer to Judaism by reaching out and connecting soulularly. By living as examples of the Rebbe's teachings. It is said 'Shliach adam ka'moso' - a person's proxy is like him. What a Shliach does he/she does with the kochos (strengths) of the Rebbe.
The whole purpose of a Chabad Rabbi is to connect to another human being* by accepting who they are essentially and bring them closer to Gd, giving them the tools to build that dwelling place for Gd within this physical, mundane world. A Shliach uses modern mediums to teach and reach out. Creating classes over the internet, Askmoses.com live chat, Power Point presentations in JLI courses and more.
[* the Rebbe also stressed the Noahide laws and that every human being is a child of Gd.]
Sometimes the bitter comfort is in knowing that if someone will get over their fear and walk in our doors they will find love, kindness and support.
May we usher in an Era of Peace for all Humanity.
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It's true. My mother- and, dare I say, her entire generation- are so ignorant about Judaism, let alone Chabad, it's embarrassing. I often thank G-d that Chabad found me and showed me how beautiful, triumphant and joyous it is to be a Jew. Reform Judaism, with all their singing and clapping, had raised me to be a victim.
ReplyDeleteI think that other Jews are so closed-minded about Chabad because of fear. When you look the truth in the eye, and acknowledge what your obligation is in this world as a Jew, you realize how badly you've botched the job and for so many years, and it's...well frankly, it's terrifying. How is one to account for all those lost years in the world to come? Much easier to write all orthodox Judaism off as some sort of weird cult, than to acknowledge and accept your obligation.