I wonder, if someone wears a picture of the Rebbe, or any tzadik, on their shirt, are they aloud to go into the bathroom to do their business with it on? This is not a joke but a serious halachic qeustion. It could at least be considered disrespectful or it could actually be prohibited. Before Gimmel Tamumz 1994 there were no Rebbe T-shirts. Would the Rebbe approve? Any thoughts?
chitas | 24.03.08 - 12:11 pm | #

Interesting question Chitas. Let's think it through. One is allowed to wear a kippah and tzitzit to the bathroom. But no mezuzah is put on a bathroom and no halachic texts are allowed in there. So any religious writing on the shirt or kippah should definitely not go into the bathroom.
The image is of a revered leader usually displayed in the living room, not on the bedroom wall, and definitely not in the bathroom. Instinctively, it's not respectful to take his image in there. Heaven forbid that shmutz gets on it. Can one cover it up with a coat? No, that's disrespectful to his memory. So I think you are right chitas, they have to take it off before entering such a place.
Good question - kol hakavod.
Insider | 24.03.08 - 12:49 pm | #

It shouldn't be worn at all. Did they get some sort of instruction in an igrois to do this? Taking a picture of a holy tzaddik and wearing it on a t-shirt degrades the concept to the level of popstars and the like. But then again, maybe that is what the Rebbe means to these two..a pop star. Rachmonoh litzlan
Rachmonoh litzlan | 24.03.08 - 4:05 pm | #

Why is the third guy wearing a Nachman logo cap? The whole thing looks very Purimdik to me. So will the message be taken seriously or just smiled at, or even laughed at?
Bogumoi | 24.03.08 - 4:12 pm | #

Edited By Siteowner
Shmais | 24.03.08 - 5:46 pm | #

Why is the Moshiach Mobile parked in a No Standing Zone?
Insider | 24.03.08 - 8:00 pm | #

Why would anyone believe that wearing the Rebbe on a T-shirt, which degrades the Rebbe, will bring Moshiach? I fail to follow the thinking that goes into believing this. What sources from any of the Rebbe's sichas (or from anywhere in Torah)are they relying on to support the Rebbe T-shirt as a tool or method to bring Moshiach? It seems that these people take their own wild silly ideas out of thin air and put their own manufactured 'Rebbe' stamp of approval on it. It is as if they live in their own delusional world and anything they dream up they attach 'Rebbe' to it and they think that makes it holy and they're bringing Moshiach. Weird.
chitas | 24.03.08 - 8:43 pm | #

I think last week's Jewish News poll is much more important to discuss. Whether poppy seed hamantashen are better than jam hamantashen.
GO TO BED | 24.03.08 - 11:16 pm | #

The Rebbe T-shirt obviously gets laundered. That means it will be crumpled up in the laundry basket and on the floor with the rest of the dirty laundry. Is that a proper way to treat the Rebbe's picture? Like a piece of dirty laundry? When someone wears the Rebbe T-shirt he may drip food on himself when eating. The Rebbe could wind up with mayo stains on his face. How does that show kavod to a tzadik? How does that bring Moshiach?
chitas | 25.03.08 - 7:20 am | #

What makes you think that it gets laundered?
Interesting... | 25.03.08 - 9:08 am | #

You guys are just being silly and petty. If you have nothing to say please don't say it here.
Aussie Echo | Homepage | 25.03.08 - 9:51 am | #

AE-well said
dave | 25.03.08 - 11:41 am | #

To Chitas, Julian Lennon sang "We're so enchanted by how clever we are". I think you are totally besotted by yourself. You write at 7.20 AM "Rebbe could wind up with mayo stains on his face." Using the Rebbe for your lame, stupid humour, is not appropriate for someone pretending to be frum. Why don't you doven and say tehillim instead in the morning?
Extremely Disrespectful | 25.03.08 - 12:05 pm | #

Yu guys need to lighten up. Chitas was not making fun of the Rebbe but of the T-shirt wearer.
mashpia | 25.03.08 - 1:57 pm | #

I was not being humorous. A Rebbe does not being on a T-shirt.
chitas | 25.03.08 - 2:55 pm | #

by way of comparison, what would readers/posters of this blog think of a t-shirt that had Hashem's ineffable 4-letter name printed on it?
what the...? | 25.03.08 - 2:57 pm | #

I never saw xstians with T-shirts of their god or his relations. As far as clothing goes T-shirts are for very casual wear, sports, holidays, or working. They get treated like ordinary clothes, get tossed in the laundry basket or on the floor with all the other dirty laundry. People who think the Rebbe's picture on this will bring Moshiach have to explain why cause all I can see is that they are showing less respect for the Rebbe than any other religion (le'havdil) would show for their own gods.
chitas | 25.03.08 - 3:16 pm | #

Firstly, I really think it is a genuine question.
1) IF you respect the Rebbe's memory by having his picture, one would think one would display it in a respectful place.
2) IF you are a talmid/talmidah of the Rebbe's teachings, you would make an effort to buy his books and have them close at hand.
"The Kipah" thing at least was staying closer (in a weird sort of way) to the above mentioned ways we show respect, Same with the lapel pin.
One uses these items carefully.

BUT NOW the envelop is being pushed.
The "Yell" in tfillot,The "Signs" around here and there, The "Automobile Posters" and The T-Shirt".
People have asked me, "Who's this guy on__________? A singer or comedian or something?" This is no way to show respect or honour....these things are to press for power and push peole around. As far as bringing HaMashiach, It has more to do with what is IN the chest not covering it.
lama? | 25.03.08 - 6:07 pm | #

Chitas...The goyim have pictures and such. For a while, certain of them used to put "that man" on T-shirts. These people were not thought of as MORE religious by their co-religionists...JUST the opposite!

Too bad people don't get your real question. T-shirt fans are just that and show little reverance for anything outside promoting their selves and oppressing others.
lama? | 25.03.08 - 6:12 pm | #

My DIN.................
The Rebbe did not wear T-shirts.
Show reverance and respect by emmulating the Rebbe's ways.
lama? | 25.03.08 - 6:15 pm | #

Maybe some of these BT's really miss their rebellious youth when they used to wear Che Gueverra or John Lennon T-shirts, now they wear Rebbe T-shirts but their mental age has not changed with time.
chitas | 25.03.08 - 6:16 pm | #

Edited By Siteowner
Mavin | 25.03.08 - 10:47 pm | #

This website is getting so boring. How about talking about Queen malka's possible lawsuit for damages to her good name or maybe what happened in BT.
bored | 26.03.08 - 5:41 am | #

what happened in BT?
whatever | 26.03.08 - 6:57 am | #

Boring is as boring does.
chitas | 26.03.08 - 7:34 am | #

Incidentally, it's 7:40 and I have davened and done chitas, hayom yom, and sefer hamitzvos. Am I allowed to post on this blog now? (sarcasm intended)
chitas | 26.03.08 - 7:46 am | #

Instead of complaining this blog is boring try and write something that is not boring or don't read it, your choice.

The Rebbe never intended to have himself made into an idol or a celebrity. He never made himself the main issue, but his teachings were his focus. This personality cult that has developed around the Rebbe's image is devoid of his true personality because it doesn't project or spread his ideas or teachings. This personality cult is a new phenomena in the observant world. No one ever saw Jews making a personality cult out of any past Rabbonim or Gedolim. It would be outrageous to imagine the Rebbe wearing a T-shirt of the Fridiker Rebbe or the Baal Shem Tov. The whole personality cult thing is not even
Jewish or Torahdik. It is an adaptation of the worst of secular commercialism and crassness that pulls the holiness of our great Rebbe down into the shmutz embarrassing everyone except for those deluded few with childish dreams of grandeur.
chitas | 26.03.08 - 7:53 am | #

I am so disgusted with those freaks that I stopped going to Chabad and so have heaps of people I know. They're not all like that but why are they tolerated at all? I lost repsect for all Chabad now.
mashpia | 26.03.08 - 9:56 am | #

Those "Freaks" are my mates.

Unfortunately the simcha has died at Y. No more dancing and singing at the minyans.

But they did a good show on purim.

Everyone has their own uniform. Some people wear Penguin clothes (black and white) with funny hats/silly ties. SO WHATS WONG WITH HAVING A LITTLE COLOUR IN YOUR LIFE?
bored | 26.03.08 - 10:44 am | #

Bored, birds of a feather flock together.
There is plenty of simcha going on without the freak show. You don't know what simcha means and it doesn't mean being nutters.
mashpia | 26.03.08 - 1:10 pm | #

chitas-with all this time on your hands it's time to move up to perek echod
dave | 26.03.08 - 4:42 pm | #

Nadav and Avihu were great people who had pure motives but wrong ideas in how to serve Hashem. Simarlily, these two may have pure motives and want to bring Moshiach but are they ever wrong in how to do it!
chitas | 26.03.08 - 7:47 pm | #

Look the main focus of chabad in 5753 and 5754 was chasidim singing Yechi and the Rebbe on the porch nodding his head vigorously shaking his hand to the singing of yechi this is a fact.
Yechi was posted accross Kfar Chabad Magazine until gimel Tamuz.
Incidently Rabonai Chabad told them to continue publish Yechi AND YECHI SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE ANOUNCED IN SHULES!
I know there alot of people who want to forget that year of history. Either ignore it, deny it, downplay it etc.
Till this day if you go to 770 NY. Yechi is anounced and sung all the time before davening after davening and during Davening!
Melbourne has to wake up and get with the program! Australia iz Nit Anderish!
mendy | 27.03.08 - 4:53 pm | #

Look the main focus of chabad in 5753 and 5754 was chasidim singing Yechi and the Rebbe on the porch nodding his head vigorously shaking his hand to the singing of yechi this is a fact.

With respect, Mendy, were you even alive then?
Joe in Australia | 27.03.08 - 9:44 pm | #

joe,
And if I wasn't born then does that change the facts?!
Ask anyone who was there at that time, take a look at old kfar chabads at that time(5753-5754).
We all know that at that time(5753-5754) the Rebbe encouraged(as you can see on videos from that time) and continues to encourage us(The Rebbe would not Chas Veshalom mislead us)even today wheather we Physicaly see it or not to accept him as Melech Hamoshiach!
As the Rebbe says in Toldos 5752"Yechi Adonei David Melech Leolam" this Declaration reveals the actual existence of Melech Hamoshiach!
Let us all Unite and declare from the depths of our hearts!
Yechi Adonainu Morainu Verabainu Melech Hamoshiach Leolam Vaed!!!
mendy | 28.03.08 - 1:48 am | #

Mendy, go back to Tzfas.

Why don't you do a little research about the sub-standard medical treatment that was provided to our beloved Rebbe in those years, by your pathetic messianic leaders.
Berl | 28.03.08 - 2:36 am | #

Do you thinka that 2 fellows driving around on Purim with Rebbe T-Shirts will bring Moshiach 1 second earlier?
mavin | 28.03.08 - 1:48 pm | #

"Ber" & "Mashpiah",
Look in Rebbe's Sichos that Rebbe is "Atzmus UMehoous Ariyngeshtelt in a Goof" The essence of Hashem as Placed in a body. Achron Shel pesech 5710 Printed in Likutai Sichos volume 2 pg.510 onwards.
As the famous vort goes 3 can't be a chosid "mishpacha- family, Yerushalmee, and a secretary or assistant, Gabai etc.
YOU GUYS LEARN THE SICHOS,MAMORIM ETC. NOT THE DIRTY POLITICS! THAT IS NON OF YOUR BUISNESS WHAT WENT ON WITH THE REBBE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS! A REBBE IS HIGHER THAN NATURE! STICK TO THE SICHOS,MAMORIM, IGROS ETC. NOT ALL THAT RUBBISH YOU HEAR AND READ ETC.
Conclusion: Educate yourself in the right things. I never heard the Rebbe say we had to know all about his health and check in with his doctors to be a chosid!
Yechi Adonainu Morainu Verabainu Melech Hamoshiach Leolam VAed!!!
mendy | 28.03.08 - 1:54 pm | #

Mendy, what school do you go to? When you graduate from grade 6 please let us know.

It is nice that you want to concentrate on what you see as the positive things about the Rebbe but stop shouting at people that don't agree with you. You sound like some people I know whose answer to anyone disagreeing with them is to shout (and sing) louder.
Chaim Yankel | 28.03.08 - 2:04 pm | #

Mendy:
Look in Rebbe's Sichos that Rebbe is "Atzmus UMehoous Ariyngeshtelt in a Goof" The essence of Hashem as Placed in a body. Achron Shel pesech 5710 Printed in Likutai Sichos volume 2 pg.510 onwards.
>>

And what exactly is the rebbe telling us here? Can you explain?
greenie | 28.03.08 - 3:37 pm | #

If it took Mendy and mates nearly 60 years since that Achron Shel Pesach Sicha (5710) to realize all this moshiachist stuff, it might take them another 60 years to explain the meaning of the sicha!?
Skippy | 30.03.08 - 4:38 pm | #

Look in Rebbe's Sichos that Rebbe is "Atzmus UMehoous Ariyngeshtelt in a Goof" The essence of Hashem as Placed in a body. Achron Shel pesech 5710 Printed in Likutai Sichos volume 2 pg.510 onwards.

Yes, I'm familiar with that Sicha. Have you read it, or are you only familiar with the bit you're referring to?
Joe in Australia | 30.03.08 - 6:26 pm | #

joe,
And if I wasn't born then does that change the facts?!
Ask anyone who was there at that time, take a look at old kfar chabads at that time(5753-5754).
We all know that [...]

I read those issues of K'far Chabad as they came out. At the time I thought they were written with more enthusiasm than sense. I'm sure they conveyed the author's emotions, but I wouldn't rely on them as a factual account of the period.

I think I asked you before whether you had studied the address you referred to - (Toldos 5752). You didn't answer. Would you like to sit down with me some time and study it from beginning to end? This offer is, of course, open to other readers of this blog who are resident in Melbourne.
Joe in Australia | 30.03.08 - 6:47 pm | #

Excellent suggestion Joe. I wish I was in Melbourne as it would be fascinating shiur.
One day you WILL be a High Priest.
And the diamonds and gold that you discover will be the souls of Jews around you. Living sparks of brilliance.
Insider | 30.03.08 - 7:30 pm | #

One day you WILL be a High Priest.
And the diamonds and gold that you discover will be the souls of Jews around you. Living sparks of brilliance.

It is a source of continuous irritation to me, but I only share a name with R' Joe Gutnick.
Joe in Australia | 30.03.08 - 8:09 pm | #

Ah, so you recognise the Rebbe's other sayings. Every Joe can make a difference! We need more scholars who volunteer to study from "beginning to end" as you do.
Insider | 30.03.08 - 8:31 pm | #