mentalblog.com comments:
A great rabbi once said that we can learn avoda zara from the "Shma" too after all it says "Va-avadetem elohim acheirim". Taking things out of context can produce a portrait of a person or event far removed from objectivity and reality.
True R. Deutsch does not have a constituency in his shul. Would one be happier and feel more comfortable if Shimmy had 30 "fat cat Hasidics" in his shul with fancy robes and big bellies blasting Israel . Is that what we are looking for ? Better put is that what The BESHT, Reb Zuzya, the Shpoler Zaida, rav Nachman and Rav Levi Yitzchk were seeking ?
Or just maybe they were after the sort of lost souls davening at Liozna.
Shimmy is sui generis . He is unique , not some monkey aping his father or some supposed grand father who was a rebbe (as is the case with some of the latest crop of rebbes in Brooklyn and Jerusalem).Shimmy works for aliving , the shpodik (shtreimel) is just like a bseball cap worn for fun not as professional uniform
The shpodik Shimmy wears is represetative of his original purpose of returning Lubavitch to its roots in the Chasidic community.
Shimmy nor his father are Rusian they are of Hngarian extraction from Dees(Dej) via S. Paulo, Brazil. His wife is from Yemen. Shimmy dabbels in archeology, Modern jewish history, activism and rabbanuth. He does not claim to be a holy men , rather he trys to be someone who cares about the common folk.All Jews with and without hats feel comfortable there.
Larger Than Life is the first attempt at producing a serious investigation into the early years of Rabbi Schneersohn portrayed against that turbulent period in Jewish history. And in my opinion its a classic.
Finally Shimmy has many backers and supportes in the metro area who do not live in Boro Park. My Shabbosim in his shul are always fine . There is no shtick, no shvitzing, no fat cats, no costly Aliyoth. His Biblical Archeology is unusual but ads to the originality of the man and his mission. In additon as a Lubavitcher person myself , I see little of Lubavitch in his Beth Medrash. rather its a ecumenical shul, open for all to all, and by all Jews.I think the early Chasidic fathers wouldlike his shul and his ... fine cholent.
Dear Schneur,
Thank you for your thoughtful post. Indeed I might have been influence by the extreme negativity of my friend. But he has been wrong before, he never accepted Habad even in it's glory days. This might explain his cursory rejection of the Biography. After reading the Second volume of the work (I can't find the First one) I completely agree with you, a seminal work. The book is advertised on the right panel of my blog. I also quoted you on my blog.
I didn't know that Rabbi Deutsch is a Hungarian. This perhaps explains why he gravitated to Boro Park in the end... But this doesn't explain why he adopted Alter Rebbe's town in White Russia as his own. I can appreciate why he fled Crown Heights but I am sorry for his new destination. I honestly do not know if there is any place where such a person would feel at home but after visiting Boro Park again past Shabbos I only reinforced my impression of Boro Park as a depressing, dark, soul numbing desert under the florescent sky. Rabbi Deutsch sadly is more out of place in Boro Park than he would have been in Crown Heights. But we are all displaced.
In many ways Rabbi Saul S. Deutsch is a Chabad shliach to Boro Pk bringing good cheer and assistance to the needy and those out of the loop in BP. You are correct about BP , but the Liozner BM is a bright light there . The Oneg Shabbes program feeds hundreds of families (incuding some in Crown heights) weekly and R. Deutsch counsels dozens of poor and out of luck people.
Rabbi Deutsch and his wife Rebbetzin Peer Deutsch host people on a regular basis and his radio program is very interesting.
Frankly when I am there I do not go out in the street as the Liozner BM is a totally different atmosphere as I said in my earlier posting.
Lets give Rav Deutsch a break he does not need kavod but lets let him do his work beshalom.
I used to work with 'the Liozna Rebbe' at J&R in the city. I once lent him a book of mine and had to beg him to return it, which he did without any apology at all.
If he's a 'Rebbi', I'm the Pope.
I am one of the misfits tzemach atlas talks about who davens in rabbi deutsch shule . That's funny I never thought about myself that way.It's strange but our misfit shule has absulely 0 talking during daving,not to bad for misfits.Everybody who davens with us comments about how welcome they feel.Aliyos are free of charge .You know what, even seats for the high holy days are free of charge.Did I mention the complete make over the shule just got at no cost to the congregants.You see Rabbi Deutsch is one of those rare rabbis who believe a rabbi should not accept money from his congergation but should earn his living some other way. Imagine a rabbi admonishing a wealthy contributer for talking during davening,you can't because it will never happen .And did I forget the kiddush every shabbas after davening.I am personally inviting the author of the Tzemach Atlas to our shule and you can be sure we will make him feel at home . Rabbi Deutsch Keep up your great work .!!!
BP is a spiritual desert? are you crazy? you obviously have never been to Emunas Yisrael (the rov of Emunas Yisrael is Rabbi Deutsch's neighbor), how about Kosov, and R' Mottel Zilber from Stutchin, and of course Skulen? there is plenty of spirituality in Boro Park - you just need to know where to look -
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