"A lubavitcher chossid in many aspects, I'm too young to know what a rebbe is like."

What a sad and poignant comment. Why are we doing this to our kids?
Boruch der ayzel | 05.23.06 - 10:32 pm | #

Firstly one has to ask oneself if proclaiming someone a rebbe makes him a rebbe.
Frankly I can see a lot of good in amking any ethical and moral person with no outstanding chisronos a rebbe.
On the other hand it can be dangerous and misleading.
The Nikolsberger of Monsey Rav Mechele Leibowitz was and is a controversial figure. He has many meshugaaysen and thinks much of himself.For years he was a personna non gratta in the greater satmar community.
But he does know much chassiduth.
As I have written in the past Lubavitch ought to have a rebbe or at the very least mashpi'im like Breslev.
Breslov is led by men like rabbis Schick, Berland ,Dorfman , Kramer, Kenig and Yankev Schachter. All are scholars and spiritual people.Lubavitch is run by oligarchs (Rubashkin, Leviov, Gutnick, Boymelgreen Malamud etc)and middle level managers(A. Shemtov, Cunin, Herson , Kotlarsky and Yudel krinsky).As long as the oligarchs and the managers run the movement there is no room for serious spiritual leadership in Chabad today.
Oh yes there are some New Agey Chabad spiritual leaders but these people's message is chiefly designed for the Baale teshuva, the Out of Town Chabad House members and other borderline Chabadniks.

But who is a main line Chabad spiritual leader today whose message carries weight.Certainly not Yoel kahan or Leibel Groner. As long as the above classes are in power they will not allow spiritual people to the BRETEL.
schneur | 05.24.06 - 6:30 pm | #

here it is! i am a borderline chabadnik! thank you. borderline sounds so clinical.
faruq | 05.24.06 - 7:04 pm | #

in the Soloveitchuk's essay http://www.mentalblog.com/2006/0...gcom- links.html he makes a point that with a new centrality of texts, the learned obtain new power and importance. but i guess it works both ways. the text may substitute a rabbi as well. a la כתבים לאז איך אייך
faruq | 05.24.06 - 7:20 pm | #