A printed announcement in today’s Hamodia newspaper has caused confusion within the ranks of the Chabad Rabbonim. The ad is signed by Rabbonim and Admorim and forbids the Simchas Bais HaShoeva festivities to take place outdoors. Until now, Admorim refrained from signing such advertisements.
The undersigned are against all and any events that take place outdoors, even with the best type of separation between men and women. They state that such events must take place either in shuls with a completely separate Ezras Noshim, or in halls with a separate hall for women, and separate entrances and approaches. The Rabbonim who signed are: The Admorim from Ger, Sanz, Sadigura, Belz, Rav Yisroel Hager (Viznitz) and Rav Elyashiv, Rav Wosner, Rav Nosson Gestetner, Rav Tzadka, Rav Shmuel Aurebach, Rav Baadani, Rav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz, Ravb Aron Leib Steinman, Rav Chaim Kanievsky and Rav Nissim Karelitz.
The Chabad news website “Shturem” spoke with several Lubavitch Rabbonim in Yerushalyim and heard various responses. Rabbi Zev Dov Slonim, member of the Chabad Bais Din explained that it is impossible to come out against all the Rabbonim. He feels that there must be a meeting to discuss this responsibly, and find a way to incorporate the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s will without going against the Rabbonim.
Rabbi Tuvia Blau (Chabad) was also approached to give his opinion on this controversial matter. Rabbi Blau stated that in his opinion, the Simchas Bais HaShoeva in Shikun Chabad should be cancelled, but in non charedi neighborhoods and cities they should be celebrated as scheduled.
“Without a doubt we must fulfill the Rebbe’s horoa of dancing in the streets, but the purpose of the event in Shikun Chabad organized by Tzach is to be mezake – not Lubavitchers, but – the charedim in the area. Thousands came, attended and danced in the streets, and during the years we have accomplished our purpose. Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Aharonov and Rabbi Naftoli Roth are to be commended for keeping strict segregation between men and women, making sure that it was utterly impossible to have any slip-ups. Last year only Litvishe Rabbonim signed the ban, and the chassidishe crowd participated, together with unaffiliated Jews.
This year, since – for some reason – the Admorim signed as well, including great admirers of the Rebbe as the Gerrer and Sadigura Rebbes; we will not go and debate the issue with them. If no one will participate, what is the point of hosting it at all? If only Lubavitchers and some religious nationalists attend, and not charedim, we haven’t fulfilled the purpose and will of the Rebbe. I repeat and emphasize that in all other places, the events must go on as usual. And in Yerushalayim we must host the Simchas Bais HaShoevea in a venue where charedim can also participate, but not in a charedi neighborhood.”
Rabbi Blau adds that the Rebbe never opposed other Gedolim.
Other suggestions came from Rabbi Avrohom Michoel Halperin, Rav of the French Hill and a member of Chabad Bais Din. He told “Shturem” that it is forbidden to oppose the Rabbonim, and the event can be transferred indoors, so that there can be ample tznius control, while bringing a car with music out on the street. That way the Rebbe’s horoa will be carried out.
Another important Lubavitcher personage suggested moving the festivities over to the Kosel compound, which has the two elements necessary: it is also outdoors, and provides the tznius arrangements needed. No one will be angered, and there are always plenty of people on hand.
An (un-named) Rav who is a member of Chabad Bais Din – not from Yerushalayim – was extremely firm in his position. “By no means are we to stop the Simchas Bais HaShoeva. Who are we to listen to, the Rav or the talmid? We have clear horoas from the Rebbe to celebrate on the streets, especially during the Hakehel year. It is absolutely forbidden to cancel the outdoor events.”
Click on image to ENLARGE the Kol Koreh.
(NOTE / CLARIFICATION: The above article was written by “Shturem”, not YWN.)
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10 Responses
The Gedolim provided the solution: indoors. The Chabad Rabbonim quoted apparently agree.
(“An (un-named) Rav” has no credibility.)
The title of this article is very misleading. At first glance it looks as if the rabbonim put out a specific ban against “chabad” simchas beis hoshavah. wehn in reality they had NOTHING against chabad only a certain style of celebration which is practiced by many groups. As stated by many rabbonim metntioned in this article the “chabad simchas beis hashoeva” does not necessarily conflict with the ban of the rabbonim and can be incorparated with it. i request from the editor of this site to please make that correction.
It is incorrect to call an “un-named” Rav a Rav. He can either be an “person who wished to be un-named” or a named Rav. Without a name, a reader can’t possibly know whether this person is qualified to be a Rav.
For all we know this could be a reform Rav. Or a neturei karta “Rav.”
Perhaps the Rebbee should personally confer with these Rabbonim directly so that each can understand if the circumstances have changed as to the Taruvos problem over the years. Perhaps Rabbi unknown himself is nor aware that things have deteriorated.
Then again the situation in Crown heights as to the Taruvos is a churban
Printing the actual document is an excellent idea. It printed out quite legibly. Your summary was not totally correct since it didn’t prohibit a Simchas Beis Shoeva spilling out into a street or courtyard bugt set guidelines for doing so(secion Beis).
I did not recognize all the names. Did many non-Ashkenazi gedolim sign? Since Chabad, unlike other hasidic groups, is not limited to one edah, that is significant, particularly since many of Chabad activities occur outside the Ashkenzi hareidi environment. Also why did it not specifically include discussion of activities done for “kiruv” purposes, unless it was the intention not to cover them (if YWN is to be a frum news source, it should know to ask the right questions in order to clarify), i.e., that the ruling applies only to within Hareidi communities which appears to be an opinion of some Chabadniks you cited.
“Rabbi Blau adds that the Rebbe never opposed other Gedolim”
Really?!
why don’t the Lubavicher chasidim ask their Rebbe what his opinion is?….
The article is so misleading. I noticed at the end that the article was written by chabad. Not surprising! Maybe the editor should (always) put the writer’s name at the beginning. Chabad views everything as a personal attack on them. Be honest. The main hakafos shenios of Agudah at kikar shabbos have been cancelled because of this. So too have the hakafos of shaswhich took place outside. The truth is that Aguda’s hakafos had tons of mingeling! The Rabbonim didn’t do this because of chabad. That’s because they couldn’t care less what happens at chabad. But chabad of course likes to blame the Litvish.
Just a Shtikel Heora. The real Mekor for a Mechitza is the Mishneh in Sukah that talks about Simchas Bais Hashoeva.
Also lets’s not take from a Simchas Bais Hashoeva, and turn it into a Bais Hatoeva.
Gmch”t to All of Klal Yisroel, Ah Gut Gebenshter Yor. Vinzke Lalos Loregel im Moshiach Tzidkainu Hoamiti.
A security concern might be the best reason for having hakafos inside rather than outside where our COUSINS can intermingle.