slabodka

@CS:

“Do you have a better candidate?””

For ARGUMENT’S SAKE, let’s pretend there is no better candidate. Does that automatically make the Rebbe Moshiach? Maybe there is NO candidate in this Dor. In the previous generation, did anyone point at the “best” candidate and say that that particular individual has to be Moshiach because he is the best candidate? That answer is completely absurd.

In terms of the Ahavas Yisroel business, why is it that many Shluchim in out of town communities are not “gores” the Litvishe Rabonim/institutions in town? Why is it that they are not Makdim Shalom ever? (You MIGHT get a lukewarm response back if YOU are Makdim Shalom)? And I speak from personal experience here….

I am truly horrified by some of the posts here, accusing schools of charging “too much tuition” because “they can.” While there are certainly some schools that take advantage, my experience (running a high school in an out of town community) with my city’s elementary school-as I know is the case with other schools-has been an open door policy. No Jewish students are turned away because of inability to pay. Additionally, tuition for the elementary school grades is a relatively reasonable ten thousand dollars. A very small percentage of the parent body is able to pay even that. The rebbeim are moser nefesh and often dont receive the (meager) paychecks due to them because the school just doesnt have the funds. (Perhaps the schools need to due a better job fundraisng, but that is beyond the discussion here.)And people have the audacity to accuse the schools of charging too much? We need baalebatim to step up and cover the gaps. And we need people to understand that the chinuch of their children is the most important thing one can spend money on, after food, shelter, and clothing. (As an aside, if a school doesnt take a student because they cannot pay the full tuition, that is also a tragedy…)

@CS

“The fact that when I described some of the things the Rebbe was able to do in a regular basis, someone responded that magic doesn’t prove anything shows me that unfortunately for this fellow, being able to accomplish things above nature he only associates with the power of klipa not kedusha.”

I am “this fellow.” And I stand by what I said. There are stories told about the founder of a different religion and the miracles he performed (and no, I am not comparing that religion and Chabad, so please don’t accuse me of being a hater.) Whether it is klipa or kedusha-doesn’t really matter. What matters is whether the “magician” is a true representative of Hashem and His Torah. The Torah specifically says not to be swayed by miracle workers. And even a broken clock is correct twice a day. I am quite certain there are certain stories of where the rebbe gave a brocha and it wasn’t mekuyam (as is the case by many gedolim/rebbeim). So, I and others will continue not to be impressed by miracles stories. It is a nice bonus if everything else makes sense but it isn’t enough of a merit on it’s own to convince people that the rebbe was the “Nasi Hador” more than any other gadol or tzaddik. Are you even familiar with any other tzaddikim? Everyone else in klal Yisroel believes there rebbe or manhig is “the man,” but they believe there is a number 2, 3 etc. Who else does Chabad believe to be tzaddikim (even in the non Tanya sense) ?

Unrelated, but I think that you and SY have given a dochek answer to our question of Atzmus Umahus. If you say that everyone has it and it’s just that the rebbe has it in a more practical sense because he has reached the level of a tzaddik acording to Tanya, then the rebbe should have made that clear in a Sicha. but even if your explanation is correct, how do you explain why there is no new rebbe today? Was the heintege rebbe more kadosh than the frierdiker rebbe?

“1. I don’t know the other considerations. This is the one I was told about.
2. The opinion of the two leading members of the YTY Hanhallah were split with one wanting to stay with the “colored shirts” and the other wanting the change. That’s why they went to Rabbi Harris.
3. Ask Rabbi Harris. He made the decision.”

I dont believe the above is factually accurate.

1. The only consideration was that being a “colored shirt” yeshiva in Brooklyn was giving people the impression that it wasn’t a serious place and they were therefore not attracting the “better” boys.
2. They were all in agreement that the white shirt policy was necessary, but didn’t want to institute it without first getting it “approved” by the Hanhallah in Queens. The Rosh HaYeshiva zt”l never stressed white shirts, so they wanted to speak it over.
3. The Queens Roshei Yeshiva told them that they weren’t so excited about the idea, but weren’t going to stop them if they felt it was necessary for the continued success of the Yeshiva.

@AWW @CS

Very simple question: Just about every sect of Yiddishkeit, whether chassidishe or litvish (the term “misnaged” isnt used anymore today, as many litvishe gedolim have close relationships with, and respect for, many Chassidishe rabbonim) has a leader that they adore and revere. And that is a tremendous thing. But they all believe that there are other people who are gedolim as well and whose words and opinions they respect as being Daas Torah. Chabad also has (had?) a leader they respect and adore. Great. Who is number 2? Is there any other gadol from any other sect that is respected in Chabad circles?

Been following this thread with interest.

1. Would like top see a coherent defense or denouncement of the Rabbi Cunin video.

2. One can ask for a bracha from a litvishe Gadol/Rosh Yeshiva, provided that individual is alive. So comparing the two would not be accurate….