For those readers who don't understand the way Chabad chassidus operates, please watch this video and you will understand. Let's all stop putting labels on different kinds of Jews, start accepting all Jews regardless of their lifestyles and religious choices. Open your heart and open your mind. We are all one, let's remember that.
A surreal story about the way Chabad looks at the world and how that saved someone's life.
Rabbi Moshe Bryski
wow. thank you for posting this.
ReplyDeleteWhat is Judaism’s definition of unity? Associating with the righteous… and keep away from evil men in order not to learn from their behavior (see Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 29:10 and Rambam, Mishnah Torah, Hilchos Dei’os 6:1). [Do not assimilate among evildoers; do not envy the wicked. For there will be a lasting outcome to evil; but the lamp of the wicked shall die out (Mishlei 24:19-20), because there is no peace for the wicked (Yeshayah 48:22). See also Shabbos 152b; Rambam, Mishnah Torah, Hilchos Teshuvah 4:1 and 5.]
ReplyDeleteRabbi Yosef Mizrachi explains that one must not live amongst them and dine with them etc. For Dovid HaMelech says that one should not sit in the company of scoffers, sinners or walk in the counsel of the wicked (Tehillim 1:1). Rabbi Mizrachi says that the best we can do – if we are righteous – is to try to get the wicked people to join our side. The unity that Hashem wants is between the righteous. In the words of Rav Shimon Schwab zt”l:
“During Golus, the Jewish people are split, not only physically-geographically but also ideologically. One group does not see eye to eye with the other. This disparity exists not only in that the non-religious segment of our nation does not understand those who are religious, but even the people who keep the Torah and mitzvos are divided and subdivided many times among themselves (Rav Schwab on Prayer, page 468).
However, over 150 years ago, the disciples of the Vilna Gaon (i.e. I.e. Eliyahu Kremer) and the disciples of the Baal Shem Tov (i.e. Yisroel ben Eliezer) had made peace with each other. While both groups maintained their differences, both developed great respect and eventually a mutual love for each other.
So why should we be different today? The talmidim of our great yeshivos and kollelim who follow their Roshei HaYeshivah and devoted Chassidim who follow their Admorim are all united in their absolute loyalty to Hashem’s Torah. Why can’t we tell the other, ‘I am deeply convinced that my outlook is true. So, are you. We honor each other’s conviction and sincerity without any yielding an inch of our own sacred territory’” (Selected Speeches by Rav Shimon Schwab zt”l, pages 72-79).
What’s sinas chinam in our day in age? Jewish racism towards other Jewish groups in our nation [i.e. Sephardim, Ashkenazim and Chasidism etc.]