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Jan 10, 2012
Shliach Condemns Boteach Book
 Chicago Shliach and educator Rabbi Yitzchok Wolf blasts Rabbi Shmuely Boteach's new book, saying the subject and recent interviews "are apikorsus." Rabbi Yitzchok Wolf, Dean of SJ Abrams Cheder Lubavitch Hebrew Day School in Chicago, sent the following statement to COLlive.com on Monday:
With utter contempt I have read the title of Shmuel Boteach's new book "Kosher [Yoshke]."
His prior books certainly hadn't made me anticipate this latest with excitement, yet perhaps it was naiveté on my part not to see this one coming. I hadn't read the book since the book's title already lends itself to apikorsus, and I am not the consumer that seeks to consume such writings.
I am no spokesman for Orthodox Jewry or for Chabad. In this instance, it is certainly no quantum leap to speak in the their name: Boteach's latest book is apikorsus and must be treated as such.
"This book is telling the Jews to reclaim J…, the authentic J…, the historical J…, the Jewish J…." and to be inspired by his "beautiful" teachings, as this author and TV show host told Haaretz this week in Jerusalem.
This book poses great danger to the thousands of unsuspecting Jews who are approached daily by Jews for J with the sole purpose of getting them to embrace Christianity. To Jews for J this book will now become the Jewish Rabbinical textbook urging embracing Yoshke as an authentic Jew, urging us to be inspired by him, G-d forbid.
When one writes claiming to pen his writings as an Orthodox Rabbi, and it can mislead the ignorant and the vulnerable, heaven forbid, he must be ostracized for their sake alone. It's not the derech of Chabad to eject their fellow Jew, yet there are those rare times when it appears as an obligation to do just that.
Please G-d; protect Klal Yisroel from the dangers that stem from the outside as well as those that stem from people claiming to be from within.
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I would bet that you haven't.
As was seen by his past books, this person has no limits to what he will write about, no subject is off limits, so that he can pursue his desire of fame and fortune.
What is sad is that he has been accepted into Chabad as of late without any regard to the consequences of this behavior.
It's time we had some pride in who we are as Lubavitchers, and stop accepting this as ok.
THIS QOTE IS ENOUGH TO HAVE BOTEACH CONDEMNED
The silence is deafening from where we should be hearing an outcry...
Halfway across, the scorpion stings the frog, which means both will drown.
The frog does not understand; the scorpion explains, "I couldn't help myself. It's my nature."
*
For the last few years Boteach have been trying to "get back in Lubavitch." He's been visiting Crown Heights, writing about the Rebbe and trying to befriend Shluchim and the Chabad leadership (or was it vice versa?)
But, he just can't help himself, and needed to publish a book and made statement about a topic that any normal frum yid would stay away from.
This is quite possibly the most judgmental, disparaging, close minded statement EVER made on this site.
It's obscene and unheard of to not only "judge' but condemn a book by it's cover.
Darn, how's it go again?
I love how everyone who puts "Rabbi" or "shliach" in their title becomes an authoritative voice on all things Judaism. I'm also a "Rabbi" and "shliach." So what?
The book is also for Jews who remain deeply uncomfortable with Jesus because of the Church s long history of anti-Semitism, the deification of Jesus, and the Jewish rejection of any Messiah who has not fulfilled the Messianic prophecies. We Jews will forever reject the divinity of any man, the single most emphatic prohibition of our Bible. And we can never accept the Messiahship of any personality, however noble or well-intended, who died without ushering in the age of physical redemption. But as Christians and Jews now come together to love and support the majestic and humane Jewish state, it s time that Christians rediscover the deep Jewishness and religious Jewish commitment of Jesus, while Jews reexamine a lost son who was murdered by a brutal Roman state who sought to impose Roman culture and rule upon a tiny yet stubborn nation who will never be severed from their eternal covenant with the G-d of Israel.
... is therefore time to recognize J as a Torah-abiding Jewish patriot.
...I could declare myself the messiah right now.
...He regrets that Jews allowed J "to be ripped away from them without even a fight."
Here is the rest: http://bit.ly/xEdgaD
"This book is telling the Jews to reclaim Jesus, the authentic Jesus, the historical Jesus, the Jewish Jesus" and to be inspired by his "beautiful" teachings,
if this is the way the paper understood it, how will your regular layman understand it?
Yasher koach Rabbi Wolf for talking up. dont feel threatened by Boteach's bullying.
I have nothing against Boteach personally, it's the other's who need to be a little more consistent and stand for Chabad - not $$$. Kudos Rabbi Wolf
Seems you have been duped.
Helloooo?
Look at the Rebbes approach on calling a city with "S" before it either in writing or in speech. That is the reason we have the famous Simcha Monica.
To what degree does open mindness reach. It is definitly the cool thing to say "come on give me a break- lets embrace and be tolerant to all and all issues" but don't we think there should be a limit. Is there any Rov within the orthodox including Modern Orthodox that supports a book with a title "Kosher Yoshke"
Why can't we be honest with ourselves that if an error was made especially like this we shall agree regardless of our standing in other issues. Are we not unified in not giving "OISOI HAISH" any recoknition.
As far as Rabbi Boteach, there is no one who has the right to take action in thier own hands, we shall leave this up to the Rabonim not necessarily from Chabad - for this is NOT a Chabad issue at all.
It is suprising that we do not hear from Rabonim in such a serious issue where when it comes to worms in water, burning Sheitlach, etc. there is a fire burning.
May Hashem have mercy that no Jew shall be spiritually harmed by the above and Rabbi Boteach shall for himself see the error and he shall be blessed with health and yiddishe Chassiddishe nachas from all his dear children and IY"H grandchildren together with his dear wife.
To put the name on the cover, so blatantly, and together with the word Kosher, is enough to prove that the book is Apikorsus!! No need to go inside! Thank you Rabbi Wolf for taking a stand, and I hope many other Rabbi's do the same.
how low have we fallen that we, as lubavitchers, would even think about reading something with outright apikorsus in it.
Agree totally with 47 - the Rebbe said S Monica should be referred to as such, without using the name of a saint. We are so careful in everything we print - i even read recently that the Rebbe changed the medical symbol on the hatzalah ambulance so the image would not reflect greek religion.
How, as upstanding Lubavitchers, can we read even one page of such garbage??
M aybe next thing shmuelly can make kosher is discoes and a break down o all standards of f tzninus ?
SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT ABOUT THE COVER OR THE CONTENTS, BUT HE HIMSELF SAID THE BOOK IS TELLING JEWS TO RECLAIM YOSHKE, SO THERE IS NO NEED TO READ IT IN ORDER TO 'FIND OUT' IF ITS APIKURSUS OR NOT!
THANK YOU!
CH another Bait Shemesh?
What a shame.
2. He has used Chabad for years to get his name out (reminds you of a certain musical "talent", now clean shaven?)
3. He should be in Cherem for the shame he's brought on the Rebbe & all of Chabad.
We don't know what his "teachings" were inasmuch as those were spread by the apostles. So what we have is what is attributed to someone (semi fictional and chronologically dubious) about whom the Gemoro says was sentenced to death by the Sanhedrin, an event so rare that it may well not have occured in an entire generation's living memory!
This man was one of three jews on whom we say the words Yemach Shemoi yet somehow we are supposed to emulate this person because his legacy was somehow corrupted?
I would have been much tougher then Rabbi Wolf... because as far as I'm concern S.B. is the real "Mesis umadiach"....and there is a Chiyuv on Rabbonei-Lubavitch to do "Uvi'arto horo mikirbecho". So again thank you Rabbi Wolf. Bessuros Tovos.
im not disagreeing but i love these people whom make big statements on no grounds....state the facts..im not a fan of neither just dont like people whom make statements without facts...or is not qualified to make statements..
His ongoing sharp criticisim of men like Chief Rabbi J. Sacks, puts him in a problematic light of an uncontrolable appetite for self fame.
Appropriate here on so many levels.
Kosher Lies
Kosher Gossip
Kosher Abuse
Kosher Idolatry
Kosher Murder
Kosher Terror
...because a loose canon will shoot whatever is put in. Good, bad, normal or insane. The job of a canon is to shot and Boteach's job is to blabel away whatever comes to mind
lets face it, most of the readers here don't care about this topic and wouldn't bother touching any of his books.... b"h we have enough seforim to go through before we run out of option and resort to his....
Those misguided people who think Rabbi Wolf should first read the book before judging...why? As any author knows, a catchy title for non-fiction gets the reader interested & reflects the content. His title says it all. In his opinion, he thinks J is KOSHER. I'm nauseated.
Ich vel dos zogen in Yiddish.
Es shtayt dorten az Yoshke zitzt oif drek in gehinom.
Yetzt zog mir: oib Yoshke iz aza tzadik, farvos zitzt er oif drek?
Yoshke iz geven a Mamzer. Efsher der boteach shtimt foon em?
Angry vs Patient
Extreme vs Moderate
Insecure vs Content
Is it forbidden to think out of the "box" or have an opinion?
sold by his color.)
2) Not for publicity purposes, is it relevant to mention, that currently my only income, comes from selling my books. The
bestselling book (seventh print now, in seven years) is "CODEX JUDAICA - Choronological Index of Jewish History." For
relevance - read on.
3) There is no convincing scientific evidence that J ever lived. My history makes this clear, and this opinion is
supported by church scholars (not all, of course.) He certainly was not the "Oysoy HaIsh" mention in the "deleted" parts
of the Gemara (R.Yehoshua ben Perachya was centuries before Herod.) Even these descriptions in the "deleted" parts of
Gemara (supposedly so, to stay under the vigilant church radar) are suspect. It was not at all uncomon for the church to
"edit" by deleting - but also by adding material for convenient hate-mongering use. [My conclusion in CODEX is that he
probably did, and there were two similar persons, and/or that stories (tales) about them merged with time. Whatever is
said, if he did exist, he is not mentioned by the "historian" Josepus Flavius, whose slanted history would heve reveled in
this rebel's existence. Thus if he existed, his faame would have reached that, of lehavdil, the shtibel around the corner
looking for a minyan at borchu - on Shabbos. ]
4) For the sophist in Shmully, to make such a particular case about such a sensitive but historically murky issue, is
indication (if still needed) that the purpose of this book is other than the promoted goal.
5) Frankly, my belief is that Shmully could have made a very similar point, through a comical-satirical work on the
subject, and harvested royalties from all the non-Jewish non-believers - by far the largest market in English reading
nations. That he didn't, leads one to believe that he takes himself seriously. And that is comedy.
6) Damage control for Lubavitch, on this issue, is seriously impeded, because the Frum world will likely not join in any
outrage, unless is encompasses outrage against the Messianism...
7) Reb Yitzchak, without your kol-koreh my attention to this development would not have happened. Certainly the quotes
from his mouth to the media would not have reached me. Unfortunately, the very one's who decry "hate" etc., are rather
hasty to just read the headlines of your statement, become affronted, and not read the details you presented of his media
promotions. A simple case of mum shebecha calling the kettle black.
...Kosher Hitler
...Kosher Intermarriage
it is a shame that chabad allows him a forum anywhere
and shame on those who sponsor his books
we need to keep apikorsus and boteachs nonsense away from a children and are adults
And to those who say "Don't judge a book by it's cover" misunderstand that statement. that statement refers to the niceness or otherwise not attractiveness of the cover itself of a book. A title on the other hand is more than just a cover it represents and indicates a nature of a book.
Boteach crossed a red line with this titled. He should be banned from Chabad. Rabonim shoud put out a psak.
-------------------------------------------------
U'BIARTO HARA SHEBEKIRBECHO.
Col and all the rest of us should distance ourselves from this man, no more fancy party's no more inviting this man to talk at chabad houses.
He was thrown out of his shlichus for a good reason.
And all the fancy suits that surround him when he comes to CH, what are you doing? you should be ashamed to be seen with him.
I did not read this article I dont know what he condemns or why he does, I just read the heading of this article and that is enough! A Jew dosnt condemnd other jews!
Someone like Rabbi Jacob Immanuel Schochet should write up a well explained response with good sources refuting the book.
Besides Rabbi Jacob Immanuel Schochet great knowledge on the subject, he also has I believe answers and direction from the Rebbe of how to go about this topic correctly and effectively.
That is the only way to respond to a book like this!
I was hoping that the Sacks thing was a mistake, but now I realize that Shmuely is on a great big path to fame. With Michael Jackson gone, he adopted America's next big idol, J.
He certainly gained lots of press, but he lost my respect. Perhaps because he is Iranian he does not have the understanding what torture and loss the Jewish people have endured because of J. The blood libels, pogroms and inquisitions that both the Ashenazi population and the Spanish Jews suffered as a result of J for nearly two thousand years!!!
The sign of a great man is that he is able to acknowledge his mistakes. I hope Shmuely does, before the damage that he has wrought brings in its wake irrevocable harm.
I love how everyone who puts "Rabbi" or "shliach" in their title becomes an authoritative voice on all things Judaism. I'm also a "Rabbi" and "shliach." So what?
Am I understanding that you, Rabbi Anonymous, and Shliach Anonymous, have a different opinion about this issue? You do not agree that this should be totally condemned?
Rabbi Wolff had the courage of putting his name to his statements. Why are you not writing your name? why are you hiding?
Let us all know who does not deserve to be called a Rabbi and who with such "Hashkofos" is not worthy of that sacred title.
Before was Matisyahu's beard and now this book...
We have to stop to see all the bad in all the things!
And i dont see the "dangerous" of this book so....
I will read the new book of Shmule Boteach :)
Why Rabbi Wolf the dean of a cheder felt it his achrayus to speak out about Shmuely Boteach is a little strange.
So, perhaps someone will read the book and then decide if it is really apikurses. A flashy title is not neccesarily indicitive of its contents.
and who exactly is mister boteach?
if we believe that yoshke existed its only b/c of the refrences of him in rambam or gemara, in the rambam it says that he was killed by the sahnhedrin yes that means he was a rasha.
I am upset that Christians are trying to respect Jews.
Also don't be delusional, Christians support Israel because they are waiting the 2nd coming of his messiah.
Also if this book insults J why Christians are supporting ti? because they are morons and don't understand english oxforf, guess what germans have great ethics and philosophers and look what they did to us?
KKK also has noble ideals, one supreme race , this is super stupid.
I know his family and friends need to support him , but they should be the opposite if they love him.
Can we judge Christianity if we never read the new testament?
Why do you imagine that all these comment are being written by men? There are many intelligent, well-read women who also have opinions. Or is that not Kosher with you?
Paint it as you wish, this is not a Chabad issue at all. This is an issue of concern to the Jewish people as a whole. When a rabbi pens a book whose title is inflammatory and highly controversial, he needs to be able to take it, or he shouldn't dish it.
Arguably, this is one of the most damaging books ever written vis-a-vis anti-missionary efforts. it is no small wonder that Glen Beck has embraced it. That itself is a cautionary signal.
Boteach KNEW the title would be inflammatory, but he also KNEW that it would sell, especially in the evangelical Christian community. It certainly is a great business move, but it is not an ethical move.
Just as religious Jews have an obligation to protest when Jewish values are being corrupted by extremists in Bet Shemesh and Jerusalem, they have at least the right (if not the responsibility) to condemn a book that will confuse lost Jews even more and will probably be responsible for more J for J activity than ever.
That the evangelicals will love Boteach is without doubt; there is probably no question that he will become a leading voice in their movement. But as Chabad chasidim, (which Boteach is part of )we have a right to disavow ourselves from that dangerous path, certainly from a book called 'Kosher J' which belittles the terrible suffering that we have endured as a people for over 2,000 years from him and his followers.
We have the same right to protest this terrible title, (regardless of what is in the book) as we do the wanton desecration of the symbols of the Holocaust by the radicals in Jerusalem.
It is as repulsive and as damaging.
Thank you for your true words
cant chabad get their act together?
For a yid to believe in J is Avoda zara. So even though RSB doesn't he will unwittingly cause many to subconsciously change their views on J.
If u buy the book and read it you may as well buy a golden necklace with a tzelem cross of j and wear it while enjoying the book!
As well u may eat chazir as j claimed that none of the laws of torah need to be followed.
Sb needs to be ostracized you have no idea how many yidden will now accept j go to church all because sb wanted more kavod and money!
Do u know how many jews were Burned!!! So not to accept j
Boteach chose this title for his cover; chose it because it would create controversy.
You can't call a book Kosher J and expect people not to have a horrible allergic reaction. Do you know your Jewish history?
On top of all that, Boteach has certainly taken the term "kosher' and made it treif.
no, I am not tired of Rabbi Wolf. I am grateful to Hashem every day that our community has a role model such as he, for our children.
Oh, and for the ones that speak in yiddish, get a hebrew font. Ya make my eyes hurt
An important fact is that statistics show that there are thousands of Jews who have converted to Christianity in the US today. No one is successfully reaching out to these lost neshamas and bringing them back to yiddishkeit. Furthermore there are so many Jews who have never learned the smallest bit about their religion, and when confronted by missionaries, they are easy prey for their deceptive tactics. Many of these vulnerable and lost Jews know very little about the torah, but have heard about Shmuley through the media. Shmuley knows that they will be willing to read a book that he writes, and he can help these Jews return to the torah and be prepared when missionaries challenge them. Shmuley also knows that the only way to get his book out in the public is by using a provocative title that catches headlines. It is a very disarming way of getting converted Jews to read his book, without triggering defenses that would prevent them from opening it. If Shmuley named the book “Why JC is One big Lie” then no Jew who had converted to Christianity would want to read it. At the same time Shmuley can rewrite the entire history of JC and portray him as an observant Jew who hated the Romans, hated avoda zara, and who would be disgusted if he knew what Christianity did with his life story. It is this new character of JC that Shmuley was praising in his interviews—not the JC portrayed by the Christians. Shmuley provides heaps of evidence showing all the plagiarism and blatant deception and lies that the early founders of Christianity put into their new book. This book will influence countless people, both Jews and non-Jews to rethink their beliefs and turn to the torah, whereas no one who would read this book would in any way be encouraged to become a Christian. It would be similar to someone writing a book about Mohammed and claiming that he was a vegetarian who hated violence, wished to convert to Judaism, and loved the Jewish people unconditionally. No one reading a book like that would be interested in becoming a Moslem as it is practiced today. The same thing applies to this book.
I would add that Lubavitchers aren’t really encouraged to delve into secular studies unless its for parnasa, and this topic in general is avoided in Chabad, even when it is dealing with an anti-missionary book. And in that case it could be that this book is not for most Lubavitchers, though it never was intended to be in the first place. But that does not mean that there aren’t thousands of people who could benefit from the knowledge that Christianity is built on a foundation of lies, and JC himself never thought he was a god, and never wanted people to stop following halacha. At the very least this book will lead these lost Jews to perhaps question their beliefs and learn a little more about what it means to be a religious Jew. For those who try to claim that missionaries will be able to use this book to try to convert Jews, this is completely false. Missionaries already have plenty of tactics ad tricks they use to ensnare unsuspecting Jews. They don’t need this book to do what they do. And even if they did quote this book to a Jew, he would only be encouraged to read the book and see that its entire premise is that Jews must live as Orthodox Jews. If anyone wants to strengthen their repertoire of knowledge against missionaries, and help teach and strengthen yiddin who lack the knowledge to defend themselves against Christian attacks, this book may be for them. Of course for a Lubavitcher they should consult their mashpia to see if this book is in any way shayach for their avoda. I would end by saying that the phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover” would most definitely apply to this book. Time will most likely show that Shmuley’s new book will influence many Jews to return to the Torah, and bring many non-Jews to become Bnei Noach. May Hashem protect his people from jumping to conclusions, and slandering a man without understanding his true intentions in writing this book.
Kudos to Rabbi Wolf. The Chabad leadership may respond in three weeks from now. You did the right thing.
A fellow Shliach
Less limelight - but less misleading - assuming his intentions were sincere.
Ironically his ather Rabbi Dr Immanuel Shochet would be the perfect person to wipe the floor with Boteach on his Kosher J. Sadly he is unwell. But I wonder if unwell enough to write a response. That would send jitters down Boteach’s spine.
Meanwhile Chabad as a whole has a moral obligation to distance themselves from him. I am convinced the Rebbe would throw him out from 770 just as he sent Shlomo Carlebach away. The Rebe didn’t chase away Jews but he took issue with those who purported to be Lubavitch but were a disgrace to Chassidism of any kind.
His debates with missionaries are sometimes laughable. Show me one Jew that has come back because of those debates.
Shmuley if you are reading this remember this: If one Jew, just one, goes astray on account of your book – it’s on your head.
Meanwhile I like the reference in one comment to his Iranian ancestry. That might explain a lot. Surprised he didn't play the divorce card again. wait - it'll come.
ASK YOURSELVES PEOPLE: Can you defend this? Is there any Jew in the world who recites Mode Ani every morning that would utter this nonsense or rather Blasphemy?
This is heresy at its best.
Wow! Wouldn't that be something? The world-wide jewish population may even outnumber the muslims. Oh, wait, if SB rites a book on Kosher Islam, then the muslims may want to convert to Judaism and then ... the majority of the world will be Jewish...SB is on a mission to convert the world to Judaism!!
SO HE'S CRAZY WITH TIME ON HIS HANDS....THAT DOESNT JUSTIFY THE BITTUL TORAH AND MOITZOI SHEMROH AND LOSHON HORAH BEING SPEWED HERE.....
HIS TITLE OF HIS BOOK WAS A SIMPLE MISTAKE BY THE PRINTERS....IT SHOULD HAVE READ "KOSHER CHEESES"
YOU ARE AS CRAZY AS BOTEACH IS.......
EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT J'S NAME REALLY WAS
A non-response from the Chabad leadership is what is needed - along with a clear, private or public, statement to him and to any shaliach who has contact with him that his status is exactly what it was when he was fired at Oxford.
For us, he is best ignored.
ימח
שמו
וזכרו
If the Talmud did not find any thing Kosher about J. im sure Rabbi Boteach, cant....
"בערב הפסח תלאוהו לישו הנוצרי. והכרוז יוצא לפניו ארבעים יום: 'ישו הנוצרי יוצא ליסקל על שכישף והסית והדיח את ישראל, כל מי שיודע לו זכות יבוא וילמד עליו'. ולא מצאו לו זכות ותלהו בערב הפסח" (סנהדרין מג. בחסרונות הש"ס).
It begins small , veering away from core shlichus, like protesting Tommy Friedman and the like and it nebach ends in tragedy.Hashem should save us.
All this hoopla based on a silly title--
whatever happened to the adage: "Don't judge a book by it's cover". ??!??!!
Based on the photos of Rabbi Wolf and Rabbi Boteach my vote is for:
Let's face it, Rabbi Boteach-----has a nicer tie,
neater beard,
he's
better groomed AND--
After reading both editorial and response....
Rabbi Boteach IS INDEED a BETTER writer than Rabbi Wolf.
Honestly,I wasn't actually intending to BUY the book but after all these posts I simply MUST buy this book--and as a frum Jew it is difficult for me to pay full price for ANYTHING but you all pushed me into this.
In fact, I think I'm going to ask Barnes and Nobles for a publicity poster to use as a lawn ornament.
At least you give us food for thought which appeals to the intelligence. Most of the comments here are just people letting loose without much control......which if anyone lerns Tanya they can explain to us what that says.
I challenge shmuely to recall his book I wouldnt want the averah on my head chas vesholom of all the neshomos that chas vesholom will be lost because of this book no matter if somehow it will stop maybe a person whos thinking of accepting J yemach shemo I tend to think it will ensnare rather than convince somone not to believe in J Y"S. Ive dealt with these people this is the best thing to come out in their favor in history. Shmuely do teshuva Its time for damage control recall your book.Thanks Rabbi Wolf from Elchonon
If its soo damaging
Y then are soo many great ppl respected arround the secular wider Jewish world soo supportive
Maybe to u its apikursus
To mainstream Jewry this goes a long way towards educating the world about y Jews reject j
One must assume the Rebbe never met American evangelicals with $100 million for Israel (and a bit for Shmuley) If they had they could have made major fabrengens on nittul nacht to celebrate the birth of the tzadik Yoshke pandrich Rachmono litzlan!!!!
Shmuley - you answer the question: Would you give the book to the Rebbe? if you won't answer that - shut up!
Halachicly one may not even say 'his' name aloud even if it is others who made him into a deity.”Shem elohim(chol) acherim lo sazkiru LO YISHOMA AL PICHO“
You now have made two of the three big ones Kosher.
Kosher Giluy aroyos
Kosher Avoda Zarah
Next? Kosher shfichas domim? Kosher Crusade?
How blind can you be?
Friends - it is imperative that incessant criticism is kept up against this book. He is writing responses which means he is hurt by the attacks. Only the truth hurts. Do not stop now. Let Lubavitch tell the world we do not stand behind this. If his family will be affected - one of his only main concerns - then let him repent. But DO NOT STOP! Not now!
Boteach is known for his flamboyance and self-promotion. In a comment he later described as only having been sarcastic[16], he was reported as saying "God gave 10 commandments at Sinai, and the 11th commandment, which they expunged but which has come down orally, is 'Thou shalt do anything for publicity and recognition'."
Where are the Schochet's the true experts on this?
"To understand why Shmuley Boteach is one of the world's most prominent rabbis, you do not have to pore over learned Talmudic disputations (he isn't known for his erudition) or attend a Sabbath service (he hasn't led a congregation of his own for several years). You simply have to scan the dedication to one of his latest books, Dating Secrets of the Ten Commandments. "To Michael," it reads, "who taught me of humility."
"..."Dr. Ruth with a yarmulke," he approaches self-promotion with religious fervor. As he told one reporter, his own Eleventh Commandment is "Thou shalt do anything for publicity and recognition."
"As Shmuley's stature on campus grew, his relations with the Lubavitch leadership began to fray... Shmuley was spending too much time courting gentiles, thereby diluting outreach efforts and possibly even encouraging intermarriage. Shmuley replied with what would become his signature defense: that broadening the visibility of Judaism to the general public would inevitably, if circuitously, attract Jews."
"Fundamentally, Judaism is not about a set of attitudes toward life but about adherence to a certain body of laws, rituals, and customs, and Shmuley seems uncomfortable actually prescribing them. When he encounters a ruling that seems to contravene his counsel he dismisses it as simply "an individual commentator's personal taste and advice."
"Shmuley says he wants to turn Judaism into "the next Buddhism," "mainstreaming" the religion in order to strengthen it."
"Shmuley claims that all the attention bestowed upon him is really attention bestowed upon Judaism. But his ambition is clearly outpacing his spiritual mission; attracting secular Jews to the faith is only an ancillary preoccupation."
There are so many shluchim in debt to this true chossid, who deeply cares about our Rebbes kovod!!!!!!!!
With respect to you I'd like to ask you a few questions. But first let me say that I enjoy a lot of your books, articles, talks, etc. And as a Shliach they have been of great help. Thank you.
1. You say that Rabbi wolf wrote a "vicious attack" against you. But what you wrote in response hardly seems to be any kinder. Moreover, I have found that you have been "viciously attacking" so many other with whom you disagree, e.g., Chief Rabbi J Sacks, Dr Laura and many others. Do they not deserve the same respect?
2. You want us to read the book and not judge it by its cover. Fair enough. But I ma sure if your young child asked you to rent a movie that clearly was unkosher in the jacket cover you wouldn't even bother to open it and se any further. So no, this book I have not read (not sure if I will at some later stage). But from the newspapers you seem to have already made statements about J that are unkosher. You say he has "beautiful teachings". Surely you have learned a great deal of Gemorrah and you know the story in Avoda Zara (16b-17a) about a Tana that was punished for only have agreed to a (seemingly harmless) teaching of J. How then can you explain this Gemorah? There are many others that we can discuss, but I think this passage explains my point.
3. And this question is the crux of the matter. We all know about perceptions. We know how we can do the right thing and still be concerned about how others will view it. (E.g., Chullel Hashem, maares ayin, etc.) Perhaps someone wouldn't read the book properly, or at all, or maybe just the cover, and then have a completely different idea than what you were hoping for.
Certainly you know that the Rebbe would advise someone to consult with a Rav before making such a drastic move. I am wondering if you have?
With much love
Then, shockingly, his name started cropping up at Chabad venues. I couldn't believe that Chabad was endorsing this man. This is a man who openly hugs fremde women etc.
So now some Chabad Rabbis have been proven wrong.
Our Torahs teachings are constant. Now wishy washy.
If a Rabbi represents the Torah, he cannot be a hypocrite.
Our Rebbe taught us Torah and did not change his mind about his teachings one, ten or even fifty years later.
That's because he taught us the truth. Our Rebbe never watered down the teachings of the Torah to attract anybody.
On the contrary. The Rebbe brought the world up to the Torah.
If Chabad leaders cant decide who they are in terms of tznius, boteach and the like, then who should their followers follow.
Its all nice and dandy to say "Follow the Rebbe" but it's obviously not working.
It's time for Lubavitch to have A leader, not one thousand leaders.
The Arizal says that just looking at a cross is a major pgam-einayim. Can you imagine what he'd say about the cover of Shmuley's book, Yoshke's pierced hand from the crucifixion?
The title of the book alone is enough to make one shudder. The goyim are going to have a field day: "See? Even an Orthodox 'hasidic' rabbi admits that J is kosher."
and show me one place in halacha where its apikorsus to say these words i am moshiach.
he was just confused and wrong
SB is greedy ,without a conscious!
Rabbi wolf u restore my faith in rabbonim!
2, concerning the 'reclaiming of yoshke' in order that the goyim will like us, ״הלכה עשו שונא את יעקב״, as far as i remember, עשו predates yoshke...
3, even christians who share the same religion hate each other
Thank you Rabbi Wolf for standing up against a dangerous mistake
יש"ו
the name ישו comes from the Talmud which is "rashey tevos" of,
ימח
שמו
וזכרו
If the Talmud did not find any thing Kosher about J. im sure Rabbi Boteach, cant....
"בערב הפסח תלאוהו לישו הנוצרי. והכרוז יוצא לפניו ארבעים יום: 'ישו הנוצרי יוצא ליסקל על שכישף והסית והדיח את ישראל, כל מי שיודע לו זכות יבוא וילמד עליו'. ולא מצאו לו זכות ותלהו בערב הפסח" (סנהדרין מג. בחסרונות הש"ס).
Somone who fought missionaries
I am not HKBH and I dont know Shmuely Boteachs intentions but I can say this ; the jews for j adherents teach the same thing J Yimach Shmo was a jew who practiced judaism etc they take it one step further he is the mesiah .You cant argue with them your only hope is to reach somone attending their service who is still not fuly comited and convince him or her through well prepared counter arguments.to leave.The missionaries will use Shmuelys book as a steping stone to convince unsuspecting Jews of the jewishnes of J and ensnare them .
I challenge shmuely to recall his book I wouldnt want the averah on my head chas vesholom of all the neshomos that chas vesholom will be lost because of this book no matter if somehow it will stop maybe a person whos thinking of accepting J yemach shemo I tend to think it will ensnare rather than convince somone not to believe in J Y"S. Ive dealt with these people this is the best thing to come out in their favor in history. Shmuely do teshuva Its time for damage control recall your book.Thanks Rabbi Wolf from Elchonon
Sefer Hachinuch parshas Kedoshim tells us: אל תפנו אל האלילים means you may not speak or think about iidolatry. How can a book that deals, in various segments, with notions within idolatry be a permitted read? This is Biblically prohibited!
Halachicly one may not even say 'his' name aloud even if it is others who made him into a deity.”Shem elohim(chol) acherim lo sazkiru LO YISHOMA AL PICHO“
You want us to read the book and not judge it by its cover. Fair enough. But I ma sure if your young child asked you to rent a movie that clearly was unkosher in the jacket cover you wouldn't even bother to open it and se any further.
You say he has "beautiful teachings". Surely you have learned a great deal of Gemorrah and you know the story in Avoda Zara (16b-17a) about a Tana that was punished for only have agreed to a (seemingly harmless) teaching of J. How then can you explain this Gemorah? There are many others that we can discuss, but I think this passage explains my point.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhvEVPGgseY&feature=player_embedded
SB comparing rabbi wolf to spitting on an 8 year old kid? just because rabbi wolf has some valid arguments against this book? you can argue is who is right, but drawing such comparisons? calling rabbi wolf an extremist for daring to argue with "america's rabbi"?
whose morals are totally out of whack?
thankyou GREAT POINT. Now that is a man who really was given over and people felt that he was genuine and given over to the cause. Nobody felt that it was money or fame, they felt that he was devoted as a Jew to HKBH's children. Great, great point.
I hope that from this pain, the differences which we have experienced in our Crown Heights community, will improve, as now we can truly see what an outsider is like. You may feel what you call "confident" about stepping in and, with mixed direction, decided to do what *you* think is right....but this shows:
you aren't a Lubavitcher
you must be personally conflicted to come across so sure of yourself about something which does not have clear guidelines and goals and intentions
you are like the ganif who gets so confident about what he is doing, that he oversteps his bounds and gets caught looking quite non complimentary.
This is just hasagas gevul to say the very least.
Redefine yourself, this is not only about hashgofah, it is about your own personal mission statement....who are you, what really bothers you, what do you really want on all levels, why are you doing this, do you really know?
. . . הנוצרים הראשונים . . . והנה כת זו בעת ההיא לא חפצו להבדיל מעם ישראל ואדרבה דברו בשבחו (ועד שבא שאול מתרשיש הרי גם לא רצו לדבר עם הנכרים) חשבו עצמם מבני ישראל בכל הענינים נהגו במנהגיהם לרבות למוד התורה וקיום המצות ברובם המכריע והיו מבזים את אמונת הפסילים היינו הדת השלטת אשר בעת ההיא, וכידוע, וראה בשבת בסיום הסוגיא שם: אנא לא למיפחת מן אורייתא דמשה אתיתי כו', אלא שהי' בהם ענין של ע"ז (וצ"ע איזה) והיו מלעיגים על אחדות מדרז"ל . . . זאת אומרת אשר לא היו משומדים, כמו שמפרשים *עתה* מלה זו, אלא ישראלים חפשים, עוברי עבירה, מינים.
It is also good to know that at that time, the Sages did something else to extricate the early Jewish Christians from among Yidden, they composed the beracha ולמלשינים, which at the time was known (and still is) as ברכת המינים, the minim being those early Christians. Thus any chazzan, as they functioned in those days and as described in משניות מסכת ברכות, who would not want to say this ברכה was immediately identified as one of those Christians and was ousted from the Jewish community. What emerges as clear as day is, the similarities between early Christianity and Yiddishkeit were the very problem. The very claim SB makes inside his book (as he also wrote in his rebuttal) amplify the problem that the חכמים found it necessary to eradicate. So, here comes SB and questions our 2,000 years of conscientious rejection of this man!
I have known the author in question since he was a child and shepped nachas all these years from his eloquance and success. I have always rooted for him, including with relevance to his other controversial books. I assumed he knew what he was doing.
This is nothing like that. Everyone and especially Shmuely and family should have GeFeN and all their hearts' desires for the good, and I am sure that all of us wish him the same.
But, from this layperson's point of view, this book -say, its cover at least--must be rejected in the strongest possible terms as a chillul Hashem and perhaps . . . .
But I don't understand why people other than Nachan Shanowitz and Rabbi Wolf are using screen names. If you have something to say use your real name. Your comments will carry more weight. If you feel strongly, why not? And while Rabbi Wolf is the only "Eash" to have stood up here, he should be congratulated for doing what he was supposed to do, not for his great "courage." People write kudos to Rabbi Wolf for not being afraid--afraid of what? Klippa is afraid of Kedusha, not vice versa. Of course he isn't afraid.
Bottom line--go according to your Rav and Shuchan Oruch and use your real names. Anomynous postings send the wrong signal, that the author of is a metzias to be reckoned with. Step up in your own names and stand up for what's right.
Postscript and question--I know it is usser to use a kloister in giving directions and that we are to spit when we pass one. Does this mean that naztrus is usser be-hanaa? Shituf for Yidden is Avoida Zara mamash. Is it pemissable for the author to called up for an aliya? To be allowed in a shull? He may not care, but we should, and the only way to know is to ask a Rav. He should be nissoror btshuva and know that he will be welcomed with open arms if that is what happens.
It would have been very good if the publication of this stupid book could have been stopped, but now that it's out there, the best thing for Chabad to do is to just ignore the book and its author - certainly not to dignify him with any debate or recognition. Yasher koach to Rabbi Wolf for taking a stand, and now let's all get back to whatever we were busy with before Shmully screamed out for attention and relevance.
BOTEACH SEEKS TO LEGITIMISE THE NEW TESTAMENT LEHAVDIL, AND YESHU LEHAVDIL, ON PAR WITH TENACH AND NEVIIM. HE HAS CLEARLY LOST HIS SPIRITUAL AND CHABAD COMPASS IF NOT HIS MIND!!!!!
Sholom U'Brochoh,
Regarding the recent controversy surrounding a book released by Shmuley Boteach titled 'Kosher J', I am writing this letter to express my authoritative view in response to those who have sought my opinion on the matter.
While it is not normally my style to write letters of condemnation, having read the book, I feel it poses a tremendous risk to the Jewish community and therefore imperative to state my halachic opinion that it is forbidden for anyone to buy or read this book or give its author a platform in any shape or form to discuss this topic.
It is not my intent, nor does it serve any purpose to engage in any polemic. It only enhances the sensationalism surrounding the book's release. However, in the 40 years I have spent combating missionaries across the globe, I have never read a book, let alone one authored by a purported frum Jew, that does more to enhance the evangelical missionary message and agenda than the aforementioned book.
The grossly distorted message of the book violates basic premises of original and authentic Jewish tradition, thus unavoidabty must be rejected for being heretical.
It is my sincerest hope that the author recognizes the error of his ways and looks to make amends by retracting the book.
Rabbi Dr. J. Immanuel Schochet