By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, the Rebbe’s secretary who heads Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch – the educational and social arm of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, was ranked #2 on Newsweek’s list of the 50 most influential American rabbis.
Rabbi Krinsky was No. 1 on the last two lists and this year swapped spots with David Wolpe, an author, public speaker and Conservative rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles.
Among the criteria used to determine America’s top 50 rabbis were their impact on Judaism and beyond the Jewish community; the size of their constituencies; their social/political influence; and their media presence, Abigail Pogrebin wrote in Newsweek’s sister publication, The Daily Beast.
Pogrebin, along with Gary Ginsberg, executive vice president of Time Warner Inc., and Michael Lynton, CEO of Sony Corp., selected this year’s list, JTA reports.
Here is the full entry:
No. 1 the last two years, Krinsky is still at the top of his game, running the sprawling and influential Chabad movement, though not without a few hiccups this past year.
Dogged by pesky lawsuits and still embroiled in a decades-long litigation to reclaim the late Rebbe Menachem Schneerson’s collection of books and manuscripts from a Russian government that has refused to return them for 70 years (the lawsuit took a particularly nasty turn this year when the Russians retaliated with an art embargo of the U.S.), Krinsky nonetheless remains among the most influential clergy spreading a brand of Judaism to the furthest reaches of the globe.
Chabad opened its 78th permanent center this year in Portugal and can now boast a presence in every major European country. They even have outposts in such unlikely places as Harlem, the Bowery, and Phnom Penh.
120 new educational institutions were established in 2011, and Chabad’s conference for female shluchot (emissaries sent out to spread the message) drew more than 3,000 women in February.
(Ranking in 2011: #1)
I didn’t know newsweek is still in print?
Seriously.
Rabbi Wolpe uses the teachings of chasidus to influence his constituents, he may not know it but you can see it all over his writings..
A dignified and authentic representation of chabad.
We are and should always be!!
We, Chabad, are all looked upon as one family and must always remember that we really are!
to Newsweek for this choice.
“21. Shmuel Kamenetsky (Haredi)”
Is Chabad Orthodox or Heredi? What’s the difference?
David wolpe
What does Newsweek know?
newsweek ranking rabbis is like shlomo zarchi ranking football players…
Very proud Lubavitcher. This is what the Rebbe wanted. May you go from strength to strength.
its 110 years the התגלות is near
another example of “koach h;mishaleiach” ( Rebbe )
Rabbi Krinsky was No. 1 on the last two lists and this year swapped spots with David Wolpe, an author, public speaker and Conservative rabbi of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles
Wondering..