By Yonatan Gordon
In an effort to bring additional clarity to the events now gripping the Lubavitch community, I thought to bring my personal story. While not specific to this organization, I was encouraged to write it after hearing from other students how Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburg responded to the most recent events.
He said (as heard from another student): “Since this is obviously not the real thing, we need to increase our efforts to promote the real thing instead. These events only mean that there are certainly more open possibilities–more and more–to step up our good influence in the world.”
A few years back, on one of the Lubavitch news sites, there was advertised an ‘alternative healing’ practitioner visiting Crown Heights from Eretz Yisroel. Seeing this is an easy way out of some difficulties I had been having, both my wife and I enlisted his services. As he was a Lubavitcher, with a full beard, etc., at the time we had assumed that his methods of healing would be 100% ‘kosher’ as well.
It turns out that while most of his work was energy based, he also used guided imageries as part of his methods. The highpoint of these imageries was to take the patient through oceans, to a far distant place, to enter a room that he called the “chamber of Moshiach.”
Although reluctant, at the end I did see the image of this person that was intended to be “the Moshiach.” But instead of deep penetrating eyes, they were artificially blue without any depth to them, and the appearance was that of a wizard or magician similar to the garb of eastern practitioners.
Since that visit, we became troubled by many thoughts that had never bothered us previously. We sought out the assistance of another Lubavitch ‘healing practitioner’ who we had gone to in the past. He informed us that this other man derived his ‘healing’ from the same kelipot as Christianity, and that he was working his best to combat it on our behalf.
When this too didn’t work, and the thoughts were still troubling us, we contacted our Satmar ‘homeopath’ Yitzchak Fisch from Williamsburgh.
First let me explain why I put notations around the work “homeopath.” The reason is that although he is skilled at his profession, before administering the pellets, he makes sure to first say, “May Hashem give you an emesdikeh refuah (true healing).”
For this reason, throughout the years of going to him, I wouldn’t ask what the actual name of the remedy was. Even if the remedy was perfectly selected out of hundreds of other possible choices, it is still Hashem that gives the refuah, and not a particular remedy.
This was all background material about the respect my wife and I have, till this day, for Mr. Fisch.
So we called him, explaining what the second practitioner had told us. He responded loudly–probably audible in the adjacent rooms through the phone–that this is complete and total nonsense! That there is nothing to fight against, because it doesn’t exist to begin with! This was the answer that we needed to hear!
From the words heard from a student in the name of Rabbi Ginsburg at the beginning, and in-line with the story just recounted, there are two factors that I think each of us need to realize:
1. These workshops are not the real thing.
2. We need to do more to promote the real thing, or the viable alternative that today’s youth especially are searching for.
It is clear from this that more than the impact of fighting darkness with a stick, increasing the light by spreading the true path (such as is taught in the Torat Hanefesh three-year program) would be infinitely more beneficial.
–Yonatan Gordon, former Marketing Manager at Kehot Publication Society, founded Dwelling Place Publishing and CommunityofReaders.org, a website for exchanging ideas and experiences
Homeopathy is not voodoo. It’s highly scientific. It is clear you are unfamiliar with its science. People assume that since homeopathy and other forms of energy healing work subtlely, they are not ‘real’. Hm. This is called ignorance, folks. It’s easy to shun that which you know nothing about.
i’m sorry but i’m unable to give any constructive feed back on the logic presented in # 41 because there wasn’t any logic presented in #41.
Yonatan, while I appreciate your sharing your experiences with alternative healing, you are mixing issues. COTS is an LGAT (although a pretty small one by their own report), a derivative of Landmark Forum, which itself is an EST spinoff. COTS is not alternative healing. Doctors (conventional), as well as alternative healers, including homeopaths, can only do body medicine. The problem arises when either or both the COTS-type LGATs, conventional doctors, and alternative healers start dabbling in soul medicine. There is only one soul-based medical tradition–our own traditional Jewish medicine, which has been practiced for over 5,000 years, and its modern… Read more »
i also want his # phone
i dont trust in doctors, they just want opertaions to make money
crown heights is messed up/we need to learn to stop judging/focus on more important issues in our community
How would the Rebbe respond to this……
I definitely do not see to much Ahavas Yisroel. It looks like most people are not besimcha? I ask why….
One thing for sure we are missing Bitochon. Rebbe we need you.
This was said by a Chassidishe Rebbe.
whats his phone number?
I, myself was affected by too much antibiotics. And Interestingly, recently I heard on a regular radio station, that there are certain {sick} DR’s. who would R”L amputate a limb bec, they make more money, instead of using another way to heal.
Of Course, there’s a very important place and many lifesaving tools for good Western Drs, but I think there is a place for certain alternative healing. As far as I know, this excludes energy healing, bec. I’ve heard it is not allowed.
This comment has nothing to do with Cots. I don’t know enough about it.
WHAT IS ‘CALL OF THE SHOFAR’? Posted on Dec 17, 2013 in Cults The program “Call of the Shofar” is an Orthodox Jewish version of EST aka Landmark Forum. It is popular with many Lubavitchers and is a form of LGAT – Large Group Awareness Therapy. As such, it is very dangerous, according to this one rabbi. Is The Possible You seminar a form of LGAT? It sounds like it. About half of my friends swear by LGAT but I would never participate in such a thing. Jim* emails: “Call of the Shofar is pop psychology using cult-like methods of… Read more »
I think this article demonstrates just how many gullible frum people are out there. I see more halachic and other issues with these methods of healing than with COTS. It’s absolute ganeivas daas and looks like maase kishuf.
I have not noticed too many loving comments from either side. Actually most not all but most of the comments in the 4-5 articles have been critical, scathing, judgemental. But on the positve side, a bi men brent about an important inyan, How do we reach others. How do we find happiness. If all these comments, articles, asifas, etc will bring more awareness of the importance of good communication, the importance of mashpiim who are more attuned to their students, more positive acceptance and love in accordance with how the Rebbe would want it, then this whloe uproar will have… Read more »
If Rabbi Kamentzky was born in 1925, wouldn’t that make him VERY CLOSE to 90 AMU”SH. So your disclaimers and laugh aloud’s are probably not worth much, which makes me tend to believe the other statements #38 wrote as well, especially as the rumor aout the Shul attendance is a KOLO DELO POSIK. Besides that, Rabbi Shea Hecht is probably more of an expert on cults than most or all of the commentators here. (BTW I’m surprised he didn’t speak, though the advertisement said he would. I’m sure he would have something interesting to say).
1- science doesn’t (openly) accept the concept of soul enlivens body, whereas this is a fundamental of chasidus. Hence science would give no credence to the energy healing theory whereas Torah would.
2- instead of ignorantly bashing I would appreciate constructive feedback on the logic presented in 41.
If comment 39 is any indication re the ASIFA’s impact on cots cultists, then I must declare the asifa a success!!
gobbly gok and more gobly gook. what’s wrong you ask.your supposition isn’t based on science but is based on new agey irrational thinking.
Our typical farbrengens just don’t cut it out. People aren’t honest and open and unfortunately, crown heightsers are infested with judgemental attitudes.
At Shofar, we learn how to be open, loving, and accepting of each other without any judgements. Let’s infuse those feelings into our farbrengens. We gotta break through our inhibitions with some extreme cult-like measures. 😉
What you wrote is a total falsehood, that has absolutely no basis in reality!
You are being motzi shem ra. Period.
I agree with 40 i am impressed with those that see the value in it and yes you explained it very well. How this is needed in addition to chassidus.
to number 36 I am the one who wrote number 7 no the stuff he said was very private and there would have been no way for him to find it out thru googling. Go and see for yourself and you will be blown away too!
I have some snake oil in my back pocket. Will the line
please form to the right.
i literally laughed out loud at ur comment
So you know if he attends shul and you know that he sold it and you know that rav kamenetsky is 90 (he was born in 1925 FYI)
get your facts straight 😉
COTS ,healers
whats next? any Kosher Tarot in CH?
There is a soul that vitalizes the body. This soul along with everything up to Hashem himself is an energy ( and Hashem the source) the energyl can not only be intellectually understood (chasidus) but can be subtly experienced. Since all is energy including the life-force of our body wouldnt it make sense that increasing and enhancing this energy into an afflicted area of the body of soul would make the body healthier and more functional. Agreed? Now a step further, is this possible? yes because energy is magnetic force meaning one object can and does affect another. At least… Read more »
Alternative emotional healing may some times be needed independent of chasidic teachings. Take for an example a person has a difficulty with anger due to repressed childhood emotions. Chasidus has answers for this challenge but if the person is deeply entrenched in his emotions it may be very difficult to resolve. The person needs to open his closed up and repressed emotions. So the problem is not the methodology of chasidus but the persons approach. The problem is not in the ohr but in the kli. Natural healing methods help clear this “trauma” and help open the person (who was… Read more »
I should know! Btdt! These tools are very effective at inculcating (aka Daasafying, Internalizing) concepts which most ppl who are self aware and growth oriented, already knew! The power of a cult is in it’s tools! Powerful effective tools! Tools need to be considered essentially neutral, not good no evil perse’ While everyone agrees that Simacha may not be reliable to extract the tools from their wide spread use for bad, We can all agree that in principle, (as the letter from the Rebbe encourages, re the necessity for Rabbonim and Experts to develop the essential utility of these tools… Read more »
Rabbi Kaminetsky is 90 years old and never heard first hand info about it he based it on Twerski ( Milwaukee ) who said he also doesnt know much but Simcha Frischling is a Yirei Shamayaim Let it be known that Simcha does not daven anymore in a shul and does not attend any shul in the area in Sydney where he lives. His Yiras Shamayim left him so did his business who he sold to Schmukler ( Rabbi Marlows Son in law ) and others who bought the rights from him to run it in ny. THey have a… Read more »
I asked the same question .I actually wrote to ask the Rabbi at Chabad.org and the response I got was that the Rebbe told someone who asked him to ask a rav and the rav answered to go with the majority opinion ie western medicine. i am at aloss as to why so many Lubavitchers are so into Easterm medicine. The west has a better proven track record in terms of life expectancy. This is just more of that endless searching for THE ANSWER THAT WILL SOLVE ALL PROBLEMS.
Wow! He googled you and your husband, that is just amazing!
How can I contact Rabbi/Mr./Dr. Fisch as I would like to be in touch with him on my next trip to the Big Apple
I think that there is a problem with denial In the chabad community… there seems to be an issue with people realizing that there are issues in this world and its perfectly normal I feel like this community focuses so much on shlichus and the outside than taking care of there own people and community… it should be normal to have to go get help a therapist is the smartest thing to do!!! Therapy is the answers for most people trying to go to the kol shofar
The author of the healing experience is definitely confused and contradicts himself.
As the Alter Rebbe says in Tanya that if someone gets Machshoves Zoros he should not be a Shoteh to assume that the source is from the outside but the source of the undesirable thoughts is from within himself.
Similarly Mashpiim shouldn’t blame the lack of Chassidishkiet on contact with the outside, that Lubavitcher are seeking anything on the outside, rather the problem is internal, which is the lack of Hashpaah of the Mashpiim, because they are “out of touch” with todays generation.
To #1-14. And 1 – 500 Its all Bitul Torah….And therefore see Tanya Perek 1
Phony Baloney.
It’s called a farbrengen!
#14 is right. Since the majority of current Shoifar clients already are well versed in the methodology, it’s so easy to do it ourselves with the added benefit that then we are free to do it by using all concepts of Chassidus instead. The added benefit will be that our CH Mashpiim will not be insulted because the Lubavitcher who will run our own Shofar system will be called the Mashpiim. Our own internal Mashpiim can then make our own emergency very “Urgent” Asifa which will call in the name of our Mashpiim, that everyone should be Mekabel Our Hashpaah… Read more »
Better to take drugs then going to the colta leminehem avodo zoro mamesh
Its enough!!!!!
Just go learn tora!!!
Once any Rav or Health Professional will dig deeper into this program they will have serious reservations about it and actually come out against it unless there’s a major overhaul and it is constantly under Rabbinic and Professional Psychological authority.
Collive is administered by very well meaning people, however, it has drifted into areas far beyond its expertise. There are people whose lives are strongly and directly affected by these treatments and these articles. I don’t think that the editors here would start critiquing experimental cancer treatments (at least I hope they wouldn’t) and they need to stop critiquing these various alternative mental treatments as well. As R’ Schwei and R’ Braun wrote, it is impossible to paskin regarding these issues without very specific experience and expertise, and it is up to individuals to consult with maspi’im that they trust… Read more »
The reason why call of the shofar cultivates positive feeling towards friends and family is because the purpose of call of the shofar is to a. connect with one’s neshama. b. be kind to oneself by allowing oneself to feel human by saying what they always wanted to say. c. almost like reparenting oneself – see what do i learn from here and what do i therefore want to give to others. People are happy when they fill heard. Which is accomplished and especially when their goals of what they want to give to others is meaningful its from them… Read more »
Who cares what the Rebbe used – IF it works it works – some things are more in the open now then was then! Why dont you care about your health enough not to get the extremely harmful side affects of western medicine? If you care you would look for alternative – but you obviously are blinded there is so much info. out there today – google any medicine you will see side affects – and then decide whether or not u want them. And then theres the side affects that they wont tell you about – but happens like… Read more »
Thank you number 11 for clarifying!
Hi Im number 7 and had a couple of typos what i meant to say was – my husband was skeptical before he met him and after he met him – and mr. fish analyzed him he was blown away! Since he was so on target without any previous data. So go see for yourself – he will blow you away too – I’m sure!
Misnagid, not misngaid. Your argument Irrelevant at best.
Since when is a litveshe rov disqualified from paskining Halacha? Which Shulchin Auruch did you find that?! Your hatred is unbelievable!
point is lubavitch doesnt do quick fixes like screaming till your hoarse and breathing till you faint. our point of living is thtt its a life-long journey of overcoming struggles to keep getting closer to Hashem. however, an inspiring , uplifting Shabbos would be a great idea!
my grandmother used anecdotal evidence all the time and she lived to be 100!
So a practitioner of a practice that has no scientific credibility convinced you that alternative healing is a sham?
Not that I disagree with the conclusions, but I just can’t see any stream of logic in the argument you have presented. I’m not sure how you can simultaneously accept his opinion about the other form of alternative healing you experienced, when it would seemingly also call his own practice into question.
My pseudo-science is better than your pseudo-science?
“He said (as heard from another student): “Since this is obviously not the real thing, we need to increase our efforts to promote the real thing instead.””
you heard this from somebody that heard it from r’ ginsburg
all i want to know is what is he basing his judgments on?
he takes $250 a session, and better said, he knows how to catch innocent fish, and eat them for lunch, with a smile,
In the past when I’d seen ads and heard talk of “healers” in Crown Heights and elsewhere I just laughed. I don’t know much about COTS and won’t join the naysayers but this I DO know. The idea of someone healing through energy is laughable, insane, and untrue. It’s not physiologically possible. Energy cannot heal. Period. Even if these “healers” were a free-of-charge service I would not go.
Stop the insanity. Why aren’t people more down-toearth?
HEALERS??!! Come on! And to think people PAY these hucksters is appalling highway robbery.
Shofar CULTivates one with positive feelings towards friends, family, and Hashem.
I never went to it, never drank the kool aid, but my friend did. Just from hearing the reasoning behind the exercises makes me understand why it causes such amazing effects.
I think we should create a Lubavitch version of shofar. Who’s on for it???
You are clearly not a Lubavitcher or even familiar with the rabbi you mention
If not for all the other reason, just because this misnaged (google it if you don’t know what it means) supported it is already a reason why chassidim shouldn’t be going there…
For those wondering whether COTS is kosher, many big Rabbanim endorsed it.
Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky (just one example) said it’s halachakly ok.
This article is lacking adequate clarity and misleads the reader to draw conclusions about the energy healing practice. The article starts with an experience with a certain practitioner which by the description I understand is named R’ Y.S. from Eretz Yisroel. If this is correct a few matters I would like to address . 1) Y.S. consulted with Rabbi Ginsburg, who he knows personally and received approval for his methods as well as recommendation to keep healing in this way as this is a method of leosid lovo. (!) He also spoke to several mekubalim and rabbonim about what he… Read more »
It seems like many Lubavitchers I know use homeopathy as opposed to western medicine. But I find many of those methods not aligning with Torah. Did the Rebbe use homeopathy or standard medicine? I am under the understanding that the Rebbe used REAL doctors.
COTS is not some sort of “in the clouds” healing. It is VERY PRACTICAL, with REAL, LASTING, and POSITIVE effects. period.
Thank you for your words of true wisdom. Clarity and to the point.
Firstly, if you have ever met Mr; Fish you would know he knows what he’s talking about. The first time I met him he analyzed my husband on target without even me talking about him. He never met my husband before and he never saw a picture of him. The guy is brilliant. He analyzed me too and told me things about myself that I dont tell poeple and know and i never told him either. And he is sooo acurate! HE’s amazing! He has a gift from Hashem! And when he met my husband at another date later my… Read more »
Mr. Fisch is a homeopath. He’s dispensing energy pellets, not medicine in the conventional sense. 🙂
At 150$ a session, Dr. Fish is great ( וכשמו כן הוא, אוהב דג ואכמ״ל) 😉
I don’t know if you realized but you contradicted yourself. You start off by mentioning about the “chassidshe bochur with jeans” and then you end off by saying that with the “according to his ways” that “women and girls won’t go outside dressed like…” Firstly, which is a side point, why are undermining women. For men, its about serving G-d and giving oneself over to the Rebbe, and for women its just about covering your elbows. Thats Judaism? Are you really boiling down Judaism as “Commandments: Men – 613, Women – don’t wear pants”? Secondly, and your paradox, if someone… Read more »
What does this have to do with COTS? isnt that all that has been discussed of late on collive and in lubavitch in general??
Finally something instead of that nonsense…
What are his credentials that he heals ppl and dispenses pellets? Do u honestly not know the names of the ‘medicine’ that hes giving u? Are u aware of any potential side effects? Doesnt sound responsible of you/him.
I’ve spoken with several people who encouraged me to go to the Call of the Shofar retreat – I never went – but the people that tried convincing me to go were from Crown Heights; they are great guys, very Lubavitch and most probaly went to Ohelei Torah. One of the guys that tried to convince me to go to this retreat is quite comfortable wearing jeans outside the house but don’t get him wrong, he’s very Chassidishe. One Sukkos we farbrenged in his Sukkah and it started to pour. While the mashpia farbrenging and other bochurim ran into the… Read more »