By COLlive reporter
An audio recording of Rabbi Joseph Ber Soloveitchik, the “Rav” who was the outstanding figure of modern Orthodox Judaism in 20th century America, is said to have profound historic significance as it authoritatively refutes the traditionally accepted basis for opposition to Chassidus.
The recording is of an extraordinary address that the late Rosh Yeshiva of Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) at Yeshiva University in New York City gave at a Yud Tes Kislev Farbrengen in Boston, Massachusetts in 1968 celebrating the Rosh Hashana of Chassidus.
In this captivating oration, Rav Soloveitchik dispels the foundations for this widely accepted approach to the opposition to Chassidus prevalent in the Litvish yeshiva world. Rav Soloveitchik’s authority in this topic is based on his family traditions, as a scion of the Brisker dynasty and a direct descendant of the most foremost disciple and primary spiritual heir of the Vilna Gaon, Rav Chaim of Volozhin, who founded the Volozhin yeshiva, which became the mother of all Lithuanian-style yeshivas.
In his talk, Rav Soloveitchik attested that his family tradition confirms the attempt of the Alter Rebbe to visit the Vilna Gaon in an attempt to persuade him to abandon his opposition to Chassidus (except that in the Brisker family tradition it was Rav Levi Yitzchok of Berdichev who accompanied the Alter Rebbe on this visit, whereas according to Chabad tradition, as recorded by the Alter Rebbe himself in his Igros Kodesh letter 52, it was Rav Mendel Horodoker).
The Rav then revealed that the reason the Vilna Gaon refused to meet the Alter Rebbe was because the Vilna Gaon was so awestruck by the holy countenance of the Alter Rebbe (which he saw through a crack in his door) that he felt that if he allowed the Alter Rebbe in, he would be persuaded to leave hand-in-hand with the Alter Rebbe and would (not only desist from opposing him, but, on the contrary, would) join him in spreading Chassidus
The Rav contended that although Rav Chaim Volozhiner wrote his magnum opus “Nefesh Hachaim” at the request of the Vilna Gaon with the express purpose to contradict and refute the contents of the Tanya and demonstrate that its philosophy is contrary to the accepted beliefs of Torah – in reality, the opposite is true and the Nefesh Hachaim overwhelmingly confirms the tenets, principals and beliefs articulated by the Alter Rebbe in the Tanya (and the areas of apparent disagreement are marginal and primarily semantical).
He then concludes that, based on all the above facts and factors, the historic opposition to Chassidus was unwarranted and all its tragic consequences in dividing the Jewish people into two hostile camps (resulting in such malefactions as the mesira of the Alter Rebbe to the Russian government and his imprisonment) was misinformed and misguided and only due to the efforts of “slander-mongers, troublemakers, psychopaths and corrupt individuals who found malicious delight in promoting feud and hate.”
Calling himself “a Clandestine Chabadnik,” the Rav said that Chabad chassidim who populated the cities in Lithuania and Russia where he grew up, were talmidei chachamim, lomdim and devout Jews of the highest caliber.
A Chabad chossid who heard the recording told COLlive.com that “It should be noted, however, that the Alter Rebbe wrote (Igros Kodesh of the Alter Rebbe letter 52) that there were irreconcilable differences regarding basic tenets between the Alter Rebbe and the Vilna Gaon (since the Vilna Gaon did not accept the kabbalah of the Arizal in its entirety).
As a reference, he pointed to the Rebbe’s letter to Rav Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler regarding the areas of agreement and disagreement between the Tanya and the Nefesh Hachaim in Igros Kodesh I:11 and 3:551, and also Heichel Baal Shem Tov vol. 4 page 39-48.
AUDIO: Rabbi JB Soloveitchik at a 1968 Yud Tes Kislev community gathering in Boston
Can anyone pl explain what does that “chosid” (as referred to at the end of your article) want with his “HOWEVER” statement, pointing out references from our holy RABBAIM that there were deep disagreements on matters of kabballah between the alter rebbe and vilna’r gaon??!! what does it have to do at all with the beautiful and very intriguing point of history related by horav solovaitchik z”l ??!! ps it seems that the “CHOSID” forgot to refer to the TANYA itself in שער היחוד והאמונה פרק ז (דף פג,סע”א) וראה גם אגה”ק סימן כה (דף קמא רע”ב. but as mentioned… Read more »
When someone comes, as people often do, to say that there is no real machlokes between the Nefesh Hachayim and the Tanya, it is necessary to point out that this is not so. The differences are not just semantic, they are substantive and important. One can gain a lot from learning Nefesh Hachayim and Michtov Me’eliyohu, but one must be aware that on a few very important points they differ from the shita of Chabad Chassidus. That’s all.
I am intrigued to be educated about the differences in Tzimtzum and more, that apparently lead to a difference LeMaaseh. Someone enlighten me. Leave Rav Dessler out of it. That’s a different discussion and let’s not forget that Rav Dessler was heavily influenced by Mussar, and Mussar was irrelevant in Beis HoRav (Volozhin)
Isaac Balbin
Isaac Balbin
Rav Soloveichok z”l was a great Gaon, but his hashkofos were not necessarily accepted in the Chareidi yeshiva world, as seen with his positions on some other prominent contemporary issues. His lomdus was, and is, respected, but his other teachings are at times a different matter.
This is about the traditions of the Soloveichik family. We already know from elsewhere that Reb Chaim said that the original misnagdim included some who were lesheim shomayim and some who were mecharcherei riv, but by his own time (over 100 years ago) those who had been misnagdim lesheim shomayim had already given up their hisnagdus, and the only misnagdim left were the ones who never meant it sincerely and were always hateful people. What the Rav said in this recording is in perfect line with that well-known statement by his zeideh Reb Chaim.
Wrong city
of this recording? Who has had it, who is bringing it to the public?
We can all learn something good from every sefer written by any of these great men. Shivim panim lTorah no one is “wrong” no one is “right”. As long as your focus in life is Torah & serving Hashem. You will have clarity as to what you are learning.
I heard from Rav Avigdor Miller z’tl that te purpose of the money Vilna Gaon and the opposition to Chassidim at the time was to keep them from straying away. Some chassidim did extreme things and with opponents it kept them from going off. We see many such cases in history. A balance of power controls movements. Satmar and their anti Zionist sheta kept a control on Agudah from being swept away by Zionist fervor. It’s not so simple. People think that Rav Shach and the Rebbe were at odds. Read the incredible book incredible 2 and you will be… Read more »
R’ Shapiro from Miami spoke about this story, he was a bochur sent to that event, and tells about it on the My Encounter, from a few years ago