The New York Jewish Week, an independent Jewish newspaper and website, has prompted outrage after publishing a meme mocking the Lubavitcher Rebbe on the cover of their print edition.
The meme was one of many posted online after the Crown Heights eatery Basil Pizza and Wine Bar announced that their Kosher supervisor is now Menachem Mendel Schneerson, a namesake of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
The meme reads “Melech Hamashgiach” superimposed on a photo of the Rebbe, and was featured on the front cover of the newspaper to call attention to an article written by Jewish Week staff writer Hannah Dreyfus about the dispute between OK Kosher certification and Basil’s owners.
Many around the world were quick to denounce the printing of the meme which is disrespectful and mocks the Lubavitcher Rebbe, a revered leader of world Jewry.
In response to the backlash received by the paper in response to the printing of the meme, editor Gary Rosenblatt issued an apology, not for the article but for “crossing the line…in the eyes of a number of readers”:
“An article in last week’s issue, ‘Kashrut War Has Holy Overtones,’ inadvertently crossed the line from news reporting to sarcasm in the eyes of a number of readers whose views we respect. The piece dealt, in part, with a pizza and wine bar in Brooklyn hiring an interim kashrut certifier named Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the namesake of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. It prompted numerous comments on Facebook, including puns, memes and other attempts at humor we cited that were seen as disrespectful to the Rebbe. No disrespect was intended, but we apologize for our lack of sensitivity.”
The apology was met with further criticism from readers around the world.
“So writing a piece that immensely disrespected the Rebbe was an attempt at humor? Have you no shame?” wrote Elliot Hamilton on Twitter.
“If you aren’t willing to recognize you did anything wrong, don’t bother apologizing,” wrote Leibel on Twitter.
“Totally and utterly appalling, you will be losing readers due to your actions,” wrote Shmuli Brown on Twitter.
you should be ashamed of yourselves
its THEIR SHAME AND THEY WILL NEED TO DIN VECHESHBON TO HASHEM THATS IT
To mock the Rebbe is a personal offence to every Jew!
You get yourself a life and do a little thinking about your Judaism
You may be right that they won’t lose any readers and that is precisely what is wrong with us Jews we don’t stand up for what is right or wrong. In effect, we are our own worst enemies.
IF YOU WANT TO GET THEM THE MESSAGE LEAVE A REVIEW ON THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE AND TELL THEM WHAT YOU REALLY THINK
NO, IT’S NOT JUST AN HONEST MISTAKE!!!!!
This article was done intentionally to mock the Rebbe!!!
Back in 1993 they wrote that within a short time after ג’ תמוז will happen, Chabad-Lubavitch will close down….
They are eating themselves up alive.
They have egg all over there face. Not just a few pieces of Basil…..
So disrespectful
Must ask Mechila at the Ohel Asap,Chas Vesholom to say anything against the Rebbe!
to think that just because the mashgiach’s name happens to be Menachem Mendel Schneerson, that it must be the Rebbe.
I believe he hired mashgichim to supervise and he oversees them.
I would suggest that these people at the Jewish Week
Go to the Ohel and ask for forgiveness from the Rebbe
This is a very serious offense. Correct it in the right
way. And let everyone know that you have. וה’ ירחם
Appalled & saddened! The apology should be made at the ohel
Menachem Mendel Shneerson the mashgiach refers to the owner’s brother in -law and not the Rebbe.
How shameful, why do people feel the need to lower themselves to this level??
What were they thinking?1
Not okay.
The writers father Dr. Dryfus was brought to Yisshkeit by Chbad, he attended Farbrengens, and was a Ben Bayis by Rabbi Pape.
The writer is the Rebbetzin of the Crown Heights EIruv Rabbi?!?!?!?!
A Tzibeleh………….
unbelievable. They are no better than the enquirer
Why doesn’t Gary Rosenblatt take responsibility and apologize?
the internet has no limitations as far as exposure, and many horrendous things have been aired on it unfortunately.
The internet is even more public then this tabloid, and so many shameful, embarrassing things are being exposed for all to see. It’s a chilul Lubavitch and probably a chilul Hashem but there so many disgraceful things posted regularly on the internet. It’s a rachmonis on us!!
not funny and disrespectful
They will NOT lose any readers – get a life.
The Jewish Week and Gary Rosenthal and crew is quite close to Chabad. Compared to other Orthodox venues they are overly sympathetic to Chabad and know who the real deal is.
A little meme here and there, obviously in error here and not what it seems should not be made to look as you write here. Whatever it is we have a lot more pressing issues to deal with here in the hood.
Boycott the paper!
Wow, do u think it’s a joke, there is no playing around with the Rebbe. You should be ashamed of yourself. I’m totally nauseated,appalled,disgusted,unsettled, and extremely dumbfounded. What a chutzpa!