By Rabbi Moshe Brennan, Director of Chabad of Penn Wynne, PA
After reading the story about the Purim party last week dubbed Arabian Nights as well as some of the many comments posted on the bottom of the article, I would like to share a few thoughts that I think get to the heart of how we as Lubavitchers and Jews should view this incident. We know that the Yetzer Hara is smart, and he knows exactly who he can tempt with what. He is a good salesman. In order to achieve his goal of getting us to do the wrong thing, he will use any method he can to gain a “win.” Many times he will use one victory to gain another, and no one is the wiser.
I think that is the Yetzer Hara’s goal here as well, and for the sake of all of us, I think he needs to be called out. First, he gets a segment of the community to attend a party that by any normative standard is at the very least questionable. But then he gets the remainder of the community to condemn and say the most horrible things about the organizers and attendees, and all in the name of Torah, Yiddishkeit and Rebbe, with the belief that this sort of condemnation is exactly what will bring displays like this — indeed an entire lack of Pritzus in general — to an end.
I humbly suggest that this sort of condemnation is exactly what will make matters worse, not better.
While the Yetzer Hara does his work on the individual, his greater goal is create as much discord as possible, separating and polarizing the community to the greatest possible extent. The gain of one negative party is only a segue toward separating an entire community.
Chasidus teaches that we are all different parts of one body. If that is the case, then when it comes to the Arabian Nights, we are screaming at our hand because it was injured. The only way to heal is for the person as a whole to deal with his injuries; so too we need to focus on healing a fractured part of our community, not severing them from it.
If we want to bring Kedushah and Tahara to Crown Heights and the Chabad community at large, then we should notice that when things like this happen, they can be a wakeup call to each of us to look inward and to make a cheshbon hanefesh about whether we are doing enough in our communities. Are we inviting someone over to learn who might not otherwise get the opportunity? Are we inviting people over for Shabbos meals? Are we doing it enough? Are we doing enough in other areas of Ahavas Yisroel?
I personally know that many of those who we are so quick to condemn would give the shirt off their back to help another Jew. But that is not likely to be discovered by telling people off from a distance.
There truly is little that is more important than Achdus, and therefore it is what the Yetzer Hara wants to make sure does not happen at all costs. Let’s not give the Yetzer Hara the win he really wants. Maybe we should instead spend some real time and energy trying to help others see the value of Yiddishkeit and Chassidishkeit. It’s a part of our own body that is hurting.
Crown Heights is the Rebbe’s Shechuna. the Rebbe fights for us not to leave, and you say give up and run away ti “Israel” like a bunch of zionists?!
Agree 100%, what you say has the ring of frightening truth!
The cure and remedy is that us Baaali Batim have to become serious chassidim thru leaning chassidus b’iyun until it is absorbed internally
This does not mean to learn a sicha fast to learn howv to be a good boy.
by becomming real chabad chassidim the level of all other Jews will be elevated
As in the famous story of Yasha the Klutz
It’s the chutzpa that is problematic.You know that Rashi where it talks about descending from level to level until the sinner condemns and mocks those who act properly? When there is a culture where we are afraid to answer an apikorus, it proliferates.
By the time u get to this post most of u / us will be reading the next “exciting” piece of news. I remember r melech ah tzvibel showing us a letter of the previous Rebbe about the ” davka” s . why specifically the best children from the best families …or the smartest of the bachurim etc etc struggle . and how one day they themselves will demand ” cry out ” to the mashpiam etc saying ‘why did u not call us out and direct us etc ” Any one here remember the “black sneaker ” gang and… Read more »
The best most practical realistic understanding and suggestions what to do …..Please put your names to your wonderful comments. Don’t be an anav in the wrong place or underestimate the power of your influence. We are dealing literally with pikuach nefesh. The comments have way more influence when connected with a name on many different levels. Its time to return The Crown back to its glory. Enough of the way things are……
Rabbi Shlomo Ezagui.
Inappropriate behavior must be clearly defined and condemned. It’s one of the basics in Torah and chinuch. Accepting /loving attitude will definitely lead to being influenced. It’s also clear that we are to choose good friends and neighbors like it says in pirkei avos…we will be influenced by their behavior
So when something inappropriate is going on…the appropriate response is to call it out and condemn it because ignoring it equates approval.
This has nothing to do with being judgemental or unloving- it’s protecting ourselves and our children from danger, and sticking up for what’s right.
Yes, it is dangerous and should be forbidden and is forbidden. It’s not a phone line. Just an excuse to look at salacious images and engage in non-kosher chit chat. Shluchim have slipped just as much as anyone else.
Who ever is mashpia the organizers of the party should speak to them. I used to make Purim parties. First one was in CH, had a full length mechitza etc. Because it was for frum people. The next year my wife and I made a party in the city for not yet frum people, there was still a mechitza but only in the dancing section, it was an effort to get people who otherwise wouldn’t do the mitzvos of Purim to do the mitzvos, in that respect it was a success. The following year we did the same but somehow… Read more »
I DON’T think you UNDERSTAND why people are commenting. For so long these people have been silent. They do look within themselves and reach out to others. This is expressing that This Purim party was absolutely just like Achasheveirosh!! (Suppose to be a Purim Seudah) Yidden need to be reminded tonmake a Kiddush Hashem. Those of us who are reading this are Realizing there are many who are walking in the ways of Hashem and are continuously saying no to the Yetzer Hora. If you realize no one has been passing judgment these voices would not go to anyone individually… Read more »
Just the fact you use the word lowlife to describe a fellow yid goes against the very essence of what being a lubavitcher is about and certainly will not in any way help the problem you believe your community is facing. In fact it will only make them believe that they are the true Lubavitcher. I guarantee you they will never look at another yid and consider them “low lives” and I guarantee it will not help the problem you consider to have. That type of attitude will only make your so called problem grow. There’s a lot more to… Read more »
Having only heard about the Arabian Nights party from family and friends, and not having read the articles, Rabbi Brennan’s was the first article and opinion that I read. My pre-judgement of it was quite negative, based on what people were telling me about it. But, having read it, I must say I was positively impressed by the points made. We Crown Heightsers, and Chassidim in general haven gotten too used to judging each other, and classifying the us and the “them”. It is all us!! The us is us, and the them is us. It’s time for us to… Read more »
Kan tsivah HaShem as hbracha
Now is the time to cleane our home.
Our neshama. Our body .forse abiura purim.
No time to read. All’ this stories.
חג הפסח כשר ושמח.
I had never even heard of social media before I went on Shlichus. Today, if you run a business or have a chabad house, you need to have social media, like Facebook. Its like having a telephone line. It connects you to people. If you learn that its forbidden and evil and dangerous, you don’t know how to handle it. A more honest and open approach is needed. Have educators speak of the pitfalls, and the power of it. Lets create recommendations and guidelines to use it. Banning it and putting our heads in the sand, solves nothing and is… Read more »
very well put, I love it!
I agree with everything EXCEPT “We need to stop fighting the negativity. Some schools ban social media, well guess what? The minute those kids get married and even when theyre done with the system, they get it all.” Can you prove that? Nowadays there’s no shame in chabad to go on social media. Everyone’s afraid to speak up and say NO SOCIAL MEDIA!!! All the parents are on it and all the kids are on it – fathers friending mothers and single girls, mothers friending ‘chabad lites’ and liking untznius posts. Huh???? No wonder we’re all going downhill! Bans work.… Read more »
to #56 what i meant about hashem is looking meant something totally different i meant that all those people talking about more love for the community etc. should just think about what is stated in the tanya what a jew is supposed to think about in any situation that life brings that hashem is standing on top of you with all hi glory… & he sees to if your work is of truth.. witch means most of these complicated solutions of loving even more just try to distract from the real truth for had one truly lived the life of… Read more »
to #103
Chas vshalom to say those things are going on here!! Chas vshalom
I disagree that only Ahavas Yisroel will cure this. When on Shlichus, people that you are reaching out to, have the status of Tinuk Shenishba, ie they dont know better. Here you have people who know better, but they struggle with a yetzer hara in one area or another, and they make excuses for their yetzer hara. We don’t need to help them make excuses. We all have a Yetzer Hara, so let’s be honest about it. The Yetzer Hara is out of control here. This is the problem. Yet, I agree. The original article only serves to increase and… Read more »
It is time to reflect and with a contrite heart seek forgiveness from HaShem for what has happened here in the Jewish community. Let us all resolve to rectify ourselves and return to the Torah true Judaism that our ancestors followed with sacrifice, the goodness that our Sages of blessed memory ordained for us in the Talmud and Codes. May we all merit the coming of Mashiach who will bring an end to this long, bitter exile. Amen.
“how the flying wizards”?
I will use that one when the opportunity becomes available…
We are supposed to be a light to the nations, not followers of their unG-dly ways, and we are supposed to be a kingdom of priests. Unfortunately it’s really not a new trend for young Yidden to be seduced into their lifestyles. It seems to happen in almost every generation when young Jews lighten up on their Yiddishkeit and start following other ‘new & modern’ customs and ways. But it’s really as old as the beginning of mans’ creation. And very often if not always it was followed by swift retribution, Abishter have mercy on us please!
The point is to be in sync with the mission you were given by coming into this world which is to make a dirah lo yisburach, through following Hashems guidelines in shulchan oruch.
Everything else you speak of is non clarity that people have fallen to from the influences around them and thier struggle to fight the Yetzer hara back.
Moshe eMes vetoirosoi emes. The Rebbe is emes and his Torah is emes! Nothing has changed if we really want we can have hiskashrus to the Rebbe now more then ever!
Hatzlocha.
How the flying wizards do you choose to allow your “eyes to ”
be opened” (especially about something negative) froma comment on COL?
I’m assuming most people if they’re not saying the truth its cuz their comment is a total laugh, but still, why do that to yourself and what you think of others?
I hear these things too. And I KNOW ppl who do it. In not saying its not true. I’m saying why change your opinion to a worse one so fast based on one persons comment.
As a bt I can’t tell you how turned off by social media post by all those who judged me when my family was becoming frum, I distinctly remember moving to a frum community and we were just starting off being religious. There were a few families in particular who wouldn’t let their kids over because we owned a tv or had not Jewish magazines. Since we were just starting off it was really hurtful and embarrassing. The crazy thing is now those few families who alienated us not one of their kids are frum or remotely active in Judaism… Read more »
Just for the record, crown heights is no different than any other strong Jewish neighborhood. This is a free country and everyone is free to do as they please! HOWEVER! There is something we call respect. If things happen in the privacy of ones own home, that is no ones business. But where it took place, is under the supervision of a well known kosher supervising company. I can totally see how a business can loose integrity. In my opinion, there is nothing to go to war over, except for the party planner and the owner of the venue, to… Read more »
You’d be shocked! Mostly by all the likes and thumbs up by shluchim and frum Lubavitchers but also by the sheer NUMBERS of people with names like Chaya and Shmuli who look and post pictures like any frat or sorority kid!
I attended Bais Rivka in Crown Heights in the late’s 70’s,early 80’s. Believe me when I tell you I didn’t get love from the honhalah or many of the teachers. I was an out of towner BT and it often wasn’t easy. Somehow,in spite of what my principal predicted for me,I remained frum when I came back to LA. Of course that was a different time but how I choose to live my life is ultimately my choice and my responsibility.
On gimmel tamuz and for some time after that, Lubavitch was in disarray. The unimaginable occurred and mashpiim, rabonim and mechanchim were in a state of paralysis. They had no answers for the hamoen am and a leadership vacuum was created. Shluchim and others that were not geographically close to crown heights and were not immersed 24/7 in the Rebbe’s torahs filled the role and assumed the leadership mantle. Shlichus consequently consumed Lubavitch at the expense of everything else Lubavitch. The brain drain from everything else Lubavitch to shlichus began and culminated in Lubavitch becoming exclusively about shlichus. I recently… Read more »
My CH grandchildren are not on social media, that is unless cheder students are on social media.
They are welcome to move to my community if they choose since there is no non-Orthodox Chabad group here. Other than that, all that I can do as a grandparent is show enthusiasm for Torah and Yiddishkeit and hope that my grandchildren will do the same.
But you are correct that I have never seen the social media posts of non-frum Lubavitchers because we consider Facebook to be treif.
Everyone is in agreement that there is a major problem in CH, but how did this start? We have only ourselves to blame. For years we judged, fought, gossiped and did not provide enough love where it was needed. Now the very people making and going to these parties, are the ones rebelling against a system that did not offer enough love and acceptance. I’ve worked with many yeshiva boys who went off the derech and over the years, no matter what type of shtus or addiction they had, the reason behind it was that they did not have enough… Read more »
103 wrote: “Let’s be quite honest: we know about the drug dens, illegal gambling, wife-swapping parties, basements owned by “respectable” families that are used for the above (hey, it pays the mortgage!) ” I’m not from CH but I never knew how bad the problem is. This is horrible. Such filth. THank you for opening my eyes. Every year since gimmel tammuz I have been becoming less and less thrilled about going to CH. This party was the tipping point and your illuminating comments about the real state of affairs there has just solidified my final opinion. Everything is for… Read more »
I would venture to guess you’ve never seen social media posts by the ‘lites’ – chances are your grandchildren are “liking” things you cannot imagine. Since nothing was ever done, this group has now grown to thousands. Not just in CH. They bring their music and fashions and trimmed beards to our kids and they’re proud of it. They portray that they’re “enlightened” and better than us. You should protect your grandchildren.
101 your words are so hurtful. My name is Yossi and my wife’s name is Mushki. We may not have photos of ourselves half naked on the beach but those are our names. My wife has a facebook page. You have shamed us publicly. Please be more careful how you choose to attack.
Oh, and I don’t like this party any more than you.
Moshiach now!
I like what #70 wrote especially since the parsha of Ki Sisa / Chet HaEgel took place RIGHT AFTER purim. WELL SAID! Moshe Rabbeinu called out, MI LAHASHEM ELOY!!!!
My grandchildren are growing up in Sin City but what options does anyone really have?
Calling the police on other Jews is questionable unless they are a direct threat to you and yours.
Jewish landlords have a right to make money.
The only thing that families can do is refuse to associate with anyone who lives their lives in the gutter.
Sadly, this is the New Chabad. Many Shluchim live with the Rebbe concept as a Mother Teresa-like figure, lihavdel.
This is emphasised in the Telushkin Book. Telushkin took the holy concept of Rebbe and turned in into a humanistic idea R’L. The saddest part is that many Shluchim and Anash followed suit.
Rabbi Brennan, you do great work and we love you. And we love that you love all Jews. But please remember that the love is meant to bring Jews closer to the Torah, not further from it.
Do you not know, sof maseh ollah b’machshava techila?!
This party is the epitome of a dirah batachtonim.
these party’s need to happen inorder to refine the “sparks of klipos”, the attendees of the party are going on “mesirahs nefesh” going to the lowest of the low on our behalf, we ought to have some respect for those that infiltrate the “kelipos” and begin to transform them.
Let’s provide them with the means and support to accomplish this mission we came to these ugly world for.
A mashpia.
Like parents, love without discipline isn’t right and discipline without love isn’t either
At some point though if things are too troublesome in the household it’s best for the grown children to leave, while the parents always keep the love and connection flowing
I myself struggle every day to stay afloat in my avodah. It’s a painful time we live in
I only had to read comment #1 and that did it for me. That one is THE ONE worth reading. What do you expect CHers to do? Crown Heights is not Penn Wynne, PA – it is supposed to be the heartland of Chassidus. Instead, since Gimmel Tammuz, it has sunk so low, to the point where sons & daughters of Chassidim are not only dressing disgustingly, attending crude events, but are openly living with or legally marrying goyim, having children out of wedlock, dealing drugs, pedophiles everywhere … I’m afraid to think what else is going on. You are… Read more »
The simple question is, how do you know CH is still the rebbe’s shechunah? Liozna was the rebbe’s shechunah until the circumstances changed and Chabad had to move to Liadi. Liadi was the Rebbe’s Shechunah till they moved to Lubavitch. and then to Rostov, and from there to Riga, and from there to Warsaw, before they finally ended up in Crown Heights. The Rebbe passed away over 23 years ago. The circumstances have changed since then to the point where CH is no longer a feasible option both begashmius and beruchnius. It’s time to move on to somewhere affordable where… Read more »
I don’t know what is more painful, seeing Facebook photos of “Mushky and Yossi” frolicking half naked on the beach (with hundreds of “likes” from other Lubavitchers), or the “frummest of the frum” embarrassing and kicking out an innocent child from school for tuition, or cheating/lying in business, or stealing money, or … B”H we have good people to give us hope. But I’m starting to wonder what will be. Seriously though, Facebook is a show-and-tell for pritzus and the posts make everyone look so HAPPY. It’s a PR campaign for the yetzer hara. Please G-d my children won’t be… Read more »
We need moshiach, for the Rebbe to come and just solve this. To say black and white what is right and wrong.
Amalek, coolness to mitzvos, is cutting those lagging to the rear, who for whatever reason (poor education, poor environment, etc) are being cooled to mitzvos. We have to destroy the coolness to mitzvos, not by being cold to our fellow Jews but by warming them with Torah and mitzvos. How can such an event be prevented next year? How do you warm fellow Jews to embrace modesty?
Please daven and help my relatives and others like them who have been cooled modesty and Yiddishleit. Don’ t push them away. Bring Moshiach now.
“Furthermore, even those whom one is enjoined to hate — for they are close to him, and he has rebuked them but they still have not repented of their sins — one is obliged to love them too. And both the love and the hatred are truthful emotions in this case, [since] the hatred is on account of the evil within them, while the love is on account of the good hidden in them, which is the divine spark within them that animates their divine soul. For this spark of G‑dliness is present even in the most wicked of one’s… Read more »
The Rebbe has pushed and allowed excommunication when no other means succeeded!
you really hit the nail on its head
It is not a contradiction to display love, warmth and affection toward your fellow Jew and at the same time demand that he/she desist from inappropriate behavior that adversely affect affects the entire neighborhood. Love and discipline compliment each other.
Mainly though agree with #1
Your holier than thou attitude will not bring Klal Yisroel closer.
I have to say I’m impressed by the article that was written. This is the true chassidisher way of looking at things. YES, it may be extremely humiliating, sad, painful and disappointing!! AND, It’s also very important that this is addressed but there’s a time and place for everything. I personally believe if we all would look at every jew- no matter the title they have- as someone whom we truly want to bring closer to Yiddishkeit, looking at them as a fellow sibling, the reaction and comments that people have said would be totally different. Where are the critics… Read more »
I am proud to say that we learned, what this shliach (the author) is saying. We learned in in Sichos class, and he is absolutely right! Please stop trying to un-prove his point with your many shameful comments. May every yid acknowledge the light of Torah and may Moshiach come now with our Achdus!!!
us with משיח כאו! Perfectly on target and couldn’t be better said!
Love your final remarks, gave me a real hearty laugh, thanks!
And there is three levushim that we have to take care of,
מחשבה- what we think
דיבור-what we say
מעשה- our actions.
So, is in each and everyones hand to keep in the right way and path for the entire life.
Think good
Say nice words
And do good.
אין טוב אלא תורה.
Didn’t think the party was relevant to crown heights or chabad
It wasn’t located in crown height or catered to crown heights people.
Yes some hosts and organizers call themselves chabad but they in no way represent and most of the party consisted of Manhattan … Long Island … Flatbush…
So I don’t understand why ch had to make it about themselves? I’m not saying the party was appropriate but the people who were clearly ok with it was who it was meant for
The lack of standards in Crown Heights is a serious issue that needs a serious plan to fix it. You’re right, it %100 starts with ahavas yisroel and people should be treated with respect and sensitivity. However, if this article is the answer to the issue then the yetzer hara has really got us.
Let this article be an opportunity for us to bring up the standards of Crown Heights, through ahavas yisroel! We’ve reached a point that we must do something!
It’s definately not ahavas yisroel to excuse lubavitchers from dropping the Rebbes horaas.
To the author:
Yasher Koach for your words from the heart. May they penetrate the hearts of the “offenders” as well as the “critics.”
To #63: Very well said.
I didn’t read any undertones of anger in your well thought out words, just wisdom.
May we all do a little introspection and strengthen ourselves so that we may have the courage to strengthen others, and yes, with love.
To all of you that are saying this Pritzus has been going on for too long, and ignored, and it hasn’t helped, the one who wrote this article isn’t saying to ignore the wrong, he’s only saying that being “holier than thou” and condemning, only puts them down more, which will make them worse. Most of those that went down in Chassidishkeit and/or Yiddishkeit, did so because the message they got in Yeshiva or home, was that if they can’t reach the top, they’re not Frum. They know deep down that this message isn’t Yiddishkeit, and it affects them very… Read more »
If it’s true as has been said about what happened there, then take out Chossid, take out Jewish – let’s talk about basic morality for any human being… I would like to know if the Rabbanim would say something (now or in the past years), would any of these people ever listen? To those acting in questionable ways: Remember your children!!!!!! Of course they should be kept and loved by the rest of us but what are you doing to them by sending them to the schools that have values and not practicing them at home…Are you aware of what… Read more »
Dear Rabbi Brennan, Thanks for your your word on shlichus and thanks for sharing your opinion with the residents of Crown Heights. But I have to say that I disagree with you, I I don’t think that in this case the focus should be placed on Unity. Over the last 10 to 15 years the residents of Crown Heights of put up with a lot. People began pushing the boundaries of what it meant to be Chabad. First it was the beards, then the wigs, then we got skirt length. Then we got celebritys who sell clothing under the guise… Read more »
Only moshiach to save the wold from the Sitra achara.
יחי אדוננו מורנו ורבינו מלך המשיח לעולם ועד
The Rebbe would not have condoned the behavior. But—the Rebbe would have also advocated Ahavas Yisroel.
The more you push away, the worse the problem becomes.
thanks for your comment. I agree totally
This was a private event and was not put on by or endorsed by any type of Chabad organization. I am not sure why nobody addressed this when it was being advertised and why the OK did not inquire as to what type of event was being booked at the restaurant that it certifies. Those who are dissatisfied with the event should let the OK know that if a restaurant is under their hashchocha, the public expects the atmosphere there to be kosher and fitting for the Orthodox public. If someone who paid for the event, thinking it was kosher… Read more »
“why would ANYONE live there?”
1. The Rebbe’s Shchuna
2. The Rebbe’s Shul
3. The Rebbe’s moisdos
4. Surrounded by Lubavitcher Chassidim
5. The Rebbe said not to leave
Why would anyone NOT live there?
Either because he is on shlichus, or because he doesn’t care about the above… In which case he anyways doesn’t belong there
TRY LIVING IN CROWN HEIGHTS WITH SHMUTZ IN YOUR FACE
Would he have condoned this behavior and said we need to show them more love???
I have heard that Rav Shamshon Rephael Hirsch instituted that the orthodox community should be completely separate from the enlightenment in all communal matters. Even having separate cemeteries.
Has it reached the point where we need to do the same?
The Rabbis need to decide that..
There are now frum colleges where you can get certified in different sciences and therapies in a haimishe environment. Sorry if this hit a “button” for you.
Your caption + your comments = such an undertone of anger.
Before educating others, contemplate self awareness.
I think “overfeminization” makes a lot of sense and could be restated as “men refusing to be men” and stand up against not only this, but against all forms of chillul Lubavitch going on in our community right now. Why is everyone so afraid?
When they sinned with a Golden Calf please tell me what Moshe did? Did Moshe decide that condemnation is exactly what will make matters worse, not better? Did Moshe follow your advice: “make a cheshbon hanefesh about whether we are doing enough in our communities. Are we inviting someone over to learn who might not otherwise get the opportunity? Are we inviting people over for Shabbos meals? Are we doing it enough? Are we doing enough in other areas of Ahavas Yisroel?” No! Moshe called out, “Mi L’Hashem Ayloy!” He did not try to be mikarev the sinners and their… Read more »
This is something to be condemned! If someone influenced your child to go to such a party u would not be screaming ahavas Israel!
This is not a disagreement between a few people. The Jewish way is that if 2 ppl have a disagreement they go to beis din. In that situation it would most probably be wrong to publicize. However this party was publicized, sponsored and advertised by specific businesses. If u were to tell me ahead of time about their party, I would not go just knowing whose organizing it. My feelings and intellect would just tell me that their purim party would be inappropriate. I dont judge anyone. I would just not go. I was not there, I did not see,… Read more »
Why were the various vendors names made public, with the assumption that the vendors colluded with this travesty, before inquiring about it. Who wants the ruining of a Jews parnasa on their responsibility ? Completely inappropriate to publish it. Complete irresponsiblity.
boycott the businesses of those involved in arranging the party.
Clear the rubbish from Crown heights. those who can’t live in kedusha go elsewhere where they won’t stand out.
not all mishichists dance around circles with tambourines.
The term mishichists doesn’t exist anymore cuz everyone interprets it to something else.
And btw the mishichists are not turning these kids off…it might be a cause of machlokes that both mishichists and antis cause.
to have this discussion in front of the eyes and ears of the entire world.
Modesty and and boosha – are still virtues.
No where in Rabbi Brennan’s article did I see mention of any suggestion to accept the wrong behaviors of other Jews. He expressed the very basic concept of loving other Jews while hating their wrong actions. Writing people off for their wrongdoings, besides for being completely counterproductive, is certainly not Torah-spirited. Put it this way: if you care about the cause – that Hashem’s Will should be carried through and aveiros should not be done- then when you witness a behavior that goes against Torah, you are solution-oriented— your concern is, “how do I fix this, in the name of… Read more »
So much energy, so many opinions. This topic seems to have everyone up in arms in different directions. Why is this topic so charged? Why so many comments?
Seems to me that this stems from trying to find a balance between maintaining standards while trying to be accepting. On a deeper lever, this stems from a struggle to define a clear definition of giving.
We should all be blessed with finding a balance between our standards and acceptance. We should be blessed with a clear definition of giving.
I take offense to everyone who says those living outside CH can’t comment. CH was the Rebbe’s shechuna. We have the right to want to protect it and see that it behaves accordingly. Crown Heights belongs to the Rebbe, the Rebbe belongs to the Chassidim = CH belongs to all chassidim.
Hello, we don’t want to name names!! Again for the millionth time it’s about the situation aka problem not the people.
Who said that there is no Chabad lite?
We have Chabad LIGHT Shabbos Candles… Chabad LIGHT Chanuka Menora … Chabad LIGHT up the world with Torah…and more and more.
But we should not allow Chabad Light up the yetzer hora programs anywhere and especially not in CH.
There are enough goyim out there giving us treif ideas and machshovos, we don’t need it from within.
Please, get off your high horse. It is attitudes such as your’s that cause even bigger problems. 1. Everyone has a shlichus in life to inspire another person. Regardless of if they live in the boondocks, or work at a law firm in Manhattan. 2. I was given a bracha to go to college, after graduation high school. Furthering my educating and career was part of my mission. It helped me grow stronger in my connection with HaShem and the Rebbe. Part of the reason the Rebbe was so well-respected by the secular world, was due to his degree in… Read more »
i always said just bring the rebbe back to the streets of ch & see what he has to say!! now of course you can also see the good in these problems for however strong the kedusha is on 1 side there is a balance of the opposite 9like titis in the kodesh hakadashim..) so stay strong & fight for whats TRUE CHABAD for only emes has kiyum!!
prowed lubavitcher
54, to say Hashem is watching is to miss the point. If Hashem were the one the purim party was concerned about we wouldn’t be here now discussing the party that was not what Hashem wanted.
I am amazed and appalled I need to write this.
Rabbi Brennan I dont know you personally but thuis doesn’t sound right. When was the last time you opened a Shulchan Aruch? Maybe make your own Cheshbon Hanefesh before lecturing others… Easy for you to speak. Against Halacha is wrong!!! This is not your Chabad house- this is Lubavitch.
watch out hashem is ALSO WATCHING!! vehinei hashem nitzov olov….(tanya)
As I was reading the comments of the original article, I was utterly disgusted. To shame other people? Yes it involved people in our community but instead of bashing our fellow Jewish brothers and sisters and condemning them for doing something not okay, we should actually feel bad for them, because they probably didn’t have the sensitivity to not do such a thing.
And to COLlive- I am usually a fan on yours but you did NOT need to write the names of people involved. What are you trying to do? That’s Loshon Hora right there!
I’m not quite sure who the “they” are that r evil and are corrupting our children etc ?!? Many of the people at that party are your family, your colleagues, your friends …….
I can only speak for myself, but I think there might be others who, like me, feel caught in the middle. I’m thoroughly turned off by the licentiousness, let alone shallowness, of the “Chabad Lite” crowd. On the other hand, there are the Meshichists who expect me to dance around the room for them and wave tambourines. Might they be the ones turning the kids cynical? But the Meshichists are at least frum. When I came to CH years ago, as a ba’alas teshuvah, I was attracted to the Chabad way of life. But I realized that Torah, and Chassidus,… Read more »
They did somethng WRONG against Halacha . They’re paying the price .the end .
35 and 41 are hypocrites. They seem to speak in the name of righteousness yet they speak garbage themselves.
35, YOU ARE CRAZY TO BLAME SHLUCHIM FOR LEAVING CH. THE REBBE BEGGED US ALL TO LEAVE ON SHLUCHOS.
41. HOW DARE YOU?
THE REBBE SAID NOT TO GO TO COLLEGE. HOW DARE YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT SPIRITUAL STANDARDS OF A BOY WHO DIDN’T LISTEN TO THE REBBE AND WENT TO COLLEGE! THIS MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE.
.
The rebbe said many times and wrote in countless letters that the way to be mekarev someone is through דברים היוצאים מן הלב and if the person is not niskarev its a sign that it wasn’t דברים היוצאים מן הלב. Maybe its time for us crown heightsers to do it the way rebbe said.
U crack me up 😂😂
I agree 100 percent and I love the new term CHABAD ZERO
For all of you that are so brave to speak you voice and opinions, and feel that the community has to change, why not sign your name in pride? Why all of the anonymity?
what hashgacha protis that it’s todays!
agree we just have to show more love for another
Iyov was severely punished for not speaking up! Why? Because when it hurts, you scream OY! When something like this happens of such a holy day as Purim, It is a huge OY and people MUST condemn this kind of behavior and mindset.
Keeping quiet is NOT ahavas Yisroel in this particular case. Shtika ke’hoda’ah…
You don’t live here to add any comments. First we’re not judging them as individuals. Unfortunately they just happened to be the people that got exposed. We’re judging the situation. We can’t stand by anymore while our community is falling apart. The Rebbe always respected the Freidiker Rebbe knowing his the Rebbe’s actions represented the Friediker Rebbe. So we as a community should do the same. You want to call yourself Lubavitch then that’s what you have to take upon yourself. We love every Jew but we’re not a Chabad house so save your speeches for them.
This infamous party was a wake up call, but not you the reason Rabbi Brennan mentioned. Being the Chabad-Lubavitch is accepting towards every Jew, we were unfortunately turning a blind eye towards our decaying morals. It is long overdue that the silent majority’s voice is being heard. Plenty of Jews tried to silence Mordechai, when he complained about Achashveirosh’s party. Those people learned the difficult way, that he was in fact correct. The so-called “Chabad-Lite” has destroyed our community in a such a way, that it may never truly heal. Not just for the incredibly Chassidishe crowd, but also those… Read more »
We cannot stay silent anymore. This is our #metoo moment.
#CHgottaChange
I may be accused of exaggerating but I have held back for a while commenting until I had time to fully think all of this through and after reading many sichos and undertaking some form of hisbonenus I have come to the conclusion that the “Purim party” is probably the main thing that is holding back Moshiach. I even think I can find a diyyuk in the Rambam to that effect but I don’t want to come on too heavy… And, though, I appreciate what the author of this article is trying to do, it is basically putting lipstick on… Read more »
A Jewish child should be taught not to be alarmed by the Divine concealment in the world; what the world says should not matter to him. [Instead, he should pay attention] only to the will of the Torah. This resolution should be so strong within him to the point that “even when he grows old, he will not depart from it.”
(Likkutei Sichos, vol. 15, p. 134)
1. Live in the Ghetto
2. Ludicrous housing costs
3. Terrible weather year-round
4. Extreme materialism
5. Poor education
6. Zero standard of Tznius
Why would ANYONE live there?
So many frum Jews say “chabad is not Chassidic”.
I am literally throwing up from all of this…
Completely agree. People think that they can move on shlichus and after they do they come with their opinions if you really wanted to have opinions then you shouldn’t of left
In chazal’s time we had police officers roaming around on chol hamoed and other times to ensure the sanctity of the community. That might scare people but my point is that we have standards and shouldn’t let a bunch of party loving chabad fraudsters ruin the kedusha of the community. Saying “love, love, love” is all nice but I am getting sick of blaming everything on myself for the wrongdoing and misbehaviour of others. The response needs to be tough. People in the community need to know that this will not be tolerated…
Thanks for the article but, nice try.
No such thing as Chabad lite! You are Chabad or you not!Its not a cup of coffee! Choose your path but don’t say your Chabad … you might be modern orthodox who daven nusach ari or have Lubavitcher Chabad parents, sibs, fam or friends.
Sorry to say, but i dont agree. I do not live in CH and i see the changes…We were quiet for too long. The time has come to speak up and to teach our children between right and wrong. Obviously do this in a calm and loving manner, but dont just sit there and be afraid to tell them what the are doing. If we dont speak up, i dont want to see what will happen to CH in a few years ch”v. Teach the younger generation so that they will know what it means to be a real lubavitchwer… Read more »
The Rebbe objected to have Carlbach sing by Lubavitch functions so as not to be considered associated with some of his questionable behaviors, and people think this is not a chilul hashem, is beyond me. The world looks up to chabad, not just those in need of kiruv, and this together with other stuff going on in CH is highest order of chilul hashem and not because of these events that occurred, it’s because the world see it’s hefker to do what u want in CH, which makes people think our system and chinuch is not working.
THIS IS NOT A WAKE UP CALL, THIS IS AN TZUNAMI OF AN ASSAULT ON EVERYTHING AS CHABAD CHASSIDIM WE STAND FOR!
If you look back at most of the comments you could look at it in a different way. Most people are taking a stand, a stand as bold as Mordechai. These are their voices and they are being heard. We all know it is the Yetzer Hora, but these voices are clearly reminding us to make a Kiddush Hashem. Sometimes we need Yidden who can convey the ways of the Torah and be as strong as leaders. They work hard in walking in the ways of Hashem and dismissing the Yetzer Hora. Maybe we should learn and keep in mind… Read more »
some of the names you mention are the problem in Chabad today. Shrinking beards – quoting goyishe sources and tv constantly — making intimacy and terrible movies on sensitive issues trendy etc. it’s good to see some firm comments being made here. if people want to hear more from mashpiim, unfortunately, afraid to talk up, lets give them the support by placing our names to these comments so they see they have real people (pretty unfortunate they need “people” and “the word” alone is not enough ) supporting them. Rabbi Shlomo Ezagui
you type of ppl stop from bringing moshiach you give up you cant give up
wrong and wrong again. when things like this happen it must be clear to all that this cant be and condemning it is the most important thing we caan and must do. when you with this nonsense that we need to love it is not the way the rebbe work in thing like this the thundering sicha that would come after a thing like this would be heard all around the world. its so wrong when people make the rebbe as always forgiving letting things go just love. that is not true, yes the rebbe said to be mekareve every… Read more »
i live outside crown heights and for the past 20 years the chassidischer bochurim of lubavitch coming out of crown heights has dropped…with the latest iphone and shoes hair and clothings…i question myself daily what does lubavitch mean in 2018???? wake up fellow yidden, moshiach is very close..but the darkness is very dark..call a spade a spade…the mashpiyim and rabbonim are trying to make a living and are scared to voice an option either-way…we all need moshiach before chodesh hageulah
Someone from outside of CH, who hasn’t spent time amongst Anash for years is lecturing us on how to behave. Great!
what is lubavitch ? are we a sports team and anyone can be a fan lehavdil like a Yankee fan are we club anyone can pay membership to the “club” no lubavitch is a chasidus and it is decided by the rebbeim for the last 7 generations of what it is to be a lubavitcher there is NO “CHABAD LITE” that is a oxymoron you can be whatever you like to be and we as chasidim will love every one of you … we love you the person .. and does not mean that we need to agree and condone… Read more »
A number of years ago, I wrote an article entitled “Is there a Chabad Lite?”. The recent Purim party article and its responses have brought my article to mind. As a Lubavitcher who lives outside of Crown Heights, the article left me shaking my head, but not altogether shocked. In reading the comments on the article, I see I’m not the only out of towner who reacted this way. Crown Heights has been trending this way for quite some time. Personally, it’s reached the point that I dislike staying in Crown Heights, let alone for a shabbos! You no longer… Read more »
rabbi majesky, manis friedman, yossi jacobson….where is the psak in halacha how to respond to such an event? is it ahavas yisrael only or is it a strong stand from our side / maybe more gevurah than chesed? some leadership please!
i would like to hear from rabbonim:
rabbi braun, rabbi shusterman, rabbi bestritsky, rabbi schapiro…all the rabbis leading nowa days… i’m all ears
These same people that organized this event are the very people that express “outrage” at our moisdos for not teaching secular studies and are the very same people that blast rabbis on social media for various crimes without having any facts on the table. They consider themselves to be more sophisticated and more intelligent than the rest of the community, and when our rabbis say that something is forbidden, they mock them mercilessly on social media. Then they go to various self-hating-Jewish media outlets like Forward and get them to publish articles about how “old-fashioned and taliban-like our cult community… Read more »
Crown Heights is still proud and strong, there are real chasidim, mehadrim bemitzvos, learning Torah, Nigla and Chasidus, farbrenging every yomei depagra and stam leil shishi, raising children who wear black hats and memorize Tanya. I would never leave by choice. All this is a miserable subset of CH. Problem is that people who live out of town, have a skewed idea of who we are and what we’re about and of course, when you walk on Kingston during the summer you notice what you notice but not what you don’t, but what you don’t notice is still there and… Read more »
This article doesn’t apply anymore we have tried and have been unsuccessful the only thing happening is that they are influencing our kids to be like them this is the whole reason yidden live together so they shouldn’t be influenced and now its even worse people who are in the community are influencing our kids in a bad way and it has to stop now
Moshiach Now!
“I would love to hear our Rabbonim and Mashpeyim speak up”
They haven’t spoken up since Gimmel Tammuz, and they won’t now either. Thier silence and detachment is what cuased this mess…
*#531* *True Ahavas Yisrael* We must strengthen the love and unity among Yidden in order to hasten the coming of Moshiach, since this rids us of the cause of Galus. This is done especially by emphasizing the virtues of a Yid, that his Neshama is literally a part of Hashem. Certainly we must be careful not to do the opposite, even telling someone words of rebuke. Since we see in reality that by talking to and about other Yidden in a pleasant manner, with love, it causes them to draw closer to Yiddishkeit. That which sometimes the opposite is also… Read more »
Perfectly said!
When was the last time you saw the businesses who organized the party ever give back to the community? when was the last time you saw a Chinese auction with them donating a prize. these people look down on the community but use them for their posts on Instagram
ALL THESE BLOGGERS WHO DRESS NOT TZNIUS AND WEAR PANTS AND DO NOT COVER THEIR HAIR, GO AROUND AND DO THIS ALL IN THE NAME OF CHABAD. THEY USE CHABAD ANC CH TO GET FOLLOWERS. THEY SHOULD MOVE OUT AND NOT BE THE “CHABAD” BLOGGER AND SEE WHERE THEY END UP.
We have a responsibility as the Rebbe wrote on several
occasions even when we walk un the street People say
Here goes Lubavitch… Good is Kiddush Hashem
Tzulosen is CHillul Hashem . Even if we are not doing anything
nor saying anything , just walking it is LUBAVITCH WALKING. Yes it may be a responsibility or a benefit
Hatzlocho Rabbo to all
I agree with you 100% that this is the work of the yetzer hora. Very well said. But the yetzer hora is smarter than you too. He made you make this silly argument. How do I know? Look in the Torah and Chazal. This type of behavior is OSER MIN HATORAH. It’s just a terrible experience walking on Kingston Avenue and seeing our youth – who will be the next generation of Chabad. I would love to hear our Rabbonim and Mashpeyim speak up…. Not the modern orthodox and their ideas.
Thank you for expressing the truth in the way that only a true Chossid could. A beautiful, meaningful, and most importantly, practical article which expresses the way the Rebbe looked at every Jew and challenges us to do the same within our own community, which we all know is so difficult. To number 1, if we in Crown Heights would only care, love, nurture and educate our own in the same way as the Shluchim out there help the ‘outsiders’ we would be in a much better place! Thank you Rabbi Brennan for illuminating us with the true perspective on… Read more »
You write as though “separating and polarizing” is always a bad thing, and usually it is. Where a person has no Jewish background we should bend over backwards to bring them closer, but someone who has had the benefit of a solid Jewish education and grew up in a frum family and publicly turns his back on halachah and screams Ahavas Yisrael, when someone is mochiach, then the first order of business is “hibadlu.” First separate yourself and then later if possible seek to draw them back to Yiddishkeit.
yes you can & should do shlichus right here in c.h.
No, the rebbe was very clear about certain things with regards to halacha. A few weeks ago I watched a JEM living torah video, where the Rebbe tells different not religious entertainers, that they should not sing in front of men. This was not once, but to a few different singers, Israeli and American. When things are not about halacha, the Rebbe was about love, but like the Rebbe told Shlomo Carlebach ” this is the halacha in the shulchan aruch, its not about if the women will get offended or not by not touching them”. These people are grown… Read more »
Chassidim have taken the message of Ehov es habrius – love people and be mekarev them, and forgotten what the Rebbe emphasized again and again the next two words – umekorvon LaTorah. and draw them closer to the rules and guidelines of the Torah. This unconditional love and acceptance of everything and everyone was NEVER the Rebbes or the Torahs way. There are red lines, and we seem to have forgotten that, and as a result there are no limits downward anymore. Shluchim GROISEH MACHERS with shrinking beards eating cholov akum compromising on major halochois of our Holy Torah !!!… Read more »
This is well said. Shluchim and Anash should read this piece carefully.
Get out of Crown Heights and move to Israel where Jews are meant to live.
Thank you for saying what many of us were thinking.
Having lived in crown heights my whole life, I have been watching the neighborhood descend lower and lower in every sense of the word. We have stood by quietly for too many years. When someone is in pain, they scream. It has become way too painful to ignore anymore, even though we have been ignoring these lowlifes for too long. The time has come for all of us who know and believe in all that is good: yiddishkeit, tznius etc, to take a stand and take back our neighborhood. It is very easy for you as a Shliach who don’t… Read more »