By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Malkiel Kotler, Rosh Hayeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha (BMG) and leader of the frum community in Lakewood, NJ, issued a rare statement in regard to quotes attributed to him about Chabad.
During a meeting this week with the Satmar Rebbe R’ Aaron Teitelbaum of Monroe about the May 20th “asifa” gathering against modern technology, Rabbi Kotler was asked why Chabad-Lubavitch was not included in the program.
Sources told COLlive that the long-time Rosh Yeshiva’s reply was dismissive of Lubavitch, sparking an outcry among many Jews who deplored spreading hate during the mourning days of Sefiras HaOmer.
The quotes came as a surprise to those familier with Jewish life in Lakewood in light of the fact that his brother Rabbi Aaron Kotler has expressed himself positively towards Chabad in a public letter published in Hamodia.
Rabbi Malkiel Kotler himself has taken an active role in the campaign on behalf of Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin, the imprisoned Lubavitcher who ran the largest kosher meat plant and founder of the Jewish community in Postville, Iowa.
In 2010 he signed a letter in support of Rubashkin and spoke at a gathering of 8,000 people in Lakewood that was broadcast on COLlive.com.
Today, Friday, at 6:18 PM, the following statement was released by Beth Medrash Govoha:
Statement from the Rosh Yeshiva, Harav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler Shlita.
“It was noted at a meeting recently held about the upcoming Citifield Asifa that Chabad Lubavitch has traditionally not formally participated in such events.
This was chas v’shalom not intended in any way to cast any negative light whatsoever on them or on any other chug in Klal Yisroel by anyone at the meeting.
Any other inference or understanding of what was said is wholly mistaken.”
We also don’t know if this story is true… Welcome to blogs…
Seriously, i mean were in the omer here now is this all people can spend theyre time on, dissecting one anothers words?!
Since records began there have always been chilukei deios which is a lot different from machloikes. Us laymen should keep well clear of any perceived machloikes and as I know to my cost on many a previous occasion we don’t understand the points of dispute and we jump to the wrong conclusions. Rabbi Kotler and Lubavitch have different shitas and no one should get involved in any loshen horah or in this case motzei shem ra about others. On Thursday is lag bomer a time of reflection about rabbi akivas talmidim who perished. I will be attending the lag bomer… Read more »
I knew the other comment was a mistake. We must always be dan l’kaf zchus and not jump to conclusions.
As #57, I also learn Daf Yomi with another fellow Lubavitcher at a local Shul. It’s bad enough to hear misnagdim attacking Lubavitch but it hurts more when Lubatichers attack Lubavitch.
Is the misnagdisher or other Chassidher groups perfect?? Well, we are not perfect either. Try to look for the positive in others and ourselves!!
Rabbi Kotler probably doesn’t love Chabad, but I actually believe that he doesn’t hate us either. He just needs a better publicist. This is so not a big deal.
On the bright side, it’s interesting that for the first time that I can remember, a leader in the Lakewood community was on the defensive for a statement that was viewed as anti-Lubavitch. So I guess we’re headed in the right direction. Time to move on.
who cares what people say about chabad lubavitch! its sad that they give mussar shmuzen about ahavas yisrael and yiras shamayim yet they dont seeem to do it themselves. JUST IGNORE IT! Hashem must be testing us to see if WE have ahavas yisrael. Im sure the rebe must be very proud that we are controlling and NOT ACTING LIKE MISNAGDIM! Ad MOSAI! When will moshiach come and everyone will have ahavas yisrael together bimheira viyameinu. AMEIN!
to 28 -I do learn daf-yomi , I am Lubavitch , in fact I am makeing my own siyum of daf-yomi .
I hope he is telling the truth too, because being DIVISIVE would not be a good credit to his cheshbon with Hakodosh boruch Hu, and that is serious. Divisiveness among yidden with bad feelings, is about the worst.
To all the ones who attack Lubavitch about Tznius! Look around and see how many are dressed tzniusdik. Just because a group of people who are giving the bad reputation, you put everyone in the category, saying “their wives” etc… as if all are like this???. Shame on you! Following the footsteps of the anti semites who blame all Jews because of a Jew who was caught doing something wrong!!!! When the people in the the Yeshivah of Lakewood got into legal trouble, did you also say that all in the Lakewood community are corrupt? Then you tried to cover… Read more »
#18 u r so right… # 45 who cares who reported? the fact that it wasn,t denied confirms it, # 53 u r so right
It’s here in Lubavitch where hate is running strong… during Sefirah! Here in Lubavitch where no one stops those who shed the blood of Yesomim…. We’ve got the issues. The world is ready for the Rebbe’s Torah but we can’t help but dirty it more and more. Wake up CROWN HEIGHTS! STOP allowing hate to control the neighborhood. Stop allowing any innocent person to become a victim.
Stop allowing this Sinas Chinam
Rabosai guaranteed if you are dressed not tzniusdik how do you expect your children to be frum and the next generation marrying a shiksa racmana litzlan. IT IS HAPPENING BEFORE OUR VERY EYES WE ARE FALLING LIKE FLEIS. rabosai its so easy to dress bechain do the right thing make the rebbe proud so he could be a mailitz yoaher for us by the Rebono Shel Olam
Remember guys, lets not repeat the mistake of Rabi Akivas students…lets be examples of ahavas yisrael and treating others, even if they dont share our views, with RESPECT 🙂
Rav Malkiels cousin Chesky Finkel spent many years in a Chabad House
A Chabad Shliach from New Brunswick sent his young son to a Lakewood cheder. The boys teacher got up and announced that Chabad is not part of Klal Yisroel, their wine is forbidden etc. The Shliach confronted the principal. Also a supporter of the shliach who is also a supporter of the cheder called the cheder and told them that he stop[ping to support the cheder. The teacher petrified and crying called the shliach and told him he didn’t mean it. We see the atmosphere this Malkiel Kotler instills in his people. We also see how strong their principles are.… Read more »
By Der Oibershter there is NO politics, only Emes!!
let’s be Dan lekav zechus!
A) either he truly did say Only what he claims to have said
B) or he made a mistake & wrongly estimated his audience at the meeting & it’s not his fault for feeling his anti-chabad sentiments, due to his (well known) childhood & indoctrination etc his natural bias towards supporting his father’s public history towards chabad, until we are in his exact circumstances we must not judge him but we may judge his actions & ideology as wrong
It keeps happening a private meeting is reporte don a blog or something. It was a PRIVATE meeting. Who reported it and made trouble?
YECHI HAMELECH
I can’t get over how people in this world always think badly and smear Lubavitch AKA Chabad for their own gain. I have to say that there is a reason for that and it is only a selfish one. No more “Gedolim left in the Litvishe world and this Rabbi wants to be the GODEL learn from the best how to become one the famous “Rave Shach”. The more you mess up the name of the ones who do the work, the more you scream, the more you hate, the more you and your entourage spew filth the greater Gödel… Read more »
its known that rabbi kotler a grandson of rabbi aron kotler ztl (who incidentally schtamed from a lubavitch family )was in fact against chabad and this hisnagdus became more pronounced when one of his prized talmidim shlomo carlbach a’h left lakewood yeshiva and went in to kiruv encourged by the rebbe ztl and unfortunatly took a left turn rabbi kotler always blamed this on the rebbe ztl rabbi kotler misquoted rav schach ztl saying lubavitch isnt part of klal yisroel all he said was that the rebbe isnt mosiach he never spoke against chabad or the chside chabad as a… Read more »
You sadly are 100 percent on the money.
I wish all these Roshei Yeshiva langer gezunter yoren. I wonder though, where is there Yiras Shomayim?? After 120 , there is no politics in Olam Haemes. Do they really think they will not have to give Din vichesbon on the bizyonos they caused to the Rebbe on this earth despite all their Torah and talmidim?????
A LIGNAH AS WELL AS A SOINER LUBAVITCH!!!!
THE “GROISER” AARON KOTLER
,CLOSE FRIEND OF ANOTHER MECHUTZOV SHACH, IN THE 1940’S WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATH OF MANY CHABAD CHASSIDIM AS HE HELD THE PURSE STRINGS TO SAVE THEM…HE SAVED ONLY LITVISHER BOCHURIM….THEY HAVE BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS… ITS BEEN PRINTED UP CHECK IT OUT…..
” So supposedly RMK said something like “they’re not part of Klal Yisroel; that even though you daven in Chabad in Palm Springs I would rather daven B’Yechidus if I was in that situation.”
Col, how do you publish a story with such serious allegations when the source was ” So supposedly RMK said something like”? I think you are the ones that need to apologize.
Do you hear what you are saying “EVEN AGAINST LUBAVITCH” is that some sort of chidush because i would think its fine????????? you make the point even stronger.
so what about that other thing about not davening in a lubavitch shul?
This last shabos this issue was discussed in a shul in Flatbush and one turned to me and said “seeing how woman dress in Crown Heights there is no question that they don’t plan on coming to such an asifa”.
It I embarassing for a Lubavitcher to have to hear this. Very embarassing.
Their is that famous saying “those that live in glass houses should not be throwing rocks”. Maybe we should reveal all the old articles about Kotler. You want to talk dirty about another Jew, just watch your step buddy.
Several years ago, I personally y saw R’ Malkiel at the Chabad run Lake George minyan.
YOU MAKE ME LAUGH, ESPECIALLY YOUR LAST POINT. BUT I WAS TOLD POINT BLANK, WHEN INQUIRING ABOUT SHUL FURNISHINGS THAT WERE BEING GIVEN AWAY, AND WAS ASKED WHAT I WANTED THESE ITEMS FOR. WHEN I RESPONDED I WAS INTERESTED IN THESE ITEMS FOR MY SONS CHABAD HOUSE, I WAS PROMPTLY TOLD “SORRY, WE ONLY DEAL WITH JEWS!” THIS ATTITUDE COMES FROM SOMEPLACE, AND THAT SOMEPLACE HAS TO UNDO THIS POISON ALL OTHER EXCUSES DON’T WASH.
Please can we move on and think posotive thoughts ie. do a good deed or learn Torah. This negative discussion about what he did say or didnt say doesnt bring Moshiach any closer. I’m pretty sure he is big Talmid Chochom (and a jew & the Rebbe considered EVERY jew a gem) therefore we have to be VERY VERY careful what we say. Number 20- without using the title Rabbi- is a dangerous act. How can you call yourself a Chossid and spew hatred on mere rumour. Please learn some basic principles or learn ANY Sicho and see true Ahavas… Read more »
#1Every chossid believes his Rebbe is Moshiach. Forcing a chossid to sign a paper that his Rebbe is not Moshiach is like forcing you to sign that your rav is not the gadol hador.
#2 Hello, we are a couple of years down the line from the time of the heilege baal shem tov. That term is outdated.
#3 I illustrate my point by saying I even have to love you! despite your rather backwards philosophy of ahavas yisrael!
chabad and lakewood: why does it matter what he said or says? is there any human who decides who and what is klal yisroel? in the grand scheme of the differences between lakewood bnei brak and lubavitch, does htis anecdote matter? chabad: what is that anyway today? it is thousands of different opinions on what that is. and would krinsky, kotlarsky, or any personn called a director of any establishment using the name chabad sign up to such a paper anyway? the asifo: don’t use the interent. but if you must make sure to use the following chumrois and vendors… Read more »
Do Lubavitcher Chassidim go to the siyum of daf-yomi? They don’t because “men halt nisht funn dem”? Does this not indicate a self imposed separateness? OK, so we learn Rambam, because the Rebbe said to. But before that? The Lubliner Rov (pre-war daf-yomi founder) was no Litvak. Then what about the strange minhogim displayed for all to see, at a Shabbos hotel, Like eating a hearty breakfast before davenen; making kiddush on mashke and shikkuren zich at kiddushim. Wives dressed like glamour models. Refusing to participate in a communal shalosh-seudos – and sitting around talking devorim beteilim in exchange. Davennen… Read more »
As a non-Lubavitcher who is close to Lubavitch and the Rebbe, some points to consider; 1.I don’t believe that Rav Malkiel is anti-Lubavitch; I know personally of a Lubavitcher Chosid who was refused permission to speak in a “Yeshivish” shul in Flatbush unless ” Rav Malkiel gave an endorsment” and this was obtained within 24 hours ( even though the Chosid had been known to refuse signing a statement that the Rebbe could not be Moshiach as demanded by other local Rabbis). 2.Anti-Lubavitch sentiment isnot unknown among some Yeshivish and even some Chasidish Rabbis and lay people, who often use… Read more »
did he say? that he would rather daven without a minyan than to daven with a chabad minyan..
This “apology” is nothing but empty words. It says nothing. RABBI Kotler doesn’t mean anything. We are not stupid! We know what a real apology consists of.
Go back to your “Thou shalt not do….” & all the other mussar you live by. Start by learning about gratitude & Ahavas Yisrael. All your shteiging all day…try living by what you “learn.” A little Chassidus might make you a mentsch.
#12 has it RIGHT ON THE MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The two faced Misnagdim are sly and shrewd.
On one hand they avoid Chabad like the plague.
But when it is convenient for them they know how to chanfe,smile and use you.
Funny how the same people who speak against loshon hora, spew only loshon hora on Chabad.
Please, fellow Lubavitchers:
Can’t we just leave this alone? It started with a rumor that was reported on a blog, it was repeated on news websites, no he has offered a statement to defuse that, why can’t we just leave it alone? Why must everything be turned into a machlokes??
Don’t we have enough pirud in the world?
A Lubavitcher on Shlichus
BS”D
Disgusting how much loshon hara and sinas yisroel there is just in the comments above! WHERE HAS LOVE GONE? Be a true Chossid. I love you Rabbi Malkiel Kotler! Thank you for trying to reach out and justify what you saw go wrong. Thats how it should be, vchein lekol Yisroel. This is what the Rebbe would have wanted, and this is no doubt what the Aibishter Kvells over. Love. Poshut.
A famous writer and thinker, Reb Hillel Zeidman a”h, used to remind us regularly in his articles: “גלויב גארניט ביז מען לייקנט דאס” (believe nothing until its denied).
He should have said , some of my best friends are lubavitchers, just like when someone gets accused of being anti Semitic, that they have Jewish friends. This was not an apology. It was Aaron kotlers attempt at damage control for his brothers mess. Rabbi mk was supposed to be crowned the gadol hador of America at the siyum hashas. Now he will be a laughing stock. I hope lubavitch shows up at the siyum to protest
that he didnt write why????????
Perhaps this doesn’t fit in here, but, when a misnagid like kotler looks at the tznius of the wives of men with full beards and kapotes, it is enough fuel for whatever he wants to say. WHY AREN’T OUR MEN EMBARRESSED TO BE SEEN WITH THEIR WIVES SO UNDRESSED???? I’m talking about what I witnessed with my own eyes this past Shabbos day. HOW THIS MUST HURT THE REBBE!!!!!!!!!!!! The desecration of the kapote and beard is unbelievable, and I’m not a “chinyok” just a regular chabad woman who follows the code of Jewish law on how a woman should… Read more »
Coming now in the middle of sfirah let’s be Dan leaf zechus and be Mochel and deal with our real problems
does not make one a supporter of Chabad. He is just supporting the latest trend.
They forgot to leave out the last line where he said.
“I still believe chabad is not included in klal yisroel and therefore my previous statement is irrelevant!”
Just a little question/fact to this guy. In Russia when asifas would take place on behalf of klal yisroel can we remember who not just joined and was influential but arranged most of them
Hint: bney brak is not remotely related
evereyone has to have Ahavas yisroel.No one heard Rabbi Kotler say anyhting negative – it was all based on hear- say. Do you think that by talking more loshon hora and putting him down we will be reunited with our Rebbe!?
he did not realize his words would go soo far and affect him, now when his students and himself need to go on vacation they cant be bothered shleping Kosher food when they can get from a chabad house therefore he is sorry for what he said but deep inside he possibly still hates chabad
The statement does not deny any of the accusations!
What is that supposed to mean “Chabad Lubavitch has traditionally not formally participated in such events”, Well, nor has Satmar!
Either a full apology or a transcript of what was said in relation to chabad other wise these words are meaningless and this statement is to stop the potential repocussions of people not donating to them
Isn’t the issue that they were discussing a rally to ban internet use???? Is there any point in including Chabad? Isn’t obvious that whatever position other groups will agree upon concerning internet, Chabad will follow its own independent path? (Have you heard of the Jew who fought to be allowed membership in an exclusive country club. When the court ruled that it is illegal to refuse someone membership because of race, color, or religion, they accepted his application. He declined saying he wasn’t interested in joining.)
taken out of context as always
modeh v’ozev yerucham!
thousands are flocking to shiurim in chassidus. they know that if they dont excommunicate us, the or hachssidus will penetrate. this is the last stand of the samach mem.
and by the way, im going to the asifa.
everyone knows that lubavitch rabbonim offered to sign, and were refused. outright.
why?
because a certain reb matissyohu is a tamid of that hater from bnei berak.
when? where? what?
such a blanket statement, with no basis.
i thought this was the FIRST EVER such gathering of the entire klal yisroel. so its impossible for chabad to have ever excluded themselves from such an event.
im sorry, but harav kotler is just digging himself a deeper hole. lets be honest, this is hatred of chassidim, stemming from bnei brak.
lol!!!!
this is not a apology!
I sure hope he’s telling the truth, otherwise he’s gonna have to take it up with the Rebbe…