The following was posted on ChabadofLA.com as a Dvar Torah said by Rabbi Shimon Raichik in his shul, Congregation Levi Yitzchok in Los Angeles:
Recently there has been a public discussion taking place about Chabad standards. On one side of the discussion there are those that have taken a more lenient approach that is a direct challenge to what Chabad standards have been until now.
Their reasoning is that the Rebbe’s approach is to have Ahavas Yisroel towards everyone. Therefore, we need to show understanding and compassion towards those who have not yet assimilated Chabad standards into their day to day living. They feel that even mosdos need to make accommodations by easing the requirements in order that they feel comfortable within the Chabad system.
On the other side of the discussion, the reasoning is as follows:
Who instituted standards in Chabad? Was it Chassidim or the Rebbeim? Since we know that it was the Rebbeim who instituted Chabad standards, are we allowed to negotiate those standards ourselves or to look for guidance from the Rebbeim? Surely, we should look for direction from the Rebbeim for our present situation. After all, the effects of our decisions impact all Chabad institutions in the present and also for generations to come.
Based on the above, I am not going to get involved directly in the pros and cons of this discussion rather discuss a few points from a letter of the Rebbe (Igros Kodesh; v. 20 pg. 174).
The subject of the letter is that Chabad educational institutions demand a very high standard of learning etc. It’s possible that this high standard might scare off some to accept this tremendous responsibility and their fear is that they will end up going to other institutions and get a less desired education.
The following are a few adapted excerpts from the letter that answer this dilemma.
…if the educational demands are compromised from the highest level then there will be a ripple effect on the average and lesser than average students…
… Chabad institutions throughout the world represent a unique approach towards both action and education. This standard represents a foundation in which all mosdos share, even by their name alone. Therefore, if the standards are changed in any institution throughout the world, it will cause an effect in similar way throughout the Chabad system, not just in the local country…
…The Friediker Rebbe explains that there is an interlinked social hierarchy amongst people. Therefore, if there is a descent of one level, even on the highest level, this causes a descent on all the succeeding levels. Even though the descent on the highest level was from the holy of holies to the holy, automatically the descent on the subsequent levels will be from holy to ordinary, and even lower from permissible to the forbidden. Therefore, each and every one of us needs to constantly ascend in holiness and obviously not to descend even if his general level is higher than his social peers. The same thing applies to mosdos…
…This is certainly true if mosdos have and established standard over many years. Any descent from those standards could be interpreted as a response to the demands of the times, not of principles…
…There is a clear directive from divrei Chazal that says that when Rav arrived in Bavel he found a valley and built a fence. The explanation is that Rav saw that the standards in Bavel had been compromised. He chose to be machmir and to add new fences, new even higher standards. This means to us that when we find a group that has dropped their standards in a specific area we should not respond in kind. There are those that are concerned that if we uphold the standard we could distance those people from us or push them into things that are worse. The lesson is to do the exact opposite. We should try to inspire them to a higher standard and to set the highest possible standard in the challenged areas…
This is a printed letter from the Rebbe. I highly recommend that each person read it himself or have it translated so that they can fully understand it. The point here is not to take sides rather to always be sure to consult the Rebbe when making such important decisions whose repercussions will affect us for generations to come.
“Chabad Lite” Discussion on COLlive:
+ Original Op-Ed: Is There Really a “Chabad Lite”
+ Baal Teshuva response: We Wouldn’t Be Frum Today…
+ Teenager response: Why is Chassidish Also Nerdy
Some ppl think being from means conforming. There is peer pressure to “look” the part. They think that proves you are frum. However, real yiddishkeit is founded on dressing and behaving certain ways to show HaShem “I am your faithful servant and I want to dress and behave according to your holy Torah.” THAT is emes. Not bc yenem will think I’m more/less frum but because I want to connect to the Aibershter by following halacha. These Chabad lite are breaking away from conformity, saying it is false. This is true!! But does NOT excuse breaking away from halacha if… Read more »
If we are so awesome, how is it that we see so much anger and negativity amongst us? How is that awesome? Let’s be honest! That is not honest, that is pathetic. The “awesome” went down with the dishwater long ago. And if we don’t get it back, we continue on the downward spiral of self deception and ridicule from others.
You are Wonderful as i heard so much about you by the Wilhelm Family of Portland,OR. Rabbi Isaac Yellin,who raised me was close to Devora Wilhelms Late Parents.They are a Great Family, BH,Jeffrey Tobias
how we choose to behave gives lubavitch its name
(so stop the silly name calling!)
The first response above is to poster 47, not 43, but indeed the second part is for poster 68.
#46, read on. I address how to navigate to clarity of yiddishkeitm. Firstly: it is important to distinguish between judging others and criticising conduct unbecoming for the person. While the latter can be termed judging, it is actually accepting the value of the person and seeing the treatment they give themselves as not as good as they deserve for themselves, loved ones and all others who come in contact with them. Surely any word, even if not crafted as nice as it could be is better than allowing a person to continually blindly mistreat themselves. Those who think that saying… Read more »
43: If you look at those who are suspected of the worst acts against children, they represent OTD/barely hanging on and Chabad-Lite/fellow traveler as well as traditional Chabad. Using these sick individuals to prove a point means nothing. This kind of behavior is seen everywhere; it is a machla that few really understand. 68: Sorry, but Chabad-Lite is not Chabad-Light. Chabad Light is the work of the shluchim and others who bring their fellow Jews up. Chabad-Lite represents nothing but Jews falling down, usually due to inertia and to not even caring enough to discuss their issues with those in… Read more »
We are all one because we all share a Torah and our allegiance must be to the Torah and the Eibershter! Basically it’s chassidus that unifies and defines chassidim and Torah/Judaism that defines Jews. We are not one because Hitler YM”S wanted to kill us. If we all understood that there wouldn’t be this whole discussion.
1. please read #64.
2. The sooner you quit the “know it all” mode the better.
3. Learn the ten commandments which teach to respect
your parents and your elders . Watch your lense go clear
and start seeing the wisdom in those have learned in
life before you were on this planet. Your attitude will
change to your benefit.
Open your eyes!
Do your best ,and if you can’t make it …fake it until you do.
Dovid Benveniste
Chabad Lite… should be read “Chabad Light” because similar to light, Chabad’s influence expresses many different types of reflections and manifestations. With the right approach of inclusiveness that Chabad represents, Chabad-Lite is a rung on the ladder to higher plains of self development. We cannot wish away a factual societal evolution by simply ignoring it. Our inclusive approach is one of the primary advantages that distinguish us from other chassidus and it is also one of the things that distinguished the Rebbe from previous Chabad Rabbeim considering the extent to which the Rebbe expanded outreach. Chabad-Lite is a label that… Read more »
All I know is when hitler was marching the Jews to the death camps he did not ask if you were Jewish “light”
Let’s all stay focused and remember no matter how chasidish you are we are all connected because we all learnt in tomchei temimim wether you like it or not!
And YES we do consider the Rebbe OUR rebbe wether we live his words to the fullest or not!
Just like all the Jews were consider equal when they were being slaughterd, so to we are all considerd chasidim in this dark Golus!
SK
The Rebbe attempted twice to implement a system of leadership. Assey lecha Rav, and at another time telling us that everyone needs to “appoint” his own personal mashpiyah. If either one of these two were taken to the full measure, a pyramid of leadership would have emerged in Lubavitch. Because every mashpiah needed to have his own. So it would end up that “minor” mashpiyim would go to someone more “major”, and the result would be that a series of levels would have grown quite naturally, Furthermore, it is highly unlikely that someone devoid of ideas with rich chassidishe content,… Read more »
U’mekorvon LaTorah to mean not to compromise Torah
values and bring them to the people’s level; rather, bring
people to the Torah’s values and level.
Hopefully you’ll get wiser as you mature and get older beyond
your nineteen years!
rabbi raichiks point is not to blast anyone hes trying to tell us we have to do more and besides blasting these people wont make anything better they dont care they will laugh it off
The thought that this is what chabad has come to saddens me. Chabad is all about reaching out- bringing people in closer, helping people overcome that with which they struggle, and most of all it is about offering inspiration. Why is it that chabaniks are ready to go out and try and inspire complete strangers, yet just as ready to alienate their own kind? The rebbe believed in unity. Writing controversial articles and making snide comments will not help the situation at hand. Rather, I feel that we need to open our minds a little, be ready to help, and… Read more »
The Rebbes letter tells us not to lower standards is understood, however this is not addressing either original Chabad Lite article, or OP Ed article on being judgemental which tried to address the reason for the problem. We all want Moshiach and to grow in Yiddishkeit , Ahavas Yisroel, Unity and deeds of goodness and kindness, and all the directives of the Rebbe as well as showing our children we care for them are all steps in the right direction!
I really think that if the school (Cheder Menachem) would just insist that parents only come to the school dressed properly, and we ALL know what that means, and insist that the boys had proper haircuts that would already be a step in the right direction. BTW Cheder Menachem is an excellent school with top notch mechanchim but there is room for improvement in theses areas.
So we should take the Rebbe’s lead and clearly denounce deviations from Shulchan Aruch and the ruling of the Tzemach Tzedek such as with immodest clothing and touching the beard, while loving the Jews who flagrantly go against halacha.
And I’m sure you know how Chabad Chassidim, including great Chassidim, have made mincemeat of Misnagdim, mocking them, calling them names, ridiculing their avodas Hashem.
You want money?
Dig on Shabbas,bro!
Torah is bread,…bread is Torah.
Get off your t-ch-s and put tefillin,invite guests,give out candles,call on a lonely or struggling yid ,he is your brother,and needs help You can bring Moshiach now. YEAH YOU!! IT’S UP TO YOU! Enough already.
The Rebbe saysI did what I can, now it’s up to you! YOU,right NOW! Today!
Dovid Benveniste,Tsfat
I live in a community where the people running the programs come into shul in mini skirts never mind no socks and short sleeves. I mean MINI mini skirts. When people try to address the issue they are made fun of. If you struggle in tznius and other frum/chassidishe issues either don’t be a director or at least when you walk into a shul of the Rebbe’s dress with some respect. Even the people who are not frum put on a skirt to cover their pants when they walk into the building. It is so disrespectful I don’t know how… Read more »
WOW! No TV ! In that case ,lets indeed pay heed to what he has to say.
The old have no valuable advice to give the young, their own experience has been so partial, and their lives have been such miserable failures, for private reasons, as they must believe; and it may be that they have some faith left which belies that experience, and they are only less young than they were. I have lived some nineteen years on this planet, and I have yet to hear the first syllable of valuable or even earnest advice from my seniors.
Wow: if the Rebbe called “Modern-orthodoxy” a “so-called ‘New’ brand of Conservatism”– I wonder how the Rebbe would call so-called “Modern-Lubavitch”?
Real food for thought…
This issue is a Torah issue that is being addressed by a Rav with sources from the Rebbe.
Each Tom Dick and Harry comment is not important especially if the person is nogeia bedovor.
We need to accept what the Rav says.
Anyone who knows Rabbi Raichik nows he is not interested in politics and is sincerely giving over what Torah says the way it was taught to us by the Rebbe. This is someone totally engrossed in the Rebbe’s words and one who does not have a TV in his house.
Moisdos chabad unfortunatly accept children of parents that spend money on the most rediculous brand name chachkes from cars to strollers while stealing from the Gov. through section 8, WIC, Welfare, etc.
When the hanahala puts a stop to this flagrent disrespect of Shulchan Aruch and kovod habrioyos, many other things will fall into place. See Lord J. Sachs’s recent article about materialism. This is what Lubavitch has fought for three hundred years and we have been losing the battle recently.
it’s the “Russeshe” “Gezshe” who lower ed their standards, and so ,of course, the Baal Tshuvahs have a lower standard automatically that they have to work and strive to live up to
Chabad is not lite, it’s intense,it’s like the Rebbe said there is no modern orthodox. If you’re orthodox, you’re not modern,and if you’re modern, you’re not orthodox. If you are lite, you are not Chabad. Chabad means serving Hashem with your utmost and maximum intellectual and emotional capacity.
BS:D # 41- I am surprised that you miss what i meant, not whether the Rebbe used those labels-but that his unabated love was for every Jew regardless of affiliation including Chabad life, no Lubavitcher would dare criticize a Reform or Conservative as they criticize the Chabad lites
Where is the common sense? Yes, adhere to the principles of modesty; but at what cost does that imperative exclude others, exile others, make others feel inferior, unwelcome, thrown away, not loved as a fellow Jew, etc.? Maybe YOU feel better about YOUR choice. Can’t you see that you are alienating thew others? Why would you want to do that? Why don’t you explain to then the meaning or purpose behind your practices? Invite them to try it. Tell the, if you want to, that this is the way we all must dress in this particular shul, so out of… Read more »
Black hat, tallis can sometimes err on the side of immorality, as evidenced in recent (and past) acts upon innocent children . At the same time, lesser forms of dress can sometimes represent the highest principles of morality. So it looks like there are things to think about when we talk about the REAL issues affecting our lives. Now if a tallis were a true sign that the person under it were frum in meaningful ways, that would be one thing; however, since that is not necessarily true, what’s wrong with taking an honest look at our rules, choices, judgments,… Read more »
Could those of you who went off, and came back, please tell us what helped?
Mrs Piekarsky recently spoke, and read to us what the rebbe writes about ‘modern orthodoxy’. In that letter, the Rebbe says that modern orthodox is a hypocritical statement- an oximoron, as orthodox connotes complete aceeptance of G-d and His demands, while ‘modern’ connotes changing / finding ‘a way out’ of dealing with the porblem / buden called ‘G-d’. it is very powerful. i would like to get the sopurce and actual text from mrs. piekarsky, of tel aviv.
Thanks for the letter from the Rebbe. Rabbi Raichik can you now tell us in your own words how all this applies to our days. Clearly and unambiguously.
B”H our cheder is doing a gr8 job educating our children in chassidus, yiras shomayim, and learning (in that order as the Rebbe writes in the bar mitzva letter). Of course there is plenty of room for improvement, and ch”v to sit back and smack ourselves on the back (i hope u read this RMG) B”H we have reached a situation where non-chabad parents are sending their kids to the cheder, knowing our Rebbe focus, chassidus, etc. they all basically say the same reason when asked: this school gives kids a feeling for yiddishkeit, chayus in mitzvos and limud hatorah.… Read more »
to all who are saying FFB are lowering thier standerds… i ask how do you know what level they were on before?? a black hat does not make you frum, a true soul does. how do u know what they had in the heart when they were in yeshiva? and now mabey they are climbing. your black hat is hurting you.
You say the Rebbe did not distinguish between Orthodox, Conservative, Reform Jews. Actually, he did. Modern Orthodoxy too. When necessary, the Rebbe used these labels, for example: “‘Letters from the Rebbe”, vol. 5, p. 32 “With regard to your question whether you should visit a Reform institution, generally speaking, in such a question the first consideration is to be careful that one’s act will not be misunderstood as an expression of one’s personal approval of the institution in question.” and in “Letters from the Rebbe”, vol. 3 p. 40-42 there is a letter in response to someone who wants to… Read more »
This is the best article I have read in a long time!
Instead of writing ones own thoughts which are debatable and can be have a bias – whether a conscious bias or a sub- conscious bias – The best is to share the Rebbe’s view from the source and everyone will draw their own conclusion.
means “NEIROS LEHOIR ” candles which light’ up the darkness of golus ! “MAALIN BAKOIDESH VEAIN MOYRIDIN” ! That is what the founders of Chabad expect from us in this time of religious freedom B”H. According to the founders of Chabad – Our Holy Rebbeim Chabad is non negotiable and not open to compromises. Therefore , if you consider yourself Chabad you don’t have a choice but you have an obligation to continue the Holy work for which our Holy Rebbeim were moiser nefesh. and use you easy life B”H to be candles that light up the darkness “NEIROS LEHOIR”… Read more »
BS:D it’s so funny, the Rebbe never distinguished between Orthodox, Conservative or Reform Jews and now some elements take it upon themselves to coin a new faction-Chabad lite
anyone!!! do you all know what you are saying? who cares? and if you really do care, this is not helping. bored, you are all too bored. btw, i am too.
Nothing from the Rebbe suggests exile or hateful comments with no patience or understanding. Some of you are so misguided in your “spiritual ” pursuit, you are o.k. with wanting to insulate yourselves from the “Lites” in the face of teaching, showing, exhibiting, sharing,etc. And what did the Rebbe say about THAT? If you can’t daven with them because they are such a distraction, then why not set rules and be done with it. As of now, there are both factions and no communication, save the impersonal and cowardly internet. Be menchkeit! Talk! Take a minute! Use your hearts! Come… Read more »
BS:D Chabad lite??? sounds like a new beer
Many new Shlichus positions available!
No need to move anywhere!
They are in Crown heights!
Now. Dare anyone disagree with the REEBE”S words?!?!?!
Rabbi Raichik is a huge Rav in LA and anyone who feels to blast off at him be careful, Rabbi Raichik is a very respected Rav and i personally turn to him for guidance and he is once again in right on!!
I’m very sorry but if I recall correctly there was an issue of no policy stated regarding Tv in the house as well as tnius in LA’s so called chabad schools. He is not clear enough regarding this specific issue!! Stand strong people we do have standards and they need to be stated!
You obviously miss the point of Rabbi Raichik.
He is bringing from the Rebbe’s letter, that standards must not be lowered to acomodate these chabad lite. Farkert the standards must be raised in reponse.
you can talk all you want. Those who are trying to reach towards the Rebbe’s true standards (don’t fool yourselves, most of us are not there yet, we are reaching for that) have to support each other. We all need to have ahavas yisroel for each other to continue on with the true values of the Rebbe
B’H The day we will once again accept to be Chasidim like the others, as was the case before the “Shlichus” became the heart of the Lubavitch movement, we will be healed of the ills that beset us. For a moment, forget about the “Rebbe’s Army”, the “Rebbe’s Soldiers”, the “Rebbe’s Shluchim”, and those “Rebbe-this-and-that”, and refocus on G-d and your Avodas Hashem as Chasidim, and not as “Modern-Orthodox-Chasidic-Jews”, and it will be the first step toward healing. We have enough Shlichus institutions around the world, but what about caring for our own? The same way we develop many mosdos… Read more »
Thanks for brining the letter of the Rebbe to our attention.
You are very correct. If a person wants to consider themselves Chabad, one can’t pick and choose the things they like or don’t like about the standards the Rebbeim have set.
If we want to be considered a member of Chabad we must first accept the standards the Rebbeim have set as the ideal way of life and work our way toward bringing and internalizing these standards into our life and the life of our children as best we can.
That’s a Chabad chossid!
How do we inspire them to a higher standard?
Yes, what Rabbi Raichik is saying is true, but what #3 is saying is so true as well! And to #5,… being someone whose kids went through the schools in LA, I would agree that what #3 is saying does, in fact, apply to our schools and teachers. It is a tragedy how many children have been turned off by the teachers and schools here, not to mention some of the principals.
You are correct. Rabbi Raichik did miss the point when he blamed BT’s. The original Chabad Lite article was speaking about the FFB’s. It’s much easier to blame the BT’s. Everyone does. It’s the influence of the BT’s that cause our kids to want to watch tv and dress less modestly. Well, who are their role models????? When the FFB’s in the community don’t dress modestly and go out to bars and watch tv and think they are being sneaky by having Netflix, of course the BT’s think all of that is okay. The FFB’s are lowering their standards to… Read more »
thank you Rabbi Raichik for bringing clarity to this issue.
a chossid by definition follows the standards set by his Rebbe. the Rebbe only demands more from us, never allowing us to slack off…
Thanks for the letter from the Rebbe. Rabbi Raichik can you now tell us in your own words how all this applies to our days. Clearly and unambiguously.
thank you for giving us the Rebbes words not your own. You are an example to us all. yasher koach
its so nice to see the truth.
as per his intro he is not adressing the issue- he is saying what the rebbe says.
for thos of us in old style chabad- the fault may to be ours, but the solution is certailny ours. our your own standards and there will be a ripple effect to chabad-lite.
doubt lt if anyone will move out of their comfort zone, though. we are much better at preaching than doing,
Stop blaming the schools for everything. It could be the parents as well or friends or maybe the environment..
What relevance does your comment have to the issues discussed in the op-ed? Why does a failing chinuch system justify a lowering of standards in mosdos? You fail to explain the connection, –
To #8
You have it all wrong! That is not the reason why they opens a new Shul. They simply wanted place of their own. Rabbi Raichik never ever made any one feel uncomftorble. It is completely untrue what you wrote. You should know what your talking about before you put pen to paper.
I love reb Shimon however his letter didn’t say much. I don’t think anyone advocated lowering the standards of any Chabad institution and anyone who is familiar with cheder Menachem knows that their standards are very high. The question was whether the school should shun children from homes where their parents are lax in their personal levels of chassidishkeit aka “Chabad lite”. The author of the original piece felt, yes. Many others disagreed. Rabbi Raichik’s opinion on the matter does not seem very clear to me.
The initial presenter of the article claimed that the Lubavitch Cheder in LA doesn’t have the TV and Tzniyus standards of the other frum schools in LA .The main question is, why can’t the Chabad Rabbonim in LA and other cities create proper standards which will be followed by the hanholos of our Mosdos
“We should try to INSPIRE them to a higher standard”…..
This is precisely the problem. You see you don’t inspire by talking, blogging or labeling. You inspire by example. Perhaps the system simply does not want to admit that in many cases it ceases to be an example. Kol Hakavod for the Rabbi’s stance…..I would like to think he at least occasionally crosses the border into “Picoville” and/or wherever else these labels and libels are being thrown, to inspire.
Rabbi Raichik happens to be a Rav who doesnt lack courage in the least. You are obviously completely unfamiliar wit LA and rabbi Raichik.
isn’t that what Rabbi raichik is pointing out from the Rebbe.?
it should be” ex-chabad” or “chabad not”.
To #7
At least Rabbi Raichik wrote his name!
Talk about skirting the issue. Write your name and tell us how you really feel. You write stand up to these guys and gals like there are terrorist or maybe you just ahad close family member join the “dark side” so your very sensative.
Moshe Lieferman
He did have the courage to blast them and they left Levi Yitzchok and founded their own shul.
His neighborhood has lots of newbavitchers (i.e. Chabad lite). So it seems he lacks the courage to come out and blast them for their inappropriate ways. These aren’t BTs who are coming closer; they are gezhe and others who are lowering the standards. Time to stand up to these guys/gals and say “ad mosai atem poschim al shtei ha’se’ifim”.
You have a point that not all melamdim or teachers are qualified and that is a discussion for itself. But, that doesn’t make it permisseable to change/lower the standards.
Your obviously unfamiliar with the Mosdos in LA , particularly Cheder Menachem .
to Rabbi Raichik for this.
All the above is true when the Mosdos are run properly and giving a proper Chinuch and ensuring their teachers are qualified to teach and are not ruining children and whole generations. Does anyone have an idea what percentage of our children have gone off the derech simply because of the failures of our system and in particular our schools which are a far cry from that which the Rebeiim instituted…
Right on rabbi!
I am proud of you.it is good that someone said the correct inyan. Know,amongst the many people in my community -are people searching for clarity and truth .
what you said was merely the truth…. as the Rebbe sees it.It is Emes, not as a regular person twists the truth to fit them.
Nothing needed to add