Reply To: The Wicked Son, and the Kiruv System

@Iacisrmma: I don’t know how seriously the Chassidim take their pshatim. I don’t mean this in a derogatory fashion; I honestly think that their mehalech is to “take out whatever you can read in” – I don’t think that they believe most of the “homiletical” interpretations are actually what was meant, they just feel that Limmud Torah allows you to learn lessons in more original fashions.

What I am trying to point out is that the Rebbe would not be משועבד to other details (the fact that the son was כפר בעיקר, etc.) which may change the position, even if he agreed that the Rambam would not obligate Kiruv in that situation.

From what I gather about the Rebbes kiruv principles, the Rebbe felt that tremendous sacrifice was necessary to be mekarev even those who are not Ma’aminim, even at the expense of the Shluchim’s quality in Avoidas Hashem. This is probably because he held like the Ra’avad that a Tinok Shenishba does not fit into the category of a Koifer. I wonder what the Rebbe would have said about a Koifer who wasn’t a Tinok Shenishba.