I haven’t read any comments, because my blood pressure needs more monitoring, according to my cardiologist. So I am just answering the TITLE of the thread.
Disclaimer…. I am far from a Moshichist – let that be very clear. No flags, pins, signs etc & Yechi is not permitted in our or any of our children’s homes.
So here’s the thing. Chabadnikim do not daven TO the Rebbe: we daven to G-d. What we do is visit the Ohel, write to the Ohel if we are overseas & the PAN is taken to the Ohel (the wonders of modern technology being used in the right way!) to ask the Rebbe to intercede on our behalf.
We personally have seen how, after literally years of asking for a bracha to move to Eretz Yisrael, after I went to the Ohel & asked for a siman that moving to EY would be good… 2 weeks later, my husband was offered a job here.
I try to go to the Ohel as soon as I get off the plane & again right before I leave. But this is what bothers me. I’m sure there are many comments above that are offensive and scathing, so I ask you…why do people flock to kivrei Tzaddikim? Not just Shmuel HaTzaddik, or Rochel Imeinu, but to Maran Ovadia Yosef & after the yartzheit, (or before, according to custom) to HaRav Shteinerman? Why is that OK (& judging by what I have seen & the number of people crying, they are “beiten” the Tzaddik to intervene On High), but going to the Rebbe is NOT OK?
It is incumbent for every Chosid to believe his Rebbe is the Moshe Rabbeinu of the generation. And for us, the Rebbe possessed all the qualities of Moshiach. Will he be revealed as Moshiach? Well, I hope we will find out momentarily. If yes, great; if not… Moshiach will be here!! Frankly, I have no more clue than anyone & personally, I don’t believe it’s right to speculate.
I get that there are many YWN readers (some I can name) who won’t miss an opportunity to viciously denigrate not only Chabad but the Rebbe. So I made a hachlota for Chof Beis Shvat, the 30th yartzheit of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka (whose levaya I still see); I’m not going to be drawn into any more arguments or answer even the most virulent anti-Chabadnikim. I will, however, if asked anything in a respectful manner, do my best to answer in the same vein – if I can!
May we all be zoche to greet Moshiach – whoever he is – NOW.