Reply To: The world is in a state of Geula- and don’t misunderstand us!

RSo (I addressed the Moshiach thing first, so hopefully will be posted in order)

“You just alluded to something that has been pointed out many times over the years. Lubavich accords respect Rebbes of earlier generation who have not been alive for many decades. Not Rebbes who were niftar relatively recently v’ein tzarich lomar live Rebbes. The most recent Rebbe you mentioned above was niftar in 5575 – over 200 years ago! Other chassidic groups mention and admire even live Rebbes with admiration and yir’as hakavod. Not Lubavich. I’m expecting you to argue, but it’s the way of Lubavich and all non-Lubavichers know it.”

Here’s the rule of thumb: We accord respect commensurate with what makes sense. And I actually appreciate this opportunity as well, because it allows me to answer the other question that Chabad accords their Rebbe “too much” respect, so it comes off as weird and maybe going too far etc…

So, in years of yore, when you heard stories of the Choze of Lublin seeing from one side of the wrold to another with his ruach hakodesh, and Reb Zusia looking at a person and listing all their sins as if he had committed them, to arouse them to do teshuva etc, Chabad chassidim teated and still treat those tzaddikim with the degree of awe and respect due a tzaddik by the definition of Tanya (ie no yetzer hara.) Such Tzaddikim are capable of these things.

But when a Rebbe of today is NOT such a tzaddik, by his chassidim’s own admission, (although he is of course a very learned, even extremely learned individual, with a high level of Yiras Shomayim and an all around ehrlicher Yid who can guide and inspire others, and no one is saying not) why would you think we would respect them to that extent? That would indeed be weird.

Now we have reason to believe our Rebbe is such a tzaddik, so we accord him that respect. Its really that simple and shouldnt be offensive.

As far as a lack of respect altogether, chas vsholom! In fact, in two cities where I personally have lived, visiting chassidishe Rebbes would davka daven by the Lubavitcher yeshiva even though there was no lack of other shteiblach and yeshivos of other kreizin. Why would they choose to daven by Lubavitch if Lubavitch is generally disrespectful of Torah leaders chas vsholom?

If anything, because we were blessed with such a Rebbe, we tend to err on the side of overestimating other Rebbes.

I remember the time in high school when we heard how that day’s story in Yeshiva was that a visiting Rebbe had asked a Lubavitcher bochur a question. The bochur reverently listened, and then registered shock, before he recovered and answered.

The teacher was curious what had transpired, so he asked the bochur what had happened. The bochur said the Rebbe had asked him what the good tourist sights were. He hadn’t expected such a question from a Rebbe.