Reply To: Question of an ignorant, closed-minded Lubavitcher

Yserbius,

>>>Like one day on CR a Lubavitcher will adamantly deny that there is such a thing as an Elokist. However, within the same thread a different Lubavitcher will go on a whole thing explaining how his Rebbe is “Atzmus Nasi HaDor” and we can direct our teffilos to him and he will answer them.

Lots of terms can be understood differently by different people, and that’s where most arguments happen (i.e. both sides usually agree, but don’t understand each other).
The idea of “עצמות ומהות ווי ער האט זיך אריינגעשטעלט אין א גוף” – whatever it means – is a direct quote from the Rebbe, so I don’t think any Lubavitcher would deny this. The idea of asking brochos from the Rebbe is also accepted in all circles of Chabad.
What these ideas mean is up for lots of discussion and have indeed been topics of endless debate in the CR.

What I think a Lubavitcher means when he denies that there is such a thing as Elokist is, in simple, unambiguous words:
I have never met a Lubavitcher who has the Rebbe in mind when davening shmoneh esrei, or says “Yechi Boreinu” (I’ve met plenty who say Yechi adoneinu moreinu v’rabeinu melech hamoshiach leolam vaed, but I’ve never ever heard or seen “boreinu” ch”v).
I mentioned once in the CR that I’ve only heard of one yungerman (baal teshuva) who espouses these views, and he’s shunned by all (including by extreme, flag waving, yechi yarmulka wearing bochurim).

>>>Every time the Moshiach discussion happens, there’s someone who will claim that it’s really just one rich guy who spends all his time and money on the signs and everyone hates him.

They may be referring specifically to the billboards and over-obsession.
However, it is true that most Lubavitchers believe (based on their understanding of chassidus and the Rebbe’s sichos) that the Rebbe will rise in techiyas hameisim (or “be revealed”) before the Geula happens, and take the Yidden out of golus as Moshiach.

>>>there are literally Chabad houses and synagogues with a giant picture up on the mizrach vant.

I have been to plenty of Chabad Houses and shuls all over the world, yet I’ve never ever seen a picture of the Rebbe on mizrach vant.
The vast majority of shuls I’ve been to don’t have a picture of the Rebbe in shul at all (they will often have one in the hallway or lobby).
In very few shuls (usually the more extreme meshichist ones – none of which are official shluchim under Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch) – I have seen a picture of the Rebbe in shul, but never in the mizrach vant.

I am honestly curious if you could name some of those shuls and Chabad Houses which are as you claim.