All of my “baalei machlokes”, I think, are missing the point. Rav Belsky shelita wrote an article, very critical of chabad. Regardless of its intrisic merits, Rabbi Silverberg has the absolute right to question Rav Belsky. He has his own rebbes to follow and it is surely within his rights to follow whomever he wants. Hence, all the “sturm und drang” (look it up) about his attack on Rav Beslky is meaningless. He has his own rebbes on this. Rav Belsky has the right to question Chabad too, although I do believe he is wrong. This brought us to the debate at hand.Can you, EVER, question a Godol or a prominent Rov or Rosh yeshiva? On this, I have said to all the other “posters’ that there is NOT such a concept of ‘daas torah’ ,that you cannot question anything a Rov or Godol says.
Matisjohu, “I can only try ” and all the others disagree. My challenge to them is twofold. First, where do you find, in the past, that people could not question a Rov or Godol on “milei de-alma” ,matters of general interest, and second, possibly more direct, WHICH godol are you following? The majority of “posters’ are following the litvishe roshei yeshiva. I follow Rav Kook. Does that make me an apikoros? Say I follow the Lubavitcher rebbe, does that make me a meshichist? My point is that everyone is entitled to follow his own chosen rebbe,without being accsued of thre sins of Israel.
As far as all the examples of the past. No one was there at the time of the bayis to know how the debate unfolded between rav Jochana ben zakkai and the others. History proved Rabbi Jochanan ben zakkai correct. Does that make rabbi Akiva, who supported the Bar Kochva REVOLT AGAINST the Romans,unworhty? not at all. Every tannah had his own opinion and only the results were the proof of the correctness of the shittah. Remember, the CHashmonoim also revolted- not unlike what the biryionim wanted- and they were succesfull. Does that make them biryonim? Not at all.
It is within the purview of every Godol and also of each individual jew to act according to his understanding in life. Halacha is different, as I noted.
Lastly, the attempt to portray Cahbad as another x-ian sect is despicable and ignoble. It merits the full condmenation of every jew.
As noted, paul CHANGED the whole of the mesorah. He abolsihed milah, moadim,etc..To even hint at a similar way is truly “motzi shem ra”. The discussion about moshiach is complicated and, although I do not believe that the rebbe was moshiach, we still do not know exactly how moshiach will enter our history. For all I know, Herzl was moshiach. After all, he gave Eretz ysroel back to the Yidden! (I am going to relish the comments on this!!!)