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Jul 22, 2012

How Much Of An Anti-Zionist Is the Vizhnitzer Rebbe?

The big news in the frum world is that the Vizhnitzer Rebbe has decided to withdraw his support from the siyum HaShas celebration organized by Agudas Yisrael of America. He had a problem with appearing on the same dais as Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, former Chief Rabbi of Israel, due to appearing to be in partnership with Zionists. Instead, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe will be flying to Israel, to participate in the Israeli edition of the siyum HaShas. He is also supposedly offering to pay the value of the ticket to any of his chassidim who wish to turn in the tickets they purchased for the siyum,

Vizhnitz-Monsey Rebbe sends hassidim
to Israel in anti-zionist move
I was just going to write that people are making this into a very big deal, as if it is something new. We complain when we discover that some people do not like us, the religious, that they discriminate against us, that they work against us, but in reality we do it best ourselves. one rabbi won't sit with another...

Every single event has it's own edition of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza, whether Hassidic, Litvishe, Modern Orthodox or whomever else might arrange an event. Someone is sure to say that he can't attend because he cannot sit alongside a different rabbi whose name appears on the guest list. It is interesting that this refusal to participate is happening during the 9 Days.

As I was writing this I realized the irony in the decision of the Vizhnitzer. The Vizhnitzer Rebbe refuses to sit, out of anti-Zionist ideology inherited from his relative the Satmar Rebbe, in New York, on the same dais as a rabbi from Israel. Instead he is going to fly to Israel to partake in the siyum there, alongside dozens of other rabbis from Israel, representing many Israeli communities, cities and sectors. It seems to me that the Vizhnitzer Rebbe is far more Zionist that he makes himself out to be...


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12 comments:

  1. As you say Rafi, we should never be too surprised by these types of antics. But what is most disappointing to me is that daf yomi is such an amazing sociological reality within the Jewish world. it is arguably the ONLY learning program that is completely inclusive and crosses any and all philosophical borders - even in Israel! i wish - just for the sake of daf yomi and its fantastic global success - that there would be ONE siyum hashas event in Israel - illustrating the true reality of the daf yomi program. That it is completely unifying, despite all groups trying desperately to maintain separation.

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  2. As they say... neturei karta in Israel are more tzionim than the people in chutz laaretz!!

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  3. http://thepartialview.blogspot.com/2012/07/mishpach-magazine-responds-to-feedback.html

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  4. This is a huge blow to any potential achdus. How can the Chofetz Chaim Foundation put out major presentations on the subject when "Gedolim" such as the Viznitzer Rebbe won't even sit with a huge tzaddik such as Rav Lau? I am totally disillusioned!

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  5. Fed Up In PeoriaJuly 23, 2012 7:30 AM

    You are totally disillusioned? Where do you live? In which alternate universe? This is standard fare.

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  6. Fed Up In PeoriaJuly 23, 2012 8:14 AM

    To clear up the confusion, the Monsey Vizhnitz Rebbe (as depicted above) is not going to Israel. No proof that he is a Zionist. His nephew Yisroel Hagar one of the twn Vizhnitz Rebbes in Bnei Brak is vacationing in Europe and will return to Israel and will participate in a siyum in Israel. Reb Yisroel was supposed to make an appearance at MetLife and he will not be participating. He can't cross his uncle because the Monsey Rebbe was his patron when he was sent away by his father Reb Moshe the recently departed Vizhnitz-BB Rebbe. Actualyy the Monsey Rebbe did not get along with his older brother the BB Rebbe bacuse he considered him a Zionist. Ten years ago or so a deal was brokered to get the 2 brothers back together. To add to the mix. Rabbi Lau's father's first wife was a descendant of Vizhnitz. Rabbi Lau's brothers are Vizhnitzer eyniklech. Bottom Line - Monsey Rebbe is not a Zionist.

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  7. Every single event has it's own edition of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza...It is interesting that this refusal to participate is happening during the 9 Days.

    Just to note, Chazal don't attribute Kamtza and Bar Kamtza to losing Eretz Yisrael, but to why we lost the Beit HaMikdash...maybe this is one reason why we merited getting back the land, but not yet the Beit HaMikdash?

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  8. Rabbi Lau wrote an obituary which was published in all the charedi, religious and secular newspapers for Rabbi Elyashiv Z'Tzl, in which he mentioned the first time he met him was when as a boy he went to the house of then Chief Rabbi Yitzchak Herzog Z"Tzl, and met him there, as people from all the spectrum used to come to his house to hear his shiurim. It is indeed very upsetting to slight someone more so a great Rav like Chief Rabbi Lau in this way. May I remind you also that the present Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger as well as Rabbi Lau himself were considered the candidates of the Chareidim for the post of Chief Rabbi. What hypocrisy!!

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  9. Has anyone out there in blogland attended Rav Haber's shul recently?

    I have heard that he has been strongly addressing the issue of sinas chinam and not respecting (as opposed to accepting) the hashkafos of other Jews.

    I would like to hear more and I plan on going there this Shabbos.

    Perhaps RBS finally does have a real rabbinic leader to look up to.

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  10. "Every single event has it's own edition of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza, whether Hassidic, Litvishe, Modern Orthodox or whomever else might arrange an event. Someone is sure to say that he can't attend because he cannot sit alongside a different rabbi whose name appears on the guest list."

    While it seems fair to say this, I don't think it's valid. Without getting into unnecessary detail, this type of disrespect is simply not bi-directional.

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  11. Curious,

    I attend KSY (Rabbi Haber's shul). Rabbi Haber and his Kehilla have brought normalcy to this community.

    He is a talmid chochum of distinction, highly approachable and an inspiring, motivating orator.

    His kehilla is warm, accepting and a true makom Torah.

    In short a breath of fresh air!

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  12. Rabbi Haber is a gem and an ohev Yisrael, in addition to what has been written above. You RBSers are lucky to have him in your midst, and you should take advantage!

    ReplyDelete

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