WHAT IS CHABAD'S SECRET?
Professor Gershom Scholem offers a theory
Here's a story that probably nobody knows. I heard it first hand from one of the two people involved, who have both since passed away.
Gershom Scholem was the famed Professor of Jewish Mysticism at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Despite his broad knowledge of Kabbalah, he was not a particularly religious man. He studied Judaism as an academic pursuit, not a way of life.
Sometime during the 1970's, Professor Scholem was visited by his Australian nephew, David Scholem. A few years ago, David shared with me the fascinating details of their conversation.
David had recently become religious, a move that surprised some members of his family. The Scholems were known for embracing Marxism, Enlightenment, Assimilationism and other secular Germanic philosophies. In fact, Gershom himself, with his ardent Zionism and love of Jewish texts, was somewhat of a black sheep in that mix. But he certainly was not a black hat. And here was his brother's son, yarmulke proudly perched on his head and tzitzis dangling in everyone's face. How could it be?
Professor Scholem was curious to know what turned an educated young man towards tradition. So he asked David what inspired his newfound religiosity.
David's answer was straightforward: "I discovered the Book of Tanya. I found Chabad."
No further explanation was necessary. David was one of thousands of Jews the world over who rediscovered their Judaism having been touched by Chabad, the Chassidic school of Judaism that teaches joyous spirituality, unconditional love, and passionate devotion to the Torah. Anyone who studies Tanya, the masterpiece of Chabad philosophy, will find it hard not to be taken by its profound soulful message. David certainly was.
This intrigued the professor. He was familiar with Chabad's mysticism. But he marvelled at Chabad's dynamism.
The professor asked his nephew, "What is Chabad's secret?"
David thought for a moment, and replied, "They have a general."
Ah. The Rebbe. This must be what sets Chabad apart from all other movements. They have a general, a spiritual leader, a visionary. The Rebbe is Chabad's secret.
The Professor sat up in his chair. Then he gave a piercing look and corrected his nephew, "No. It's not that they have a general. It's that he has an army."
He was referring to the Shluchim – the Rebbe's emissaries, men and women whom the Rebbe sent to every corner of the world to revive Jewish souls and reconnect them to their source. The Rebbe is indeed the visionary. But a visionary needs people to give life to the vision. They, said the professor, are Chabad's secret.
This story came to mind this week, as I joined the Rebbe's army of Shluchim for a record-breaking round the clock Zoom session, that lasted 6 days non-stop and was attended at any one time by many thousands of rabbis from around the globe. We came together to strengthen ourselves and each other, share moving stories and motivational thoughts, and renew our energies to serve the communities we represent.
Sitting with my colleagues from Norway and Netanya, Cambodia and California, Ukraine and Utah, I thought, the Scholems were both right. Ideas are only powerful when there are people to live them. Chabad has a general. And the general has an army. It's no secret.
Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Moss
To subscribe click HERE
Imagine tiling a brand new bathroom with old-looking tiles... They look AMAZING!
Nefesh Community WhatsApp Groups
Nefesh Shul has two WhatsApp groups to keep you connected and up-to-date all week. Our Schmooze Chat group is an open forum for all Nefesh news and discussion, whilst our News group is only used to broadcast Nefesh News to the community. If you would like to be added to either of these chats simply WhatsApp message the word ' Schmooze' or ' News' to Rabbi Moss: 0425309755.
New Kiddush options at Nefesh!
Please consider sponsoring a Kiddush- we have a number of dates available soon.
Friday Night
$75 - Basic Kiddush
$200 - Deluxe Sushi Kiddush
Shabbos Day
$100- cholent & crackers
$180- cholent, crackers & cake
$300- sushi, cholent, cake & fruit
*all in individual servings/boxes. Prices are for 30 people.
Email office@nefesh.com.au to book your kiddush.
THIS WEEK'S VIDEO
Yitzchok Dug Wells - and even those are called Avrohom's.
THIS WEEK'S PODCAST
SERVICES & COMMUNITY INFORMATION: TOLDOS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PRIOR REGISTRATION REQUIRED TO ATTEND SHUL.
PLEASE REGISTER HERE.
Friday 20 November – 4 Kislev
Light Candles.......7:23pm (Not before 6:17pm)
Mincha............... 6:15pm
Evening Service... 6:30-7:20pm
Kiddush sponsored by the Radus family in honour of Lance & Maxine's wedding anniversary - Mazal Tov!
Saturday 21 November – 5 Kislev
Morning Service... 10:00am-12:20pm
Kids Program....... 10:30am
Kiddush sponsored by Shaulmeir Ezekiel and Girgee Barukh in memory of their dear father Yechezkel Chai on the occasion of his yartzeit. Catering by Kosher Cuisine.
Shiur with Rabbi Sufrin... 6:25pm
Mincha......................... 7:25pm
Shabbos ends & Maariv.. 8:24pm
Latest Shema this week...... 9:08am
This week's class sponsored by Marjan Irving in honour of the Yortzheit for her late husband Peter Irving, Pinchas ben Tzvi on 8 Kislev/ 24 November - Long Life.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Summer Lily Chaya Mushka Hasofer... 8 Kislev/Tuesday 24 November
Sarah Meguideche... 8 Kislev/Tuesday 24 November
Eric Melman... 9 Kislev/Wednesday 25 November
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Emma & David Stiles... 8 Kislev/Tuesday 24 November
Michael & Sophie Stern... 8 Kislev/Tuesday 24 November
Kerri & Michael Green... 8 Kislev/Tuesday 24 November
Sue & John Sznajer... 10 Kislev/Thursday 26 November
Paul & Yehudit Khodor... 10 Kislev/Thursday 26 November
LONG LIFE FOR THE FOLLOWING YORTZHEITS
Iryna Dvoskina for her late father Borys Dvoskin
Boruch Ben Avraham... 5 Kislev/Saturday 21 November
Isaak Krutik for his late mother Lyubov Levitanus
Lyubov bat Yisrael... 6 Kislev/Sunday 22 November
Brian Schwartz for his late father Kurt Schwartz
Aharon ben Avraham... 7 Kislev/Monday 23 November
Marjan Irving for her late husband Peter Irving
Pinchas ben Tzvi... 8 Kislev/Tuesday 24 November
Libby Moss for her late brother Peter Irving
Pinchas ben Tzvi... 8 Kislev/Tuesday 24 November
Sue Sznajer for her late mother Irene Wiesner
Rivka Rachel bat Kasriel... 9 Kislev/Wednesday 25 November
Jackie Regos for her late mother Elizabeth Vertes
Malka Bat Sarah... 11 Kislev/Friday 27 November
If you would like Nefesh to include your Birthday, Anniversary or Yortzheit in our newsletter and send you an email reminder, just fill in this quick ONLINE FORM.
This week's newsletter is sponsored by Libby Moss in honour of the Yortzheit for her late brother Peter Irving, Pinchas ben Tzvi on 8 Kislev/ 24 November - Long Life.
| This email is sent from Nefesh Shul. We'd love to stay in touch with you, but if you wish to be unsubscribed from this list please click here, or click here to manage your subscriptions. | Sent via ChabadOne Communicator |
No comments:
Post a Comment