New(ish) Blogger
I just started reading and corresponding via comments with a blogger that is new to me, Schvach. I wanted to share the link to his blog because, although we have very different views, I respect his right to share them and I appreciate that he has been seemingly open minded or at least respectful in our differing views.
Please go read his posts. I would love to see some discussion on the posts I commented on.
Also, a Thank You to him for writing a post on JewsByChoice.Org
(cross posted at TamaraEden)
Isn’t that interesting. I mean I still haven’t quite got my head around it, in that I don’t understand why a pro-Chabad guy would be linking to us. Whatever the case is it’s always nice to be mentioned on other peoples blogs.
Thanks for the.
Tamara:
Thanks for the posting about my site. Nu, why shouldn’t I read diverse views on the same topic that defines me? I’m not Orthodox, but in my experience Chabad Lubavitch leaves all other Jewish religious groups behind in the dust. They’re non-judgmental (I’m not), supportive, egalitarian, and they love to teach. Competition for ‘chochom of the year award’ is no where to be encountered in a Chabad House. The usual collection of verbal superlatives I frequently encounter elsewhere in the Jewish world is delightfully absent, and their minhag for wearing tefillin kicks leather. If you haven’t already, check out their web site - they keep no secrets. If you want to find a Chabad House, anywhere in the world, the information is made readily available, with addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, the names of the rabbis and rebbetzins - you name it. Thanks again for the ad.
Schvach:
You said…
“If you haven’t already, check out their web site - they keep no secrets. If you want to find a Chabad House, anywhere in the world, the information is made readily available, with addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, the names of the rabbis and rebbetzins - you name it. Thanks again for the ad.”
A little of my history with Chabad for you, and for other readers so you can get a perspective. I started interacting with Chabad a good ten years ago. It started with dinner at Chabadniks houses, to becoming friends with the Rebbetzin and going there every week for Shabbos. Where I live now I’m friends with both the rabbi and rebbitzin. As a matter of fact, it’s the same place Yankel attends. I used to go religiously to their home for dinner. I was part of the family, when I didn’t show up, I’d get a call asking where I was. This rabbi kashered my kitchen, helped my family when my mother was dying, etc. We love the community; although it’s not a black hat community. We love the rabbi and his wife, their kids drive me a bit crazy
I was there when we purchased a new building, I painted walls, I’ve cooked, I’ve cleaned, I’ve moved furniture, I’ve tried to get into Tanya (not my thing), I’ve davened every service there, I went to our huge inaguaral dinner where Cunin was the guest, I’ve stayed with Chabad rabbis in Belgium, in Philadelphia, in Washington, I’ve helped host events. My point, I DO know Chabad and I do know all the wonderful things they do for other JEWS. I could go on and on.
Now, I love the community, I love the people, but…the bottom line is when I met my husband people, even one of my closest friends, who oddly IS a Chabadnik all the way down her family’s lineage…even her and others tried to tell me that my, then boyfriend, wasn’t Jewish. He’s a serious Jewish convert. He’s committed, devoted, excited, and passionate. Yes, I’m speaking of our very own Avi.
Anyway, he’s isn’t counted as a minyan there and for this reason I choose not to daven there. Obviously both my husband and I have other things we don’t connect with there but we don’t see it as all bad. At this point I choose to interact with my chabad community in women’s events, social events, community Shabbat dinners, and things that don’t require a minyan or davening. For those things we have three OTHER shuls we frequent.
I rambled, but my point is that I’m not an anti-chabadnik. I still count the rabbi who lives 3 blocks from me as a good friend. We still see the family, go out for coffee, etc etc.
Tamara:
Good! Through what aegis did your husband convert to Judaism?
As for your credentials concerning familiarity with Chabad and your connections to it - these I don’t question. My point was that the Chabadniks open themselves to everyone; they keep no secrets.
The restrictions of information sharing I encountered when I accessed the website of the Rabbinical Assembly of the Conservative Movement are in bold contrast to the displayed information provided by the Chabad website. Peace!