The parallels between the rise of Early Christianity and what is going on in some factions of Chabad is well known and has been extensively written and argued about by people with more knowledge that I have.

What is less known because it is maybe just beginning is the weirdish cult-like following starting behind Shalom Mordechai Rubashkin. It's one ( Read more... )

No time to write much, studying for the bar and packing for the move is taking up all of my time.

But just recently I was trying to find something about bechira on chabad.org and came across this speech that the Rebbe apparently gave to a group of college students in the 60s. It's all pretty standard except for this appalling part:

Question: One ( Read more... )

I am moving and studying for the bar.

So... not a lot of time, but please enjoy this thread, I don't know why I didn't see it earlier.

In case they delete the link, a high school girl is asking if she should think of the Rebbe first thing in the morning and thank him for everything she has. Apparently, she was at a farbrengen and there was a ( Read more... )

This article raised many questions for me.

Sending your kid away at 6 years of age? So he can get a Jewish education? How does that work?

I mean, I'm not one of these crunchie mommies who think all children should be breastfed and homeschooled until they are 20, really I'm not.  Still, sending  all your kids away at  age 6 seems extreme. At that ( Read more... )

I'm really happy that someone finally wrote an article about the very important topic of tznius at the Rebbe's Ohel.

Because if there's any place that gets the hormones flowing and the unchaste passions stirring, it's for sure a holy rabbi's gravesite.

I don't even understand how anyone is expected to have any self control the way things are now, ( Read more... )

In the latest Neshei Chabad Newsletter, there is an article (pp.12-16) entitled, "The Ohel of a Tzaddik: A Gate to Heaven."

As the title promises, the article discusses why davening at kevarim is an important, time honored tradition. It doesn't stop there, however, but goes on to explain that "we need the tzadik to intercede for us, because the ( Read more... )

 Is anyone bothered by this? Maybe it's just me.

“When I think about why Israelis visit Pushkar, I can’t find any logical reason except for the fact that it’s a G-dly birur of a place that needs it so badly. The most amazing thing is that right in the center of impurity, hundreds of Israelis return to their Father in heaven, and connect with the ‘ ( Read more... )

This is apparently part of a transcription of a speech which was said and/or edited by the Rebbe on the topic of secular books for Jewish schools.

"...As for social studies as well as the English language readers, from the

primers up - it is likewise unnecessary to be reminded that we live in a

Christian society, which colors all these text-books ( Read more... )

In a recent poll, 86% ( 24/28) imamothers stated that they believe in the power of the Iggros.

This means that they believe that when they have a problem, they can write a letter to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, who passed away 14 years ago, and place the letter in a book of responses that he had written to individuals, read that response and take away a ( Read more... )