Editorial: The essential wonderfulness of Chabad

Issue of Dec. 5, 2008 / 8 Kislev 5768

As Jews, we spend so much time being judgmental — those too far to the right are obviously crazy; those over there on the left aren't really Jews at all, are they? Hopefully it wasn't lost on you that the terrorists in Mumbai, like others before them, weren't particular about the religious bona fides of Jews caught up in their attack. We should never, ever forget that as we bicker endlessly among ourselves.

For instance, it's been a long time since Chabad was not controversial within the Jewish world — way too long. Some of the damage is self-inflicted, arguably, but two wrongs don't and never will make a right and it's way past time to bury the hatchet.

On a Sunday morning in the early 90s while the Lubavitcher Rebbe zt”l was still very much alive, one of his top aides was busy hurling himself in front of any TV camera or Newsradio microphone he could find, to announce that the Rebbe, that very afternoon, would be revealed as the Moshiach. As you might be aware, unfortunately, we're still waiting.

Stunts, and the tragic 'meshichist' schism that followed the Rebbe's death, and which still divides Chabad today, have long tended to overshadow the essential wonderfulness of Chabad-Lubavitch and the work its members do around the world.

Jewish travelers well know the comfortable feeling of walking into a Chabad House — always available for a kosher meal, a minyan and, perhaps, even a bed. Anyone unaware of that worldwide safety net should have been brought up to speed by the sickening events of last week.

Tragically, it was the Chabad shluchim, who selflessly work on behalf of each of us, often in places none of us would ever choose to live, who were suddenly without a safety net. They and their guests (who were also there in service of the Jewish community, on kashrut-related business) paid dearly for it.

"You don't have a group in Jewish life that has the self sacrifice, the mesirat nefesh, as the shluchim [emissaries] of the Lubavitcher Rebbe," said Rabbi Zev Segal z”l, in an interview several years ago. "And that was motivated by the Rebbe. They give away their soul in order to preserve Jewish life.”

No, Chabad is not perfect — the meshichist ideology professed by some strikes a sour note in the symphony of traditional Judaism. That is a matter that must be dealt with. But guess what? If we're even a little honest with ourselves we'll admit that most of the mainstream organizations in Jewish life are deeply imperfect.

Judging others favorably — seeking out the good in people, and in every situation, is a basic axiom by which we are supposed to live our lives. We forget all too often.