Chabad Sheliach Slams Holocaustism
Rabbi David Eliezrie, Chabad’s national liaison to United Jewish Communities, writes in this week’s Forward that,
We need to build on the positive, not the negative. It’s clear that the old principles that molded Jewish identity are not working with the new generation.Look at any recent communal Holocaust Memorial Day observance: As the older generation passes on, younger Jews are not replacing their numbers. This generation does not see the relevance of these tragedies in the same way.
You can’t reach them by simply saying, “You know they really hated the Jews and tried to kill all of us.� Not only does it not inspire them, it might also cause more than a few to bolt from the community, figuring that being Jewish isn’t worth the price. Just look at the high intermarriage rate among children of survivors.
Is the intermarriage rate for children of survivor’s relatively high? What data is Rabbi Eliezrie referencing? Does anyone know?
If so, it is yet one more proof and inspiration for the mainstream Jewish community to say “Never Again!� to the Holocaustism which is foisted upon us and is debilitating in so many way.
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My old friend Rabbi Eliezrie’s recent comments are extremely perplexing. Perhaps if Rabbi Eliezrie (or anyone else of his movement) would actually attend a Yom HaShoah service, he might walk away with a different impression. Unfortunately, Chabad does not recognize Yom HaShoah — even though the entire Jewish community observes it as a yearly gathering. Their absence from the community Yom HaShoah events around the country is disgraceful.
I have helped write a number of services over the years, and I do think young people are deeply moved by the services, as they should be.
In an age of genocide such as ours, the poignancy of the Yom HaShoah service speaks with great relevance to all people — not just the Jews. For the seven million people living under the threat of a nuclear Iran, we dare never forget. For the victims of Darfur, we must never forget. Racial intolerance–especially when merged with the powerful forces of religion–can threaten and destroy civilization itself. As a son of survivor, we need to hear their stories and remember. My saintly father used to visit and speak to dozens of schools and spoke at numerous Yom HaShoah events in his lifetime.
Sometime Chabad’s attitudes concerning the Shoah or other events such as Israeli Independence Day and Memorial Day must make us wonder whether the movement really “respects” all Jews as they profess to do. In the spirit of constructive criticism I would like to encourage Chabad to take a more active role in these communal observances and not act like they are somehow mystically “above” the rest of our people.
However I do have my doubts whether this change will ever occur.
Historically, Chabad’s own role during the Holocaust is disappointing, and for all the activism Chabad now does in the name of Yiddishkeit, Chabad played no important role whatsoever during the dark years of the Shoah. In fact, the late Lubavitcher Rebbe Yosef Schenersohn’s activity on behalf of the rescue was by historical accounts, non-existent (cf. for a digest of references, I would encourage readers to check out a series of articles at:
http://failedmessiah.typepad.c.....index.html).
Fortunately, the late Rebbe of Lubavitch did not subscribe to his father-in-law’s view of the Holocaust at all — a credit to his excellent legacy and contribution to building Jewish life.
As a side issue, I would like Rabbi Eliezrie to comment on Chabad’s intimate ties with Putin. Frankly, I think the Chabad world ought to express outrage over this embarrassing friendship. Being intimate with Putin is like watching Jews befriend the second-coming of Stalin.
Chabad is playing a high-risk game that may backfire against our people not only in Russia – but beyond Russia’s borders as well. Our tradition teaches us not to join wicked people or support their villainous agendas. Needless to say, Jewish leaders should not be in the business of propping up dictators who have nothing but contempt and scorn for human rights,democracy, and let’s not forget to add—the Jews.
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