[.ca] The Rebbe, the Messiah and the Scandal of Orthodox ... (ISBN 1874774889)

MUST READ!:
Rabbi Berger has written a very important book outlining the problems with Habad-Lubavitch messianism after the death of their leader in 1994. Because Berger clearly respects the rebbe, he fails to attack the rebbe for faults -- like claiming that his desceased father-in-law was the 'essence of G-d in a body' -- that brought us to this terrible crossroads. While the book suffers somewhat from anti-messianists within Habad being quoted anonymously (this because of legitimate fear of reprisal within the Habad community), I can personally attest to much of what Berger writes. Even before the rebbe passed away, leaders in the movement were known to tell students to 'daven to the rebbe' (pray to the rebbe). I personally confronted one of these leaders. His answer? 'What do you do when you pray? You ask G-d for what you need. So ask the rebbe for what you need.' I should add that his employer, a senior member of Habad-Lubavitch, claimed to have reprimanded him for this. Somehow, though, he did not seem to be able to stop him from saying it. Habad-Lubavitch has returned us to a debate that raged in Judea and Galilee almost 2000 years ago: Can a messianic candidate die with his mission unfulfilled only to be resurrected at some future date to complete his mission? If, as Habad-Lubavitch claims, this is possible, then any messianic candidate among Jews -- Bar Kokhba, for example -- may return to serve as the messiah, in direct contradiction to Maimonidies and dozens of other Jewish legal sources cited in Rabbi Berger's book. Even more problematic, at least for Jews, is that nothing would prevent one from believing the same about Jesus. After all, he certainly had a messianic mission, his Jewish followers did keep Jewish law for the first few generations after his death (and would still be doing so today if not for the persecution of them by the Gentile Church), and (as Berger points out) his followers did spread a type of monotheism to a formerly pagan, polytheistic world. But, sadly, as anyone can see, most of the anti-Berger reviews posted here consist of name-calling and mud slinging. If Habad-Lubavitch had real arguments to bring to bear against Rabbi Berger, you would have already seen them posted here. Buy the book, read it, share it with your rabbi, the head of your Jewish Federation and the program director of your local JCC. Do not let Judaism be hijacked by these messianists, no matter how well-meaning or attractive they may be.

Interesting book:
Berger uses cuning scare tactics to further his baseless agenda. If he didn't write these books he would be a "nobody"! He wouldn't have a penny to his name. So he attacks a giant! How easy... How cowardly... It is well known that "to make an accusation is easy, to disprove it is almost impossible"! Anyone can say the president kennedy had an affair with them... In this case you don't have to be a rocket scientist to realize the foolishness & inacuracy of this book. After the first page I was certain that this book fits in Reb Moshe Feinstein's category of books that "you're not allowed to take OUT of the Bathroom!

Further Analysis:
After reading this book and discussing the situation with a number of researchers and followers of The Rebbe, I have come to the following conclusions. First, it is difficult to discover who is and who is not a "believer." Where I live, it seems that most are "believers," based upon signs on their houses and cars. Second, In talks with scholars who focus their research on Jewish - Christian relations up to 300 CE, the view taken by "believers" is exactly the same as non-Paulist Christians (Paul was the one who went to the non-Jews). Third, the position taken by the "believers" adds strength to Christians who try to convert Jews. When visiting my son is an Orthodox camp in the Catskills, I saw a billboard with the picture of the Rebbe and the words "Right idea, Wrong Person." Yes, while Chabad have brought many people to their brand of Judaism, if the "believers" continue to do their way, what religion are they supporting? That, seems to be the thrust of this book.

A Complete Portrayal:
Dr. Berger has done an amazing thing in his book: accurately portray traditional Jewish belief and defend it against the newfangled Lubavitch messianic-Rebbe theology. To his credit, Dr. Berger recognizes the wonderful contributions that Lubavitch has made to the Jewish world. At the same time, however, he eloquently describes the dangers Lubavitch posses. It is a balanced book, written quite fairly and is a must read for any Jew. Most importantly, the positions taken in this book are those of the Roshei Yeshiva - the Yeshiva deans, who are the leaders of Orthodox Jewry.

'Disgusting' is the only word I can think of:
I have grown up in Chabad and try to adhere to the Torah principles of life within it. In no way shape or form does this book paint an accurate picture of Chabad. He is as far off as someone describing a large beatiful luxurious yacht that comes to save people stranded on an island, as 'a big paperweight that happens to float, and may one day sink and break a vital oil pipline (like the Russian nuclear submarine did)- we must destroy it!' To compare xtianity, L'Havdil to Lubavitch is the most far off and disgusting thing I've ever heard. Does he know that not only has Lubavitch not dreamt of subtracting anything from Yiddishkiet Ch'V, but that the majority of Lubavitchers actually have a daily study of Chumash with Rashi, Tanya, Thillim, and Rambam! This is standard issue from the Rebbe and is in addition to any other Torah study during the day. Chabad also adheres to many very stringent Chumras and Minhogim. The Rebbe stands for absolute adherance to every last Mitzva and Minhag that we have- and with a full heart! Chabad is the only one who had the guts to tell Jew and non-Jew alike that the Torah in its ENTIRETY is true to its last letter, and that Moshiach is actually coming any moment- for real! It is largely due to the Rebbe that Jews feel proud to be Jews, in America and abroad. They are not ashamed of beards Tzitzis etc. and this was not the case 50-75 years ago! If the author feels that he awaits Moshiach every moment, AND that he believes in every single last letter of the Torah with all his heart, AND helps others in belief in G-d and connecting to him through doing His Mitzvos learning Hid Torah, AND bases his views on Torah (not on xtianity, or relative TO it)- then and only then can he have a right to quote Torah on Moshiach and give his impression. Even so, in no way can one say for certain that person 'x' is NOT Moshiach unless there is absolute proof for this in Halacha. In the case of the Rebbe, there is no such proof. There is abundant proof to the contrary though. However fearful one may be of an xtian-type idea emerging, or of fuel for the missionaries, this is no excuse to ridicule Lubavitch nor an excuse to even proclaim anything about the Rebbe. Just because they (xtians) use the Torah as proof (distorted proofs) to their beliefs, should we then Ch'V abandon the Torah because of that? It is a book like this that will help the missionaries by legitimizing a comparison. A Jew looks for objective truth based on the Torah alone, not in relation to religions that hijacked the Torah for their own ways... I would highly recommend that one first study some Chassidus (Tanya would be a good begining,) learn some Sichos of the Rebbe, learn the Halachos of Moshiach in their sources, learn about Moshiach from all the many hundreds (thousands?) of sources in Torah, try and fulfill the Mitzvos with love and devotion, truly yearn for Moshiach and act in ways to bring the Geula about etc... only then could one honestly ponder who Moshiach might be. Through acts of goodness and kindness we can hasten the coming of Moshiach. Each Mitzva and act of pure Ahavas Yisroel can tip the scale and bring about the complete and final redemption, immediately! May we be Zoche to the Geula with Moshiach right away! Yechi Adoneinu Moreinu V'Rabeinu Melech HaMoshiach L'Olam Voed!