4 months ago

Op-Ed: All Is Not Well In Chabad

Rabbi Shlomo Ezagui writes in an op-ed: The fact that Rabbi Kogan, a Shliach, was murdered during the week of the Kinus Hashluchim, when we are forced to reflect together and mourn and ruminate together, is a sign from heaven. The fact that before this, 16 years ago, Rabbi Holzberg and his wife and other good souls (Hashem Yinkoim Domom) were murdered during the time of the Kinus Hashluchim is not coincidental • Full Article

By Rabbi Shlomo Ezagui, RabbiShlomoEzagui.com

“…I wanted to emphasize it is not my intention with this (focus on the positive) that you should not put your heart to what is necessary, and it is also not my intention to say you aren’t lacking in essential abovementioned matters. I only want to emphasize the good and the good in an abundant manner that you and your husband have seen with eyes of flesh.” — Letter of the Rebbe.

We have been holding our breath and anticipating Moshiach for 30 years since Gimmel Tammuz after the Rebbe said Moshiach was at our threshold. This is a bitter truth of reality. Either we are not doing what is right, we are doing things that are impediments, we need to do more of what is good and proper, or a combination of all the above. The proof is in the pudding.

We can gloss over this painful fact, but this article is about something else.

The Rebbe always emphasizes the positive after tragedies and inspires us to look to a brighter future. Yet, the Rebbe was clear that Ahavas Yisroel, Shmiras Shabbos, not keeping Kosher, unlawful conversions, and not prematurely proclaiming the Geulah are the root causes of certain disasters.

When Iran shoots missiles at Israel, do we respond by saying, let’s not focus on the negative; let’s increase light and put our more positive messages of Israel and the Jewish people out there?

When Hamas kills and butchers us, R”L, do we say let’s just increase in goodness and kindness?

Of course not; In the physical world, that’s crazy. We look at the enemy in the eye and (should) engage to eradicate and eliminate the enemy.

The world of spirituality is no different. Reality is how it is in the physical world because that’s precisely how it is spiritually.

Until Moshiach comes and G-d eradicates evil and darkness, enemies and destructive forces will always be out to destroy and challenge the good. That’s how G-d created the world. While focusing on the good and the positive is important, awareness of the negative and dealing with it squarely in the eye is fundamental and critical.

This mentality that a bit of light is the entire full-stop answer to all our darkness is ludicrous and dangerous. It doesn’t work, so we are in this terrible dark Golus. Someone with cancer is addressed not just by strengthening the body but also by cutting out the tumor.

I have written and spoken extensively on the parallels between science, specifically quantum physics and spirituality. I point out that what we see in this physical world expresses what’s happening spiritually; it’s modern-day science.

The Torah, Talmud, Kabbalah, and countless Chassidic tales, when people encountered tragedies, were all about what we need to improve in our behavior to see life improvements. This is an essential part of how Jews view their lives. A believing Jew understands that painful situations, in some significant measure, result from a weakness in spiritual conduct.

This requires attention to both eliminating the weakness and strengthening the positive.

What happened with the murder of Rabbi Zvi HaKohen Kogan (Hashem Yinkom Domoi) is beyond an atrocity. Heart-wrenching and very painful. What is happening in the world today with Antisemitism is frightening.

There are Chabad Rabbis who, I believe foolishly, have been announcing on social media for the past 30 years, particularly in times like now, nothing else, but there are good times ahead. The world is shifting; get ready for a paradigm shift.

Yes, good times are coming, and there are good times now, but lots and lots of not-so-good things are happening in the meantime.

During World War Two, the Previous Rebbe, who I am sure deeply believed Moshiach could come any day, wasn’t blind to what was happening and said, “Don’t listen to the false prophets. We must first do Teshuva.”

In his famous talk on the 28th of Nissan, the Rebbe, in frustration, said, “I give it over to you to bring Moshiach.” We must recognize what needs to be addressed “to get out of this (our) internal Golus.”

We are experiencing severe labor pains today, and the situation needs serious attention to acknowledge and minimize the current dangerous times.

It is not coincidental that a Shliach was murdered at the time of the Kinus Hashluchim. There are no coincidences. Everything is Divine providence. Everything is a message speaking to us.

The fact that Rabbi Kogan, a Shliach, was murdered during the week of the Kinus Hashluchim, when we are forced to reflect together and mourn and ruminate together, is a sign from heaven. The fact that before this, 16 years ago, Rabbi Holzberg and his wife and other good souls (Hashem Yinkoim Domom) were murdered during the time of the Kinus Hashluchim is not coincidental. This is the SECOND time.

According to Shulchan Aruch, when we enter a Sukkah, and G-d rains on our party, besides making us uncomfortable, this is not a good sign from heaven. It’s better when the weather is perfect, right? Good weather is a brocho, and bad weather is not so brocho.

We can ignore all this and stay focused on the light and the positive, but then we ignore the reality that, according to the Torah, needs special attention (for our own good). The Rebbe makes it clear that he isn’t brushing aside some real concerns that need attention; it’s at our own peril.

I read recently a head Shliach sending out a message that as a result of this atrocity, we should open many more places of Shlichus as he has done in the past. And there should be more shluchim fighting with each other? Encroaching on each other’s parnoso, forcing Shluchim into side ventures (against the Rebbe’s wishes)? Let them all duke it out as long as we blindly can claim x amount of shluchim in my state? Shluchim getting fired, shluchim with no money to pay airfare to the Kinnus!

I was personally thrust into a situation with a head Shliach that was against my will. This head, Shliach, brazenly rebelled against a Psak Din of a Bais Din, with whom he shook hands to abide by their decision. This head, Shliach, threatened the Bais Din, lied, and all of this with the support of his family, behaving in the same manner. The last will of the Rebbe was that when there were disputes, we should listen to the Bais Din.

I have heard horror stories in the field of Shlichus and of what many “veteran” Shluchim have gone through, one who passed away this year.

Whoever is still reading this. Listen, my brothers and sisters. The Rebbe said on “certain” occasions (and in specific context) that we can’t figure G-d out and must focus on the future and do good things. But when your house has burned down two times, and even more than two times, you have to be foolish not to ask yourself, in addition to picking yourself up by the bootstraps and making plans for your next home, why my homes are burning down.

“Whoever conducts themselves in a way that disturbs unity between Chassidim is in the category of one who harms himself and others and impairs the reception of blessings and flow from above.” — Igrois 7

“The world is a dangerous place not because of the people who are evil but because of the people who do not do anything about it.” A Jew is credited with this quote, but it’s a principle repeated many times in the stories and laws of our Holy Torah.

More Shluchim must demand an improvement in the lack of yoisher – Tzedek u’mishpot that reigns in the field of Shlichus.

If we believe we are that special, we must think our conduct has considerable implications. We need to get our act together.
The Tzemach Tzedek said, “The unity of the Chassidim will lead them until the coming of Moshiach.” “G-d did not find any worthy vessel for blessings but peace.”

***

Rabbi Shlomo Ezagui, director of Chabad of Palm Beach, Florida since 1987, has authored two books: Maimonides Advice for the 21st Century and A Spiritual Soul Book, and is now working on a third book, Physics of the Mystics. Additionally, Rabbi Ezagui regularly contributes to his blog on the Times of Israel. Find him online at RabbiShlomoEzagui.com

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