A Jew can't be a professional Jew

The quote at the end of the post

On the subject of Post No. 1 - Boris Markovich Schneerson - Family of the Repker Rov - Introduction. I have been thinking about this quote at the end of the post.

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Family Background

Boruch Sholem and Yaakov were the only two sons of Tzemach Tzedek who didn’t become a Rebbe (5 out of 7 did). Boruch Sholem’s son was a Rov in Poddobryanka לוי יצחק שניאורסון

Poddobryanka Rov had three sons and two daughters:

1. Avrohom Sender, father of Levi Yizhok. Daughter of this Levi Yitzhok was Margolia who wrote the memoirs.

2. Mendel is the Repker Rov, he had two sons and three daughters (see there).

3. Boruch Schneur Zalman, father of Levi Yizhok, grandfather of Ramash. Israeli poet Zelda was also his granddaughter (she was royalty on both sides, Chein and Schneerson).

4. Devorah Leah.

5. Musia.

Boruch Sholem/Boris was named after Tzemach Tzedek’s son, who was his, Ramash’s, Zalman’s and Zelda’s alter zeide.

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Where is Devorah Leah, where is Musia? Who knows…

But let’s look at the family broadly. There are only two male Shneersons that stayed frum in Russia, Zalman and Mendel. If you take Zalman’s family, you have to add the two sisters, Yehudis and Feiga. Unreal accomplishment, given the hell of the circumstances. Even Margolia stayed traditional. I think the key is that Tzemach Tzedek’s son Boruch Sholem did not become a professional Jew. He did not make it his profession. Never mind his children, small town Rov, there is no business in that.

Compare to the professional Rebbes, Lubavitcher, Leydeer, Kopusters, Nezhiner, etc. Not a trace left (if you don’t count little Bere Gourary, dor shmini). The Grandsons of the Maharash weren’t just anti-traditional, they were outright communist revolutionaries.

The danger of Shlichus is that money and religion becomes intertwined. It kills the soul. Ramash did that. Of maybe, he started it sincerely, but it grew into the monster around us?

I am an absolutist dreamer, please forgive me.

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PS The same applies to kollel Jews, but because it involves learning, and small money, it is less damaging for the soul than the Shlichus.

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See also Sound No. 6 - Sholem Aleichem: The Eclipse of the Schneerson Family.