Putin, Lazar, Prince Vladimir
The Stature of Prince Vladimir in Moscow
Shabbes, November 4th, an invented holiday called, to borrow ColLive cliché, a “Unity Day”. Assembled are all Russian religious “leaders”. As the state functionaries, they are required to attend official functions, even on Shabbes. Certainly, they don’t represent any of the religions, they are protected at a price.
Berl Lazar wishes Putin “Shabbat Shalom” and the other Rabbi (who is that man?) wishes Putin “Happy Holiday”. This is only days since Putin took sides in the war in Israel, accused Israel of killing “hundreds of thousands” and said “his fists are clenched in anger” towards Israel.
The occasion is the unveiling of the stature for Putin’s namesake, Prince Vladimir, who converted Russia to Christianity in the 10th-11th century. Since religion means nothing anymore, all religious functionaries are on hand to celebrate and bow to their master. It’s implicitly a monument to Putin himself, of course, a greiser getshke.
This is the new enormously oversized monstrosity holding the sword and the cross. Furthermore, a political statement during the war. Prince Vladimir was the Grand Prince of Kiev from 978 until his death in 1015. There is already a monument to Vladimir in Kiev, where he lived. Prince Vladimir never had any connection to Moscow.
Chabad is a religion that merged with Christianity, why not? Throw him in the mikveh.
P.S. Lipe’s “Kiddush Hashem”
Meanwhile, Lipe and his “Kiddush Hashem” by baking a cake. “Show the world”. All military age men.
This is a fascinating back-and-forth, but Tzemach, you are missing something fundamental but obvious.
Chabad feels the need to serve *all* Jews, wherever they live and whatever level of tradition they maintain. To think Chabad will die out is ridiculous - there’s a reason it’s only grown larger and more vibrant in the last few decades. A large chunk of that reason how mission-oriented Lubavitchers are.
Bringing this back to Russia:
Do you want Russian Jewry to thrive? If yes, then thank Chabad for what it’s done. Whatever personal vendetta you have against Lazar - it’s hard to argue with the numbers. Russian Jewry would’ve *never* woken from it’s slumber if not for the Shluchim.
That being said, do you want an *alternative* to Chabad? I.e, someone like R Goldschmidt who would do the same work as Lazar, just from a diff org? Fine. But he left.
You could say that it’s acceptable that he jumped ship, as a) Russian Jewry isn’t traditional (i.e. not worth serving?) and b) the traditional segments should be encouraged to leave. Sure. In the meantime, Chabad’s there, making sure the Yidden know they’re Yidden.
They don’t have their heads in the clouds. The Shluchim understand that if you want to save Judaism, you help everyone, and you help them now. And that’s been *working*, at least better than any solution - better, complaint - that you’ve put forth.
The point is - Moshiach should come now!
P.S.
Perhaps I misunderstood your take on Chabad in Russia. Sometimes you are mikatzer in your analyses, so I possibly am missing something fundamental. If so, please respond.
P.P.S.
However I may have sounded in this rant, I absolutely love this blog, both for it’s wealth of research & information, but also for your perspectives & ideas. Truly.
I *especially* enjoy your article on the Repker Rov & co. - as a descendent of RSZS.
Thank you
Eventually Chabad 2.0 Russia will be History.
Situation is complex,don't blame Lazar completely. There are still lots of Jews there and I suspect rabbis are needed.
Right now our issues are War and Anti semitism stirred up by Muslims and liberal Jews in US.