The Postscript on Zalman Schneerson and Barry Gourary
“When nothing in society deserves respect, we should fashion for ourselves in solitude new silent loyalties.” ― Nicólas Gómez Dávila
I am tired of talking about Zalman Schneerson, even more tired of his cousin and the rest of the fatal mishpoche.'
Nevertheless, in the interest of “science”. It looks like we exaggerated or misunderstood the role of Binyomin Gorodetzky in the podcast. But it’s not in doubt that Ramash played a role in the sidelining of Reb Zalman.
“Zalman left France after the war to raise money for his organization, the AIP, which was bankrupted. He had asked the Joint for more money, and they refused, but they also did not allow him to fundraise in the US. He threatened to do so if the JDC didn’t provide the funds needed to stay afloat, [as you can see from the correspondence, he ran a big deficit exceeding his budget. I imagine Joint was stretched and depleted after the war].
They didn’t extend the subvention, so he came to the states to raise money but was miserably unsuccessful. The JDC cut him off, and so I think eventually he had to dissolve the AIP and schools because he couldn’t provide adequate food/med supplies for the children in his care. I collected much of the correspondence between SZS and the JDC during that time. It’s funny at times and also tragic.
My grandfather [Sholem Ber] was definitely not a Bobover chossid, haha. He wasn’t a chossid at all, really. But when I asked who he respected the most, he said the Rayatz. He liked to go to Bobov’s tish for the tunes. He liked to sing and I also think he liked that they respected him and wanted him there. Lubavitch had a very different attitude toward bais harav, relatives of the Rebbe were scrutinized and criticized regarding their allegiance to the Rebbe. And modern Lubavitch was a different animal, one that I don’t think my grandfather cared for. He didn’t worship the Rebbe.
I don’t know what else there is to say, but my understanding was that my grandfather didn’t go to Bobov as a chossid, he went as a respected rebbishe guest, and he enjoyed singing at tish. Eli Chaim [Carlebach] was a chossid, though.
I don’t really know what happened with SZS and the Rebbe, just supplying whatever information I know. I never met my great-grandfather, but from everything I read, the Rayatz and his son-in-law certainly contributed to his being sidelined from Lubavitch. But SZS had ambitions far beyond Lubavitch, and he didn’t want to be told what to do. He was never going to be a “shliach”. Which made him someone who couldn’t be controlled.
I don’t think my grandfather had strong feelings against anyone in Lubavitch; no vendetta or grudge at all. He just wanted to do his own thing, the way his father did. Create his own community and be a Rabbi. And Lubavitch became increasingly focused on the rebbe in a cult-like way, which I think was off putting to many frum Jews. My grandfather and his father were old fashioned chassidim.
I enjoyed listening to the podcast. And appreciate your coverage of my great-grandfather. He was an extraordinary man who never got his due.”
Finally, to draw a parallel with Barry Gourary. I can’t believe that there are still people who foolishly accept that the Rebbe started Wold Ward III against Barry “because of the books”.
The following equally applies to Reb Zalman and Barry Gourary. I have no doubt that if Reb Zalman lived long enough, there would be a World War on him too.
Barry and Zalman:
Royal Family.
Potential or actual pretender to the throne.
Independent thinker, not subservient to the Rebbe.
A person who observed the Rebbe up close, including the less flattering period in Europe.
In fact, there is something puzzling about the Rebbe. He might have felt very insecure in his role. He might have questions about his legitimacy or fitness to the throne. And often the inner doubt translates into paranoia, the need for the assurances of the allegiance, the cult of personality.