I must say that being a newly Torah orientated Jew, I have obviously come to know the ChaBaD. They mean well and they clearly know who their 'leader' is, but that said, i find it very ill inspiring that there is an effigy of their beloved rabbi plastered nearly in every persons house and all throughout their discourse in their efforts to 'improve yiddishkeit' here on Earth. I am not a big fan, though I am willing to learn more. The rabbi, though certainly of higher standing, is in my book no greater than many of the other Great Rabbis who have lived before. To plaster his effigy, sometimes in 20-30 foot high photographs around the world creates a world of worship of the icon rather than a world that remembers the person. To place an effigy all over is to force that persons memory in our day. To truly remember a person is to remember his teachings and his influence. To put effigys is almost like what they do in the worlds that Saddam Husseim and Khadaffi are leaving, it inspires a demigod appearance to the person and does not bring his light to our day.
I like to see his photograph on say a book or perhaps remembered as your friend in life, but to attribute this person superhuman qualities and show his likeness everywhere shrinks any true spirit that he may have had. Where are his written teachings? Where are his audio recordings? I see nothing in my day besides an effigy. I will pass on having one in my home. Thanks!
2 comments:
To me, to really remember a person, you must see his goodness in your life or otherwise have your mind grasp on his or her essence as it touches you in life. Remembering someone does not mean plaster his or her effigy everywhere you live your life so that every day, you are forced to make sure that you think of that person. Thinking of someone is not REMEMBERING someone. There is a difference. I have a blessed memory albeit only miniscule due to my own experiences being outside of his lifetime but only from his writings and the discussion of his contributions of Rabbi Avigdor Miller. In my mind, I can instantly conjure up his image and I know what his soul was about. I see photograph effigys of Rabbi Schneerson everywhere and I must say I barely know his essence. I am forced to think of him whenever I meet a chabidnik and I rarely think that the ChaBaD would have any purpose outside of Rabbi Schneerson's influence. To me, that's not a strength. Thats a weakness. One should have a number of leaders in the community and each persons contribution should be weighted for its true purpose, not from whom it came.
To me, it is better to be felt than to be seen. I say that plastering the effigy in every persons home and elsewhere such as conferences just ensures that your rabbi of blessed memory is just "seen". I might put a photograph in the synagogue in one place and not to be so large that it obscures the daily intercourse. This would be a blessed way to remember someone. To post it in every persons home especially those who have never met the rabbi or known him intricately is almost like a cult following in my thoughts. I just don't see this as the future of Jewish life. Not for me. And not for my children who perhaps someday may be in my future.
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