The Rebbe, the Messiah, and the Scandal of Orthodox IndifferenceThis book is a history, an indictment, a lament, and an appeal, focusing on the messianic trend in Lubavitch hasidism. It demonstrates how those who affirm the dead Rebbe's messiahship have abandoned a Jewish core belief in favor of the doctrine of a second coming. It also decries the equanimity with which the standard- bearers of Orthodoxy have legitimated this development by continuing to recognize such believers as Orthodox Jews in good standing. This abandonment of the age-old Jewish resistance to a quintessentially Christian belief is a development of striking importance for the history of religions, and it is an earthquake in the history of Judaism. David Berger chronicles this development from a personal viewpoint. He describes the growing concern that impelled him to undertake an anti-messianist campaign - publications, correspondence, and the sponsorship of a Rabbinical Council of America resolution excluding this belief from authentic Judaism. He argues that a large number, almost certainly a substantial majority, of Lubavitch hasidism believe in the Rebbe's messiahship; a significant segment, including educators in the central institutions of the movement, maintain a theology that goes beyond posthumous messianism to the affirmation that the Rebbe is pure divinity. While many Jews see Lubavitch as a marginal phenomenon, its influence is in fact so remarkable that its representatives are poised to dominate Orthodox religious institutions in several major countries throughout the world. This book analyzes the boundaries of Judaism's messianic faith and its conception of God. It assesses the threat posed by Lubavitch messianists and points to the consequences, ranging from undermining a fundamental argument against the Christian mission to calling into question the kosher status of many foods and ritual objects prepared under Lubavitch supervision. Finally, it proposes a strategy to protect authentic Judaism from this assault. David Berger is Professor of History at Brooklyn College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. He is a Fellow of the American Academy for Jewish Research, and from 1998 to 2000 was President of the Association for Jewish Studies. He is the author of The Jewish-Christian Debate in the High Middle Ages and co-author of Judaism's Encounter with Other Cultures: Rejection or Integration'. |
Contents
Introduction I | 1 |
Movement and the Danger to a Faith | 4 |
Passing Phenomenon or Turning Point in the History of Judaism? | 18 |
Copyright | |
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Rebbe, the Messiah, and the Scandal of Orthodox Indifference: With a New ... David Berger No preview available - 2008 |
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affirmation Algemeiner Journal anti-messianist appeared argued argument asked assertion avodah zarah Beis Moshiach belief bowing Bratslav chief rabbi Christian Creator Crown Heights David deceased declaration divine false messianism formulations fundamental Gedolei Ha'aretz halakhic hasid Hebrew institutions Israel Israeli issue Jerusalem Jesus Jewish Action Jewish community Jewish law Jews for Jesus kashrut Kfar Chabad King Messiah leaders letter literally live Lubavitch hasidim Lubavitch messianism Lubavitch messianists Lubavitcher Rebbe Maimonides mainstream major mashiaḥ matter Messiah messianic faith messianist mission Modern Orthodox Moetzes Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah Moses Moshiach Nahmanides non-Jews non-messianists Nonetheless observant Orthodox Jews Orthodox Judaism passage Pevzner position prophet published question Rabbi Butman Rabbi Weisberg rabbinical court Rambam Rebbe's death Rebbe's messiahship redeemer redemption religious resurrected righteous ritual slaughter ruling Sabbatian Sanhedrin Second Coming significant sources statement synagogue talmudic theology tion told Torah Sages Tosafists Tosafot worship wrote Yehi yeshiva York Zalman