Someone anonymous, who has been inciting many Chabad Chassidim for some time now, including veteran shluchim, has been exposed this week thanks to Beis Moshiach’s reporter who was sent to conduct an interview about a successful Chabad House in Eretz Yisroel. The reporter left behind a running video camera and when he returned to retrieve it, he discovered that the camera had documented a secret meeting in the middle of the night between the veteran shliach and a very senior figure in the frum/Chabad world. * This rare documentary rips the mask off his face and reveals the despicable tactics of the anonymous inciter who uses the images of Rabbanim and Chassidim and various cover stories to carry out his nefarious plans. * Zalman Tzorfati brings the complete story in an exclusive expose – “and there was a turnabout … and the Jews prevailed ...”
By Zalman Tzorfati
The last of the shop owners in the shopping mall closed the heavy metal shutters over their shop window displays. Morris always closes up last as he tries to gain yet another customer who might wander through after the other stores are closed. The waiters at the nearby cafe hurried the last patrons to order dessert before the kitchen closed as they piled up chairs and wiped down tables.
The mall which is bustling during daytime hours emptied out, and between the stores all you could see were employees of the city’s sanitation department, who dragged green garbage cans and held straw brooms and long-handled dustpans as they attempted to erase the remnants of another busy workday.
On the second floor of the mall, between the laundromat and the private medical clinic, sat R’ Mendel Neeman, shliach of the Rebbe, in his office in the inner room of the Chabad House. The reception area was used as a Judaica store and to welcome people, while his office in the inner sanctum was where he ran his empire that he built up over twenty years of shlichus. This included an elementary school for boys and for girls, four preschools around town, another Chabad shul in addition to the central shul where he was the rav, and of course shiurim and seasonal programs and activities.
MYSTERY FIGURE OUTSIDE THE CHABAD HOUSE
It was close to midnight and the Chabad House door was locked. The Judaica store was dark, and light shone only in the office. R’ Mendel sat in front of a computer screen, staring at the Otzar HaChochma program. Various s’farim were open around him. He was preparing for a shiur on the topic of “The Relevance of Torah-based Law in the Millennium Generation,” which he would be giving the next day to a group of lawyers at a prestigious firm in the city, but he had not been able to concentrate. He tried again and again to shake off the distracting, disturbing thoughts.
A mysterious figure walked outside the Chabad House. It paced back and forth, casting furtive glances at the darkened Judaica store. It looked as though he was hesitating about entering. Every now and then, he placed a hand on the locked, glass door but immediately withdrew it and continued pacing.
R’ Noach, or as he was known, HaRav, HaChassid, HaTamim, HaGaon R’ Noach Kluginker shlita, paced for a long time outside the locked door. He waited for just the right time to enter. His white, majestic beard blew in the nighttime breeze. He straightened his hat and fastened his coat.
It wasn’t the first time he was visiting R’ Menachem or other shluchim. In his role, he often visits with shluchim, Rabbanim and Chabad askanim all over the world and even with Anash communities. He never tires and is not put off by long hours on planes or inclement weather. Those in the know say he always has a small suitcase with him and as soon as he feels the time is right to influence someone, R’ Noach, much like a highly trained emergency first responder, takes his bag and flies to the ends of the world to carry out his mission.
R’ Noach sensed the thoughts that were disturbing the shliach’s peace and he rushed to the scene. He loved these opportunities. Difficulties and challenges were always fertile ground for his plans. He was well acquainted with those active souls, and he knew the ways to get through to their hearts like the back of his hand.
Now he paced and waited for the opportune moment to pounce. He sensed the internal conflict taking place in the shliach and he waited for just the right moment to burst in. “I will let him stew a little bit more,” he thought. A bitter taste rose up in his mouth as he recalled their previous encounter. He had been thrown out of the office by R’ Mendel who did not even want to listen to him. But R’ Noach was not one to give up; on the contrary, R’ Mendel had become a challenge, and he did not want to fail again.
“Only fools do not learn a lesson,” he said to himself. This time, he came well prepared after doing a lot of homework. He was armed with the best arguments, which he collected with sweat and tears from the back benches of shuls and battei midrashim.
R’ Mendel looked up and cast a surprised glance at the person standing before him. The person’s upright stature and luminous countenance greatly impressed him. The facial features were familiar to him, but he could not remember from where. He was wearing a silk sirtuk, tied with an expensive, handmade silk gartel. His long white beard flowed beautifully, and his green eyes gazed at him with a pious and solicitous look.
PUSHING MOSHIACH?
“Shalom aleichem, R’ Mendel,” began R’ Noach in a soft voice as he held out a warm hand. R’ Mendel got up out of respect for his distinguished looking guest, shook his hand, and added a Chassidishe kiss on his right cheek as is the custom.
“Nu, how is shlichus?” asked R’ Noach, as R’ Mendel went off to the kitchenette in a corner of the room.
“Boruch Hashem. What do you want to drink?”
“Black coffee without sugar, thanks,” said R’ Noach.
A minute later, R’ Mendel was back. He put two cups of steaming coffee on the table and looked questioningly at the guest.
“I see that you are busy. I don’t want to disturb you,” began R’ Noach smoothly, as he glanced at the open s’farim. “What’s that? What are you learning?” he asked.
“It’s okay,” said R’ Mendel. “Tomorrow I need to give a shiur at a large law firm on the subject of the relevance of Jewish jurisprudence in the new millennium. I am trying to connect it all to Moshiach but I have not been able to concentrate …”
R’ Mendel flipped through the seifer in front of him. R’ Noach concealed a satisfied smile behind his thick mustache. He felt the time was propitious.
“It’s okay, you don’t have to connect every single thing to Moshiach,” said HaRav Kluginker. “These are respectable people. They asked you for a class on Jewish law; you don’t have to bring Moshiach into everything. Come, let us work on this together. I will help you construct a beauty of a lecture. You will see that they will all love it. Just do me this favor and don’t push Moshiach into everything.”
“What do you mean by pushing Moshiach into everything? How can a Chassidic Jew like yourself even say that?” asked R’ Mendel in alarm.
“You’re right,” said R’ Noach calmly. “A Chassidic Jew like me is not even able to express himself in a manner that is inappropriate.”
WHERE DID THE REBBE SAY “B’OFEN HA’MISKABEL?”
“You are a Chassidic Jew?” R’ Mendel continued to defend his position while taking out a D’var Malchus for Chumash B’Reishis. “What are we supposed to do if not to publicize to whoever we possibly can about the imminent Geula? This is precisely what the Rebbe asked of the shluchim at the last Kinus HaShluchim when we heard a sicha from the Rebbe. Didn’t you learn the sicha of Chayei Sarah 5752? Here, see it for yourself,” he said as he pointed at one piece in the sicha:
“You need to go out and proclaim to all the shluchim that the avoda of shlichus now, and that of every Jew, is expressed in their welcoming p’nei Moshiach Tzidkeinu … Every shliach needs to prepare all Jews in his place and city etc. to welcome Moshiach by explaining what Moshiach is about as it is explained in the Written and Oral Torah.”
“You are right,” said R’ Noach with a smile, while waving his hand dismissively. “Apparently, you don’t know who you are dealing with. Not only am I familiar with the sicha, but I was even there when the Rebbe said it. Back then already, I was a senior shliach. I heard it with my own ears.
“But since then, many years have passed, and in the meantime, the Rebbe also limited the involvement with Moshiach so that it is solely b’ofen ha’miskabel. And I don’t think that talking with lawyers about Moshiach is b’ofen ha’miskabel.”
“Where did the Rebbe say that?”
“I don’t remember at the present, but it’s a known thing. You can ask anyone in Chabad.”
OFEN HA’MISKABEL – OBLIGATION, NOT AN EXEMPTION!
“How odd that that phrase was said in that very same sicha that you said you heard directly from the Rebbe. Fine, maybe it was precisely when you dozed off. So first of all, here is the complete sentence. The Rebbe said:
“Every shliach needs to prepare all the Jews in his place and his city etc. to welcome p’nei Moshiach Tzidkeinu by explaining what Moshiach is about, as it is explained in the Written and Oral Torah, b’ofen ha’miskabel – in a way that will make it acceptable by everyone, according to each one’s intellect and understanding, including and especially by learning inyanei Moshiach and Geula, especially in a way of chochma, bina, and daas. And since this is the avoda of this time, obviously it pertains to every single Jew without exception.”
“And by the way, I agree with you and even will add and say that everything connected with spreading Judaism needs to be b’ofen ha’miskabel.”
“How lovely, then you agree with me? You are ready to drop the whole idea of Moshiach?”
“Of course not! Quite the opposite. Do you understand what you did? You took a phrase out of a whole long sicha, took it out of its context, and turned it around so that it militates against the core idea of the entire sicha! Ofen ha’miskabel is the Rebbe’s demand that we take this seriously, not to stop talking about Moshiach, but to explain it to everyone until it is fully settled in their intellect and understanding.”
“But don’t you see how it turns them off from Judaism?” R’ Noach tried again.
“Who? The lawyers? You make me laugh.”
“Yes, no … you’re right. But you can’t deny that there are many organizations today that are mekarev religious Jews from other Chassidic groups to the teachings of Chabad Chassidus. And when they hear talk about the Rebbe and Moshiach, it distances them from Judaism.”
“Distances them from Judaism?! Who told you that? You’re exaggerating …”
R’ Noach, who felt defeated at this point, gave a start as though suddenly coming to life. “Exaggerating? What are you talking about? You are the one who is living in fantasy land! I know of a case, my mother-in-law’s neighbor told her that her friend knows someone whose sister-in-law told her that her husband had become interested in Chabad, and was even registered for a test on Shulchan Aruch HaRav, and in the end, he did not show up for the test because he heard that in Chabad they say the Rebbe is a prophet.”
WHO IS THE PROPHET OF THE GENERATION?
R’ Mendel looked at his conversation partner, finding it difficult to follow the chain of women responsible for the rumor. “One minute, and the Rebbe isn’t a prophet?” he asked in surprise.
“Fine, maybe yes, but who says you need to publicize that?”
“What are you saying? Who said we need to publicize it?! The Rebbe himself said so! See the sicha for yourself in Shoftim 5751.” He took the volume from the shelf and read:
“You need to publicize to all members of the generation that we have merited that G-d chose and appointed a person of free choice who, in and of himself, is incomparably greater than the people of his generation, to be ‘your judges’ and ‘your advisers’ and the prophet of the generation. To give instructions and counsel regarding the service of all the Jewish people and all people of this generation, in all matters of Torah and mitzvos, and regarding behavior in general daily life, including those things of ‘(know Him) in all your ways’ and ‘all your deeds (should be for the sake of heaven).’”
R’ Noach stared at an invisible spot on the ceiling and listened closely. Then he suddenly jumped up as though stung by a bee. “You see? You contradicted yourself. The Rebbe only talks about being a judge and adviser, not a prophet. You are strong on slogans but if you open the actual sichos you’ll see who is right.”
R’ Mendel wasn’t fazed. “One minute,” he tried to calm down Rav Kluginker. “I didn’t finish reading. Here, listen: ‘Until the main prophecy, the prophecy of ‘L’Alter l’Geula,’ and immediately ‘hinei zeh (Moshiach) ba.’ And look at footnote 116, ‘Not only in the role of wise man and judge but as a prophet, which is a certainty.’”
There was silence in the room. R’ Noach was quiet and then again, after a few moments he jumped up as though remembering something important. “Yes, but who says that the Rebbe is talking about himself? I once heard that someone high up in Chabad in the publishing field, someone who understands what the Rebbe really means, not like you who only quote what you like, once said that the Rebbe was speaking about the Rebbe Rayatz,” he concluded triumphantly.
R’ Mendel smiled. It seemed this was the first time he was hearing such risible interpretations of the famous and clear sicha of Shoftim 5751. “Perhaps, though the truth is, I never heard the Rebbe use the expression ‘high up in Chabad,’ he said with a smile. “Interesting … how does anyone determine what connotes seniority in Chabad? Is it based on age or diplomas? How come I was never offered the opportunity to join the senior track?
“But if you say that someone very high up in Chabad said that, who am I to argue with you? I just wish you luck and eagerly await your campaign proclaiming the Rebbe Rayatz as the prophet of our generation. I only hope that your campaign won’t distance anyone from Lubavitch …”
“You are being sarcastic, but you should know that in 5751, when someone very senior wrote that the Rebbe is a prophet, I heard that the Rebbe asked, ‘Was I talking about myself?’”
“Yes, but at that same time, the Rebbe made a dismissive motion with his hand and said, ‘Nu, let it remain that way,’” responded R’ Mendel.
A MISSION OR A SEARCH FOR ACCLAIM AND EXCITEMENT?
R’ Noach began moving around in his seat uncomfortably. “Yes, but listen,” he tried from a different angle. “If the lawyers enjoy the shiur, they will keep inviting you back and maybe they will hear about it in other offices and they will invite you too. Do you know what acclaim you will have? You will be the rabbi of all the lawyers in the city. Not to mention the donations that will start coming your way. Only you know how urgent it is to replace your car already. There is no question that a new car will help you with mivtzaim. You will also be able to get places quicker and people will respect you more…”
“In the last shiur I gave, I connected the topic of the shiur to Moshiach and Geula and they actually liked it a lot and immediately asked for another shiur. Aside from that, I talk about the heart and essence of shlichus and you speak to me about acclaim and a new car?!”
R’ Mendel began losing patience over this unexpected visit. Something in the voice of the Chassid with the impressive visage was familiar, mainly his arguments. He began suspecting that this was the man who visited him some time ago. “The same animal in a different skin,” he thought to himself. R’ Noach sensed this and tried to divert the conversation to a friendlier direction, trying to gain time.
“You’re right. I apologize that we got into an argument. Nu, what’s new in your shlichus?” R’ Noach inquired. “Did you hear about the latest grants from the ‘Dira B’Tachtonim Fund?’”
“You know you can get nice amounts of money, you just have to send in forms to the committee. But you know the views of the committee and it’s not worth pushing the points that they don’t go for.” R’ Noach said the last sentence slowly and in a lower tone.
HOW CAN “SENIOR” SHLUCHIM CLAIM THAT MOSHIACH TURNS PEOPLE OFF?
R’ Mendel ignored the comment and continued looking into the seifer in front of him. But R’ Noach was not the type to capitulate after making it that far. He scanned the room and noticed a wooden plaque on which the words “Yechi Adoneinu Moreinu V’Rabbeinu Melech HaMoshiach L’olam Va’ed” were etched in gold, over a large picture of the Rebbe.
“Tell me, people don’t raise an eyebrow when they see that?”
“Actually, no. Some people ask me about it and it’s a great opportunity for those who work here to explain the subject the way the Rebbe asked us to, ‘in a way that will make it comprehensible to his intellect and understanding until it will settle in Chabad (i.e. chochma, bina, and daas).’”
“What?! Settle in Chabad? Because of people like you who send mekuravim to live in Kfar Chabad, the rav needs to fight to bring down the cost of apartments, and then they even have the nerve to dance with flags in Beis Menachem!” R’ Noach tried to contain his anger that suddenly burst forth against his will.
All the discomfort and tension from the unexpected conversation that suddenly landed on him in the middle of the night was suddenly released with one long laugh. R’ Noach’s panicked face and green eyes that bulged oddly when he spoke about the flags in Beis Menachem, made R’ Mendel laugh uncontrollably.
“Hold it, my friend,” he said after he managed to calm down a bit. “No, I didn’t mean to live in Kfar Chabad, but like the Rebbe said in the sicha, to be fully settled in chochma, bina, daas – that they should understand it well.”
“Ah, I get it,” mumbled R’ Noach as he blushed in embarrassment. “But still, how do you explain that there are really big shluchim, those who really understand shlichus, who always sit in the front row in the group photo at the Kinus, who have many connections in the government, even the Knesset, who are real soldiers of the Rebbe, who say that the topic of Moshiach turns people off? How is it that the people in your city, the mekuravim, are not turned off and even want to hear more?”
“What can I tell you … Maybe it’s because I do things b’ofen ha’miskabel, the way the Rebbe wants …”
THE WORLD IS READY, OR IS IT?
“The truth is, it isn’t my innovation. It is the case everywhere. The Rebbe said that the world is ready for the Geula. See what the Rebbe writes here in continuation to the sicha of Chayei Sarah 5752:
“What will the ‘world’ say about a Jew doing his work … especially, his work to hasten the immediate and complete Geula … He claims that seemingly one should reckon with the world!
“The answer to this is, the world is already ready! When a Jew does his job properly, in a way that is beyond measure and limitation, and at the same time, in a way that is invested in the vessels of nature, he will see how the world, the nature of the world, and the nations of the world, help him in his work.
“Shlichus is already completed (as per the aforementioned proclamation of Nasi Doreinu) and nevertheless, the true and complete Geula still hasn’t actually come. We must say that something else remains to be done to actually bring the Geula. That is, based on “every generation has someone born who is descended from Yehuda, who is fit to be Moshiach for the Jewish people,” and based on what the Rebbe, my father-in-law, the singular shliach of our generation, the singular Moshiach of our generation, said that everything was already finished, then obviously, the “please send in the hand of the one You will send,” of the Rebbe, my father-in-law, has already begun to be fulfilled. From this we understand that the only thing now left to do in the avoda of shlichus is to welcome Moshiach Tzidkeinu so that he can carry out his shlichus and take the Jews out of galus.”
EVEN THESE SICHOS NEED TO BE LEARNED WITH MEKURAVIM
“Don’t tell me that you learn this sicha with mekuravim! That really, really, turns people off. They will think you are crazy!”
“Interestingly, the Rebbe speaks about this very point in the sicha of VaYishlach 5748,” said R’ Mendel, as he went over to a set of Toras Menachem in his large library. See what it says here:
“So too regarding talk about the coming of Moshiach. Seemingly, talking excitedly about Moshiach coming imminently is “wildness,” because these things were already said many times and nonetheless, nothing moved (seemingly), and why continue talking about this with such fervor, Shabbos after Shabbos?
“The answer to this is – that itself is the reason: Since after all the talk and actions, Moshiach still did not come, there is no other choice but to behave in a way of wildness, obviously according to Shulchan Aruch, but in a way that is above the usual way of doing things.”
R’ Noach looked at the sicha incredulously and R’ Mendel decided to take advantage of his shock and strike while the iron was hot. “See this other paragraph, from the sicha of the night of Hoshana Raba 5746:
There are those who claim that these are “wild words!” Here we are after Maariv and they are saying that Moshiach can come in the next two hours! Furthermore, they say that he can come in the next hour! Further than that, that he can come in a moment, with one “shift.”
But the truth is that the exile itself is what is wild, since what connection do Jews have with galus? Likewise, the time itself is wild, with “darkness covering the land and deep darkness over the nations” – and therefore it is entirely appropriate to speak “wild words!”
Additionally, what does it matter what people think, whether it is wild or not, the main thing is that Moshiach should come and immediately bring down, below ten hand-breadths “in one moment and in one instant,” the True and Complete Redemption!
EVEN HIS ENEMIES SHALL MAKE PEACE WITH HIM
The hour was already way past midnight. Rav Kluginker’s regal posture seemed somewhat arched. He walked back and forth in the room, his face down and his hands behind his back. He still had a long list of arguments that he had gleaned from pamphlets, publications and various works. However, considering the turn the conversation had taken, he realized that if he wanted to preserve what little dignity he had left, it would be best not to keep bringing up new arguments.
R’ Mendel returned his attention to the s’farim in front of him. The conversation that was forced upon him had helped to clear and focus his mind. Amazingly, he felt refreshed, his earlier preoccupations that were disturbing him had disappeared, and he felt the class coming together quickly in his mind.
R’ Noach started from his thoughts and turned to R’ Mendel, “I have an idea for you. What about concluding your class on Jewish law with the concept of the role of the ‘judges’ and ‘advisers’ in the time of Geula?”
R’ Mendel looked up in surprise, “Actually, that is an excellent idea.”