Response to a Chabad Critic

Welcome to our Thursday night weekly program, "The Story of Chabad: The Inside Story of Chabad Through the Mindel Archives." I would like to share with you this week a sharp letter from Rabbi Nissan Mindel in answer to a critic of Chabad and the Rebbe. Rabbi Mindel got this letter from someone asking him what he should answer people who were criticizing the Rebbe. These are the few points that he's asking about: number one, the Rebbe needs to be addressed as "His Eminence." Number two, the Rebbe accepts gifts and checks. Number three, does the Rebbe perform miracles? Number four, is the Rebbe given a godly image? And number five, about the Rebbetzin — that she had a car, a Cadillac.

Now I will try to read the letter itself. The papers are old papers, from years ago, in the 60s I guess. The letter is written in English.

Thank you for your letter of May 13th. It was good to hear your voice from across the Atlantic, though I was puzzled by your question about the Cadillac. As you correctly surmised, your letter explains it, but frankly I could find more profitable use for my time than answering criticism of Lubavitch. If everything said and rumored and even printed in the press were taken seriously and refuted, a full-time secretary would be required, and nothing would be gained, for usually these critics are not interested in the truth but only wish to criticize and find fault.

I cannot, however, refuse you (underlined: "you") an answer, since you seem so truly concerned and requested a reply. To begin with, you have conveyed to me something which you heard from someone who heard from someone else. Although I usually refuse to discuss hearsay, I will give my reply in the order of your letter.

Number one. I am not aware of anyone being warned, before going into the Rebbe's room for a private audience, to address him as "Your Eminence." This is absurd, and you know it from your own experience. The usual custom is to address the Rebbe, when speaking to him, in the third person — "the Rebbe said," instead of "you said." In modern Hebrew it has always been the custom to use the third person when writing to anyone in Hebrew, and the Rebbe also uses this form exclusively, except when writing to children. This is also my practice.

Number two. Not to speak before spoken to, to stand in the Rebbe's presence, and to walk backwards when leaving — this is the customary way Chassidim act in the Rebbe's presence. I might add that this is in the best tradition of Jewish etiquette. I presume this would be the routine when being received in audience by the Queen. The Rebbe asks non-Chassidim to sit down, and some do. I sit in the Rebbe's presence only when taking dictation. That fellow was barking up the wrong tree if he criticized this procedure.

Number three. I know that the Rebbe does not (underlined: "does not") accept personal gifts for himself or the Rebbetzin, his wife, from anyone. The only exception is books, and that for his library, since it is a public service. Checks made payable to him go to a special fund for tzedakah, for special cases, or are directed to one of the institutions.

Number four. On the question of "miracles," here too the well-known adage can be applied: for him who believes, no proof is necessary; for him who does not, no proof will suffice. However, some basic observations in regard to miracles are here in order.

A. Jews who believe in the Torah believe in miracles.

Jews who believe in the Talmud believe in the ability of certain men, Tanaim, to perform miracles. Many men are mentioned in the Talmud as having performed miracles, and none was deified. The efficacy of blessings and prayer has often been stressed in the Talmud, even of an ordinary Jew.

There are "miracles" and "miracles" — nissim and nifla'im, etc. There is the miracle of turning blood into water and vice versa, and there are miracles of a blessing coming true, such as a refuah (healing), children, parnassah (livelihood), and the like. As for the first variety, I have not heard any chossid, even the most ardent, claim that the Rebbe has performed such miracles. It is usually a case of his blessing or prayer having materialized, where the person concerned believed that in the natural course of events the outcome might have been different.

Those who have experienced such "miracles" through the Rebbe's intercession do not have to seek a "rational" explanation, for as mentioned above, it is well within the realm of man, especially saintly men. Skeptics may prefer to rationalize such miracles — it is their prerogative. There is no way of preventing anyone who has been "miraculously" helped by the Rebbe from shouting it from the rooftops; certainly there is no official "sanction" or encouragement to do so.

I do not know of a single instance where the Rebbe took credit for any "miracle," or even alluded to it, though he receives many letters from people who inform the Rebbe how his prayer or blessing had helped them miraculously. On the occasion of a visit by a group of students, when asked point-blank if it were true that he can help people in a miraculous way, the Rebbe replied that any Jew (underlined: "any Jew") who is a shomer Torah u'mitzvos is capable of performing such miracles by virtue of his attachment to the Giver of the Torah u'mitzvos. He used the analogy of turning on a light by the flip of a finger, whereby contact is made with a central power station, which is the source (underlined: "the source") of this "modern miracle."

Incidentally, the kind of "miracles" attributed to the Rebbe have been attributed, on indisputable grounds, to other saintly men — I mean rabbanim, not merely Rebbes — including the Vilna Gaon, down to Rabbi Itzele of [unclear], about whom your father and your mother have told me various miracles from personal knowledge.

As for attaching a Godly image to the Rebbe, an oft-repeated criticism by misnagdim, it is really a matter of semantics. We have all been created in the image of God and therefore have a Godly image. Certainly the Jew who is more closely attached to God, and consistently so, has more of a Godly image than the Jew who is not so close. If the charge is that the Rebbe is deified, chas v'sholom, I cannot imagine any greater stupidity. Even Moshe Rabbeinu was never deified, and I cannot imagine even the "stupidest" chossid being guilty of such idolatry. It has a place in Christian dogma, but not in Judaism.

I need hardly point out that neither the Rebbe nor his wife is ostentatious in any way, shape, or form. Not only do they not travel first class — it would be no crime if they did — but they do not travel, period. In my association with the present Rebbe for nearly 30 years, he has not taken a vacation for a single day, nor has he left the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn. I believe his wife, the Rebbetzin, made one trip abroad, but I do not know if she traveled first class (heaven forbid).

Now, for the celebrated Cadillac: a Cadillac is by far not the most expensive car in the USA. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry drives a Cadillac in the USA — perhaps a Rolls-Royce is. A Cadillac is more often bought here for its performance rather than for prestige. If it is a "luxury," it is probably the only one the Rebbetzin can be "accused" of. It so happens that she is rather petite, and it is the most comfortable car for her to drive. I should know, because I went with her to buy her first Cadillac. She insisted on a subdued color. You see, she has no private chauffeur to drive her around. Are Rolls-Royces driven in England without private chauffeurs?

I am sorry indeed that you were so distressed about having to defend the Rebbe. Spare yourself the aggravation — nothing you say will convince those who delight in criticism of this kind. As for the innocent bystander, you can only tell him: don't believe everything you see, and believe nothing you hear.

Now, in preparation for Yud-Tes Kislev, next week we're going to discuss the opposition to the Alter Rebbe. Of course it's not the same, Baruch Hashem — this is different than it was years ago. B'ezras Hashem, next Tuesday night we'll continue our weekly program. Thank you.