Sunday, June 1, 2008

How far should Public Relation go ?

B"H

How far should public relation go ?
This question came into my mind while I was walking through the Jerusalem shopping mall Ben Yehudah a few days ago.

For a few weeks now, Chassidut Breslov has two stands in the Ben Yehudah Mall. One stand is run by the Na Na - Movement and the second is run by some students of Rabbi Shalom Arush. Before I am getting to my point, surely I should explain the background a little.

Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (1772 - 1810) was the first and last Rebbe of the Breslover movement. After he passed away in 1810, no other rabbi of the movement considered himself as worthy enough taking over Rabbi Nachman's position. Not even Rebbi Nathan Sternhartz who was Rabbi Nachman's closest student. Despite a missing Rebbe, the Breslover Chassidim and ideology survived until today. On the contrary, as Breslov together with Chabad, is the most growing group in the chassidic world. Thousands of Baalei Teshuva (newly religious) have been joining both movements over the past decades.

Many people say that anyone can join Breslov or Chabad and both groups basically claim the same. Chabad, for instance, likes to hint to the fact that even newcomers have the same rights as the original Chabadnikim. Well, this is true up to a certain point. If it comes to Shidduchim (matchmaking) or higher positions within the group, Baalei Teshuva are always last or lost. A Baal Teshuva won't get a Shidduch offer from someone being born into the group. Hence, having a certain status or coming from a family of original Chabadnikim. But this is nothing extraordinary, as every single chassidic group has the same policy. A Baal Teshuva usually marries another Baal Teshuva.

Today the huge Breslover Mea Shearim Synagogue is well - known. However, also here are tremendous differences made between Baalei Teshuva and the successors of Rabbi Nachman's original followers. The Synagogue is ruled by the original Breslovers and they don't like it too much when "those Baalei Teshuva" join and introduce a "New Age Rabbi Nachman Chassidut". They don't accept the Na Nas and look down on many newcomers joining later. This might have a reason because many newcomers had problems in their former lives. Drugs, crime, outsiders in society, divorced and many kids, whatever. People with all kinds of personal luggage join Breslov and many of the original ones don't see in them honest interested Chassidim. They rather consider them as a burden and look down on them.

A colleague of mine and her husband are such newcomers to Breslov. Her husband studies in the Yeshiva of Rabbi Eliezer Berland. The Rabbi is also a newcomer to the group and, over the years, became very successful. He started his own Yeshiva and brought many people to Breslov. Among the Baalei Teshuva movement, Rabbi Berland has an excellent reputation. His only problem is the mostly missing recognition of the original Breslov followers in the Mea Shearim Synagogue. First they didn't accept him at all. Then there was a dispute about who is allowed to sit on Rabbi Nachman's chair exhibited in the synagogue. Here I am asking the question how that can be ? After Rabbi Nachman died, no one wanted to sit in his chair and now Breslover Chassidim are arguing about it. Are they worthier than the ones in the past ?

My colleague told me that slowly slowly, Rabbi Eliezer Berland is getting accepted by the original Breslovers. However, in the meantime, Rabbi Berland founded his own institutions and teaches Baalei Teshuva. One of his famous students was Rabbi Shalom Arush, the author of the book "The Garden of Emuna". And one of Rabbi Arush's students is Rabbi Lazer Brody.

Now, I see some students of Rabbi Shalom Arush standing in the Ben Yehudah mall offering his books. This bothers me a lot. I discussed the issue with a friend of mine and she sees nothing wrong with offering the books in the mall. To make it clear, only offering the books doesn't bother me. But is every so - called known Breslov Rabbi entitled to make so much public relation for himself ? And if so, why doesn't Rabbi Arush come to sell his books ?

Okay, someone studied a few years under a certain rabbi and decides to found his own Yeshiva. Why not ? But some Breslover Rabbis, and I am talking about those from the Baalei Teshuva movement" seem to exaggerate. Why do they have to be everywhere on the Internet ? Offering their books and their teachings ?

Sometimes it really seems as if the whole Chassidut Breslov only consists of those Rabbis and not of Rabbi Nachman. And would Rabbi Nachman have made so much public relation for himself ? Maybe yes, but he was the Rebbe and this is something else.

You won't find the original followers from Mea Shearim neither in the news nor the mall nor on the Internet. Of course, some public relation is always good and attracts more followers. But the question is how far should each new Baalei Teshuva Rabbi promote himself. To me it sometimes seems a litle too much.

Links:

Chassidut Breslov - Part 1

Chassidut Breslov - Part 2

New Age is everywhere

10 comments:

  1. When the Besht finally revealed himself there was much harsh criticism from the Opposition that he would teach the secrets of Torah to the "ignorant simple jews". These ignorant and simple Jews later because Talmid Chachamim just like the ones who criticized them. Today the Internet is one of the biggest issues facing Klal Yisroel. It is now easy to commit sins without leaving the comfort of your home. Yet just like everything in this world, it all comes form HKB and therfore it all contains holy sparks of light. So even though the Internet is a place to find inappropriate pictures, or gamble, or do other wrong things its also a place to find Chassidishe Torah, ands that teach Chassidus, and do much more. The BESHT was told that Moshiach wont come till his wellsprings overflow. The internet and giving books of chassidus is a way to do that. Chassidus except for Chabad and Breslov ended kiruv of simple Jews. This is the foundation of Chassidus to bring back lost souls. There Chassidim such as Satmar, Belz, Ger. Sure many Talmidim Chachamim began to follow the BESHT but there were also hundreds of thousands of buchers and bakers and candle stick makers that through the BESHT came back to Hashem.

    just me .02cents.

    ReplyDelete
  2. B"H

    That's right and the Internet is very positive for people who want to learn.

    But I am having a little problem with the "new" rabbis promoting themselves a little too much. In Breslov, the Besht or Rabbi Nachman should be the famous figures but when you look at some Rabbi Arush - stands, it seems like it is only him. And by the way, they only sell books written by him.

    A pity because Breslov has so much more to offer.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Have you read his book? My copy should arrive in the mail very soon and I will let you know how it reads. The Pittsburgher Rebbe was in my parents community this past Shabbos and he said something very profound and still nothing new, just a simple reminder. He said "If we only lived in the time of the BESHT and the Vilna Gaon how holy we would have been...but we dont." He said that the Rebbes from before the war, to after the war (wwII) was like 1,000 years. We can never forget our Tzaddik ancestors, and never stop learning the Torah they so diligently expounded upon, but we are not from their generation.

    The Rebbe Rav Mendel Rimanover used to say that only on the eve of Shabbos, after immersing in the waters of the mikveh, could he understand a shtikel, a piece, of the Noam Elimelech. So how can you expect some secular ignorant simple Jew to pick up Likutei Moran and be able to understand it. Ive learned it many times with a very intelligent Breslover Chasid and I struggle to pull the true depths of it sometimes.

    I have a feeling that Rabbi Arush's book is written for this generation and its foundation is built upon the past hundred years of breslov chassidus quoting the greats from Reb Nachman to Rabbi Noson.

    Till I read it, I will assume its just like any other book that is written by a Rabbi of Today to better help us understand the Torah of Yesterday.

    I could be wrong, but then again you should never judge a book by its cover.

    Any attempt to bring Jewish Souls back to Torah should be praised until it is shown it is destructive.

    Im excited to read his book, its sold (maybe given away) hundreds of thousands of copies all over the world.

    ReplyDelete
  4. B"H

    I read his book and found it okay. Nothing highly inteltectual and easy to read. For everyone.

    Personally I prefered the "Hashgacha Pratit" chapter in Rebbe Aharon Roth's book "Shomrei Emunim". But Rabbi Arush wants to do outreach or at least anyone without a vast religious background should be able to understand his book. And with this, he succeeded.

    My problem is not the book itself but his own promotion. The promotion of the Rabbi himself. If everyone in a group would start promoting himself, the group would fall apart.

    However, I am also very jealous not to live in the times of the Baal Shem Tov. Well, historically it wasn't such a great time but I would have loved to know the Besht.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I wouldnt consider Rabbi Arush just any Rabbi with smicha. He surely isnt a Gadol or the leader of Breslov but then again like you said who is this current generation to claim leadership of Breslov when previous generations wouldnt dare. I look at Rabbi Arush as an author of a book, and just like any author of a book he wants people to buy it, read it, etc. Hes not going on world book tours and trying to get on the New York Times Best Seller List, so hes givin it away in a mall. I just really fail to see the deep issue with what he is doing. Unless you feel that he lacks the knowledge and education to publish a book, but like you said you read it and it was an easy read. The book isnt meant for you obviously or even myself, but for the Yid that knows nothing more than Challah and Channukah it might just be the gateway to let his neshama rise.

    I wish i lived in the time of the BESHT but then Im not sure if i would enjoy the pogroms or the expulsions. In fact on http://www.breslovworld.com/ there is an article about the Massacre of 33,000 Jewish Martyrs of Uman who where the reason that Reb Nachman chose to be buried there.

    All we can really do is try to bring Jews back to Torah like the BESHT and find the chassidus that speaks to us most and learn as much as we can.

    Moshiach Now.

    ReplyDelete
  6. B"H

    The Na Nas as well as Rabbi Arush's students were very well present at today's Yom Yerushalaim.

    Especially the Na Nas who were dancing to Techno music in the streets. :-)))))

    ReplyDelete
  7. What do the Na Nas have to do with what we are speaking about or Yom Yerushalaim?

    ReplyDelete
  8. B"H

    Well, the Na Nas also try to sell books but not too many of their own, as they offer all kinds of Breslov literature. The students of Rabbi Arush, on the other hand, had some stands along the marching route on Yom Yerushalaim and only offered the Rabbi's books. This is exactly what I am talking about. About promoting only oneself.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I guess we will have to agree to disagree. I find not problem with promoting your book that has been successful. Since I havent read the book I cant have as strong of a stance but I feel that it is a type of book that will introduce you to more complex Breslov Chassidus. It seems that there is something deeper than just "promoting ones self". I think it has to do with Rabbi Arush himself. Do you not thing he is enough of a Talmid Chacham to be writing his own book? That he isnt at a high enough level in the Breslov Chassidic sect to be writing and promoting his own book? I dont think the issue is about "promoting ones self" because if it was someone of a higher holiness I dont think it would be a problem.

    This is why Moshiach isnt here. Because we judge people and what they do unfavorably even when they have the best intentions. Its not even about you or me. If you are writing this blog having such an issue Im sure there are thousands of others who take the same issue.

    Who cares about the Na Nachs many Chassidic group has an extreme fringe.

    ReplyDelete
  10. B"H

    Both of us have different opinions and there is nothing wrong with that.

    Judging everyone favourably - That's right but maybe I am more realistic concerning certain things, as we also shouldn't overlook facts. My Rabbi would totally agree with you, as he is very much into Chesed and only tries to see the best in everybody.

    However, I hope that Meshiach is still coming despite my different opinion. :-)

    ReplyDelete