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To: Androcles
Why is it permissible for certain Israelis to proclaim Rebbe Schneerson as Israel's Messiah and not for others to proclaim Rebbe Jesus as Israel's Messiah?

What is the objective standard?

5 posted on 06/23/2008 7:52:50 AM PDT by wideawake (Why is it that those who call themselves Constitutionalists know the least about the Constitution?)
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To: wideawake
Why is it permissible for certain Israelis to proclaim Rebbe Schneerson as Israel's Messiah and not for others to proclaim Rebbe Jesus as Israel's Messiah?

Because:

a. Because the people who proclaim this have a vastly different definition of Messiah than "others".
b. Because these people are still Jews in a Jewish country.
c.The Israelis who proclaim this are in the minority of the Chabad movement itself.

6 posted on 06/23/2008 8:26:25 AM PDT by Nachum
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To: wideawake
they are strongly criticized by most of the remainder of Jewry for doing so, however because their belief is mis-guided. The Rebbe, his teaching, leadership and commitment to TORAH Judaism and contributions to the Jewish world are unquestioned. Most strongly reject the idea that he is Moshiach. At the same time, his ideas, commentaries, and manner of leadership are shared in some form or fashion by most of Orthodoxy even those who won't admit or may not realize that a particular idea was his.

For most of world Jewry and much of Chabad the Rebbe contributed great things to advocate following Halacha, making Torah meaningful, teaching people proper values, serving as an example and much more even for non-Jews included. The Rebbe was a great leader for world Jewry. the differences are night and day. The Rebbe never sought to change the Torah and Halachik structure. He strengthened it with all the energy he had at all times bringing thousands of unobservant Jews to higher levels of observance. Far from breaking apart the Torah world, he built it up.

The Rebbe built on the teachings of the previous Rebbe, his father in law, and campaigned to bring Moshiach now. Those followers who wanted him to be more than he was permitted to be, to be the Moshiach, have missed the bigger picture. its hard to lose someone like him, but his teachings and message of yiddishkeit, Torah and doing as many mitzvas as possible as the way to bring Moshiach live on. Chabad has expanded in presence world wide since his passing in 1994 due to his strength of leadership. gimel tamuz (Yartzeit) coming up July 6.

the short answer: the differences are night and day.

9 posted on 06/23/2008 8:40:03 AM PDT by APRPEH (Fred, say it ain't so.......)
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To: wideawake
Why is it permissible for certain Israelis to proclaim Rebbe Schneerson as Israel's Messiah and not for others to proclaim Rebbe Jesus as Israel's Messiah?

Beats me - I'd never heard of the Rebbe until I googled him following your post. Very interesting. Personally I'd say in matters of conscience and religion, people can proclaim anyone they truly believe in - they just have to realise their nieghbours and communities may react angrily. Note, that does not excuse bomb planters - they should be hunted down like any other terrorists. What is the objective standard?

In matters of religion, the only standard is the small voice of your conscience and that is hardly objective. If there were an objective standard, religious wars wouldn't occur and we'd have missed out on some fascinating theological debates...

21 posted on 06/23/2008 6:44:14 PM PDT by Androcles (All your typos are belong to us)
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