Article by Rabbi Gershon Avtzon: It seems that every year, as the Kinnus Hashuchim approaches, there are calls and meetings amongst Shluchim and Askanaim to see what can be done to finally unite the family of Shluchim. In the past years, after the Kinnus, things quiet down and everyone goes back to the “status quo”.
By Rabbi Gershon Avtzon
This shabbas is the Kinnus Hashluchim and it’s a good time to reflect on the general movement of making Achdus amongst Chassidim in general and Shluchim in particular. It seems that every year, as the Kinnus Hashuchim approaches, there are calls and meetings amongst Shluchim and Askanaim to see what can be done to finally unite the family of Shluchim. In the past years, after the Kinnus, things quiet down and everyone goes back to the “status quo”.
Last year , things got pretty serious when one of the Kinnusim decided to cancel their banquet and rename it a “Melava Malka to greet Moshiach” and the other made major changes in their programming to be more open and inclusive. The biggest push for Achdus came from Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky A”H who sent a letter to all Shluchim demanding that there should be concrete steps for change.
The following is the main part of the letter: “Towards this end, we encourage Chassidim and Shluchim across the globe to explore ways to enhance the Shalom and Achdus among us. If your region, state, or city, have Rabbonim or Askanim active in Hafatza, yet are not authorized as shluchim; we recommend and encourage you to discuss with them the feasibility of recognizing them as authorized shluchim, on a case by case basis. Following the Kinus, we will inform you of various resources for mediation that will be made available to assist you in this regard.”
Being open and transparent, I was thrilled to see that letter. I assumed that this would open the floodgates of Achdus between Shluchim that have – unfortunately – been tangled in machlokes and infighting. I was waiting to see, and hear, the reports of cities and communities that have decided to “bury the hatchet” and begin a new chapter of Achdus in their communities. We saw such a reaction to the famous “Zoom Farbrengens”, in which Rabbi Berel Lazar demanded, encouraged and facilitated many reconciliation events amongst various Shluchim.
Unfortunately, that has not been the response (as far as I – or people that have discussed this with – am aware). After the Kinnus, the issue was put on the back-burner and everyone has gone on with their lives. I have spent much time thinking and analyzing “what went wrong” and more importantly: What can be done differently to produce better results?
The following are a summary of my thoughts, which are based on a single premise: If the two Shluchim, which (for whatever reason) are not getting along, could be forced to sit in the same room and speak to each other – even just once! – most of the built up animosity and defenses would melt away. They would see that they are so similar: They are both Chassidim that really want to make the Rebbe proud and do what the Rebbe wants.
The big challenge is how to get these two people in the same room. This is where, in my opinion, the above-mentioned letter did not suffice. It encouraged the “official” Shliach to reach out to the “other shliach” to sit together and work things out. It did not anticipate the following reality: It takes tremendous inner-strength, determination and courage for the official shliach to make that phone-call.
Think about the following: For many years the shliach has been living with a “thorn at his side”. His inner comfort is that he is the “official shliach of the Rebbe” which the other is not. It is so hard for him to invite his competitor to a meeting in which he would now share that title with him. I am not blaming this on ego or self-centeredness, rather on the natural feelings and emotions that someone who is in a difficult machlokes develops.
To avoid the above, I would suggest the following: Merkos should send a message that they will be setting up a contact name/number in which the shliach – who is not official – can request a meeting with his local shliach. Merkos would then “force” – as they can force the official representative of Merkos to listen to the executive board of Merkos – that one-time meeting with an official mediator. Once that meeting happens, and they both sit with each other and speak as Chassidim, the path to Achdus is open. While this may not solve all issues and cases, and I am sure that some people would feel that it is beneath their dignity to request a meeting, I truly feel that a significant amount of senseless enmity can be resolved. With each successful resolution, momentum builds for the rest of Lubavitch.
Since we believe that the “Achdus of Chassidim will bring Moshiach”, we must put all of our efforts into making that a reality.
Please feel free to share your thoughts on the above in the comments below or by sending me a personal email: rabbiavtzon@gmail.com
“one of the kinnusim”? there’s only one Kinnus!
There are a number of issues with this article. I will address 2 for now
1 – speak to shluichim and they will tell you many times the “executive board of merkoz” is the cause of the issues. The board has tremendous egos and force their way into every issue.
2 – what is the connection of RMK to this issue? Achdus should be because it would give the Rebbe Nachas.
“To avoid the above, I would suggest the following: Merkos should send a message that they will be setting up a contact name/number in which the shliach – who is not official – can request a meeting with his local shliach. Merkos would then “force” – as they can force the official representative of Merkos to listen to the executive board of Merkos – that one-time meeting with an official mediator. Once that meeting happens, and they both sit with each other and speak as Chassidim, the path to Achdus is open. While this may not solve all issues and cases, and I am sure that some people would feel that it is beneath their dignity to request a meeting, I truly feel that a significant amount of senseless enmity can be resolved. With each successful resolution, momentum builds for the rest of Lubavitch.”
why should the Rebbe’s holy moised have to bend over backwards for people that blatantly disregard Him/it?
Merkos should not have to initiate peace talks. the one who starts the problems should come over and see how they can fit in, not the oither way around
In order to make achdus one needs to go to a deeper space and instead of keeping to assumptions and preconceived notions, he should give the person the benefit of the doubt, even if that feels like bending over backwards. Torah tells us that Moshe Rabbeinu did that for korach, and it tells us because its an instruction for us. (That is even if one would compare the other shliach to Korach, which I hope we believe he is far less) ,And very often the other shliach definitely doesn’t feel that he is blatantly disregarding him, he just has a different perspective, and it’s worthwhile to create that conversation with first giving the benefit of the doubt and then really trying to understand where he is coming from. And perhaps there is a chossid which they both respect which they can iron out some differences or at least give a better picture for.
For any chossid, the greatest wish is to make the Rebbe happy, and I have no doubt that there is nothing greater that will make the Rebbe happier, then when 2 chassidim reconcile, is that not worth bending over backwards?
We all know the famous pshetl on מחלקת לשם שמים סופה להתקיים….
In addition, we all know the Rebbe said to have a mashpia, discuss with a mashpia if that’s the way to go…
“Torah tells us that Moshe Rabbeinu did that for korach”
your basically saying that every random guy can move wherever he wants, disregard the Rebbe’s system, and he’ll be safe due to your type screaming “achdus!”. someone who fights the Rebbe’s mosdos should bow his head in shame and do some serious self-work before the Rebbe’s moised comes begging to him be friends.
“And very often the other shliach definitely doesn’t feel that he is blatantly disregarding him”
the fact that he doesn’t feel that he is disregarding the Rebbe is a flaw in his camp, and not the Rebbe’s problem
“For any chossid, the greatest wish is to make the Rebbe happy, and I have no doubt that there is nothing greater that will make the Rebbe happier, then when 2 chassidim reconcile, is that not worth bending over backwards?”
again, those who fight His mosdos should beg Him forgiveness not vice versa. stop playing victim.
We should have Achdus to “give the Rebbe nachas“?
We should have Achdus because it’s right. Because we’re Yidden. Because Machlokes is bad.
Obviously the Rebbe would be very proud, but is that the reason?
I refer not to someone who opens up next door to an official shliach, there are many cases where they are separate or even started before and for reasons of machlokes etc were not deemed official.
Now if you think that in every case the officials are always right and righteous and have the right to kick out whoever they want, I think we haveto rethink, because the grave isur of מחזיק במחלקת comes from self righteousness, and sholom comes from humility. No the official shluchim are not immune to mistakes etc