(courtesy of Besht-Yomi.com)When the Baal Shem Tov left the physical world, there was an uncertainty of who would take on the leadership of Chassidus. Should it be his son or his closest disciple. His son became Rebbe and on the first anniversary of the Besht's yaharziet, the Besht came to his son in a dream telling him to give leadership over to the Maggid Reb Dov Ber. Without hesitation he stood to speak to his Chasidim, and declared R' Dov Ber the new Rebbe and gave him the hat and coat of the Besht.
When the Chiddushe HaRim left the physical world, his grandson was asked to be Rebbe at age 18 and refused, claiming he was not worthy to lead the chasidim of his esteemed and holy Grandfather. The Alexander Rebbe at that time took charge and then later the Sfas Emes under pressure finally became the Rebbe of Ger.
So many stories of Chasidim asked to become the new Rebbe and being so reluctant. How could they do the mission as Rebbe even at half of the level of their Rebbe who was so dear to them. Sons, Brothers, Brother-in-Laws, it didnt matter who was asked, as far as they were concerned that was their Rebbe and there was no way they were worth to replace such a holy man.
What happened to the humbleness? What happened to to reluctance? Now Chasidim fight and tear families, and dynasties apart just so they can be "the man in charge" and "run the empire"
All of the new Rebbes of times of old had siblings and relatives. Why was there no cut throat fight then? Or was there and its something I am unaware of?
You have the brothers of Satmar ripping their group in half to the point that they can barely be civilized when they come together for their fathers yaharziet.
You have even small groups like Alexander and Biala where there are multiple Rebbes .
Now the latest news is that the Vizhnitzer Rebbe is ill and his sons are fighting over who will become Rebbe. How can this be? Their holy father is still alive, breathing, and learning Torah and they are already fighting over who gets to take his place?
I don't understand this in the least. Of course I'm not in these communities, so I don't know what and why this happens. This isn't a judgement on them, this is a blog full of questions. Questions I want answered to explain to me why there is such a thirst for power where there previously wasn't such a thirst.
4 comments:
B"H
Having fights within a chassidic group is one of the worst things which can happen to the group itself.
Once I made a speech at a Shabbat meal about the subject where I regretted that many chassidic groups split due to disputes between brothers or cousins, in - laws, etc.
However, a Rabbi (Rabbi Mordechai Machlis) made an astonishing remark:
"Why should it be bad for a group to split ? Sometimes it may be very positive for the members".
I have been thinking about it and realized the positive aspects.
Just look at the split of the Toldot Aharon and Avraham Yitzchak approx. 12 years ago. Group members who preferred to be more open or independent chose to go with Rebbe Yaakov Shmuel Kahn and joing the Avraham Yitzchak.
A split doesn't always have to have only negative effects but what I cannot stand or all the fights before.
The Vishnitzer Rebbe, Rabbi Moshe Yehoshua Hager, in Bnei Brak is still alive but suffers from Alzheimer.
When he was younger and his first wife still alive, he proclaimed his oldest son Rabbi Israel Hager as his successor. His wife loved the younger son Rabbi Menachem Mendel and talked her opinion into the Rebbe. The the Rebbe proclaimed Rabbi Menachem Mendel as his successor and the whole issue began.
Today, Vishnitz in Bnei Brak is split into two groups although most of them live in the same area, in Kiryat Vishnitz.
Generally, Rabbi Israel Hager is more respected and accepted than his brother.
What happened to the humbleness?
It is easier to spin a succession story from 200 years ago than it is to spin a succession story today in an era of instant communications. The truth is we have no real idea of the machinations of the early Hassidic movement. All that remain from that period are hagiographies and officially approved oral re-tellings.
So you believe that the stories of Rebbes refusing to take their Rebbes place are spun to make them sound more humble and righteous? That instant communication makes spin more difficult and the truth of greed for power more obvious.
Id like to disagree but neither of us could prove our stance since it is oral stories and oral stories.
Regardless its sad that a new Rebbe now includes splitting of a group, splitting of a family etc.
Might be good in some cases like Toldos Aaron.
Aleksander and Biala, although they are small and have more than one rebbe, have no animosity between those who have a different Biala or Aleksander rebbe. Aleksander has had two rebbes since before the war, when the group was so big that two rebbes were seen to be needed to handle all of the Chasidim. Because of this, one was in Aleksander, and another was in Lodz. The reason why there are two Aleksander rebbes today is because the first choice of the remaining Chasidim refused to accept the position of rebbe, so another rebbe was chosen. Some of the Chasidim kept following the first choice, even with his continued refusal to become rebbe. Eventually, though, more than 30 years after being approached, he became the Aleksander rebbe to the Chasidim who were still following him and not following the rebbe in Israel. In these groups it is more about what is better for the Chasidim, each being able to follow a moreh derech that they feel closer to, and not about the gaava of the rebbes themselves.
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