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[quote=Anonymous][quote=AnonymousI am modern Orthodox and live in a community that has a Chabad and several MO synagogue within a few blocks of each other and they serve different purposes and different populations. You sound incredibly biased against Chabad and while they are not perfect, they do so much good for Jews everywhere while maintaining a high level of observant Judaism. They are more welcoming and open towards non-observant Jews than you seem to be to them. It is not their beards or black hats that make them authentic, it is their commitment to Torah and Mitzvot.[/quote]

I have been to chabad on many occasions, and am compleletely familiar with it.  Yes, they have a rabbi who is observant and SOME congregants who are, and they are tolerant of the non-observance of others who attend. Not so different from a Conservative shul in that regard.   And I do not agree that they are more committed to Torah - Torah includes halacha ben adam le chavero - to me a commitment to ethics and social justice is included in that.    Chabad, from its attitude to Israeli politics, to non-Jews and especially to african americans in Brooklyn, to labor and animal welfare issues in kosher slaughterhouses under Chabad supervision, has serious issues with ethics and social justice in my opinion.

Does that mean I think Chabad should not exist? No, of course not. I believe in pluralism and tolerance - I am sure Chabad meets the needs of many people. It has the same right to exist as other groups.  But I do think that many wealthy secular Jews donate to them out of a misguided belief that they are "authentic" in ways other movements are not, and that beards and black hats (as well as a narrow view of torah and mitzvot) has a great deal to do with that. And yes, I do think that when some Jews go to Chabad, not because Chabad's approach meets their personal needs, but because it's cheaper, thats does not do good for Jews everywhere.

I would also note SOME MO thinkers have suggested Chabad is in fact a heresy, due to its attitude (well hidden by most shlichim)  toward the messianic status of R' Schneerson. [/quote]

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