Is A Dead Leader Dead Or Alive?

This is so bizarre: The NY Post reports that a fight broke out at the ultra-Orthdox Lubavitch World Headquarters, over a plaque in the memory of Rabbi Menacham Schneerson. Lubavitch founder Schneerson died in 1994, but some Lubavitch Jews feel that Schneerson "lives in spirit and flesh" and fought off workers who were trying to install a plaque that uses the words "blessed memory" with Schneerson. The Post article has quotes, like "The reality is ugly. He is buried in Queens," and it's just nuts, because both sides support Schneerson - they are just getting caught up on the nuance. Gothamist is waiting for Schneerson's body to be exhumed during the arbitration.

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By Jen Chung in News on December 16, 2004 11:38 AM

Comments [rss]

KeithS

Terribly original ScottK, my anonmyous doppelganger.

Of course, avidly religious types do tend to be far more adept at repeating and distorting the words of others than creating ideas of their own.

hijiki

oh scottk, let me finish that thought. you mean to say: a smug, self-righteous, evangelizing athiest who does not start battles based on personal beliefs and "spirituality"? nothing's shocking when it comes to religion.

ScottK

A smug, self-righteous, evangelizing athiest? I'm so shocked.

KeithS

Illogical vehemence and violence fueled by religion?! I'm so shocked.

Stephen White

There was a rather lengthy article on the subject entitled "The Messiah of Eastern Parkway" in the New York Times Magazine about 2 years ago. I found it a fascinating rift in the community.

--Stephen

honey2

sounds like their differences are more than "nuance"--one group believes this person is moshiach- the messiah, and is not dead. The other believes he was a great man, but NOT the messiah and is actually dead. Sounds like a pretty big split to me.