Chabad!

[simchat_torah]

Well, lo and behold my wife read a couple of weeks ago that there's a new Chabad center here in our humble community. In fact, it seems that they have been here for a year, but we didn't know it!

The Rabbi has quite a fascinating story. It seems he has done a good deal of evangelical work in South Africa at a major university there (not sure which one). He has a passion to work with college age and "young professionals" (heh, whatever that means ;) ). Anyway, his wife is from the Chicago area, and they wanted to raise their kids in the midwest, so have moved here to start up a congregation, specifically reaching out to the younger crowd (20-30 age group).

Anyway, my wife and I will be attending a mini-service and dinner this evening to meet the Rabbi and his wife. I'm going to start discussing with him the possibility of us converting to Chabad (we are semi-scheduled to convert Conservative in October with our current synagogue). I'm super excited, and this place looks really interesting to say the least.

If you want to check out the website, go here (http://www.cuchabad.org).

So, I'll report back to all of you how it goes, and a few little prayers would be nice (for guidance from HaShem). I don't want to necessarily jump into anything just because I'm excited. My wife and I have been discussing this for some time, and it will be interesting to see what we go away thinking after tonight.

I'm not sure if I really have a point to this thread, or if I'm just rambling...
but I thought I'd tell all of you since I consider many of you friends.

Shalom!
yafet

[Katydid]

OK now, what exactly is Chabad? How is it different from Conservative? Just curious.

[simchat_torah]

I believe there is a description in the FAQ. Chabad is basically a sect within the Orthodox. They have a strong emphasis on evangelizing the Torah to all nations, a "personal" relationship to HaShem, study, dancing, etc... they are a very interesting group. You might have heard of the Chassidic, Chassidim, etc. before. All of these are the same group, just different titles.

Actually, here's what the FAQ has to say:
Chassidic
The Chassidic Jews are a smaller sect within the Ultra-Orthodox. The Chassidic have a high focus on joy in worship, missionary works, and a union of passion and study. The Chassidic view that most other forms of Judaism take a dry look at Judaism, and the Chassidim try to implement an element of passion into their studies. One example of this is that the Chassidic have made an 'oral law' that one must dance on the Sabbath. As well, Kabbalah can be found prevelent among the Chassidic movement *a very spiritual view of seeking G-d*. Predominantly, Kabbalah can be found in Chassidic movements, but it can als be found in smaller ammounts in other sects (such as Modern Orthodoxy, Renewal, and Messianic Judaism to some extent). They also refer to their Rabbi as Rebbe, a more enduring term.

[Talmidah]

If you want to check out the website, go here (http://www.cuchabad.org/). (http://www.cuchabad.org/)


wow...you're going all the way to England for dinner and services?

Chabad of Cambridge: Jewish Student Centre • 15 Grange Road • Cambridge, CB3 9AS • ENGLAND • 44-1223-354-603

[insaneinthebrain]

Um, Yafet, I think the url you want is http://chabadcu.org . :D

[Talmidah]

Um, Yafet, I think the url you want is http://chabadcu.org (http://chabadcu.org/) . :DLOL...yep that's the one...but I think it'd be more exciting to jet on over to England to spend Shabbat there ;)

[insaneinthebrain]

LOL...yep that's the one...but I think it'd be more exciting to jet on over to England to spend Shabbat there ;)
I don't know, it's foggy, rainy, and Hix lives over there somewhere. :P

[Talmidah]

I don't know, it's foggy, rainy, and Hix lives over there somewhere. :P

That's true....of course Hix is probably asleep by now..:cool: ....

[Katydid]

In England right now it should only be about 10 p.m. I think. I think they are 1 hour behind me.

[simchat_torah]

*grumbles*

leave it to you two to make a mockery of everything! ;)

anyway, yeah... the link insane gave is correct.

[Talmidah]

leave it to you two to make a mockery of everything!

Hmmm....well....I've learned from the best ;)

[Ahriman]

hope all goes well for you tonight :cool:

[simchat_torah]

T minus 30+ minutes and counting....

[ShirChadash]

I'm really excited for you! Hope everything goes wonderfully, and I'll be praying for our Abba to guide you and your wife. I htink this sounds awesome -- the Chassidim really intrigue me...

[ShirChadash]

See -- I love this:

Chabad Chassidism is a system of religious philosophy that teaches understanding and recognition of the Creator through the application of the three intellectual qualities of Chochmah (wisdom), Binah (understanding) and Daat (knowledge). The initials of these three Hebrew words form the word "Chabad".

from the first site you linked.

For years, when I pray for anyone, especially myself and my own family, I have included prayer for wisdom, knowledge and understanding.

[Netzari5730]

See -- I love this:

Chabad Chassidism is a system of religious philosophy that teaches understanding and recognition of the Creator through the application of the three intellectual qualities of Chochmah (wisdom), Binah (understanding) and Daat (knowledge). The initials of these three Hebrew words form the word "Chabad".
And these things pertain to the Mystical tradition of Kabbalah.

In Yeshua...
Netzari5730

[ShirChadash]

Yes, I'm aware of that.

Personally, when I choose to delve into any area of spirituality I tend to take what I read, bring it back to the Word, discard what I find doesn't stand up to the light of Scripture, etc. If I should ever decide to dig into Kabbalah, which still won't be any time soon I suspect, I would do the same with it as with anything else I have considered (I am not terribly given to mysticism myself, having grown up in catholic christianity and having discerned the "fruit" of the so-called "mystics", but I can glean the pearls).

[ShirChadash]

This is perhaps better descriptive as well, of what I find I appreciate...

As S_T quoted from the FAQ:

Chassidic
The Chassidic Jews are a smaller sect within the Ultra-Orthodox. The Chassidic have a high focus on joy in worship, missionary works, and a union of passion and study.



G-d created me to be a thinker. I'm married to a thinker. We delve into study with a passion --we always have. Studying G-d's Word, and parenting, are the main passions of our lives. I do not see that one must have a feely-good faith without deep learning, in order to be passionately in love with G-d and zealous for Him and His Word, and His Messiah. Personally, we feel we show our love for G-d in our desire to learn of Him and His Ways and His Word, to follow it as best we can out of that love for Him.

It just has always struck me as interesting that the Chassidim seem to speak in similar terms, and that rings in my spirit. I don't live anywhere near any synagogue much less a Chabad organization so :pink: it won't be anytime soon I have to concern myself with the Chabad specifically - or not. :cool:

[simchat_torah]

I actually think the whole section regarding the sects of Judaism is something I wrote up.... I think Justin can correct me if I'm wrong.

We used to add to the FAQ back in the day by having a mod enticed discussion regarding various questions, etc.

[JewishHeart]

Simchat,

I know there is Chabad that believe that Rebbe Lubavitcher (Sneerson) is the Mashiach, and there is Chabad that do not believe he is the Mashiach. The one that does believe he is the Mashiach is a much smaller section of Chabad. They built him a house near the airport of Israel. Which one does this belong to?

[simchat_torah]

The Lubavitchers are the tiniest of all Jewish sects...

it is not a Lubavitch group fyi... and there is a link on the first page for the group's website.

[simchat_torah]

So, where do we (my wife and I) stand after last night???

Over the past number of years we have attended a conservative synagogue. We have felt very strongly about this as opposed to attending a messianic congregation. There is so much beauty in the worship and the communal observance to Torah is just simply wonderful.

So, anyway... onto last night.

First, the service. Of course it followed a Siddur, but there was no transliteration, which I needed because they read the hebrew faster than the micormachines man on those tv commercials years ago. They would skip portions at random and just ramble through the shabbat service. At times I felt rather emotionless about the whole ordeal. Maybe I was missing something, but it really didn't have much impact on me at the time, but it might have been because I had such difficulty following the Hebrew. My wife felt differently about it, and I don't think I'm very good at explaining her thoughts but basically she felt it was a bit more intimate. Instead of a crowd of people just reading a section of a Siddur, it was (to her) as if everyone individually had a personal service between them and G-d.

I'm not sure how many of you are familiar with this, because the Chabad are Orthodox, but the men and women sit seperately. The women were actually in another room. Because we were meeting in a house and not a synagogue, the sexes sat in different rooms, but in a synagogue, they would sit in the same room, but divided by a curtain. Anyway, I don't think that my wife or myself cared either way concerning this... we understand the idea behind it, and will honor the traditions of where we visit, but I don't think we really have a preference. I do think that sometimes my wife likes to be near me to ask a question once in awhile about a particular practice, etc... but she doesn't mind sitting apart.

Now, because this was in a home we got to see much of the family interaction after the service and during the meal. This is where the Chabad really shine. The 'religion' is really integrated throughout the family expression. The discussions at the dinner table were wholesome and completely focused on HaShem. It is so intergal to the home and everyday lifestyle that you are literally living Judaism on a day to day basis.

The wife of the Rabbi was sure to be very kind and explain a lot of the family/home traditions with my wife... and their meanings. I think my wife learned more from this one night than from a year of going to synagogue. I really felt the spirituality eminating from every crevice of the home.


So now what? I doubt we'll actually convert to Chabad just yet, but we definately will be going to study with them. We may be alternating between our conservative synagogue and the chabad, depending on what's going on... but for the most part we'll just be attending parsha studies, etc. with the Chabad and most likely continue at our current synagogue friday nights.

shalom,
yafet

[simchat_torah]

oh yeah...

the food was amazing and the people were very warm and friendly.

;)

just had to get that in.

[Pray4Isrel]

It's awesome to hear of the experience you had! Thanks for thinking of involving us by sharing the details... it truly is fascinating.

[Yael]

I have always understood that Chabad doesn't do conversion. Have you spoke to them about formally converting?

[simchat_torah]

Actually, the Chabad are very evangelical... probably more so than any Jewish sect.

[Talmidah]

I know one person who converted via Chabad, but I had also heard that, in general, they do not really get involved with conversions.

[JewishHeart]

I like what Rav Schneerson said about bringing the Messiah back... he gave a dollar bill to charity. He understands that Messiah will be someone who stands for justice and gives to the poor. He understands that this will bring them closer to Messiah. I agree!!! But I wish he would see who this Just Judge who stands for justice to the poor is :-)

[JewishHeart]

<--- has alot of admiration for Schneerson