Open Secret: Postmessianic Messianism and the Mystical Revision of Menahem Mendel Schneerson
By Elliot R. Wolfson
Columbia University Press, 472 pages, $35.00.
The Lubavitch branch of Hasidism, known also as Chabad, is the most successful and most controversial movement in American Jewish life. Rabbi Menahem Mendel Schneerson, born in 1902, ascended to the leadership after his father-in-law’s death in 1950. From his headquarters in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, Schneerson developed a ramified network of shluchim (emissaries) across the United States and around the world that has continued to grow even after he died, childless and without a designated successor. Other Jewish groups marvel at and strive to emulate Chabad’s success in reaching the “unsynagogued,” even as they deplore Chabad’s opposition to Jewish religious pluralism, refusal to countenance any Israeli territorial concessions and maintenance of a cult of personality that is literally of messianic proportions.
Schneerson’s message that the messiah was nigh became the leitmotif of the movement in 1991, when the rebbe suddenly and urgently began advocating a series of programs to induce the redeemer to reveal himself. His followers identified him, at least potentially, as the long-expected messiah, and were sure he saw himself in that light. But the rebbe’s exact intentions were still unclear when he suffered a debilitating stroke the next year, and passed away in 1994. Many Lubavitchers — how many is a matter of dispute — continue today to view him as the messiah who either is not actually dead or will return from the dead. The notion of a resurrected messiah, uncomfortably reminiscent of Christianity, has led some Jewish critics to pronounce Chabad messianists to be heretics.
Such biographical, political and sociological aspects of Chabad are of little direct concern to Elliot Wolfson, the Abraham Lieberman Professor of Hebrew and Judaic Studies at New York University and arguably the leading American scholar of the Jewish mystical tradition. In his new book, “Open Secret,” Wolfson is interested in the rebbe’s messianic doctrine as formulated in his hundreds of discourses available in written form, which Wolfson examines within the context of earlier kabbalistic and Chabad teachings, parallels from other mystical traditions — especially Buddhism — and postmodern thought. But even these most recondite of theories have real-world implications.
Wolfson shows that intense messianic anticipation, far from being a quirk of Schneerson’s in his old age, has been central to Chabad from its late-18th-century origins. Its founding premise was that spreading Chabad teachings would hasten the End Time, a doctrine that assumed accelerating urgency when traditional Judaism came under attack from secularism during the next century, and even more so when the Nazi assault on the Jewish people forced the sixth rebbe, Schneerson’s father-in-law, to flee Europe and resettle in the United States. In succeeding his father-in-law, Schneerson became the seventh, a number whose sabbatical identification suggested he was also the last (some even say that this theory motivated him to remain childless by choice).
Schneerson sought new audiences for Chabad’s message — women and non-Jews. While this was in line with the original plan of continually spreading the doctrine, it also indicated awareness that modernity (he had attended European universities before the war) and the American environment necessitated some rapprochement with feminism and universalism. He developed earlier teachings about the mystical role of God’s feminine side and the ultimate breakdown of barriers between Jew and non-Jew in the messianic era, and championed teaching Chabad texts to women and urging gentiles to practice the universal laws of ethical conduct traditionally associated with the biblical Noah.
The discussion of Chabad messianic thought in “Open Secret” is tough reading for people used to linear thinking and clear writing. The problem is not just Wolfson, but also the subject matter. Simply put, language is inadequate to convey how an infinite power — called ein sof (literally, without boundary) in Kabbalah — can generate our finite and bounded reality and, in reverse, how the messianic experience can enable us to break through to the infinite. Our logical faculties paralyzed by the human inability to comprehend the divine, we must make do with the metaphors, paradoxes and contradictions that abound in this book. Wolfson writes that “language is stretched to the limit of the inarticulate.”
The author himself is the biggest contradiction. An exemplary objective scholar, Wolfson is at the same time heavily invested, in a deeply personal way, in the mystical teachings he analyzes. The book begins with the announcement that he was born on Friday night, November 23. Years later, he would learn that at the moment of his birth in 1956, Rabbi Schneerson was delivering a learned discourse on kabbalistic themes to mark the 19th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev. This was the Lubavitch “Day of Redemption,” the date in 1798 when Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the first rebbe of the sect, was freed from prison. The Lubavitcher who apprised Wolfson of the significance of this coincidence told him, “Pay attention, this day bears your destiny.”
Whether personal or scholarly, Wolfson’s spiritual quest is contagious, and the intrepid reader will brave the many difficult passages in order to follow him in search of the rebbe’s deepest feelings about the messiah, the surprising “encrypted message” that is the “open secret” of the title. I will not divulge it, but if Wolfson is right, the rebbe’s messianic vision will comfort neither his followers, who completely misunderstood their leader, nor his detractors, who fail to appreciate his genius. Even as he calls “postmortem apparitions of the seventh Rebbe” indications of “a profound spiritual blindness,” Wolfson apparently agrees with Schneerson that the messiah has come “and all that is necessary is for people to open their eyes in order to greet him” — but he also acknowledges that to grasp the meaning of this “involves cultivating a modification in consciousness.”
People like me, who find such modification difficult, have no choice but to wait.
Lawrence Grossman is editor of the American Jewish Year Book.
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Has come? Will come? Details, details. Once you achieve consciousness outside of time, what does it matter whether we speak of the past or the future? What seems the future now is already the past from some other perspective.
Well said Mike. Time really does not exist, the future is already here, and always has been, just not evenly experienced. Would like to discuss this and other matters, not sure how we can reach each other though.
"Intense messianic anticipation" is central to Judaism - it is not particular to Chabad. Think of Rambam's 13 principles of faith for a start. The traditional prayers probably contain 100+ references per day asking to send the messiah immediately. I heard a lecture recently from Rav Hershel Schachter of Yeshiva University regarding different interpretations of some torah laws, which he ended, "Let's hope that the messiah comes soon and can finally resolve these issues for us." This is how the Talmud ends debate that it cannot resolve - "Teiku" - when Elijah the Prophet will come, he will resolve it for us. What form the messiah will take, what exactly he will do, what the world will look like at that time, etc. is certainly matter of great debate, but messianic fervor is simply a key element of Judaism. The Talmud in the tractate Sanhedrin page 98b is a little vague about if the messiah will come from those alive, and can be interpreted to mean that the messiah will come from the dead (I don't have the reference in front of me, but I believe that Arbarbanel interprets this point in that way). The questions of the Messiah of David vs. the messiah of Joseph etc. only complicate these issue tremendously.
Many beleive that He already came as Ben Yosef Isaiah 53 and another will come to deceive with his mark. The Nevim ZechariYah predicts a Day when everyone will see Him and HE will fight for His people and Eretz IsraEL against those pagan nations. Many nations will be part of His Set apart people and want to learn His Torah.
Even in ancient times, skeptics realized that the Torah and Talmud were horribly inconsistent internally, as well as inconsistent with observed reality and morality. (Just a small example: more than half the 613 mitzvot are related to sacrificing large animals unto God.) However, since atheism was not yet developed, philosophically and scientifically, there was little alternative than to figure out elaborate convoluted ways to make sense of Judaism. Kabbala was developed to bridge the gaps, and a heavy dose of mystery and secrecy was wrapped around it. If the great Kabbalists of yore knew about modern Atheism, they would have come on board and dropped Kabbala like a hot potato kugel.
The late Rebbe was not only a Torah scholar with no equal, he was also well-versed in the physical sciences. And also archaeology and the study of ancient languages. Its is a well-guarded secret in Chabad circles that the Rebbe translated the entire sacred writings of the ancient Mayans and corrected misinterpretations of their calendar. The Rebbe realized, by the beginning of the last decade of the 20th century, that the Mayans had correctly predicted that a giant comet would strike and destroy the earth in the secular year 2012. Thus his effort to calling forth the Messiah as the only force that could put up His Mighty Hand and stop the comet in its path, just as Joshua lifted up his hands and stopped the sun in its tracks (or was it Gideon, I forget). In any event, the Rebbe is gone, the Messiah did not come, and in two years we're all toast anyway. My suggestions to readers of the Forward is that you don't renew your subscription to the paper for longer than two years at this point. The third year would just be a waste of money anyway. Hershele.
What is David, a son of G-D, what is Abraham, the father of all nations. Jacob, and Isaac.....walk the walk they took to seek G-D. David, gave us the tabernacle that he set up on the mountain for G-D in the tent.
David was brought forth like Abraham , Isaac and Jacob. got to go cook..... David asked for light for a city, G-D gave us light for the world through the words of parise David left for us, to see.
Mike and Dr. Angelito my friend...the time may not exist is known among physicits as the "problem of time" there is a lot of she says, he says.... It may be the biggest but it is far from the only temporal conundrum. Vying for second place is this strange fact! The law of physics does not explain why "time always points to the future". All the laws whether Newton's, Einstein's or the quirky quantum rules---would work equally well if time ran backward. As far as we can tell, though time is ONE WAY PROCESS---and it never REVERSES, even though no law restricts it.
Time is something that exist apart form the universe. There is not time ticking outside the cosmos. And do you know a clock realy does not measure time at all. We say we measure time with the clocks---"it's not true." We see only the hands of the clock not time its self move.
It is written in Genesis 3 And in process of time it came to pass, the Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
The LORD, said to Abraham in chapter 18...And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the TIME OF LIFE; and , lo, Sharah thy wife shall have a son. And Sharah heard in the tent door, and which was behind him.
And in Exodus 9...G-D speaks of time.....And the LORD appointed a set time, saying, To morrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land.
It some one dies ahead of me...that means nothing, for the distinction between past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion. The world will end and so will time, so what is the point, of the first and last, all is the same......
It is written...Deuteronomy 2....That also was accoounted a LAND of GIANTS: GIANTS dwell therein in old time; and the Ammonites called them Zamaummims;
Zamaummims, were destroyed by the LORD, as he did to the children of esau, which dwelt in Seir when he destroyed the Horims.
We do not serve G-D....for if we did....Deu.3 Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your G-D he shall fight for you. We need to draw G-D back within the people, we need reach out more, than ever. The wall must be down between people. The light that was given this rabbi did not die...we need to become the messianic error, with out the cult. Let G-D lead----
Conversion comes from G-D alone, we need to just be the lights inthe darkness...so they walk out, to see.
THINK...in Amos 9 G-D tells us he will raise up the tabernacle of David. How was this tabernacle of praise and worship set up?
It is written...Deuteronomy 5... O that there were such an heart in them, that they would FEAR ME, and KEEP ALL MY COONNANDNENTS always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever! Go say to them, Get you into your tents again.
Are we not the tents, that holds the inward parts (law) and (covenant of day and night, with the fire from heaven that lights our desire to serve G-D with all that is within us, the ordinances of heaven and earth?
G-D is King, G-D is our High Priest,
Jeremiah 33...In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.
Let us be the branch....of righteousness that grows form David.
It is written....For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel; Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.
And the word of the LORD came unto Jermiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; If ye can brake my covenant of the day , and my covenant of night and that there should not be day and night in----their season:
G-D wants to forgive sin....G-D wants us the work of his hands to praise and worship him alone....day and night, not let sin put out the flame given us to light our desires from , the very heart of G-D'S burning desire for us all flesh to return.
Jeremiah..33..And I will cleanse them from all thir iniquituy, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.
Read this verse that comes next..hear the joy G-D would be given, if we return...
And it shall ---be to me---a name of joy, a praise and honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I proucure unto them.
Two diffrent people came back out of exile after G-D destroyed the temple that man built, G-D raised up the temple that he was building with those who repented and returned.
These are those who returned and put sin out...Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward paarts; and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. it is written Ps. 51
And these are the people that sit and wait.....to see what G-D is going to do. They, are under the illusion that doing nothing is good.
G-D must do for them what they will not do for G-D. Jeremiah 31..it is written....But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; AFTER---THOSE---DAYSSSSSS, saith the LORD, I will put ----my law---in---their---inward parts, and write it---in--their --hearts;----and will be their G-D, and they shall be my people.
The people of the house of Israel, is not the nation Israel, it is all the people from all nations that G-D sow the house of Israel with as he sow the house of Judah with the seeds of man, and with the seeds of beast.....as it is written above...in chapter 31 of Jeremiah.
This is the new revised covenant...the one and the same that was alwas there for us to return...and the tabernacle of David, that G-D will raise up that is fallen.
LORD, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.
Ps.111....it is written...He provided redemption for His people; He ordained His covenant forever holy and awesome is His name.
To your offspring I will give this land', He will send His angel before you.... The angel that will not let sin pass, nor flesh, only a child male or female that has returned...and who has been given the second breath from the Almighty, the Declared decree given David Ps.2. We can only enter in---peace---as our forefathers did. Gen.28
The book of Haggi, sounds like us today. It was not surprise to Haggai that for all their hard work the people found no satisfaction, and that their money disappeared like flour throught a sieve. G-D then and now is speaking to them, and US through such circumstances as rising prices and inflation seem to engulf their lives.
Haggai tells them and us that their plight, is ignorance and failing to recognize G-D'S hand in what is happening around them the harvest. They were experted to know and apply. Read the news...have we turned get to G-D...
Haggai 2:17..I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labous of your hands; yet turned not to me saith the LORD.
The next verse starts with the words....CONSIDER NOW FROM THIS DAY.... and then at end of the verse....THE DAY THAT THE FOUNDATION OF THE LORD'S TEMPLE WAS LAID, CONSIDER IT. SO, my friends---CONSIDER---WHERE --IS --THE --"FOUNDATION-STONE!" ...Genesis 28...And ---THIS STONE, which I HAVE SET for a pillar, shall be G-D'S HOUSE: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee. The same STONE that the people rejected then, and in past generations are still rejecting.....due to making a covering for their own homes...their lives...have little time for G-D, money is needed to buy,luxury homes, all the toys needed, money and it goes out fast than it comes in, ---why---G-D has not blessed the work of their hands.
Is it the temple that man made that now was in ruins?
In the words given Haggai, he challenges their priporities.-- It is written...-"Is it a time for you, you I say , to dwell in your roofed-in-houses?'
He was telling them---what worth did they set on their G-D when they left His Temple in ruins? The meaning for roof, is covering of ones house, he was telling them your under your roof to cover you and but they have done nothing under the roof or covering of G-D to build Him a dwelling to dwell with them. The words, tell of the lengths of adorning trim with wood panelling ,and some with the elegance of Solomon's palace. Sounds like today, does it not? Tell me, please what has changed? NOTHING! For all their hard work the people then found no satisfaction and their money disappeared like flour through a sieve.
Haggi.1...Thus saith the LORD of host; CONSIDER YOUR WAYS. Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it and I will be glorified, saith the LORD.
Wood burns...bring your sins to burn, and build the HOUSE OF G-D, and use the FOUNDATION STONE....that was laid ...and come in peace.
Haggi 2...And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD.
Consider...Psalm 14... .The fool hath said in his heart, There is no G-D. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, ther is none that doeth good. The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek G-D. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Great Comment by Hershele.: "My suggestions to readers of the Forward is that you don't renew your subscription to the paper for longer than two years at this point. The third year would just be a waste of money anyway."
I've been convinced to forgo my health care initiative and the 2010 census.
Amos 9..In that day will I rise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches there of; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old. Jeremiah 31...Behold, the days come ( in every generation DNA, the Creator of all flesh Jer. 32.)....said the LORD, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast. Jeremiah 31...behold, the dayssss coooome(come in every generation to make a vow into the covenant.), said the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah
Jeremiah 31...but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; AFTER THOSE DAYSSSSS, saith the LORD, I will--put --my law---in their---INWARD PARTS, and write it IN their HEARTS: and will be their G-D, and they shall be my people.
Psalm 51...Behold, thou desirest truth in the INWARD PARTS: and in the HIDDEN PART thou shalt ***MAKE ME*** to know wisdom.
Job 33 The Spirit of G-D ***MADE ME*** but the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
Ecclesiastes 3...I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that G-D might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are BEAST. For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beast; even one thing befalleth them: as one dieth, so dieth the other; yea they have all ONE BREATH; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
Ecc. 12...Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirti shall return unot G-D who gave it.
Dust to dust ashes to ashes but Spirit to spirit, the second breath, for Isaiah 44...Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and His Redeemer the LORD of Hosts; Iam the FIRST, and I am the LAST; AND BESIDE ME THERE IS NO G-D. And who, as I shall call, and shall DECLARE it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are----coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them. Fear ye not neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a G-D beside me? yea, THERE IS NO G-D; I KNOW NOT ANY.
God bless you Miriam, you're close to the truth.