The Rebbe's Army : Inside the World of Chabad-Lubavitch

Rating:
Summary: Are you Jewish?
Review: "Chabad has a formidable infrastructure. It has an elegant and fascinating theology, an interpretaion of reality based on the Kabbalah, or Jewish mysticism, that many Jews find intellectually and spiritually compelling." ~Sue Fishkoff

On a rainy November afternoon in 1993, Sue Fishkoff received a call from the Lubavitch headquarters in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. At the time, she was not fully aware of the Hasidic movement and had never met a "Hasid." Soon, Sue Fishkoff was traveling throughout America and immersing herself in the world of Chabad Houses. As she discovered the optimism and devotion, she started to admire their openness to the world. She was in awe of how Lubavitchers tried to consciously show love in every moment of their lives and noticed that while they did adhere to Jewish rituals, they were nonjudgmental.

The author does object to various aspects of Chabad in North America. She doesn't like the women's sheitels, sitting behind a mechitza, the aversion to modern culture and their refusal to consider concessions to the Palestinians. However, the author says her book is not about the political involvement, it is a comprehensive history of Lubavitch Hasidism and an exploration of basic human kindness. She also helps to shed light on the shlichim. These are young Luvavitch couples who act as Jewish missionaries to areas that do not follow Orthodox beliefs. They set up "Chabad Houses."

Most of the book focuses on the daily life and history of Chabad. She tells stories of how couples set up on a campus and then work their way into situations where they are feeding hundreds of students, holding campus celebrations for Jewish holidays and teaching classes in Bible, Talmud, Jewish Lawa and Hasidic philosophy. There is intriguing information on the "laws of mikvah" that govern a Jewish couple's sexual life. It interested me and I went to see the site they recommended and also found there were videos of the mikvah "the mysterious immersion in water" experience.

It was interesting to read about what the Rabbi Manis said about shaking hands. This religion has very strict codes of conduct that almost make it seem impossible to avoid offending people who are not aware of these religious beliefs. Although, I've always thought shaking hands was overrated. It would be nice to do away with some formalities so you could break the ice in a more natural fashion.

There is a sense of comfort in knowing there are people who are dedicated to their communities and who believe in a God who cares about us, protects us and gives us our very breath. I thought Vivi Deren from Connecticut made some excellent points about how society has elevated career, money and social position while devaluing home and family. I've worked in Jewish homes while working my way through college and what impressed me most was the commitment to family. Oh, and the chicken soup was pretty good too. I even learned to make Challah and I am thankful I was allowed to experience the beauty of Jewish culture.

While reading this book, you might almost start to feel homesick for a beauty so rare, I'm not sure I can even describe it. It is the feeling of being loved for who you are and of being cared for by loving people who are as concerned about your soul as your physical well being. Sue Fishkoff has captured this wonderful feeling in a book! The sense of connection and support is impressive.

~TheRebeccaReview.com

Rating:
Summary: I couldn't put it down
Review: A must read for anyone interested in contemporary Jewish life. Jews and Jewish leaders of every affiliation will be inspired and challenged by the Chabad model and its supporters. Outstanding!

Rating:
Summary: The Rebbe's Army: Sequel to Lis Harris' "Holy Days"
Review: An extraordinary book! A book which finally portrays the life and experiences of chabad shlichim. When chabad rabbis go on Shlichis it is quite difficult for the communities to accept them. It is my hope that after people read this book they will gain knowledge and understanding into these young rabbis lives and finally acceptance. Lis Harris analyzed chabad in a community setting, now thanks to Sue Fishkoff we understand not only their public approach to world judaism but the feelings and tibulations (not to mention the sacrifice) of individual chabad rabbis', sent to satelite communities, as well. I must say job well done!

Rating:
Summary: New Book on Chabad-Lubavitch is Excellent!
Review: As a Lubavitcher and a sociologist I am both an insider and an outsider. From both perspectives The Rebbe's Army is highly recommended. The author goes way beyond the media's superficial and dismissive labels of "ultra-Orthodox" or "ferevently Orthodox" or even "Hasidic" to help us understand the inspiring ideas, programs and unique people of the Chabad movement. This book addresses both the head and the heart and can serve to stimlulate many more people to pursue the path of Torah with the added wisdom and joy found in Chabad Chasidus.

Rating:
Summary: No stone left unturned!
Review: As an outsiders view, Sue has given an honest, complete look at Chabad. Although the book truly only focuses on their efforts in North America (with a sprinkling from other communities) as indicated in her foreword, it still gives you the "inside" look at the what Chabad and its Shlichim represent.

In her clear, consice and sometimes witty way, she has brought to light many issues I have had with Chabad in the past, and I applaud her for doing an excellent job at it.

If you are interested in knowing about Chabad and than drwing your own conclusions, I strongly encourage to read this book.

Rating:
Summary: Propaganda of the nice sort
Review: Chabad Lubavitch is a highly sophisticated philosophical system. This is the true driving force of The Rebbe's Army. That's why it's somewhat sad to see this book depend on 'propaganda' to make its point. Similar to another book -- Despite All Odds -- that also failed precisely because it was a self promoting work trying to hard to make a case for the 'greatness' of Lubavitch.

Others may need to rely on spin and cliches, but Lubavitch's message stands on its own merit. Growing up in a secular environment, I uased to think otherwise. But after reading some very fine books on Lubavitch, like Holy Days, Toward a Meaningful Life and others, I came to realize the profound spirituality and comprehensive relevance of the Lubavitch perspective on life.

Yet, the good news is that with all the negative propoganda out there, I guess The Rebbe's Army is a form of positive propaganda, disseminating an upbeat and empowering message of a very vibrant and dynamic force in the world today.

Rating:
Summary: A well-written look into a special world
Review: For Jews, religion and how to practice is a contentious subject. There is a joke about this: in a small town, there are only two Jews, but there are three synagogues. Why is this so, asks a stranger who is visiting one of the Jewish guys. "Well," he answers, "There's the synagogue I go to, the one the other guy goes to, and the one NEITHER of us will go to."

The CHABAD-Lubavitchers were led until recently by the Rebbe, a charismatic leader who was not replaced upon his death at 92. Yet the Lubavitcher community did not dissolve into disarray, as some predicted would happen. The strength of this community lies in the Schlihim, or missionaries to other Jews. The Schlihim are brilliant at their task; they lead non-observant and modernly-observant Jews back to a more fundamental style of Orthodoxy by example and love, as one would teach a child. They offer comfort and acceptance and a place to worship for all, in contrast to the average temple or synagogue where membership can be prohibitively expensive and seats at the High Holy Days out of reach for those who are of limited means.

The Lubavitchers manage to charm Hollywood stars like Jon Voight (not Jewish), visit world leaders, storm uninvited into the Oval Office and generally get what they want with sheer chutzpah (nerve) and a fiddler-on-the-roof belief that G-d will provide.

This book is a bit one-sided. While the author remarks that she doesn't like the idea of having to sit behind the curtain that screens women from the men in the orthodox shul, and that she doesn't agree with their interpretation that women cannot be on the beamah (the podium, where the Torah or holy books are read), she presents a uniformly positive view of the Lubavitcher, their large families and dedicated lives. She glosses over the wigs (a custom where married women must cover their hair or shave their heads and wear a wig instead.) She does describe the Mikvah (ritual bath) and provides good insight into its importance to the Orthodox community of women. But the internal conflicts, the struggles that the Lubavitcher must experience are not really dealt with in detail.

I enjoyed reading this book, knowing from my own experiences with friends who are ultra-Orthodox that this is not a complete story. But it is a brave story of men and women who start missions with a shoestring and a lot of love for their fellow Jews, and who are rewarded with success for their dedication.

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down
Review: I am not lubavitch and not particularly observant, but i was captivated by this book. I read it in a day and a half; I literally couldn't put it down. Sue Fishkoff has rendered this rather esoteric world of Chabad absolutely fascinating, and she explains complicated religious matters in a refreshing, readable voice. She also did an EXCELLENT job discussing controversial subjects like the belief among some Lubavitchers that the rebbe was the messiah, and her personal take on women's roles in this world. In writing about both of these issues, she takes a step back and a deep breath, puts on her objective journalist's hat and tells us what we need to know, without insulting her subjects and without insulting our intelligence, leaving readers to draw their own conclusions. Also notable were her discourses on subjects as varied as the importance of the mikvah in Chabad; how the Lubavitchers navigate the world of secular Washington politics; and relations between Chabad and other branches of Judaism from remote Alaskan outposts to college campuses to affluent suburbs. All in all, a great read!

Rating:
Summary: Waking the Talk
Review: I grew up in what was probably a typical mid-century Jewish family - both parents raised in the U.S. and thoroughly Americanized. A secular conservative household. I received a fairly typical religious education for that time and culture - the minimum necessary. In retrospect, I probably learned more about Judaism after I left home than I did before. For Jews such as me, the world of Hasidism - intensely and often excitedly religious - is often something mysterious. As well as a source of guilt when we compare it to out own wobbly religious observance. Most of my acquaintance with the thinking of the Hasid, and with the Lubavitch movement in particular, is bookish, rather than experiential.

Which is why I was delighted with Sue Fishkoff's "The Rebbe's Army," a close and honest look at the Lubavitchers as a social and cultural phenomenon. She is a well respected member of the Jewish Press who has taken the time to pick up the threads of this small but influential group who gently, but persistently work not to broaden Judaism, but to deepen it. In countless cities both here and abroad are the slichim - young couples who leave the comfort and shelter of their own religious center in Brooklyn to seek to re-establish the traditional core of Judaism. This is their story.

While strictly ultra-orthodox, the Lubavitch have created an outreach program that manages to touch not only Jews of every religious bent, but the non-Jewish community as well. Most often, they arrive as stranger but stay to become dear friends. Fishkoff who has traveled extensively in this world writes more about their experiences and lives than about the specific tenets of their beliefs. She does so in a non-judgmental but sympathetic fashion, finding much to admire, but not shying away from the conflicts and struggles.

Don't come to this book expecting a history or a critique. This is pure descriptive journalism. Deep in its coverage, but not burdened by excess analysis. The final judgments are left up to the reader, who has been given the gift of insight into a rich world of strong principles and a determination to live them out. As such, she has bridged the suspicion gap with a clear, accessible volume that will open far more doors than it closes.

Rating:
Summary: Waking the Talk
Review: I grew up in what was probably a typical mid-century Jewish family - both parents raised in the U.S. and thoroughly Americanized. A secular conservative household. I received a fairly typical religious education for that time and culture - the minimum necessary. In retrospect, I probably learned more about Judaism after I left home than I did before. For Jews such as me, the world of Hasidism - intensely and often excitedly religious - is often something mysterious. As well as a source of guilt when we compare it to out own wobbly religious observance. Most of my acquaintance with the thinking of the Hasid, and with the Lubavitch movement in particular, is bookish, rather than experiential.

Which is why I was delighted with Sue Fishkoff's "The Rebbe's Army," a close and honest look at the Lubavitchers as a social and cultural phenomenon. She is a well respected member of the Jewish Press who has taken the time to pick up the threads of this small but influential group who gently, but persistently work not to broaden Judaism, but to deepen it. In countless cities both here and abroad are the slichim - young couples who leave the comfort and shelter of their own religious center in Brooklyn to seek to re-establish the traditional core of Judaism. This is their story.

While strictly ultra-orthodox, the Lubavitch have created an outreach program that manages to touch not only Jews of every religious bent, but the non-Jewish community as well. Most often, they arrive as stranger but stay to become dear friends. Fishkoff who has traveled extensively in this world writes more about their experiences and lives than about the specific tenets of their beliefs. She does so in a non-judgmental but sympathetic fashion, finding much to admire, but not shying away from the conflicts and struggles.

Don't come to this book expecting a history or a critique. This is pure descriptive journalism. Deep in its coverage, but not burdened by excess analysis. The final judgments are left up to the reader, who has been given the gift of insight into a rich world of strong principles and a determination to live them out. As such, she has bridged the suspicion gap with a clear, accessible volume that will open far more doors than it closes.