Leadership in the Habad Movement
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Leadership in the HaBaD Movement A Critical Evaluation of HaBaD Leadership, History and Succession By M. Avrum Ehrlich Originally Published with Jason Aronson Publishers, New Jersey, 2000 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS GENERAL INTRODUCTION Motives Contents, Relevance of Study, Sources, Difficulties SECTION ONE – WHAT MAKES A HABAD REBBE? Introduction Chapter 1 – General Description of Pre-Hasidic Jewish Leadership Chapter 2 – Hasidic Leadership The Beginnings of Hasidism – General Hasidic Ideas of the Zaddik as Leader – The Source of the Zaddik’s Soul – Breslav as an Aberration – Social Functions of the Zaddik – Transferral of the Zaddik’s Authority Chapter 3 – HaBaD Conceptions of the Zaddik Brief Description of the HaBaD Movement – Historical Context to HaBaD Leadership Ideas – General Hasidic Influences – Behavioural Influences – Theological Influences – RaSHaZ’s Concept of the Zaddik – Defining the Rebbe to the Outside World – Other Contributors to the HaBaDic Conception of the Zaddik – Popular Views Chapter 4 – The HaBaD Hasid’s Relationship with his Rebbe The Hasid’s Spiritual Make-Up – Social Needs of the Hasid – Needs of HaBaD Hasidim – Financing the Zaddik – The HaBaD System of Financial Support – The Ma’amad – Ma’amad as the Rebbe’s Personal Money Chapter 5 – The HaBaD Rebbe as Scholar Scholarship and Leadership – Scholarship in Hasidic Leadership – HaBaD Scholarship – Scholarship and Public Relations – HaBaD Manuscripts as a Symbol of Transferral – Scholarship and the Rebbe’s Will Chapter 6 – Leadership Models for the HaBaD Leader HaBaD Rebbe as High Priest – HaBaD Rebbe as Prophet – HaBaD Rebbe as Reluctant Leader – Reluctance in Leadership – Mystical Notions of Modesty – HaBaD Leaders as Rejecters of Leadership – RaMaSH as a Reluctant Leader – HaBaD Rebbe as Charismatic Leader – General Definitions of Charismatic Leadership – Hasidic Charisma – HaBaD Charisma – RaMaSH and Charisma – HaBaD Rebbe as King – HaBaD Rebbe as Nasi Chapter 7 – HaBaD Rebbe as a Military Leader Prominence of the Military Leader – Militancy of RaSHaZ – Militancy in Other HaBaD Rebbes – Shlihut as a Military Term Chapter 8 – Ancestor Worship in HaBaD Leadership To Carry Out the Will of the Rebbe Chapter 9 – Messianism in the HaBaD Leadership Messianisn and HaBaD Rebbes – Messianism and RaMaSH – Conclusion SECTION TWO – THE TRANSFER OF LEADERSHIP IN THE HABAD MOVEMENT: PAST MODELS Introduction – Difficulties with the Proposed Study Chapter 10 – The Leadership of Shneur Zalman (RaSHaZ) Competition to RaSHaZ – Menahem Mendel of Vitebsk (MMV) – Yissacher Ber and Yisrael of Polosk – Avraham of Kalisk – Polish Zaddikm – The Mitnagdim – The Rise of RaSHaZ to Eminence – Consolidation of RaSHaZ’s Authority – The Hasidic Minyan – Personal Guidance – Delegation of Authority – Leadership Through Mysticism – The Hasidic Groupings and their Choice of Rebbe – The King-Makers – The Scholarly Class – The Poorer Class – Two Distinct Styles of Leadership in One Leader – Gave Material Blessings – Gave Public Lectures – Two Teachings – Conclusion – Summary of Factors that Contributed to RaSHaZ’s Leadership – Hitkashrut – Modesty - Avoided Conflict – Administrative Capabilities – Scholarship – Political Astuteness – Public Relations – Other Examples – Relevance of the Chapter to RaMaSH – Similarities Between RaSHaZ and RaMaSH – Dissimilarities Between RaSHaZ and RaMaSH Chapter 11 – The Leadership of Dov Ber Historical Context – Competition to Dov Ber – Moshe Son of RaSHaZ – Haim Avraham Son of RaSHaZ – Yehuda Leib – Menahem Mendel Shachna (Zemakh Zedek, ZZ) – The Argumant for No Successor – Yitzhak Eizik Epstein of Homil – Aharon of Staroselye – Aharon’s Qualifications – The Rise to Eminence of Aharon – Tension Between Candidates – A Weakening Leadership – Conclusion – The Election of Dov Ber as the HaBaD Rebbe – Dov Ber’s Qualifications – Support for Dov Ber – Consolidation of Dov Ber’s Authority – Political and Social Intuition – Provided Social Services – Ideological Platform – Maot Charity Fund – Charisma – Publication of His Works – Maintained Vigil Against Aharon – Delegated Authority – Public Image – The Hasidic Groupings and Their Choice of Rebbe – The King-Makers – Aharon’s Constituency – Dov Ber’s Constituency – Summary of Factors that Contributed to Dov Ber’s Leadership – Relevance of the Above Chapter to RaMaSH – Conclusion Chapter 12 – The Leadership of Menahem Mendel Shachna – Zemakh Zedek (ZZ) Historical Context – Evolution of the HaBaDic Leadership Criteria (Third Generation) – Competition to ZZ – Menahem Nahum – Haim Avraham – The Election of ZZ as the HaBaD Rebbe – ZZ’s Qualifications – Hitkashrut – Scholarship – Politics – Experience – ZZ’s Acceptance of the Mantle – Consolidation of ZZ’s Authority – Mended Divisions – Staroselye Hasidim – Russian Governmental Support – Harmonisation of Hasidic/Mitnagdic Relations – Public Relations – Publication – Children – The Hasidic Groupings and their Choice of Rebbe – The King Makers – The Poorer Class – The Middle Class – Relevance of the Above Chapter to RaMaSH – Conclusion Chapter 13 – The Leadership of Shmuel Historical Context – Evolution of the HaBaDic Leadership Criteria (Fourth Generation) – Competition to Shmuel – Barukh Shalom (Son of ZZ) – Yehuda Leib and the Kapust Hasidic Dynasty – The Rise of Yehuda Leib to Eminence – Consolidation of Yehuda Leib’s Authority – The Kapust Dynasty – The Leadership of Shlomo Zalman (Son of Yehuda Leib) – The Leadership of Shalom Dov Ber (Son of Yehuda Leib) – The Leadership of Shmaryahu Noah (Son of Yehuda Leib) – Haim Shneur Zalman of Liadi (HSZ) (Son of ZZ) – Yisrael Noah of Nezhin (Son of ZZ) – Others – The Election of Shmuel of Lubavitch as Rebbe- Consolidation of Shmuel’s Authority – Evolution of the HaBaDic Leaderhip Criteria (Fifth Generation) – Hasidic Groupings and their Choice of Rebbe – Yehuda Leib’s Following – Other Brother’s Following – Relevance of the Above Chapter to RaMaSH – Conclusion Chapter 14 – The Leadership of Shalom of Shalom Dov Ber (RaSHaB) Historical Context – Evolution of the HaBaDic Leadership Criteria (Sixth Generation) – The Difficulties of the Age as Contributing to Change – Competition to RaSHaB – Shneur Zalman Aharon (SZA) – Other Dynasties as Competition – The Election of RaSHaB as a Rebbe – Consolidation of RaSHaB’s Authority – The Hasidic Groupings and their Choice of Rebbe – Relevance of the Above Chapter to RaMaSH Chapter 15 – The Leadership of Yosef Yitzhak (RaYYaZ) Historical Context – Evolution of the HaBaDic Leadership Criteria – Competition to RaYYaZ – General Opposition – The Rise of RaYYaZ to Emminence in Soviet Russia – Consolidation of RaYYaZ’s Authority in Soviet Russia – Leadership over Hasidim – Leadership over Russian Jewry – The Rise of RaYYaZ to Eminence in North America – A Hero’s Reputation – International HaBaD Communities – Correspondence – Hasidic Infrastructure – Old Boys Network – HaBaD’s Institutional Presence in the U.S.A – RaYYaZ’s Personality – The Politics of Leadership – Consolidation of RaYYaZ’s Authority in North America – Relevance of the Above Chapter to RaMaSH – Conclusion SECTION THREE – THE ELECTION OF RAMASH AS THE HABAD REBBE Introduction – Difficulties with the Proposed Study Chapter 16 – A Brief Biographical Sketch of RaMaSH’s Pre-Rebbe Life Stories of RaMaSH’s Pre-Rebbe Life Chapter 17 – RaMaSH as Son-in-Law of RaYYaZ The Son-in-Law in Traditional Society – Yisrael Aryeh Leib as RaYYaZ’s Potential Son-in-Law – Haya Mousia as Match for RaMaSH – Selection of RaMaSH as a Son-in-Law by Virtue of his Genealogy – Selection of RaMaSH as a Son-in-Law by Virtue of his Family – Selection of RaMaSH as a Son-in-Law by Virtue of His Own Qualities – The Period of Evaluation – Scholarship – Administrative Skills – Introverted – Loyal Chapter 18 – Self Development of RaMaSH Attention – RaMaSH’s Relationship with RaYYaZ Chapter 19 – Introduction to RaMaSH’s Leadership Bid Sources – The Pre-Election Environment – The New York HaBaD Community – International Communities – Questions Regarding Succession Chapter 20 – Competition to RaMaSH’s Leadership Bid Two Successors – No Successors – Menahem Mendel Horenshtein – Shalom Dov Ber Gourary – Shmaryahu Gourary (RaSHaG) – RaSHaG as Son-in-Law to RaYYaZ – RaSHaG’s Activism in the U.S.A – RaSHaG’s Dissenters Chapter 21 – RaYYaZ’s Intentions Regarding the Future Succession To Carry Out the Will of the Rebbe – Did RaYYaZ Support RaMaSH’s Candidacy? – A Will – Jobs and Titles – Encouraged his Studies – Tephilin de-Shimushei Raba Chapter 22 – The Death of RaYYaZ and Pro-RaMaSH Posturing First Impressions Chapter 23 – RaMaSH’s Leadership Qualities The Religious Mind-Set – A General Impression of RaMaSH’s Religious Mind-Set – RaMaSH-Likeable-Charismatic – RaMaSH as an Administrator – Perceptions of RaMaSH’s Earlier Administrative Life – RaMaSH as Administrator in the U.S.A – Absence from the Political Fray – RaMaSH as a Source of Encouragement and Solace – RaMaSH as an Authoritative Consoler – RaMaSH as a Religious Instructor – RaMaSH as a Reluctant Leader – The Way He Rejected Approaches – Overcoming his Rejection – Procedural Rejection – RaSHaG and Rejection of Leadership – Conclusion – RaMaSH as a Worker of Wonders – RaMaSH as a Source of Information and Archives – RaMaSH as a Concuit for RaYYaZ’s Leadership – RaMaSH as a Mystic Chapter 24 – RaMaSH’s Appointment as the HaBaD – Lubavitch Rebbe The Process – The Hasidic Groupings and Their Choice of Rebbe – Application of the “Class Distinction” Hypothesis – The Pro RaSHaG Alliance – The Pro RaMaSH