Chabad’s preeminent scholar Rabbi Yoel Kahn, who was the chief reviewer of the Rebbe’s teachings, responded to the Eruv controversy in Crown Heights.
He was asked by a local Mashpia, who asked not to be named, personal guidance on how to advise his congregants.
Here is a translation of their original exchange in Hebrew:
To R’ Yoel Sheyichye Kahan,
Surely you have heard about the tumult in our community regarding an Eruv, that some say is against the Rebbe’s view, and others say that today the situation has changed and even the Rebbe would agree to it. Many of my congregants are asking me what to do, and I therefore ask if you could look into the matter.
My question is twofold:
1) What is the Rebbe’s view?
2) Even according to those who say that the Rebbe opposed building or using an Eruv in a large city – perhaps the situation has changed.
As mentioned, many of my congregants are asking me what to do, and I therefore ask if you could look into the matter.
With honor and blessing,
… ………. – Mashpia in …..… …….…
Reb Yoel’s Response
BH Bein Hametzarim 5776
To ……………….,
Greetings and blessings,
It was with great shock that I read the two question regarding the Eruv. The matter is simple and there is no room for question.
Regarding the first question – there are many letters (printed in Igros Kodesh) where it is clear that the Rebbe is opposed to building and using an Eruv in a large city.
Regarding the second question – there is absolutely no rationality to say that the situation has changed.
Furthermore, if you say that “the situation has changed” – this is a breach Rachmana Litzlan regarding all of the Rebbe’s directives (and so too regarding all directives in our holy Torah) that on everything people can say that “the situation has changed.” One should not even consider such a thought. This should suffice for the wise.
Yoel Kahan
In related news, Rabbi Benzion Wosner of Monsey who has entered the foray of the local Eruv discussion in the past has issued a new lengthy letter expressing support.
“The erecting of Eruv causes greater Shabbos observance and enjoyment,” he wrote. “So too, there is no doubt that the Eruv also helps protect those who dwell within it both physically and spiritually. For there is no mitzvah in the Torah and the enactments of the Sages quite like the mitzvah of Eruv, which encompasses all the people who dwell in a city, along with their houses.”
Read Rabbi Wosner’s letter in Hebrew or the English translation
Traditionally religious Jewish life is conducted and guided by local Rabbonim. If one wants to establish a RELIGIOUS edifice, it must be done with the consent, direction and blessing of the LOCAL religious authorities. This always was the case with ALL parts of religious life. Here we have a strange thing: there is a large organized Jewish community in a neighborhood, with prominent Rabbonim, Morei Horaah B’poel, Gdoley Torah etc. Come along several individuals, buy houses in the neighborhood and say we can do whatever we want here. Free country! Yes, according to secular law you may have that right.… Read more »
wosner is consitered an outcast in most chereidi circles thats one reason he left monsey
why is he mixing into lubavitch
the Rebbe’s opinion is clear No eruv
why is it up for discussion
Members of kol israel live in ch proper. Naftali, the main guy behind the eruv, said on the zev brener interview that he lives on albany and a gut who that shabbos helped with the kiddush lives on East NY. They want the eruv for them you dont want it? Dont use it.
I just learn that the CKI synagouge is NOT located in Crown Hights proper.
There is NO organized Kehila in the neighberhood that requested it. There is not even 1 ROV in the neighberhood who sanctions it.
So what is going on? Some individuals can go behind the ENTIRE organised comunity and ALL local Rabbonim and hire someone who can write hit-pieces for the highest bidder?
Is this the way Judaism was practiced by our forefathers?
(CKI is located in prospect height 11238)
Thank you Reb Yoel. As to printing Wosner (whose entire effect is to foment strife in the community)’s letter: Great news! If you listen to someone whose own father expressed shame at his half-done conversions (see Rabbi Zajac’s letter – who is one of the most honest people around today) and who just announced that the Rebbe’s clear letters against the eruv, the psak (ruling of religious law, based on sourced Torah) of Rav Moshe Feinstein, the psak of Rav Elyashiv, the psak of Rav Ahron Soloveitchik, Rav Hirschprung and other fall, in his sick opinion, into a category that… Read more »
Hashem should grant this great chossid and gaon, many more healthy happy years!
It is heartening to see that C.O.L. did not print the second letter written by Rabbi (sic) Wosner. It is well known in ALL Rabbinical circles that he is a sham together with his alleged Bais Din. He was ousted from affiliation with any legitimate Rabbinical associations, His writings are full of contradictions and omissions. He portrays himself as being more proficient in the Rebbes letters than R’ Yoel. The only legitimacy that he has is that he is the son of the great Posek and he plays it to the hilt even though he caused his father much aggravation… Read more »
This eiruv chutzpa has brought out the most true achdus between all rabbonim in lubavitch, every single one of the rabbonim, ( rabbonim who have disagreed for the longest of times) AGREE THAT THERE SHOULD NOT BE A CROWN HEIGHTS EIRUV!!
WHY BRING PPL FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES TO THE PLATFORM!
since when is it a Jewish custom to go rabbi shopping!? The Jewish minhag is to go according to one rabbi, so if PPL like wosner for eiruv then they should go according to him for everything!
Very funny, according to vosner, eruv is the biggest mitzvah of all. Cute.
To #15, etc. I have a somewhat shorter analysis of “Rabbi” Wosner’s letter.
Disgusting! He comes from another community and condescendingly tells us what our Rebbe must have said (as he believes he’s greater than the Rebbe and so knows exactly what he could say). Than he goes on to tell us (the residents of the Rebbe’s community) not to listen to our Rebbe anyway, but to him! May the Al-Mighty bless and keep him – far away from us.
You should win a prize for longest post on COL
Excommunicate ppl who are interested in the eruv?! What ppl planet are you on? The ppl who built the eruv are not lubavitch so nothing to excommunicate them from. And will u excommunicate a lubavitch famuly for “being interested” in an eruv”?
You´re talking about Jews who will anyways carry on Shabbos, with or without an eruv. Of course we have to help them, but not by bringing the Torah down to them – ela by bringing them to the Torah!! This is the Chabad shita. And by having this eruv up, it´s not just `allowing those who carry anyway to do so without sinning´, but it`s also causing those who WOULDN´T carry on Shabbos to start doing so now because they think the Eruv is good enough. In any case, the fact that this eruv was built against the Beis Din… Read more »
Rabbi Wosner quotes numerous sources about the importance to believe in the MITZVAH OF EIRUV, followed by harsh words to those who don’t. This is TOTALLY NOT THE ISSUE. The issue is if the Eiruv is kosher, and not only by applying many heiterim. For example, someone will quote numerous sources stressing in no uncertain terms the importance of having a Mezuzah on the doors, and wearing Tefillin daily, and then come to an absurd conclusion “since it is so important, it doesn’t really matter if the parchment, the ink, the formation of the letters etc, are accepted as Kosher… Read more »
I don’t like this but it is the only way for some ppl to understand
This eruv is attempting to destroy our community
Unfortunately we are forced to excommunicate ppl who insist in the eruv
Not allowed to our shuls , not allowed to our schools
Not allowed in our community
If they take down legally the eruv they are forgiven
The damage that this eruv can cause is unimaginable
Most of the country as well as the world define New York as a large city.
Bh I have recently seen the new letter from bentzion vosner.this author has recently had family circumstances which do not allow him too much time to put forth a professional piece, but in truth this shoddy letter from this individual does not deserve that much either. What I will try to do is the following, I will try to point out but a few points, which will show that this man while writing so sharp, has just no standing with which to write in the first place. There is a central theme that should be noted, there were many great… Read more »
In Toras Menachem (12 Tammuz 5745 Chelek 4 pg. 2466-7, Sif 37.) the Rebbe says clearly “Cities that have a population of 600,000 are a ‘Reshus Horabim gemurah min hatorah beli shum pikpuk bedovor’ –
May we have the zechus to have this great scholar guide us to the coming of Moshiach following our Rebbes guidelines and wishes!
At least 4 of the Rebbes letter define NYC as a large city
Where exactly is this “psak” to be found?
and what does the rebbe say about vandalism?
BS”D # 5 your question makes no sense to me, is not NYC the largest city in the world 😊👍👌✌
And may all eruv ppl who don’t care about shabbos do teshuva and forget this idea. Amen.
I get it. The Rebbe is against it. It should not be used. It should not be built by/for Lubavitch communities. However, once the Eruv is up, can it not at least be considered kosher according to mainstream Halacha, for those who are not Lubavitch/don’t care about the Rebbe’s opinion and/or will carry anyway out of ignorance or apathy? I get it, it should not have been done, but as long as the Eruv is not considered kosher, those who are carrying anyway are breaking Shabbos as well as going against the Rebbe. Once it is considered kosher, at least… Read more »
An eruv has to be constructed al pi halacha by erlicher yidden. The Frierdiker Rebbe paskened that the so-called Modern Orthodoxy is a heretical movement like reform, conservative, reconstructionist, shabtai-tzki keit, frankist keit etc. ie it is NOT Judaism and therefore cannot have a say in Jewish topics. Make no mistake, they have already begun with the fake conversions which have no basis in halachah and people, even our Chabad tipshim are willing to put their Shabbos observance in the hands of such heretics? Rachmana litzlan!!!
What did the Rebbe consider a large city when it comes to an eruv? How do we know how large a large city is? Did the Rebbe define what a large city is or give examples?
Why is Rabbi Groner’s first hand knowledge of what the Rebbe said and meant not good enough?
The supporters of the eruv are pathetic.
I know this article is about how to respond to the questions, but the answers have been out there since the beginning.
Reb Kahn is just another confirmation that the eruv supporters don’t care about anything except what they want.
It is unanimous and clear that these people putting up the eruv is thumbing their noses at the Rebbe.
The people who are sponsoring the eruv (Michael Ettelson, for one) should clear their blocked head and LISTEN and not just shut down because, like a two year old says when throwing a temper tantrum, “I WANT IT.”
Temiya is not shock!
May we have the zechus to have this great scholar guide us to the coming of Moshiach following our Rebbes guidelines and wishes!
FORGET ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL OPINION. JUST WALK OUTSIDE ON SHABBOS AND TAKE A LOOK HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WHEELING CARRIAGES OR CARRYING THEIR TALIS TO SHUL. IF ONLY FOR THE SAKE OF AHAVAS YISROEL, AND JUST TO DEPRIVE A YID FROM BEING MECHALEL SHABBOS, IT IS WORTH TO HAVE AN EIRUV (OBVIOUSLY DONE DISCREETLY). WE DON’T ONLY HAVE TO THINK ABOUT OURSELVES AND OUR OWN FRUMKEIT, OPINIONS OR FEELINGS. IF AN EIRUV PREVENTS ANOTHER YID FROM DOING AN AVEIRA, THEN, IT WOULD BE WISE TO PUT ONE UP DISCREETLY. BTW, IF YOU NOTICED, NOT ONLY LUBAVITCHERS LIVE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.… Read more »