By COLlive.com reporter
A Chabad official is angry with Rabbi Amnon Yitzchak, a known preacher in Israel often criticized for his forceful methods, for distorting a comment by the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
At a lecture in the Israeli city of Rishon L’Tzion, Yitzchak has voiced his claim repeatedly that the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, had promised no Iraqi missiles will land in Israel by the Gulf War in 1990-1991.
Yitzchak, who holds anti-Zionist views similar to that of the Satmar Hassidim and boycotts the Knesset elections, said in his speech that the promise “was printed in Sichat Hashavua.”
Rabbi Menachem Brod, Chabad’s spokesman in Israel and editor of the weekly publication Sichat Hashavua, said the claim is a prevarication.
“The Rebbe never said no missiles will fall in Israel and we never printed such a thing,” Brod told COLlive.
Asked what could be the source of the claim, he said: “We wrote in the Rebbe’s name that the Land of Israel is a safe place and there is no need to be afraid and people should keep visiting.
“We then added these words, ‘let’s be ready – not for the Iraqi missiles that won’t come, but for Moshiach.’ It was not the Rebbe’s words but our hope and belief. The Rebbe never spoke about missiles, only about the safety of Israel.”
In what context was that mentioned? – what was R’ Amnon’s point when mentioning it?
BS”D
Very few Yidden stay frum because of Amnon Yitzchak’s scare tactics. He is a stage performer and an actor, and many of his quickie BT’s are paid shills. Talking about shawarma spits in Gehennom is not going to get anyone who is halfway normal to embrace Yiddishkeit. (How does he know so well what goes on in Gehennom anyway?)
However, many people distorted the Rebbe’s comments in various ways for their own gain. This is just the most public example.
Bs”d
but they stay for the chasidut. I have spoken to many who were also unfortunately turned off by the fire and brimstone and went away with very harsh and negative feelings for Jewishness because of the gevurah which he shows once again.It just ain’t happenin and people don’t like it.
and can we get the audio clip of hiss comment to see the context and tone of his voice etc…
This man has brought literally tens of thousands of Ydden to Torah and Mitzvos. It’s a fact which can’t be denied. I have personally met many ehliche balei teshuva who are only frum and many even chasidim today, through the influence of Rav Amnon. Of course this does not justify everything he says vechulu, but give credit where it’s due.
If you don’t like the Rebbe so much, why did your right hand man pick my brain for four hours in a car ride from Tsfat to Yerushaliyim? Then you copied all the Rebbe’s mivtzoim ideas and used them for your non chasidic outreach.Trouble is, you can’t save them without the chesed,truth ang light of chasidus.
When you add, you detract. By adding a few words on your own you caused this!! Chava did the same when she added a few words, and caused the chet eitz ha’da’as.
🙂 nice spelling
Nice word