This tradition flourished in times of persecution, uncertainty or extreme poverty...
I came to the personal conclusion that the Rebbe's messianic drive was fueled by the near-extermination in the Holocaust, the extreme threat of assimilation plus the challenges that the modern worldview and lifestyle pose to Judaism. The changes in those occured so rapidly that Judaism has not had time (yet?) to mount a successful defence. The only solution is to retreat, build a kolel wall between the shtetl and the outside world, and wait. But that can not work for more than couple of generations without completely marginalizing the seriously observant jews (unless some calamitous event affecting most of the civilized world seriously alters the whole picture). That solution however is completely foreign to the philosophy of Chabad. Add to this that being university-educated the Rebbe first hand realized the whole seriousness of the modern world threats - and he simply had no escape except into messianism.
I heard the following story from Pozner's uncle (his father's brother):
After the passing of the previous Rebbe "Chabad elders" wanted the Rebbe to succeed him. The Rebbe refused. They sent Reb Shmuel Levitin (one of the chasidim closest to the previous Rebbe) to talk to him. When asked by Reb Shmuel to assume the position the Rebbe refused again. Reb Shmuel replied that the chassidim would not let the Rebbe alone until he agrees. "I'll flee" - "We'll follow you" - "I'll flee to Brazil" - "If you refuse, Chabad will cease to exist". And that, the story goes, convinced him.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2007-09-03 04:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-04 10:55 am (UTC)I came to the personal conclusion that the Rebbe's messianic drive was fueled by the near-extermination in the Holocaust, the extreme threat of assimilation plus the challenges that the modern worldview and lifestyle pose to Judaism. The changes in those occured so rapidly that Judaism has not had time (yet?) to mount a successful defence. The only solution is to retreat, build a kolel wall between the shtetl and the outside world, and wait. But that can not work for more than couple of generations without completely marginalizing the seriously observant jews (unless some calamitous event affecting most of the civilized world seriously alters the whole picture). That solution however is completely foreign to the philosophy of Chabad. Add to this that being university-educated the Rebbe first hand realized the whole seriousness of the modern world threats - and he simply had no escape except into messianism.
Somewhat related
Date: 2007-09-04 11:05 am (UTC)After the passing of the previous Rebbe "Chabad elders" wanted the Rebbe to succeed him. The Rebbe refused. They sent Reb Shmuel Levitin (one of the chasidim closest to the previous Rebbe) to talk to him. When asked by Reb Shmuel to assume the position the Rebbe refused again. Reb Shmuel replied that the chassidim would not let the Rebbe alone until he agrees. "I'll flee" - "We'll follow you" - "I'll flee to Brazil" - "If you refuse, Chabad will cease to exist". And that, the story goes, convinced him.