Has anyone visited the ohel of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe? What’s it like?
WRS/Thû
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:eek:
Reminds me of Studio 54!
Hehehehe. I can see how one could be confused.
“Ohel” means “tent” in Hebrew.
“The Rebbe,” also known as the “Lubavitcher Rebbe,” refers to Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (of blessed memory). The Rebbe revitalized his organization, Chabad Lubavitch, which consists of Lubavitcher Chassidic Orthodox Jews (that is, Orthodox Jews in the spiritual tradition of Chassidism of the Lubavitcher school or court). One aspect of the Rebbe’s work was to send shluchim, “ambassadors,” all over the world to bring Jews back to a more Orthodox practice of Judaism. Think of it as Jews converting less-observant Jews into more-observant Jews. They also had a radical belief that the more mitzvos (commandments) one did, the closer the Messiah’s coming would be. (This belief was not permissible in Judaism: Jews were forbidden to go against the governments they lived under or to hasten the coming of the Messiah. The Zionist success in the Holy Land went against the first rule, and Lubavitchers went against the second.) Under the Rebbe, there was a blossoming of Jewish activity and reactivation.
When the Rebbe died (to some people’s surprise - some of his followers believed the Rebbe was the Messiah), he was buried. His tomb or memorial-place is called an “ohel,” after the custom of erecting tents, as it were, or buildings around the graves of tzaddiqim or saintly men and women. The belief is that the soul of the tzaddiq is still active in the Heavenly Court above, able to intercede on the behalf of petitioners and guide those seeking guidance. People come to the ohel to ask for the Rebbe’s intercession, as it were.
Since the Rebbe was so popular, I was wondering if maybe someone here has been to his ohel and, if one did go, if one would be able to tell what it’s like, how one seeks guidance there, etc. (I might go one day myself. Goyyim are known to have approached the Rebbe for guidance while he was alive, and the Rebbe had no problem obliging them. I wouldn’t be surprised if goyyim go to his ohel.)
WRS
Why didn’t you say so.
The Tent of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson
He’s dwelling in/on the past in place of the future!
Thanks for the link, but it really doesn’t discuss the ohel. I know quite enough about the Rebbe (may his memory be a blessing) as it is - but I am sure others can learn from that website. I actually hope people read it - it’s a nice summary of the Rebbe’s life and impact.
(Three religious leaders I admire intensely: President Gordon B. Hinckley of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, His Holiness Pope John Paul the Second of the Roman Catholic Church, and Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (of blessed memory) of Chabad Lubavitch.)
WRS/Thû - I wonder is anyone still writes " shlit"a " after his name.