Lubavitcher Rebbe, Grand Rabbi Sholem Dov Ber Schneersohn zi"a

Lema'an achi vere'i! I am happy to present you from divri kodshu of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Grand Rabbi Sholem Dov Ber Schneersohn ZT"L

a few words are needed about the important contribution to the struggle against Zionism was made by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Grand Rabbi Sholem Dov Ber Schneersohn ZT"L. His words that are here translated, deal at some length with the character of Zionism and some of the falsifications and ambiguities connected with it.

They were uttered in response to questions raised by Rabbi Shalom Aaronson who sought to justify the Zionists in the eyes of the Rebbe and ventured to raise questions on the subject of the strong letter written by the Rebbe three years earlier.

This account of the dispute with Rabbi Shalom Aaronson was written by the Rebbe himself and here are a few extracts:

Kuntres Umaayon Mbeis Hashem

From all the writings of the Zionists we can clearly see that their main aim and activity is to create the impression among the Jewish People that the whole purpose of the Torah and the commandments is merely to strengthen national feeling. This theory can easily be adopted by the youth who regard themselves as instruments prepared for the fulfillment of the Zionist ideal. They regard themselves as completely liberated form Torah and the commandments. They think nationalism has replaced religion... When Herzl was in the Holy Land he was far removed from G-d. He OPENLY PROFANED THE TORAH BY ENTERING THE HOLY CITY ON THE SABBATH. HE WENT TO THE SITE OF THE SANCTUARY WHICH EVEN FROM A HUMAN POINT OF VIEW HE SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE, THUS OPENLY PROFANING THE SABBATH IN THE HOLY CITY, AND IN THE PLACE OF HIS TEMPLE, DOING EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF G-D. In order to influence our brethren in favor of the Zionist aspiration for an independent nation and government, they have no alternative but to lead the people astray from the path of of Torah and the commandments, or at least, to weaken their attachment as much as possible SO THAT NATIONALISM SHOULD PREVAIL OVER TORAH, BECAUSE IT IS KNOWN THAT THOSE ATTACHED TO THE TORAH ARE UNLIKELY TO CHANGE AND ACCEPT SOME OTHER FORM OF FAITH. It is surely clear that the Zionists not only are not approaching Judaism, but that they entirely destroy Jewish souls in intentionally TAKING AWAY FROM THEM EVEN THE HIDDEN AND MYSTICAL FEELING IN THEIR SOULS FOR THE TORAH AND THE COMMANDMENTS...

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"The Zionists were more clever than the others, since they exchanged nationalism for the Torah and commandments, as Mandelstam wrote publicly, that a Jew doesn't have to be someone who keeps the commandments , but rather is a Zionist, even if he does not wear phylacteries and does not keep the Sabbath...."

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"Regarding your question about the Zionists, allow me to respond briefly. Those who assist the Zionists will pay at the Day of Judgment, because they are causing the masses to sin. Therefore, whoever is on the side of G-d and his Torah shall not join with evildoers and not become attached to them. On the contrary, they should oppose them as much as possible."