Ask a Lubavitcher Anything

[ExGingi]

[YitzyS]

Why do Lubavitcher's celebrate Rav Shneur Kotler's yahrzeit? 

ETA: Answer - the same reason why Ponovitchers celebrate Shlomo Carlebach's yahrzeit.

[Ellen]

What's the deal with double breasted jackets? Is it just a style? Or does it have any significant meaning/symbolize something about the person?

[ExGingi]

What's the deal with double breasted jackets? Is it just a style? Or does it have any significant meaning/symbolize something about the person?

Right over left (Chessed over Gevurah). Are you aware that chassidishe (non-Lubavitch) men's shirts also button right over left?

The unique thing that I haven't heard of or seen outside of Lubavitch circles is buttoning even single breasted suits right over left (by sewing an extra inside button)

[dm123]

Right over left (Chessed over Gevurah). Are you aware that chassidishe (non-Lubavitch) men's shirts also button right over left?

The unique thing that I haven't heard of or seen outside of Lubavitch circles is buttoning even single breasted suits right over left (by sewing an extra inside button)

Lubavitchers don't do right/left shirts?

[ExGingi]

Lubavitchers don't do right/left shirts?

No

[dm123]

Right over left (Chessed over Gevurah). Are you aware that chassidishe (non-Lubavitch) men's shirts also button right over left?

The unique thing that I haven't heard of or seen outside of Lubavitch circles is buttoning even single breasted suits right over left (by sewing an extra inside button)

Non chabad-chassidish clothing stores only (AFAIK) sell suits R/L both single and double breasted - it is interesting that the short jackets they sell only come in double. Not sure if that's b/c "Heimishe style" or something else.

No

Interesting. Learn something new every day thanks! I guess it's safe to assume the Rebbe's shirts weren't R/L?

[ckmk47]

I don't see many double breasted suits.
My boys and their friends use single breasted suits and button it right over left.
a) Turn the button over to go into the button hole underneath it.
b) Sew a button on the jacket underneath the regular button, so you can button it on top without turning the edge of the jacket over.

[MeirS]

What's the deal with double breasted jackets? Is it just a style? Or does it have any significant meaning/symbolize something about the person?

Some for style. Some for "shpitz".
I'm the end of the day, in Chabad, these things aren't really significant. It's more important to focus on the pnimitus.

[Yehuda57]

What's the deal with double breasted jackets? Is it just a style? Or does it have any significant meaning/symbolize something about the person?

Do you mean why Lubavitchers wear double breasted jackets or why they don't? I honestly couldn't tell you if most do or don't wear them.

[dm123]

I'm looking for a source:

[As you most likely know, the Lubavitcher Rebbe took an approach based on the idea that the seven Noahidic laws are so universal and so categorically imperative on every human being that we, as Jews, have a mitzvah to, so to speak, ?push? them and hence, to foster a legal system that would, for example, prevent a Gentile from committing an abortion. There is no doubt that he is 100% correct from a halakhic point of view. It is a mitzvah for the Jew to en?courage the Gentile to perform his mitzvot. It is forbidden for a Jew to mislead a non- Jew into sin. We derive this from the Torah: ?Do not place a stumbling block before the blind.? It is hard to second guess the Rebbe either halakhically or politically. This is, of course, an issue of public welfare, and the question is whether or not the public welfare is served by legislation banning abortion.

Did the Rebbe ever clearly articulate the need to encourage or push for anti abortion legislation? Or is he mixing (possibly rightfully so) 1) The Rebbes advice to individuals not to abort and 2) sheva mitzvos campaign 3) Rebbe pushing certain things (like moment of prayer/silence in schools) in the public sphere (i.e. public policy)?

[dm123]

I'm looking for a source:

Did the Rebbe ever clearly articulate the need to encourage or push for anti abortion legislation? Or is he mixing (possibly rightfully so) 1) The Rebbes advice to individuals not to abort and 2) sheva mitzvos campaign 3) Rebbe pushing certain things (like moment of prayer/silence in schools) in the public sphere (i.e. public policy)?

I guess this can be a source:
https://files.anash.org/uploads/2022/06/ACFrOgAG-8calMYiC2oKgdzkCgJX4D5ytP4pOaJZapuENxnPLEduRl-GmwmzxEsmktM_xI7Vw1EsjtmFRiKzlEAJwTOfngZ5q6dINFrkadNbeLVnKfv8eK7W80-44-n0dEFEAPlQYHlElmV3kCw3.pdf

OTOH, maybe that only applies in Israel?

https://thecjn.ca/news/canada/abortion-often-permitted-judaism-rabbi-says/

I can't find anything where the Rebbe spoke specifically about about Roe V Wade or trying to influence US law on abortion, so anything proclaiming the represent the Rebbe's position on this in chu"l seems dubious to me.

[dm123]

Random fact: 770 was an abortion clinic before the Rayatz purchased it over 80 years ago.

Wow very interesting thanks Dan!!

https://forward.com/culture/474642/how-770-eastern-parkway-chabad-lubavitch-rebbe-schneerson-history-jewish/
"Dr. Kahn’s legal troubles did not end there. Court and newspaper records show that in 1937 he lost his medical license for carrying out illegal abortions on Eastern Parkway. The following year, he was charged with homicide after a Bronx woman died during an “illegal operation.” He was cleared of the charges but was later implicated in the bribing of the Brooklyn judge assigned to the case."

[imayid2]

It's a Chabad thing. The Rebbe held there is a Chiyuv to be mekarev goyim to keep 7 mitzvos. I've been curious for a while what the source is, since as you mentioned there is no הוכח תוכיח and no כל ישראל ערבים זה לזה.

@PlatinumGuy
https://asknoah.org/wp-content/uploads/lubavitcher-rebbe-noahide-campaign.pdf
The Sheva-Mitzvot Campaign
Torah obligation: On what basis? What is required?
a) Moses was commanded by G-d at Mt. Sinai to compel all inhabitants of the world to accept their Seven Mitzvot.- Rambam Laws of Kings 8:10; Hisva’aduyos: 5746 v.2, p.43-44.
b) Every Jew has a mission to influence the Gentiles to behave in a manner consistent with Isaiah 45:18: G-d formed the world to be settled. This is through observing their 7 Mitzvot and all the offshoots that follow from them… - Hisva’aduyos 5744 v. 3, p. 1538; 5745 v. 3, p. 1450-1451.
c) A Jew travels to a place “to establish His Name there” by bringing Gentiles to express G-d’s glory: accepting His kingship willingly, and learning about the Noahide Code. - Hisva’aduyos: 5748 v. 1, p. 298-299; 5749 v. 1, p. 60.

[Euclid]

One of my favorite Yeshivah days stories. One of the first days when guys don't know each other yet and are still somewhat uncomfortable. One guy sees someone eating a yogurt and asks, "two twelve?"
"No, it was $1.79"

NYC area code?

[Yehuda57]

NYC area code?

212 degrees, the temperature at which we hold the machines need to be kashered at before CY runs. Many opinions suffice with lower temperatures like 190.

[MeirS]

Keep a nice sized piece of cardboard or hard paper in your candle drawer so when preparing the candles erev Shabbos you can blow out the candles with 1-2 waves.

Do Lubavitchers do this?

[zh cohen]

Do Lubavitchers do this?

The cardboard? Not that I've seen.
Preparing the candles? Some do.

[imayid2]

The cardboard? Not that I've seen.
Preparing the candles? Some do.

There is a source in chazal that says something to the effect of:
המכבה נר בפיו דמו בראשו

[lcm]

There is a source in chazal that says something to the effect of:
המכבה נר בפיו דמו בראשו

Some lubavitchers prelight the wicks, some don't. The ones that do, don't necessarily use a piece of cardboard to put them out, but they do care about that source in chazal, and those that are aware of it, are makpid