Yoel Kahn
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Rabbi Yoel Kahn (or Kahan) is a senior, Chabad rabbi, Mashpia, and community leader. He has served in this role for four decades. He lives in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York. He is referred to familiarly amongst Chabad Chasidim as Reb Yoel, or just Yoel.[citation needed]
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Activities
For decades Kahn served as the Rebbe's main choizer. His intimacy with the Rebbe led to him being termed "the repeater" by Chabad followers, in reference to his transcriptions of Schneerson's words for the hasidim.[1] He would listen to the talks and then, after consultation with colleagues, transcribe the talks. Some of these talks and discourses were then submitted to Rabbi Schneerson for editing, and then they were released for public study. In this way much of Likkutei Sichos, Schneerson's largest and most monumental work, was written by Kahn and assistant writers, based on discourses and talks delivered by Rabbi Schneerson over earlier years.[citation needed]
Chabad messsianism
Immediately after the death of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson rumors circulated amongst Chabad adherents suggesting that a secret second will appointed Kahn as the successor but nothing came of the rumors. [2] He was considered to be sympathetic to the messiansit strand led by Shmuel Butman the director of the Lubavitch Youth Organisation. In 1993 he was quoted in the press saying "Moses was the first redeemer and the Rebbe is the last."[3]
Kahn supported the declaration of Yechi before the passing of Rabbi Schneerson. In 1993 he was quoted in the press saying "Moses was the first redeemer and the Rebbe is the last."[4].
In recent years he has become a fierce critic of the more extreme forms of Chabad messianism, arguing that referring to Schneerson as alive or praying for him continued long life makes a mockery of him. However he himself refers to Schneersons death as a histalkus (depature) and does not argue that he will not return. [5]
Nevertheless, according to David Berger Kahn has not abandoned his messianism. He quotes from a article by Kahn in a chabad publication[6] where he writes:
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- "Although it is an absolute certainty that the Rebbe will be the Messiah in actuality, this is an internal conviction that should not be publicized so as not to deter people from embracing the message of Chassidism."[7]
He told a Kfar Chabad magazine in 2007 that "The right shitah [opinion] is to say the truth: That now the Rebbe is also alive and affects us here physically."[8]
Citations
- ^ The empty chair, Neta Sela, Yediot Aharonot, February 7 2007.
- ^ Battle Among Lubavitch Erupts Over Rebbe’s Will, Jeffrey Goldberg, The Forward, June 17, 1994
- ^ Rallying for a redeemer, Press Telegram, April 3, 1993
- ^ Rallying for a redeemer, Press Telegram, April 3, 1993
- ^ Reb Yoel: There is only ONE derech in Chabad, Shturem News, 5 Shevat 5767
- ^ Kovetz Mashiach uGe'ullah, ed. by S.D. Levin, issue #2, p. 20
- ^ On the Spectrum of Messianic Belief in Contemporary Lubavitch Chassidism, David Berger, Yated Ne'eman, July 13, 2006.
- ^ Reb Yoel: There is only ONE derech in Chabad, Shturem News, 5 Shevat 5767
