" And you shall love your fellow as you love yourself. " Vayikra 19:18.
Meshech Chochmah gives the answer to the meaning of " V'ahavta l'rei'acha kamocha - Ani HaShem."
There is not only a mitzvah to love your fellow Jew, but also a mitzvah to love HaShem, yet we never seen Him. We love Him with all our heart, all of our soul and all that we have. The Torah tells us to love our fellow Jew, even if we have never seen him or her.
When you dislike an individual, there maybe a minor cause for the dislike. But it is impossible to say that an entire community has a negative flaw, that justifies the dislike.
This morning, reading my emails just before getting ready to write the blog I had in mind. The email was about blogs, mainly Jewish blogs. All possitive and about the Torah, only one caught me off guard " The Unorthodox - Jew. "
It was not even the title or the name, but the content which shouts " I dislike this group of Jews, " it was painful and hurtful. At first I disposed the email to bin, to ignore it and write my blog. But something told me I just couldn't ignore it, this group of Jews are my people, they are Chabad, like we all are.....A Yid is a Yid is a Yid, meaning all Jews whatever their background are part of Klal Yisroel. HaShem cares deeply for all of us, regardless our level of observance, and so does Chabad.
The blog is about the Bondi beach shooting during Chanukah ( only the beginning ) at December 14, 2025 - the article is written three days ago on August 23, 2026.
"No Jew takes pleasure maligning fellow Jews, and I certainly am not implying Chabad is to blame for the shooting, but the larger Chabad movement is something I think warrants skepticism. In my opinion, even its stated goal of increasing Jewish consciousness is largely disingenuous. Ultimately, Chabad functions more like a business than a genuine cultural revival, feeding off Jewish identity while replacing Judaism with shallow, easily digestible garbage. The Chutzpah!
" Not all secular Jews are in awe of Chabad. " I think the writer is using the wrong word here, we are only in awe of HaShem. "
"For those who not know Chabad, Chabad is a Jewish outreach and education movement, usually tied to more Orthodox Judaism." I think the writer is mistaken again! Chabad has a outreach program ( kiruv ), makes education available to all Jews, and is a Chassidic movement who follows the Baal Shem Tov's teachings. The Baal Shem Tov founder of the Chassidic movement in the 18th century.
During this brief period he unfortunately got involved with Chabad, he did experienced disdain for secular education and knowlegde, and hostility towards independent thought, all of this in his opinion, whether its true or not, is a cult-like conformity.The Shuls are nothing more than organisations. Chabad has taken over a period of 40 to 50 years " Synagogue by Synagogue, organisation by organistation. " In the writers onpinion of course.
The writer believes that many Jews who take part at Chabad Chassidim are honest people, but..the influence is often harmful and damaging. Chabad would take adventage of struggling Jews of their identity, heritage, philosophical or cultural, and replaces the debate certainty, questioning with obedience, and complexity with easy answers. A Jewish culture with what the writer see s as a cult.
Beyond Online Bias: Understanding the Truth and Mission of Chabad.
When I encounter sharp critiques online about my community, it helps to step back from the noise and look at the facts. Rather than debating every biased opinion line by line, we can simply hold them up to the reality of who Chabad is and what they actually do.
The Mission is a Lifelong Commitment, Not a Career !
A common misconception is that Chabad operates like a business. The truth is much more demanding.
When young Chabad Shluchim moves to a new city or even a small place, campus, or country, they are making a permanent lifetime commitment. They do not receive a salary or funding. They must build relationships and raise their own budget locally. They do not leave when times are tough; they become a permanent part of the community.
Critics sometimes mistaken Chabad’s highly accessible outreach- like offering a mitzvah on a street corner or hosting a Shabbos seudah. Often by not understanding the mission it is viewed as negative. Kiruv, the Hebrew term for " bringing close, " is the fulfillment and obligation of " Love your fellow Jew as yourself."
In reality, the word Chabad is an acronym for three deep intellectual potentials: Chochmah (Wisdom), Binah (Understanding), and Da'as (Knowledge). The movement is rooted in Tanya, a complex text of Chassidic philosophy that demands strict study and deep psychological awareness.
" You despise the body- self, and all you celebrate is the the joy of the soul alone, and this is the direct and easy route of fulfilling the mitzvah of loving your fellow Jew as yourself. And this love will be towards every Jew, great and small. " Tanya, chapter 32
Chabad teaches that every single Jew possesses a Divine Neshama- a Chelek Elokah Mima'al Mamash. A single act of goodness or a single mitzvah is not a shallow ritual, but a spark that awakens that soul. Chabad meets Jews exactly where they are on their journey, and offering unconditional acceptance without financial or religious barriers.
Recognizing the Truth for Yourself
As a reader of online commentary, you can easily spot bias when a critique ignores these foundational realities. The Truth is not always found in loud arguments; it is found in the quiet, steady dedication of Chabad Shluchim showing up for others, day after day.
The best way to evaluate Chabad is not through someone else's distant memory, but through the tangible reality of the warmth and community they build.
What critics demiss as, " Shallow, " Chabad recognizes as a profound love for every single Jew. Chabad is an open door, when a soul needs it the most.
I know this because it is my own story, my life has been a story of stories, a journey of struggle and pain. A heart broken and mended again. For me, the life a knew so well, a community I am no longer part of. Finding a path that brings you comfort and a sense of belonging again in a heart beat: Chabad.