Welcome to America!
OK, well not so much, really. Apparently the Bobov sect has been commanded by a rabbinical court to hold elections to decide who their next rebbe will be. Interestingly, single yeshiva students are not permitted to vote (and I’m assuming, although the article doesn’t state explicitly, that women also do not vote).
Quoted in Ha’aretz, one person said, “Something like this has never happened in the history of the Hasidic movement, that a Hasidic rabbinic leader would be elected by a vote – our forefathers never dreamed of such a thing.”
A rather curious statement, actually, since although there were not , in the past, a voter’s registry with a list of those eligible to vote; the requirement for voters to present valid identification; and fierce campaigning, originally chassidic sects formed simply because some person formed a group of followers around themself and became acknowledged as leader. It was only after chassidism became more institutionalized and formal that dynasties formed, handed down father to son. So, perhaps in a certain sense this is a very American way of returning to an older tradition.
May the best man win.
VS.
Full story
I was wondering about the single yeshiva students being excluded. Is it because they’re viewed as too partisan, since they probably study in one of the candidates’ yeshivas? Or is there some other reason?
Do you think there will be a YouTube debate?
Conservative Movement in US effects the Chasids! This is incredible.
(Communities already formed fail to disband for numerous reasons start importing leaders, often to the dismay of many as expectations may not be met, splits of congregations, lay leaders and the whole gamut)
How long before their children start to intermarry? Guesses?
Isn’t the Babov group the one that was virtually wiped out by the Nazi’s, and the handful of remnants found a brother or son of the murdered leader who had survived Hitler but was disaffected with Judaism as a result; he came back to lead them, had he not done so there would be no Babov’s. It’s a great story (if I have the group right), someone should write a book about it.
I don’t think so, incorrect. I think that’s Munkach (sp?).
Munkacz. Also Munkatch, Munkacs.