Emes Ve-Emunah: Who Runs the World?

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Who Runs the World?

Rabbi Baruch Shlomo Cunin is an elder in Chabad. He is head of Lubavitch Chabad in California – the Shaliach personally appointed by the Lubavitcher Rebbe many years ago to head that region of the country. He is also one of the most successful fundraisers Chabad has. His annual telethons which have featured some of the biggest names in Hollywood - have raised millions for Chabad.

So I ask this without any comment and in complete sincerity. Why is he saying that the Rebbe runs the world? Is this not heresy?

Is this mainstream Chabad speaking? Or is this a renegade Lubavitcher? And if he is a renegade, how can Chabad leadership allow him to remain in this very prestigious, influential, and high profile position?

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My outlook on Judaism is based mostly on the teachings of my primary Rebbe, Rabbi Aaron Soloveichik from whom I received my rabbinic ordination. It is also based on a search for spiritual truth. Among the various sources that put me on the right path, two great philosophic works stand out: “Halakhic Man” and “Lonely Man of Faith” authored by the pre-eminent Jewish philosopher and theologian, Rabbi, Dr. Joseph B. Soloveitchik. Of great significance is Rabbi, Dr. Norman Lamm's conceptualization and models of Torah U’Mada and Dr. Eliezer Berkovits who introduced me to the world of philosophic thought. Among my early influences were two pioneers of American Elementary Torah Chinuch, Rabbis Shmuel Kaufman and Yaakov Levi. The Yeshivos I attended were Yeshivas Telshe for early high school and more significantly, the Hebrew Theological College where for a period of ten years, my Rebbeim included such great Rabbinic figures as Rabbis Mordechai Rogov, Shmaryahu Meltzer, Yaakov Perlow, Herzl Kaplan, and Selig Starr. I also attended Roosevelt University where I received my Bachelor's Degree - majoring in Psychology.