Extreme messianism: the Chabad movement and the impasse of the charisma

Abstract

The article deals with the social construction of the charisma of the seventh leader (rebbe) of the Jewish Chabad movement, Menachem Mendel Schneerson (19021994). The comprehensive analysis of the charismatic carrier of the leader shows the process by which the spiritual power of Schneerson moved from a classical (according to Weber) interaction between charisma and a community that recognizes this power to a identification of his figure with the Messiah. Schneerson and the Chabad movement actually represent an effort to modernize one of the two tendencies present in the Chassidic tradition concerning the figure of Messiah: in contrast with the idea that considers not predictable the arrival of Messiah, Chabad, particularly because of the Schneerson's charisma, believe the advent of Messiah imminent. The task of the leader consequently is to pay attention on the premonitory signs of the forthcoming event. The identification between charisma and Messiah in Chabad movement represents a case study of extreme messianism that means a real impasse to solve and rule the question of succession of charisma after the death of the Rebbe.<br>Este artigo trata da construção social do carisma do sétimo líder (rabino) do movimento judaico Chabad, Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902-1994). A análise compreensiva da carreira carismática do líder mostra o processo pelo qual o poder espiritual de Scheneerson deslocou-se de uma clássica (de acordo com Weber) interação entre carisma e uma comunidade que reconhece esse poder pela identificação da figura de Schneerson com o messias. Scheneerson e o movimento Chabad realmente representam um esforço para modernizar uma das duas tendências presentes na tradição chassídica concernente à figura do messias: em contraste com a idéia que considera não previsível a chegada do messias Chabad, particularmente por causa do carisma de Schneerson, acredita que o advento do messias está iminente. A tarefa do líder conseqüentemente é prestar atenção nos sinais premonitórios do evento futuro. A identificação entre carisma e messias no movimento Chabad representa um estudo de caso de extremo messianismo que significa um real impasse para revolver e regular a questão da sucessão do carisma depois da morte do rabino

On beauty, usefulness, and holiness: attitudes towards languages in the Habad community

“…The current prevalence of messianic trends in Habad lends further support to its separate status (e.g. Friedman 1994; Maoz and Bekerman 2009;Pace 2007). The movement's last leader, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902, known as 'the Rebbe', led the movement from 1951 until his death.…”

“…Men are expected to devote their lives to holy studies, whereas women are expected to excel as mothers (educating their children to be pious Jews) and to finance their scholar husbands (and their families), freeing them from anything that may distract them from this crucial obligation. Girls' education is, therefore, more practical and instrumental, and allows for occupational training 2 (Baumel 2003;Ben-Yosef 2011;Blumen 2002;El-Or 1992Fader 2001;Glinert 1999;Heilman 1992;Isaacs 1999;Pace 2007;Shpiegel 2011;Tannenbaum and Abugov 2010;Tannenbaum and Ofner 2008).…”