MY FIX – WHAT’S YOURS?

* “Stay the course” is the mantra of the status quo stewardship, effectively muzzling voices that need to be heard. * There is no debate. All we need is genuine conversation. *

By Rabbi Boruch Merkur

I used to fix computers for a living. It doesn’t take an Einstein to figure out that if what you tried before doesn’t work – once, twice, thrice – it’s crazy to expect the same solution to troubleshoot the problem. Yet as a collective, we Chassidim keep banging our heads against the firewall of galus to no avail.

Who has the guts to face the fact that – as the Rebbe himself said – it’s all “l’hevel v’l’rik” if we don’t put our heads together to figure out what to do to fix this galus pnimi?

Everyone has their opinion, true. The problem is that all our bright ideas drone in seclusion. We don’t meet to discuss and determine the best course of action – for today, which is different than so many yesterdays.

Whatever course of action the powers-that-be instituted long ago remains the de facto solution, after many years of failure. “Stay the course” is the mantra of the status quo stewardship, effectively muzzling voices that need to be heard. There is no debate. There’s not even conversation.

We are left with partisan propaganda machines that churn out very loud but singular sentiments. These branded mouthpieces fail to reflect the unique and varied voices of so many Chassidim who love the Rebbe and want to be a part of his very clear mission.

The Rebbe said “one, two, three” people, “ten akshanim.” The one critical thinker is meant to approach a second, and reach out to a third, until a full quorum (or many think-tanks) of like-minded akshanim band together to implement a plan of action together.

If everyone agrees, even if there are two camps that never meet to reflect and revisit to determine the best possible current direction - that is not leadership. Leadership challenges everything you knew yesterday. Leadership is about timing, making the tough call of what is demanded today more than yesterday.

* * *

I pledge, bli neider, to provide a synopsis of the most important direction we have in our lives, the last instructions we have yet heard from the Rebbe himself. That is the lens through which all Torah and leadership must see through. Even the Rebbe’s Torah itself throughout the years must be viewed through his latest direction and guidance. I have heard publicly delivered drushas that directly contradict more recent teachings of the Rebbe. This is a clear litmus test of the authenticity of our shlichus: does it live up to the Rebbe’s most recent directives and leadership?

We have all we need to do everything expected of us to troubleshoot this galus. We have it within us. As individuals we have even opened our eyes to it. All that is left is to band together in openminded, genuine conversation – even debate - and make it happen.