TheYeshiva.net - Rabbi YY Jacobson

Don't Try to Make Sense of the Holocaust

The Views of Reb Avigdor Miller, the Satmar Rebbe and the Lubavitcher Rebbe

42 min

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Class Summary:

Likkutei Torah Chukas Vayaas Moshe Nschash #2. Don't Try to Make Sense of the Holocaust: The Views of Reb Avigdor Miller, the Satmar Rebbe and the Lubavitcher Rebbe.

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N
null -1 year ago
Respect is earned. Don't be a menuval brshus haTorah and complain that nobody respects your Torah
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Anonymous -4 years ago
Rav Avigdo Miller

Q:
You mentioned tonight one of the reasons for why Hashem brought the Holocaust. Are you saying that all the events of the Holocaust are fully understandable to us?

A:
Certainly not to me. I never would claim to understand everything. However, what I am saying is that it’s certain that the Holocaust included a reaction to those that rebelled against Hashem violently and virulently; and it would have led to the the worst kind of results had they been allowed to continue to exist. Yes, that’s one of the reasons.

The Bund in Poland was a terrible party. The Bund hated anything that was frum. But not only the Bund. The Bund was the worst of them but the general Zionists also hated the frum Jews. They made gymnasiums were boys and girls came together and they ridiculed the Tanach. Everything was learned only as chullin – there was no kedushah at all.

What could you expect as time kept on going? They were getting worse and worse until Hashem finally said, “It’s enough! I’ll bring it to an end!”

And therefore in America it started all over again; you don’t realize that in America, boruch Hashem, there’s been a revolution in America.

Let me tell you something. In Europe just before Hitler came, it was hard to find a family with many children. I’m telling you the truth. It was hard to find a family with many children. Boruch Hashem, boruch Hashem, what we have today! In Europe there were many families with frum women who didn’t cover their hair at all. You say, that’s not so terrible. It’s not terrible? All right, you’ll say it’s not so terrible. But in America all frum women cover their hair today. All frum women cover their hair. In Europe cholov Yisroel wasn’t practiced by everybody. No; very many didn’t. I know. But I’m talking about much worse; I’m talking about shmiras Shabbos. The Am Yisroel stopped keeping Shabbos in Europe – there was a large scale rebellion against Hakodosh Boruch Hu in Europe.

Now, in America many also don’t practice shmiras Shabbos but at least we have frum schools in America. They didn’t have that in Europe. There were very few places like you have today in America. In America there are frum schools everywhere; and there’s frum literature today as well. Boruch Hashem!

So I cannot say I understand everything. Chas v’shalom, I should say such a thing; but I certainly understand that this is one of the elements in what happened.
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- Anonymous -2 years ago
  This is totally inappropriate and flawed .. Heaven-forbid that one should think that the Terrible atrocities in the holocaust happen because of sinners this is worse than the thought of Lutherans we as the Jewish people cannot judge and not fully understand the acts of God they were tremendous holy Jews lived in the holocaust that would be considered complete saints and holy of holies . The Rabbi here is mistaken and unfortunately This radical view which is not based on the Torah rather a thought of a misguided notion should be erased from anyone’s mind. We do not have nor does anyone have true divine understanding. We cannot judge the people who perished in the holocaust many of which were very holy and special people. Therefore, one is not allowed to judge or make rational conclusions why these terrible things have happened. Rabbis, of the highest caliber and intellect would not there to say such things that were said over in this recording. We pray that these types of speeches Fall deaf onto the ears of humanity and the world at large
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  - Anonymous -1 year ago
    First read a little of Rabbi Avigdor Miller's writings and then comment.
    
    It's hard for meb as well, to hear what he says about the holocaust. But I know after reading a lot of his writings, that I don't come close to his wisdom to disagree with him.
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Anonymous -4 years ago
In the beginning of this class you talk about Ellie Weisel. You talk about how great a person he is. I had a chance to listen to the eulogy he gave at your fathers funeral. I beg to differ with you how great he was. Let me tell you who the great Holacaust survivor is. The Polishe survivor who spent 5 plus years in ghettos and various work and concentration camps. Losing 95% of his family if not all of his family,then getting married and starting a family. After losing his dignity still remains frum, brings up children who are shomer torah mitzvah. This person is great not Ellie Weisel. Mr. Weisel made a fortune of money talking about the Holocaust he was not frum did not bring up children who were frum.

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T
Terry -6 years ago
Don't try to make sense of the Holocaust
Dear Rabbi Jacobson,...i am so grateful for this class. I appreciated the teaching, i appreciated your honesty and I am grateful for the words of the Rebbe who said that there is no sin which could justify this. As the granddaughter of a Survivor who heard many stories I cannot accept that our sins created this...i can only weep, trust in God and say I do not understsnd.
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AB
Avrohom Bleich -7 years ago
other opinions you mentioned
Rabbi Jacobson, Respectfully, i'm not sure why you feel the need to criticize or disagree with other people's Rebbes and their views in order to make your Rebbe's point. i see no reason why the opinions of all the gedolei yisroel you mentio can't be treated with equal weight, respect, dignity, validity and legitimacy. for some reason i thought i seemed to detect a bit of cynicism or snide tone towards the opinion of HaRav Avigdor Miller ZT"L. however, both Rabbi Miller and the Satmar Rov wrote extensive books ("A Divine Madness", and "Ahl Hage'ula v'ahl hatemura", respectively) explaining their opinions based on proloific Tora knowledge and sources. you don't need to accept their approach since your Rebbe spoke otherwise on the subject. but since you put this out to the entire klal yisroel, (you need not mention other views if you prefer not to, but if you do), i believe care should be taken that the tone conveys the utmost respect for all. incidentally, Rabbi Miller was famously greatly respected by the Lubavitcher Rebbe (and vice versa) despite this one difference of opinion between them. i would also point out, that BEFORE THE HOLOCAUST, virtually ALL gedolei Yisroel spoke out about it in Rabbi Miller's way - saying that we were leaving Hashem no choice but to "rescue" us through a Holocaust/tochacha. only AFTER THE HOLOCAUST did many stop saying that and change their tune...
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- RAM
  Rabbi Ariel Margulies -3 years ago
  Avigdor Miller was born in America. He did not go through the firebombing of Warsaw, nor flight through Occupied Europe.
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  - D
    Dan -3 years ago
    Youe statement is misleading for Rav Miller ZTL studied in Slabodka for 6 years prior to the war. He is actually in a perfect position to tell us what happend prior to the war.
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    - Anonymous -3 years ago
      Also have some respect; its RABBI Avigdor Miller not Avigdor Miller!
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- Anonymous -1 year ago
  Because you are hurting many Jews with those toxic views. Morality 101 simple as that
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