The Preacher of Hate
The Rodef Rav visits Melbourne again
“Put to death without any…even…a trial” - Mendel Zirkind
I issue a challenge to Zirkind’s apologists (read to the end or scroll down to the very bottom of this page to see the challenge).
But first….
The board of the Yeshivah Centre - Chabad Institutions of Victoria Ltd (CIVIL) -just provided their latest update on their infatuation with hate preacher Mendel Zirkind -
”Following our announcement that Rabbi Zirkind and his family will be joining our community for Tishrei, we would firstly like to acknowledge and thank the community for their overwhelming words of encouragement and support with this endeavour.
We are now pleased to provide you with some further details of this visit. The Zirkind family is scheduled to arrive before Shabbos Shuvah on Thursday 6 Tishrei - 21 September and will be staying until after Simchas Torah. It is our hope that this visit will provide Rabbi Zirkind and his family an opportunity to participate and observe the beauty and warmth with which our community is so well known. Throughout this visit, there has been a carefully constructed and coordinated schedule put in place to allow Rabbi & Rebbetzin Zirkind the opportunity to meet and connect with members in both formal and informal settings, where they will actively participate by speaking and engaging at various events within the organisation. These events will be communicated by the respective organisations to their members in due course. We encourage all members of our community to participate in these events. We also take this opportunity to draw attention to a significant keynote event as part of this visit, to take place IY’’H after Mincha on Shabbos Parshas Ha’azinu. The Shabbos Shuvah Drasha has historically been a momentous occasion in which the community comes together to hear words of inspiration to motivate and strengthen our commitment to the Aybishter, to Yiddishkeiyt, and to the Chasidisher values and Minhogim we hold dear.
To this end, we urge the entire community, including both men, women and young adults, to join us in Yeshivah Shul on Shabbos Parshas Ha’azinu, immediately following Mincha, for Rabbi Zirkind's Shabbos Shuvah Drasha. During the visit, both Rabbi and Rebbetzin Zirkind will no doubt be having discussions on their future in the centre, and we look forward to providing updates on this significant objective and the process to which we are working towards.
We extend our gratitude to the leaders, committees, and staff of all the Moisdos for their support in preparing for this visit, and the ongoing process. Wishing you a Ksiva V'Chasima Tova L'Shana Tova U'Mesuka! Regards, CIVL (Chabad Institutions of Victoria Ltd)”
The CIVIL update above states, “It is our hope that this visit will provide Rabbi & Rebbetzin Zirkind the opportunity to meet and connect with members”
Hopefully no one will be branded a rodef, hurt or “put to death without…any…even a trial” in the process.
Here’s a challenge to Zirkind’s apologists -
1. Prove that the Rodef clip above was taken out of context.
2. Prove that he actually apologised - i.e. provide a video or written statement from him where he issues a public apology and retraction. A public proclamation (where he publicly brands other people in his community rodfim and states that anyone who spreads “conspiracy theories,” could be put to death without trial,” requires a public apology and retraction. Anything less than that is not an apology.
3. Explain why the offending video is still up on Stump the Rabbi (i.e. a prominent Chabad website) and has not been taken down (2.5 years later).
4. When I confronted him about his statement on his last visit in March, why did he respond with a smirk and with a smug expression say “Do you know halacha…?” Does that sound like someone who is sincerely sorry and has remorse over what he said?
Also, has he ever apologised for defaming fellow Chassidim like the late Dr Zev Zelenko OBM or Rabbi Michoel Green?
