Recently there has been a public discussion taking place about Chabad standards. On one side of the discussion there are those that have taken a more lenient approach that is a direct challenge to what Chabad standards have been until now. Their reasoning is that the Rebbe’s approach is to have Ahavas Yisroel towards everyone. Therefore, we need to show understanding and compassion towards those who have not yet assimilated Chabad standards into their day to day living. They feel that even mosdos need to make accommodations by easing the requirements in order that they feel comfortable within the Chabad system.
On the other side of the discussion the reasoning is as follows. Who instituted standards in Chabad? Was it Chassidim or the Rebbeim? Since we know that it was the Rebbeim who instituted Chabad standards, are we allowed to negotiate those standards ourselves or to look for guidance from the Rebbeim? Surely, we should look for direction from the Rebbeim for our present situation. After all, the effects of our decisions impact all Chabad institutions in the present and also for generations to come.
Based on the above, I am not going to get involved directly in the pros and cons of this discussion rather discuss a few points from a letter of the Rebbe (Igros Kodesh; v. 20 pg. 174). The subject of the letter is that Chabad educational institutions demand a very high standard of learning etc. It’s possible that this high standard might scare off some to accept this tremendous responsibility and their fear is that they will end up going to other institutions and get a less desired education. The following are a few adapted excerpts from the letter that answer this dilemma.
…if the educational demands are compromised from the highest level then there will be a ripple effect on the average and lesser than average students…
… Chabad institutions throughout the world represent a unique approach towards both action and education. This standard represents a foundation in which all mosdos share, even by their name alone. Therefore, if the standards are changed in any institution throughout the world, it will cause an effect in similar way throughout the Chabad system, not just in the local country…
…The Friediker Rebbe explains that there is an interlinked social hierarchy amongst people. Therefore, if there is a descent of one level, even on the highest level, this causes a descent on all the succeeding levels. Even though the descent on the highest level was from the holy of holies to the holy, automatically the descent on the subsequent levels will be from holy to ordinary, and even lower from permissible to the forbidden. Therefore, each and every one of us needs to constantly ascend in holiness and obviously not to descend even if his general level is higher than his social peers. The same thing applies to mosdos…
…This is certainly true if mosdos have and established standard over many years. Any descent from those standards could be interpreted as a response to the demands of the times, not of principles…
…There is a clear directive from divrei Chazal that says that when Rav arrived in Bavel he found a valley and built a fence. The explanation is that Rav saw that the standards in Bavel had been compromised. He chose to be machmir and to add new fences, new even higher standards. This means to us that when we find a group that has dropped their standards in a specific area we should not respond in kind. There are those that are concerned that if we uphold the standard we could distance those people from us or push them into things that are worse. The lesson is to do the exact opposite. We should try to inspire them to a higher standard and to set the highest possible standard in the challenged areas…
This is a printed letter from the Rebbe. I highly recommend that each person read it himself or have it translated so that they can fully understand it. The point here is not to take sides rather to always be sure to consult the Rebbe when making such important decisions whose repercussion will affect us for generations to come.