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A group picture at November's International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Emissaries in Brooklyn. (AP) Last update - 05:34 18/01/2008 N.Y. court to rule on dispute between warring Chabad wings By Shlomo Shamir, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Lubavich, New York, Messianic  NEW YORK - New York's highest appellate court may soon find itself ruling on whether a large banner at the world's most important Lubavitch synagogue, which proclaims, "May our master, teacher and rabbi, the King Messiah, live forever," must be removed. The case reached the New York Court of Appeals after the New York State Supreme Court ruled two weeks ago in favor of two key Lubavitch organizations, Agudas Chasedei Chabad (the Association of Chabad Hasidim) and Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch (the Lubavitch Educational Organization), which had filed suit to halt activities by the Chabad movement's messianist wing at the synagogue at 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn's Crown Heights neighborhood. The messianist wing, represented by an organization named Congregation Lubavitch, Inc., believes that the former leader of Chabad, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, is really the Messiah. The plaintiffs follow the mainstream Jewish position that since Schneerson died in 1994, he cannot be the Messiah. They therefore object to messianist activity at the synagogue, including the banner and the frequent singing of a song with the same words. Advertisement State Supreme Court Justice Ira Harkavy ruled that since Agudas and Merkos are the legal owners of the property, they have the right to determine what activity is permitted there and who is permitted to enter. The ruling would thus allow the plaintiffs to remove the banner, halt the singing and even eject members of the messianist wing from the synagogue. However, Congregation Lubavitch promptly appealed, arguing that the question of who should be making decisions about internal synagogue affairs is none of the court's business. The legal battle began three years ago, when several young men wrenched a plaque off the synagogue's exterior wall because it described the rebbe with an honorific used only for someone who has died, and tried to replace it with a plaque of their own, which bore an honorific used for a living scholar. Agudas and Merkos filed suit against the culprits, and Congregation Lubavitch joined as a defender. Explaining why the two organizations felt a need to turn to the secular courts - something that many ultra-Orthodox Jews consider a violation of religious law - a leading member of New York's Hasidic community, who asked to remain anonymous, told Haaretz that the situation at 770 has deteriorated badly in recent years, with fanatic messianists committing frequent acts of verbal and even physical violence against their opponents. Moreover, he said, "the messianists have driven many Jews away from the Chabad movement." Agudas and Merkos "had no choice," agreed another man with close ties to the Chabad leadership. "Faced with the acts of violence and hooliganism, they felt obligated to go to court for the good of the public." Another community activist from Crown Heights used even harsher language against the messianists. "Their violent, extremist behavior is reminiscent of the Taliban," he said. The parties to the suit themselves declined to comment. Related articles: Chabad's critic from within Rabbi's incitement against Olmert threatens to split Chabad Bookmark to del.icio.us   Vision of cooperation Saudi prince says if Israel leaves Arab land, it could join the Arab world. At odds with PM Bolton says the final IDF op in Lebanon had no impact on UN truce talks.   1.   The Inmates Are Definately Running the Asylum 05:31  |  MIKE 18/01/08   2.   Horrible Precedent 07:05  |  Mark of Lewiston 18/01/08   3.   Chabbad is a chilul haShem- a desecration of G-d`s name 08:21  |  Frum Jew 18/01/08   4.   To Mark #2 09:07  |  gordon 18/01/08   5.   Not a Ruling on Faith 09:17  |  Tom 18/01/08   6.   Chabad was a great Hasidic movement... 09:27  |  Jew 18/01/08   7.   sounds like a monty python skit 10:26  |  don 18/01/08   8.   Comment on Horrible Precedent-#2 11:41  |  JordanisPalestine 18/01/08   9.   #4 is quite right, but... 11:43  |  RedStarYeast 18/01/08   10.   To: #7 - Organized Religion ?!?! 12:22  |  eddie - Haifa 18/01/08   11.   Verdict 12:44  |  Choni Davidowitz 18/01/08   12.   Schneerson the messiah? 13:37  |  Eli 18/01/08   13.   No, Mark #2 14:30  |  Blackstone 18/01/08   14.   Choni. If you know the cause of Chabad`s rift 14:39  |  Hubal 18/01/08   15.   #8 - Read the article this time 14:40  |  Eric 18/01/08   16.   Not only in Judaism 14:50  |  Minister 18/01/08   17.   Reply to Mark of Lewiston (Post No. 2) 14:56  |  Johnny Weintraub 18/01/08   18.   Choni. If you know the cause of Chabad`s rift 15:48  |  Hubal 18/01/08   19.   Baal Teshuavas Gone Wild 18:46  |  Yechiel 18/01/08   20.   I beleive the Rebbe is Moshiach! 18:52  |  Theodore Cohen 18/01/08   21.   Lubavitch (Chabad) is a Messiah Cult 22:25  |  MIKE 18/01/08   22.   another jewish messiah 23:14  |  kowalski 19/01/08   23.   ADAPTED FROM THE WORKS OF THE LUBAVITCHER REBBE 07:31  |  JOSEPH BEN ISRAEL 20/01/08   24.   KRINSKY`S "MEIN KAMPF" AGAINST MOSHIACHISTIM 07:44  |  ANONYMOUS 20/01/08   25.   Rabbi Yehudah Krinsky would be a wonderful Rebbe! 20:22  |  Mendi 20/01/08   26.   NY COURT RULES 06:56  |  Chossid 21/01/08

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