The Satmarer challenge

Grose comments to the Shlichus or bust:

Let me attempt to address a concern many of you have: mentalblog�s brain noted this concern, namely, who has the power to create a movement as big as the Lubavitcher Rebbe did? I picked up this concern from between the lines of others � that you think the shoes of "Rebbe" are too big to fill and that, besides, you are too small to have impact. Know this:

1. When the Meraglim went to Eretz Yisroel, they came back and said, "We were like grasshoppers" and we learn that it was wrong of them to have that feeling of inferiority � that it was their own esteem of themselves as "KaChagavim" that made them see Eretz Yisroel as insurmountable. So enough of this "shtus" that you are just a wind that will pass, and other such things that make people think they cannot accomplish for HaKadosh Boruch Hu.

2. When Dovid HaMelech first started off in life and Malchus, who were his followers? He did not have a "worldwide" following; In fact, it was more the discontented "riff-raff" who flocked to him for direction. It is okay to start off with the few, those honestly searching for direction � because Malchus Bais Dovid started off that way.

AP Photo by Oded Balilty

3. In terms of a "world-wide" movement, I don�t know if such movement pays off in numbers. Take a comparison of Satmar and Lubavitch (I know, everyone is cringing at having to do this comparison). Lubavitch went out to influence others, welcoming them into their ranks. Satmar entrenched themselves and shoulder-to-shoulder tried to block out others. Today, the demographics indicate that trying to get influx does not change population growth trend. In fact, according to historians and sociologists, Lubavitch numbers roughly under 50,000 Neshamos, and Satmar a bit over that. Let me give you another angle of seeing this. There is someone on the West Side who is very involved in Kiruv � he has made hundreds frum. He never got married and never had kids. On a visit to Monsey, he looked around and said, "I thought I was accomplishing by spreading awareness of Hashem in the world. I would have produced the same results (number of folks serving Hashem B�Shlaimus) or even more results had I gotten married and had a huge family that I brought up right. Because, if I would have many children, who had many children, who had many children, the numbers on whom I had impact would be greater than now. So, to those who want to start a "worldwide" movement, set it off by building large families dedicated to truth. That is how Klal Yisroel started, that is the secret of its sustainability and eternity. There is a reason why Satmar has the most children in its school system.

4. There are countless times in the Torah where we are given a clear directive to have a Rav. Asei Lecha Rav is not up in the air, open for discussion. See in Devarim "Asher Beyamecha" that you should never be looking at past leaders for guidance, but at BEYAMECHA someone living in your time to answer which way to live life.

So, in closing, I say, pick a Manhig, don�t worry about numbers and demographics of your new/old Lubavitch, and pass the torch onto hundreds and hundreds of children by picking schools good for them and not good for the Chassidus. They will retain the "bren", if you do this right.

-Grose