Statistical euphemism

Dirck van DELEN, Palace Courtyard with Figures, 1635, Philip Hahn Collection, New York

Pmh commenting to the Vaad haShidduch post: Your comments are a bit too harsh on the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Sure, the Gemara uses colorful expressions about "shfichus damim" but let's get a grip on the reality.

Klal Israel is beset with many problems that require leadership: transmission of heritage, identity, parnassa as well as age of marriage. The post-Holocaust crisis has become permanent. Traditional Judaism (gastronomic or any other flavor) is on life support. You will understand that this is a statistical euphemism for the demographic threat.

During the 1970/80s, the most promising sign for future recovery was widespread Torah learning. Let's agree to defer discussion of mismanagement, nepotism and corruption associated with Yeshivahs. The broadest problem is that changes in Israeli politics/economics mean that the black-hat multitudes can't live on government handouts they way they used to. It would be reasonable expect that internal feuding who gets access to the shrinking economic pie will get worse.

In effect, we have the same crisis of the time of the Baal-Shem-Tov. Full time learning available for those who can afford it but the poor will have to just manage as best as they can. And don't expect "miracles" as revered in the golden age of Chassidishe stories: the tzidkut and sincerity required to make this work are just too rare. The neo-chassidim who have chandeliers and drive BMWs are not about to switch to the Reb Zusha approach to the gashmious.