Jewish Leader Makes No Messiah Claim
The 90-year-old spiritual leader of the Brooklyn-based Lubavitcher sect of Hasidic Jews appeared before his followers Sunday without a mention of what had been awaited--that he is the Messiah.
Grand Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who was rendered speechless and largely paralyzed by a stroke last year, appeared on the balcony of the sect’s world headquarters during evening services.
Earlier, Rabbi Shmuel Butman, a member of the ultra-Orthodox sect, told congregants that Schneerson’s appearance “is not to be interpreted as a coronation” of the Messiah.
The service was linked by video to the faithful in Jerusalem and by audio to London, Paris, Tel Aviv, Moscow, Hong Kong, Sydney and Melbourne.
More to Read
More to Read
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
