I recently heard a story from the protagonist, which is as good an indicator of truthfulness as any I know of.
A young South African gay Jewish man got HIV, in the days when getting HIV was essentially a death sentence. The young man's doctor didn't know whether he should tell him or not, so he asked everyone he knew, including, as it turns out, the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Now, I'm not sure exactly what they told the Rebbe, but I do know what the answer was: "Tell him he's got it." Or something along those lines.
What does this mean? I'm not sure. I guess it's not a surprise that the Rebbe dealt with questions like this, and I don't know that I'd expect a different answer, but still. It has to mean something, right?
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39 comments:
The doctor asked a question. The rebbe answered. What's there to ponder?
How does this effect Lubavitch's groupthink re: homosexuals?
not at all. If a guy has AIDS he ought to know it. that's all it tells us.
It's "AIDS," not "Aids."
e: You think? No fanciful extrapolation?
Yup.
What do you think I am? A lit major?
Are you sure he was a homosexual? There is more than one way to get AIDS.
Presumably, the Rebbe's philosophy was that one should face his problems and fears and have bitochon in Eibershter. Ties very well with this week's parsha.
Also, I would say the Lubavitch groupthink re: homosexuals should be the same as Lubavitch groupthink re: those who break Shabbos or someone who doesn't have a left arm, chv"sh. In the first case, a Jew commits an aveira; we don't support it, but we don't stop loving him. In the second case, a Jew is unable to do a mitzva, in which case we say that G-d loves him not for his mitzvos, but because he is a Jew (something the Rebbe once told an Israeli soldier who had lost his arm).
e: No, but you're fairly good at making stuff up.
CA: http://ce.columbia.edu/Narrative-Medicine/Paul-Browde-Biography
Fair enough.
It should be, but it's not.
Sorry husband - you can't get AIDS - you can only get HIV.
TRS, thou hast been infected.
(I meant with spam)
you heard it from the doctor or the young jewish gay south african?
An old teacher of mine swore that all the seagulls in San Francisco are gay because all the people are.
Everyone started yelling and one girl cried.
Menachem: The latter.
Sara: Which school was this?
No way! So he didn't die from AIDS?
No he did not - he was able to go on AZT (this happened in the laste 80's or early 90's - I heard the story also) and I'm assuming he is on protease inhibitors or something. Basically it seems he hasn't progressed to AIDS yet.
the Tzfat one.
Sara: and what was your response?
I never went to her class. But I heard all about it afterward.
And what was your reaction?
I felt validated for never going to her class. But I also laughed.
Why did you laugh?
Because the situation was absurd.
Which aspect of the situation was absurd?
This is beginning to feel like a therapy session.
The content of what the teacher said, and the context within which it was said.
You're lucky I'm giving you a discount on my regular rates.
For which I'm grateful.
So can I get some Ritalin?
I'll give the spammers your info.
suh-weet.
I was getting low on viagra.
Darned Google spam filters, eh?
Seriously cramping my style.
Now re. AIDS, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_CHMx9UWTI
Is it worth watching?
it's about 1:30 min long
That's ninety seconds I could spend playing solitaire.
But you wouldn't finish the game in 90 seconds. Unless you lost.
My fastest win was 59 seconds.
damn.
Chanan update your blog on current events!
it's been a while. Saying Hello to my Lubab friends. Enjoy
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