Are Chabadniks More "Woke" than Other Jews? Or Are We All Just Devolving into Clickbait Headlines...

The Forward recently ran a piece in defense of Chabad street-solicitations. The piece followed a report suggesting that Jews don't care for the Chabad method.  In very brief summary: The original piece offered anecdotal evidence suggesting that a lot of Jews don't care for Chabadniks' un-invited offers to wave a lulav or lay tefillin.  Although the article was light on (or bereft of) any empirical data on the success or failure of these "Chabad methods," it still prompted a response from one Chabad rabbi, who suggested that those opposed to the Chabad method need to "check [their] privilege."

In the Chabad rabbi's response, he argued that opposition to the Chabad method is a sign of Jewish "privilege" for whose who were "fortunate enough to be raised in an environment that nurtured [their] spiritual growth and them [them], one way or another, to a place where [they] felt confident deciding on [a] level of observance."  He goes on to say (with what may be was unnecessary snark) that Chabad is "making mitzvos accessible to a Jewish population that won't come to your progressive synagogues or Aish HaTorah seminars, who wouldn't set foot in one of your Kumsitzes or community outreach events."

To be sure, much of what this rabbi and other Chabadniks do is commendable (he offers examples of serving Jews in nursing homes who were otherwise un-visited and whose spiritual needs were not being served, and of course Chabad is often the only Jewish point of connection is so many outlying areas, campuses, etc.). But it is unfortunate that he spins any aversion to Chabad's practices into a suggestion that Chabad is somehow more "woke" than those who are annoyed/offended/turned off by their methods.

I, for one, would be much more curious to know whether Chabad does in fact create more positive outcomes than negative ones. Do Jews feel positive about Judaism because people are willing to stand on a street corner and help them to observe Jewish rituals, on their own terms? (Maybe.) Do many people appreciate the ability to wave a lulav even though they don't own a set or attend a synagogue? (I'd probably bet on it.) Or does Chabad have a "net negative" effect, turning Jews off of Judaism (at least in the religious sense) by making them see Jews as bearded versions of the Times Square minions (minyans?), hawking leather straps to make a few bucks? (Also probably true.) Do the Chabadniks create unfair or inaccurate perceptions of what "Jews" and "Judaism" are? (Perhaps.)

I make no claim to know the answer to these questions, and I do believe that both Chabad and non-Chabad Jews would be well-served to better understand the "Chabad Effect" on Jews and non-Jews alike. But I cannot agree with a framework that rejects any aversion to Chabad on the basis of "privilege." Chabad is a well-funded organization, with both faults and advantages.  (Discussion of those is outside the scope of this commentary.) Equating an aversion to the Chabad method with white privilege demeans the idea of true "privilege" and smacks of opportunism. And, frankly, it's unnecessary. Defend what you do, by all means.  Tell us why you do it. But I hope the Forward and its contributors can step away from the attention-grabbing headlines and focus on real, principled, fair exchanges of ideas. 

Thoughts?