Hisorerus Tshuva

Tishrei 5736 (1975) the orthodox world was shocked to hear that, at the second night of Hakofos by the Rebbe in 770, Chaim Cohen, the former judge of Israel's Supreme Court, received a "hakofo" at the Rebbe's minyan and was honored with reciting a verse of Ato Horaiso."

In fact, the decision to give him this honor was not reached easily. Chaim Cohen, in his younger years, was an orthodox Jew, and a member of Agudas Yisroel, but later broke away and left religious Judaism. He became a promoter of liberal ideas and even married a divorcee despite the fact that he was a “Cohen." He was also a main player in the "Who is a Jew" controversy and was one of the judges who signed the law that conversions do not have to be according to Halacha, an issue that r”l caused the Rebbe much pain.

Therefore, when Chaim Cohen arrived that Simchas Torah to the Rebbe's Hakofos the gaboim were hesitant in honoring such a man. They were also concerned that the larger orthodox community would have serious complaints against Lubavitch, for giving honor to someone who was known only for his opposition to anything precious to the Orthodox community. Their dilemma was so much greater because they realized that any opposition to a decision to honor him would focus on the fact that it was done in the presence of the Rebbe, and with his apparent consent.

No-one wanted to take responsibility for the decision and its’ ramifications, and the only recourse was to ask the Rebbe himself for direction. One of the secretaries approached the Rebbe with the question, to which the Rebbe immediately responded: "A Jew is here with a hisorerus teshuva, and you don't want to give him a Sefer Torah?!”

So they gave him a Sefer Torah, he even said a posuk of the Ato Horeisa and then went into the circle to dance with all those who received a Hakofo. The Rebbe then started the song "Utzu Eitza V'sufar" by himself and for 45 minutes nonstop without a letup waved and clapped with his hands to increase the singing. The people that were there including Chaim Cohen became very tired and wanted to stop to rest but did not do so while the Rebbe is increasing the singing. During the entire 45 minutes the Rebbe stood there looking at Judge Cohen while he was holding and dancing with the Torah.

As they had feared, there were those who expressed their reservation against this decision, accusing Lubavitch of supporting the enemies of the frum establishment. Many Lubavitcher Chassidim were themselves puzzled by the event.

Recently, 30 years later, new details have emerged concerning this event: Chaim Cohen had a very close friend who lived in Manhattan and whenever he (Chaim Cohen) would visit N.Y. he would stay by this friend.

Some years after that Simchas Torah, one of the shluchim to Manhattan met this friend of Judge Cohen and invited him to come to the Rebbe. The friend adamantly rejected the offer saying: "Ever since Chaim Cohen attended that hakofos by the Rebbe he changed much of his views and opinons and I am not yet ready to change my opinions. I am the one who has to suffer as a result of Chaim Cohen’s Simchas Torah spent by the Rebbe!"