NAOMI LEVIN

THE head rabbi of Melbourne’s Chabad community this week moved to excise a controversial fringe group from the Jewish community.

Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Telsner, dayan of the city’s Yeshivah College, called on the so-called “Moshiach Men” to be shunned for publicly flouting the Fast of Tevet.

The group is best known in the wider community for their regular antics around St Kilda East. Followers dressed in yellow shirts and novelty hats wave large flags and sing songs proclaiming the arrival of the Messiah, who they believe to be the late Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson.

Late last month, a small number of people associated with the Moshiach Men flouted the fast of Tevet 10 by hosting a party at a private home and recording the celebration, which was posted on YouTube.

The video and the event riled Rabbi Telsner, who called the action a chillul Hashem (desecration of God’s name) and in complete contradiction to the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s teachings.

“In light of the above, I find it necessary to rule that until the perpetrators of these deeds stand before a Beis Din of three Rabbonim, and seek forgiveness and correction of that which they have done, they are to be ostracised by all members of the community,” Rabbi Telsner wrote in a strongly-worded letter that has since been widely circulated.

He elaborated, writing that the Moshiach Men should not be counted as part of a minyan and cannot be given an aliyah to the Torah.

“Similarly, one should not speak to them or have any business dealings with them,” the Chabad rabbi added.

A representative of the Moshiach Men declined to comment on the letter, saying it had not been specifically addressed to the group.

Rabbi Telsner also refused to elaborate on the drastic measures he had taken against the group, which considers itself part of Chabad Judaism.

Watch the video posted on You Tube by the Moshiach Men.